Macquarie, and took two of the most
perfect to preserve. In the afternoon one of the men came to inform me
that the tribe was coming down upon us.

Mr. Hume and I, therefore, went to meet them. They were at this time
about 150 yards from the tent, but seeing us advance, they stopped, and
forming two deep, they marched to and fro, to a war song I suppose,
crouching with their spears. We had not, however, any difficulty in
communicating with them, and I shall detail the manner in which this
was brought about, in hopes that it may help to guide others. When the
natives saw us advance, they stopped, and we did the same. Mr. Hume
then walked to a tree, and broke off a short branch. It is singular
that this should, even with these rude people, be a token of peace. As
soon as they saw the branch, the natives laid aside their spears, and
two of them advanced about twenty paces in front of the rest, who sat
down. Mr. Hume then went forward and sat down, when the two natives
again advanced and seated themselves close to him.

Now it is evident that a little insight into the customs of every
people is necessary to insure a kindly communication; this, joined with
patience and kindness, will seldom fail with the natives of the
interior. It is not to avoid alarming their natural timidity that a
gradual approach is so necessary. They preserve the same ceremony among
themselves. These men, who were eighteen in number, came with us to the
tents, and received such presents as we had for them. They conducted
themselves very quietly, and, after a short time, left us with every
token of friendship.

LARGE CREEK.

On the 21st we proceeded down the river on a N.N.W. course, and at
about five miles struck upon a very large creek, apparently coming from
the E.N.E.

Although the Castlereagh had increased in size, this creek was
infinitely larger; it was, however, perfectly dry. Lofty flooded-gum
trees were upon its banks, and it appeared so much superior to the
river that I was induced to halt the party at the junction, in order to
examine it more closely. Mr. Hume, therefore, rode with me up the right
bank. We had not proceeded very far, when some natives called out to us
from the opposite scrub. Thinking that they belonged to the tribe we
had left behind us, we pointed to the junction, and motioned them to go
there, but one of the party continued to follow and call to us for some
time. On our return to the men, we found that the natives