r instance in Australia, which is as a rule very
deficient in permanent rivers.

We now turned our attention to getting sufficient provisions cooked to
last the exploring party for three days, as we were determined to
employ the utmost vigilance, and show as little smoke as possible, for
nothing creates such suspicion amongst the aboriginals as seeing fresh
fires constantly lighted, unless accompanied by the smoke signals,
which I have described in a former chapter. As we were utterly
ignorant of the code they employed, we resolved only to light our fires
at night, and not even then unless we found some sequestered spot where
the flame would be unseen. Some of us at once started for a large
lagoon that we had passed in the morning, and creeping up through the
long grass, found its surface quite covered with water-fowl of every
description, from the black swan to the beautiful pigmy goose. A
volley, fired at a concerted signal, strewed the surface of the lake
with the dead and wounded, and we were compelled to stand idly on the
bank until the wind wafted the game ashore, for at the report of the
guns two or three heavy splashes and as many dusky forms gliding into
the water betokened that we had disturbed alligators, either having a
nap, or lying in wait for kangaroos and wallaby coming down to drink.
More than one house now stands on the margin of this lagoon, but their
inhabitants are still afraid to bathe in the broad sheet of water
spread so invitingly before them.

Having secured our game, we returned to the boat, and after plucking
and splitting open the birds, some were roasted over the fire for
immediate use, but by far the greater number were boiled in a pot,
which was portion of the boat's furniture when on an expedition. One
of the troopers had with a tomahawk stripped off a sheet of bark, and
on this was manufactured a gigantic damper. For the information of
such of my readers as may be unacquainted with Australia, I must
explain that damper is unleavened bread, well kneaded and baked in the
ashes. But simple though such a rough form of loaf may seem from the
above description, it is in reality a very difficult thing to turn out
a thoroughly good damper, and only practice will enable the new-comer
to obtain the sleight of hand necessary for the production of a
first-rate specimen. In form a damper resembles a flat cheese of two
or three inches thick, and from one to two feet in diameter. Great care
a