e approach of the tribe we last met, in hopes
that we might quarrel with them, and that he might get one, in
consequence, on easy terms. I recollected that he reminded me of his
wants in this respect at the very moment these people were approaching. I
foresaw the mischief likely to arise from this readiness of Barney to
insult native tribes while under the wing of our party; and the
unfavourable impression he was likely to make on them respecting us if he
were allowed to covet their gins. I therefore blamed him for causing the
return of the guide who had been sent with us by that tribe, placed him
in irons for the night and, much as I liked the poor fellow as an
intelligent native, I thought it necessary to send him back this morning
in company with a mute young savage, also from Cudjallagong, who seemed
much inclined to become a follower of the camp. Our stock of provisions
could not be too carefully preserved and such followers, when beyond
their beat, might have had claims on it not to be resisted. There then
remained with us, besides Piper and his gin, two intelligent native boys,
each being named Tommy, together with The Widow and her child. The two
Tommies obtained new chronometrical surnames, being known in the party as
Tommy Came-first and Tommy Came-last. The former had been told plainly to
go back, upon which he was heard to say he should follow the party,
notwithstanding Majy's orders, as he could always find opossums in the
trees. I was pleased with his independence on being told this, and
allowed him to accompany the party as well as his friend Tommy Came-last,
whom he had picked up somehow in the woods.

A FAMILY OF NATIVES FROM THE MURRUMBIDGEE.

Our female guide maintained that there was a waterhole some miles onward
at Pomabil; and we accordingly proceeded in that direction, regaining
first the firm plains outside the trees growing on the river margin. We
reached the part to which she had pointed and she went forward to look
for the water but, on her calling out soon after that natives were there,
we advanced into the wood, when we observed smoke arising and natives
running away, pursued by The Widow. At length, perceiving that she stood
talking to them, we went up. The strangers consisted of a family just
come from the Murrumbidgee, and presented such a picture of the wild and
wonderful that I felt a strong desire to make a sketch of the whole
group. One man who was rather old being in mourning, as I w