high sandhills and flooded wooded
polygonum flats with a few grassy patches. At eleven miles on a bearing
of about 83 1/2 degrees came to a lake, Cudye-cudyena; plenty of grass
and clover but the water all but dried up, a few inches only being around
its margin; all the centre and south end and side being a mudbank--but
thought it would do by digging. On my way back came on a creek with
sufficient water and grass, though dry, to suit the purpose, at two
miles, and pushed on to camp. A strange circumstance occurred this
evening, showing isolated instances of gratitude and honesty of the
natives. In the evening after my return a number of natives were near the
camp; amongst them, just as they were about to depart, I observed an
elderly man and his son, a boy of eight to ten years who appeared to be
an invalid and was about to be carried off by the father. I stopped him
and, as I was at supper, gave the youth some bread and meat and tea; when
they all took their leave. About the end of the first watch (which was
regularly kept) I was awake and heard the person on watch, Middleton,
speaking, evidently to a native who, to my astonishment as well as to
Middleton's, ventured up to the camp alone at night; and what would the
reader suppose his errand was? It was to bring back our axe that one of
his tribe had purloined unseen from the camp during the afternoon. On
delivery of said article he at once took his leave, promising to come in
the morning.

Wednesday, October 16.

In the morning a few of the natives approached the camp, but stood off at
a respectable distance, not sure how they were to be dealt with for their
dishonesty, till by and bye the old man with a few others came up; and
gradually they that stood aloof came up also. Amongst them were women and
children to whom I made various little presents of beads and fishhooks,
with which they seemed pleased. To the old man for his honesty I gave a
tomahawk with which he appeared highly pleased--his name was Mootielina;
the thief I could not find out, or would have given him his deserts
likewise. They did not muster very strong this morning, only about 100;
but numbers of others were visible all round the lake at the different
camps. They all appeared very civil, whether from fear or naturally I
could not guess. Started bearing 40 degrees, passing north-west arm of
lake three-quarters of a mile; then a bearing of 100 degrees. At
three-quarters of a mile cleared the timber