had joined
them, and they now gave us to understand that we were going away from
water. This had indeed been apparent to us. The creek was perfectly
dry, as far as we traced it up; and seemed to have been totally
deserted by the natives.

We were about to proceed on our journey, when from twenty to thirty
natives approached us from down the river. We sent two of those who had
been with us to them, and the whole accompanied us for some miles,
talking incessantly to the men, but keeping at a very respectful
distance from the animals. We at length got opposite to their camp,
near which there was a very fine pool of water, and they were earnest
in persuading us to stop at it. We were, however, too anxious to get
forward to comply; under the improved appearance of the river since it
had received the creeks from the eastward, little anticipating what was
before us.

NATIVE ARMOURY.

The natives did not follow us beyond their own encampment. Within sight
of it, we came upon their armoury, if I may so term it. Numerous spears
were reared against the trees, and heaps of boomerangs were lying on
the ground. The spears were very heavy, and half barbed; and it is
singular that three of them were marked with a broad arrow. We saw the
natives watching us, fearful, I imagine, that we should help ourselves;
but I would not permit any of their weapons to be touched.

EXAMINATION OF CREEKS NEAR THE CASTLEREAGH.

Pursuing our journey, we reached another creek, at about five miles,
similar to the last in appearance and size, and we crossed it
repeatedly during the afternoon. We had been induced to keep along a
native path in the hope that it would have led us to the river by a
short cut; but it eventually led us to this creek, and away from the
Castlereagh; for, notwithstanding that we subsequently changed our
course to the S.W., we failed, as we supposed, again to strike upon the
latter, and were obliged to stop for the night on the banks of what
appeared to be a third large dry creek, which we intersected nearly at
right angles.

We travelled through a good deal of brush during the day, nor did the
country change from the miserable and barren character it had assumed
for the last thirty or forty miles. The Castlereagh had so frequently
changed, that both Mr. Hume and myself were puzzled as to the identity
of the creek upon which we had halted. We searched its bed in vain for
water, although it was most capacious. Under an impres