. Passing quickly over it, I continued my journey to the
N.W. over barren plains of red sandy loam of even surface, and bushes
of cypresses skirted by acacia pendula. It was not until after sunset
that we struck upon a creek, in which the water was excellent; and we
halted on its banks for the night, calculating our distance at
twenty-nine miles from the camp. The creek was of considerable size,
leading northerly. Several huts were observed by us, and from the heaps
of muscle-shells that were scattered about, there could be no doubt of
its being much frequented by the natives. The grass being fairly burnt
up, our animals found but little to eat, but they had a tolerable
journey, and did not attempt to wander in search of better food. I shot
a snipe near the creek, much resembling the painted snipe of India; but
I had not the means with me of preserving it.

A TRIBE OF NATIVES.

Continuing our journey on the following morning, we at first kept on
the banks of the creek, and at about a quarter of a mile from where we
had slept, came upon a numerous tribe of natives. A young girl sitting
by the fire was the first to observe us as we were slowly approaching
her. She was so excessively alarmed, that she had not the power to run
away; but threw herself on the ground and screamed violently. We now
observed a number of huts, out of which the natives issued, little
dreaming of the spectacle they were to behold. But the moment they saw
us, they started back; their huts were in a moment in flames, and each
with a fire-brand ran to and fro with hideous yells, thrusting them
into every bush they passed. I walked my horse quietly towards an old
man who stood more forward than the rest, as if he intended to devote
himself for the preservation of his tribe. I had intended speaking to
him, but on a nearer approach I remarked that he trembled so violently
that it was impossible to expect that I could obtain any information
from him, and as I had not time for explanations, I left him to form
his own conjectures as to what we were, and continued to move towards a
thick brush, into which they did not venture to follow us.

CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY.

After a ride of about eighteen miles, through a country of alternate
plain and brush, we struck upon a second creek leading like the first
to the northward. The water in it was very bitter and muddy, and it was
much inferior in appearance to that at which we had slept. After
stopping for half-an