do injustice to them in this respect.  However, whether this was the case or not, we had to suffer from Topar’s misconduct.  I turned out of the pass, and stopped a little beyond it, in a more sheltered situation.  Here Topar coolly cooked his dogs, and wholly demolished one of them and part of the other.  In wandering about the gorge of the glen, Mr. Browne found a native well, but there was no water in it.

Our camp at Cawndilla now bore S.S.E. from us, distant 70 odd miles, and having determined on moving the party, I resolved to make the best of my way back to it.  On the following morning, therefore, we again entered the pass, but as it trended too much to the eastward, I crossed a small range and descended at once upon the plains leading to the camp.  At about 17 miles from the hills, Topar led us to a broad sheet of water that must have been left by the recent rains.  It was still tolerably full, and water may perhaps be found here when there is none in more likely places in the hills.  This spot Topar called Wancookaroo; it was unfortunately in a hollow from whence we could take no bearings to fix its precise position.

We halted at sunset on the top of a small eminence, from which the hills Mr. Poole had ascended bore E.N.E., and the hill at the pass N.W.  We were suddenly roused from our slumbers a little before daylight by a squall of wind that carried away every light thing about us, hats, caps, etc. all went together, and bushes of atriplex also went bounding along like so many foot-balls.  The wind became piercing cold, and all comfort was gone.  As morning dawned the wind increased, and as the sun rose it settled into a steady gale.  We were here about forty miles from Cawndilla, nor do I remember having ever suffered so severely from cold even in Canada.  The wind fairly blew through and through us, and Topar shivered so under it that Morgan gave him a coat to put on.  As we seldom put our horses out of a walk, we did not reach the tents until late in the afternoon, but I never was more rejoiced to creep under shelter than on this occasion.

Every thing had gone on well during our absence, and Mr. Poole had kept on the most friendly terms with the natives.

I should have mentioned, that, as we descended from the hills, the quick eye of Topar saw a native at a great distance to our left, and just at the outskirt of a few trees.  We should have passed him unperceived, but I requested Mr. Browne to ride up to and communicate with him.  The poor fellow had dug a pit, for a Talperos [Note 8.  A native animal about the size of a rabbit, but longer in shape.], big enough to hide himself in, and as he continued to work at it, did not see Mr. Browne approach, who stood mounted right over the hole before he called to him.  Dire was the alarm of the poor native when he looked up and saw himself so immediately in contact with such a being as my companion must have appeared to him; but Mr. Browne considerately retired until he had recovered