ceased, or gave place to bulrushes. There were
general appearances of inundation, and of the subsidence of waters, but
none that led us to suppose that any channel existed beyond the flooded
lands.

ALARM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PROVISION PARTY.

On our return to the camp, we observed dense masses of smoke rising at
the head of the marshes, and immediately under Mount Foster. This
excited our alarm for the safety of the party we hoped to find at Mount
Harris, and obliged us to make forced marches, to relieve it if
threatened by the natives.

On the 22nd, we crossed the plains of the Macquarie, and surprised a
numerous tribe on the banks of the river; and the difficulty we found
in getting any of them to approach us, their evident timidity, and the
circumstance of one of them having on a jacket, tended to increase our
apprehensions. When two or three came to us, they intimated that white
men either had been or were under Mount Harris, but we were left in
uncertainty and passed a most anxious night.

The body of reeds was still on fire; and the light embers were carried
to an amazing distance by the wind, falling like a black-shower around
us. As we knew that the natives never made such extensive
conflagration, unless they had some mischievous object in view, our
apprehension for the safety of Riley, with his supplies, was increased.

At the earliest dawn, we pushed for the hill. In passing that part of
the meadows under Mount Foster, we observed that the grass had also
been consumed, and we scarcely recognized the ground from its altered
appearance. As we approached Mount Harris, we saw recent traces of
cattle, but none were visible on the plains. Under the hill, however,
we could distinctly see that a hut of some kind had been erected, and
it is impossible for me to describe the relief we felt when a soldier
came forward to reconnoitre us. I could no longer doubt the safety of
the party, and this was confirmed by the rest of the men turning out to
welcome us. It appeared that our suspicions with regard to the natives
had not been without foundation, since they attempted to surprise the
camp, and it was supposed the firing of the marshes was done with a
view to collect the distant tribes, to make a second attack; so that
our arrival was most opportune.

The party I found awaiting our arrival at Mount Harris consisted of one
soldier, Riley, who had the charge of the supplies, and a drayman. They
had found the paper