ls. The whole face of the country
looked grassy, and thinly sprinkled over with what may be acacias,
probably the mangart, or raspberry-jam-scented wood, as it had just that
appearance, and a kily which we had got from the natives in the morning
was made of that wood. But there was not even a drop of water visible,
nor any sign of a large river, though this is just the position assigned
to the Hutt River; but certainly it is quite possible that nearer the
source of these rivers there may be larger reservoirs and more water,
which may be to a great degree absorbed before it reaches the sea, as we
find this to be the case with many of the rivers of this country. In the
meantime the natives seemed dissatisfied about our going on the hills,
and offended, and were very importunate with us to go down to the low
grounds in the valley. "Koa yeka" ("Come this way," as I understood it)
was their constant call; and when at last we did consent, as we were
going down the side of a steep, rocky limestone hill, I could not help
feeling that we were very much in their power. Looking round suddenly
upon one occasion I observed a man making gestures with his feet at the
head of the Captain, as if showing to the rest how he could knock him
down easily. The man seemed uneasy at being detected, but I laughed it
off as a joke, which probably it was after all; but their manner seemed
to have changed considerably. When we arrived at the level ground they
became very urgent that we should "sit down in the shade," "maloka
nineka" (a Swan River man would say "malok nginnow"). They caught hold of
us and pulled us, and wanted very much to get the guns from us. Thinking
it most prudent to return to the boat we turned with that intention, when
they did everything they could, short of using force, to prevent us. They
stood in our way, they caught us in their arms, they pushed us, they
tried to snatch or seize our guns, but we persisted steadily and
good-humouredly to make our way back towards the boat. One old man wished
me to approach the brink of the high ground overlooking the bed of the
river, but seeing that it was a perpendicular precipice to which he was
leading, or rather pushing me, I suddenly clasped him with one arm and
walked away from it, at which the rest set up a shout of laughter. His
intentions may have been perfectly friendly but I certainly did not feel
confident that they were so. I intimated that when we got to the boat we
should gi