About Four In The Afternoon, We Again Saddled Them, And Moved Homewards, Riding, As Before, The Whole Night, With The Exception Of About An Hour, When We Halted To Feed The Horses, Upon Meeting With A Rich Bed Of The Succulent Geranium, Of Which They Were So Fond.

August 16.

- Travelling on steadily, we began early in the afternoon to draw near to the depot; and when within a mile and half of it, I was surprised, upon looking back, to see two natives trying to steal upon us with spears, who, as soon as they perceived they were observed, rose up, and made violent gestures of defiance, but at once desisted from following us. A little further on, upon a rise not far from the depot, I was still more astonished to see at least thirty of these savages; and I hurried forwards as quickly as possible to ascertain what it could mean, not without some anxiety for the safety of my party.

Chapter VI.

GAUSE OF HOSTILITY OF THE NATIVES - WELL SUNK UNSUCCESSFULLY - OVERSEER SENT TO THE EAST - THE SCOTT EXAMINED - ROCK WALLABIE - OVERSEER'S RETURN - ANOTHER VISIT TO LAKE TORRENS - BOGGY CHARACTER OF ITS BED - EXTRAORDINARY EFFECTS OF MIRAGE AND REFRACTION - RETURN TO THE CAMP - SUPPLY OF WATER EXHAUSTED - LEAVE THE DEPOT - THE MUNDY - THE BURR - MOUNT SERLE - LAKE TORRENS TO THE EAST - MELANCHOLY PROSPECTS.

August 16. - UPON reaching the camp the extraordinary behaviour of the natives was soon explained to me. At the time when I left the depot on the 11th of August, in giving the overseer general directions for his guidance, I had among other matters requested him, if he found any natives in the neighbourhood, to try and get one up to the camp and induce him to remain until my return, that we might, if possible, gain some information as to the nature of the country or the direction of the waters.

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