he had been a long time absent from his
people, and there might be objections to his leaving them a second time.
The real cause, however, was, I think, the overflowing of the Darling,
and the usual harvest of fish, and incessant feasting the natives would
have in consequence. Their god certainly is their belly, we must not
therefore be surprised that Toonda wished to partake of the general
abundance that would soon be at the command of his tribe, and probably
that his assistance was required. However his heart failed him when he
saw Mr. Browne mount his horse to depart, and he expressed his readiness
to accompany us to the hills, but no farther. The Boocolo's son had also
volunteered to go so far with his friend the cook: when therefore at 8
a.m. I followed Mr. Browne with the remainder of the party, he and Toonda
got on the drays. We took a kind leave of the Boocolo, who put his two
hands on my head, and said something which I did not understand. It was
however the expression of some kind wish at parting. The cattle got on
very well during the early part of the day, and at noon we halted for two
hours. After noon our progress was slow, and night closed in upon us,
whilst we were yet some distance from the creek. We reached the little
sand hill near it, to which we were guided by a large fire Flood had
kindled at midnight, for it appeared that the horses had given in, and
that Mr. Browne had been obliged to halt there. On leaving Cawndilla I
sent Mr. Poole to Scrope's Range, to verify his bearings, and to enable
Mr. Stuart to sketch in the hills, but he had not at this time rejoined
me. At early dawn on the 29th, I accompanied Mr. Browne to the wells,
leaving Mr. Piesse with the horse-cart and drays. We arrived there at
nine, and by twelve, the time when the oxen came up, had dug a large pit
under a rock on the left bank of the creek, which filled rapidly with
water. The horses however were still in the rear, and I was ultimately
obliged to send assistance to them. At 1 p.m. Mr. Poole and Mr. Stuart
rejoined us. Two of our kangaroo dogs had followed them from Cawndilla,
but one only returned, the other fell exhausted on the plains. Mr. Poole
informed me that he had seen, but lost sight of Flood's signal fire, and
had therefore slept higher up on the creek. The animals, but the cart
horses in particular, were still very weak when we left Curnapaga, on the
30th, nor is it probable we should have got them to the long water-ho