as told, for
the death of a brother, had his face, head and breast so bedaubed with
white that he resembled a living skeleton; the others had large sticks,
snakes and other reptiles in their hands, but they were perfectly naked
and, crowding around him, presented a strange assemblage.

INCONVENIENT FORMALITY OF NATIVES MEETING.

I was anxious to learn from the principal personage the situation of the
water; but on this first meeting it was necessary, as usual on all such
occasions, to continue for some time patient and silent. This formality
was maintained very remarkably by the old man and Piper. In vain did I
desire the latter to ask him a question; each stood silent for a full
quarter of an hour about eight yards apart, neither looking at the other.
The female however became the intermediate channel of communication, for
both spoke alternately in a low tone to her. At length Piper addressed
the old man, raising his voice a little but with his head averted; and
the other answered him in the same way; until at length by slow degrees
they got into conversation. We were then informed that water was to be
found a mile or two on, and the old man agreed to guide overseer Burnett
and Piper to the place. I conducted the wheel-carriages along the firm
plain outside and, after proceeding more than 2 1/2 miles, I heard a shot
from Burnett, announcing his arrival at the water. I accordingly
proceeded with the party in that direction, and we encamped near the
river, amid the finest verdure that we had yet seen and after a journey
of nine miles. We were informed that the Lachlan contained water in more
abundance one or two days' journey lower down, and that the Murrumbidgee
was not far to the southward.

May 8.

This day being Sunday I gave the cattle rest; but Mr. Stapylton went down
the river with two men to make sure of water at our next stage. They
found a pond at the distance of about eleven miles; the way to it being
over a fine hard plain covered with mesembryanthemum and salsolae. The
party saw a large kangaroo, the first observed on the banks of the
Lachlan during this journey. The old man and his family had proceeded
across to Waljeers in order to procure mussels, the object, as I
understood, of his journey from the Murrumbidgee.

May 9.

We moved to the pond above-mentioned, named Yambarenga, and found near it
a number of large huts similar to those of the Darling. The water was
very green and muddy but the taste