, and both of the fish cooked and eaten: the large one was
in good condition. Moving on again after my late breakfast, I
passed Camp 67 of the journey to Carpentaria, and camped for the
night under some polygonum bushes.

Monday, 3rd June, 1861.--Started at seven o'clock, and keeping on
the south bank of the creek was rather encouraged at about three
miles by the sound of numerous crows ahead; presently fancied I
could see smoke, and was shortly afterwards set at my ease by
hearing a cooey from Pitchery, who stood on the opposite bank, and
directed me round the lower end of the waterhole, continually
repeating his assurance of abundance of fish and bread. Having with
some considerable difficulty managed to ascend the sandy path that
led to the camp, I was conducted by the chief to a fire where a
large pile of fish were just being cooked in the most approved
style. These I imagined to be for the general consumption of the
half-dozen natives gathered around, but it turned out that they had
already had their breakfast. I was expected to dispose of this
lot--a task which, to my own astonishment, I soon accomplished,
keeping two or three blacks pretty steadily at work extracting the
bones for me. The fish being disposed of, next came a supply of
nardoo cake and water until I was so full as to be unable to eat
any more; when Pitchery, allowing me a short time to recover
myself, fetched a large bowl of the raw nardoo flour mixed to a
thin paste, a most insinuating article, and one that they appear to
esteem a great delicacy. I was then invited to stop the night
there, but this I declined, and proceeded on my way home.

Tuesday, 4th June, 1861.--Started for the blacks' camp intending to
test the practicability of living with them, and to see what I
could learn as to their ways and manners.

Wednesday, 5th June, 1861.--Remained with the blacks. Light rain
during the greater part of the night, and more or less throughout
the day in showers. Wind blowing in squalls from south.

Thursday, 6th June, 1861.--Returned to our own camp: found that Mr.
Burke and King had been well supplied with fish by the blacks. Made
preparation for shifting our camp nearer theirs on the morrow.

. . .

During my son's absence, which lasted for eleven days, in which
he travelled altogether above seventy miles, King mentions in his
narrative that Mr. Burke, whilst frying some fish set fire to the
mia-mia (a shelter made by the blacks with bushes