Finding, However, That The Natives Were Hostile,
And Scarcely Wishing To Have Any Farther Intercourse With Them, I Decided
Upon Leaving The Horse-Shoes, And Several Other Cumbersome Articles
Behind; And They Were Consequently Thrown, With Two Spare Gun Barrels,
Into The Water-Hole At Which We Were Encamped.
The natives will probably
find them, when the holes dry up; and, if preserved, they will be a
lasting testimonial of our visit.
July 7. - Charley told me that he had followed the river up to its
termination. I consequently kept a little more to the left, in order to
head it, and travelled two or three miles through a fine bloodwood and
Nonda forest, the verdant appearance of which was much increased by the
leguminous Ironbark, which grew here in great perfection. Two emus had
just made their breakfast on some Nonda fruit when we started them, and
Charley and Brown, assisted by Spring, succeeded in killing one of them.
We soon came to a salt-water river, with a broad sandy bed, perfectly
free of vegetation, although its banks were fringed with drooping
tea-trees. The tide being low, we were enabled to ford it. Whilst
crossing it, a flock of black-winged pelicans stood gravely looking at
us. The latitude of the ford, which was two miles and a half south from
our last camp, would be 16 degrees 30 minutes, which corresponds with
that of the Staaten, marked at the outline of the coast. A well grassed
open forest extended along both sides of the river; and, at its left,
large deep Nymphaea lagoons were parallel to it.
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