things that had been left
untouched by us, and from the fresh footsteps of natives over our own of
the day before, it was clear they had been back. The knife which was
intended as a peace-offering, seems to have scared them away in almost as
much haste as if we had been at their heels. There can be no doubt but
that they took it for an evil spirit, at which they were, perhaps, more
alarmed than at our uncouth appearance. Be that as it may, we departed
from the creek without seeing anything of these poor people.

At a little distance from the creek to the N.W., upon a rising piece of
ground, and certainly above the reach of floods, there were seven or
eight huts, very different in shape and substance from any we had seen.
They were made of strong boughs fixed in a circle in the ground, so as to
meet in a common centre; on these there was, as in some other huts I have
had occasion to describe, a thick seam of grass and leaves, and over this
again a compact coating of clay. They were from eight to ten feet in
diameter, and about four and a half feet high, the opening into them not
being larger than to allow a man to creep in. These huts also faced the
north-west, and each had a smaller one attached to it as shewn in the
sketch. Like those before seen they had been left in the neatest order by
their occupants, and were evidently used during the rainy season, as they
were at some little distance from the creek, and near one of those bare
patches in which water must lodge at such times. At whatever season of
the year the natives occupy these huts they must be a great comfort to
them, for in winter they must be particularly warm, and in summer cooler
than the outer air; but the greatest benefit they can confer on these
poor people must be that of keeping them from ants, flies, and mosquitos:
it is impossible to describe to the reader the annoyance we experienced
from the flies during the day, and the ants at night. The latter in truth
swarmed in myriads, worked under our covering, and creeping all over us,
prevented our sleeping. The flies on the other hand began their attacks
at early dawn, and whether we were in dense brush, on the open plain, or
the herbless mountain top, they were equally numerous and equally
troublesome. On the present occasion Mr. Browne and I regretted we had
not taken possession of the deserted huts, as, if we had, we should have
got rid of our tormentors, for there were not any to be seen near them.
Fr