see how ill many of
the men looked. Their situation was really deplorable and I had with me
neither medicines nor proper food to give them. Abundance of these lay at
our depot not more than forty miles from us, yet to reach it was
impossible; and dawn this morning had only revealed to us a heavier surf
and stronger gale from the southward than we had yet experienced. None of
the men were well enough to undergo the fatigue of another day's walking,
so I busied myself with making observations and taking bearings, and thus
the forenoon wore away. The point of the coast on which we were lay in 24
degrees 30 minutes south latitude, and the mean temperature up to this
period had been:

6 A.M. 76.
12 M. 83.
3 P.M. 87.
6 P.M. 78 degrees.

At noon a portion of some disgusting damper and a small piece of pork was
served out to each of us and, having soon disposed of this, the men lay
down under the side of the boats, seeking some shelter from the burning
rays of a tropical sun which, being reflected back from the white sand,
were very oppressive.

AFFRAY WITH THE NATIVES.

I was occupied in sketching in a portion of the coastline, and whilst
thus engaged I thought I saw the figures of two natives moving upon a
hill a few hundred yards to the north of us; they appeared to me to be
behind some low bushes which were close to the summit of this hill. I
watched the bushes narrowly and felt nearly confident I saw them; but
however to be sure beyond a doubt I got up and took my eyes from the spot
for a few seconds whilst I walked to get my telescope. I then carefully
examined the hill with the glass and could see nothing but the low bushes
on it. "A pretty bushman I am," I thought to myself, "to be thus deceived
with two old shrubs; I should have known a native better;" and with a
feeling almost of annoyance at my mistake I resumed my seat on an
inverted water-keg and went on with my drawing. Within a minute's time an
alarm of natives was given, and starting up I saw from twenty to thirty
on some sandhills to the north of us, distant about two hundred yards;
their spears were fixed in their throwing-sticks and they evidently were
prepared for a fray. I therefore ran to the boat for my gun, which Ruston
tried to get out for me; and at this moment, on casting my eyes upwards,
I saw a native start up on the sandbank not more than fifteen yards from
Ruston and myself; he poised his spear for one second, and it then came
whistling at