, and flooded. Four miles more
brought them to a salt-water creek, which had to be run up
a-mile-and-a-half before drinkable water was found. The camp was
pitched on a lotus lagoon, the water of which was slightly brackish.
It received the name of Thalia Creek. About two hours after camping,
whilst the party were engaged in digging trenches round them, and
otherwise preparing for an impending thunder-storm, the black-boy
that was tailing the cattle, came running into the camp in great
excitement, with the news that the natives that had been seen in the
morning, had hunted him and were now running the horses, so half the
party immediately turned out in pursuit. To protect the carbines
from the coming storm, Alexander Jardine and Scrutton arrayed
themselves the one in a black and the other a white mackintosh, which
reached to their heels, whilst the Leader having a short coat on, a
revolver in each pocket, jumped on to the bare-back of one of the
horses. This time it was not a "blank run." The horses were
scuttling about in all directions, and the natives waited for the
whites, close to a mangrove scrub, till they got within sixty yards
of them, when they began throwing spears. They were answered with
Terry's breech-loaders, but whether fascinated by the strange attire
of the three whites, or frightended by the report of the fire-arms,
or charge of the horse, they stood for some time unable to fight or
run. At last they slowly retired in the scrub, having paid for their
gratuitious attack by the loss of some of their companions. Some of
them were of very large stature. The storm broke with great violence
accompanied with thunder and lightning and scattered the cattle off
the camp in spite of the efforts of the party to keep them. The
thunder caused them to rush about, whilst darkness caused the
watchers to run against them, and add to their fright. So they were
let go. (Camp LIV.) Distance 11 or 12 miles north.

'December' 29.--The cattle were all gathered this morning, save 10,
for which Frank Jardine left two of the black-boys to seek and then
follow the party. To his great annoyance they came on at night
without them. The course to-day was N.N.E. over boggy tea-tree
flats, and low stringy-bark ridges. At three miles a large running
creek, one hundred yards wide, was struck, and had to be followed up
for four miles before a crossing was found. Four miles further
brought them to a small creek, well sup