of trees, so
thickly laid that it serves to exclude the sun and a great deal of
rain); thus destroying every remnant of clothing. King told me that
nothing was saved but a gun, although his narrative says a pistol
also; but Mr. Burke's pistol was burnt.

The incidents of the journal from the 27th of May to the 5th of
June, show how well my son had established himself in the good
graces of the natives. Had it been his fortune to have survived, we
should probably have had an interesting account of these simple
aborigines and their doings.

. . .

Friday, 7th June, 1861.--Started in the afternoon for the
blacks' camp with such things as we could take; found ourselves all
very weak in spite of the abundant supply of fish that we have
lately had. I, myself, could scarcely get along, although carrying
the lightest swag, only about thirty pounds. Found that the blacks
had decamped, so determined on proceeding to-morrow up to the next
camp, near the nardoo field.

Saturday, 8th June, 1861.--With the greatest fatigue and difficulty
we reached the nardoo camp. No blacks, greatly to our disappointment;
took possession of their best mia-mia and rested for the remainder
of the day.

Sunday, 9th June, 1861.--King and I proceeded to collect nardoo,
leaving Mr. Burke at home.

Monday, 10th June, 1861.--Mr. Burke and King collecting nardoo;
self at home too weak to go out; was fortunate enough to shoot a
crow.--[Here follow some meteorological notes which appear to
relate to another period.]

Tuesday, 11th June, 1861.--King out for nardoo; Mr. Burke up the
creek to look for the blacks.

Wednesday, 12th June, 1861.--King out collecting nardoo; Mr. Burke
and I at home pounding and cleaning. I still feel myself, if
anything, weaker in the legs, although the nardoo appears to be
more thoroughly digested.

Thursday, 13th June, 1861.--Last night the sky was pretty clear,
and the air rather cold, but nearly calm, a few cirrostratus hung
about the north-east horizon during the first part of the night.
Mr. Burke and King out for nardoo; self weaker than ever; scarcely
able to go to the waterhole for water. Towards afternoon,
cirrocumulus and cirrostratus began to appear moving northward.
Scarcely any wind all day.

Friday, 14th June, 1861.--Night alternately clear and cloudy;
cirrocumulus and cumulostratus moving northwards; no wind;
beautifully mild for the time of year; in the morning some heavy
clouds on the horizon. King out