our course. The
carts having come up about one P.M., the blacksmith was set to work and
wrought throughout the night to repair all the claw-chains.

NATIVES VERY SHY.

While other men were employed at the log-bridge some natives were heard
coming along the most southern of the two streams; whereupon Piper went
towards them as usual and found they were females with children; but from
the moment they discovered us until they were fairly out of hearing their
shrieks were so loud and incessant that it seemed, for once, our presence
in that country had been unknown to the surrounding natives, a proof
perhaps of the smallness of their numbers. In the evening other natives
(men) were heard approaching along the creek, and we at first supposed
they had come to that place as their rendezvous to meet the gins and
their families whom we had unwillingly scared; but Mr. Stapylton, during
his ride home along one side of the ravine, had observed four natives
very intent on following the outward track of his horses' hoofs on the
other; and these were doubtless the same men guided by his tracks to our
camp. They could not be brought to a parley however, although Piper and
Burnett at first invited them towards the camp and, when they set off,
pursued them across the opposite ridge.

CHETWYND RIVULET.

On the bank of this little stream I found a charming species of
Tetratheca, with large rich purple flowers and slender stems growing in
close tufts about a foot high. It was perhaps the most beautiful plant we
met with during the expedition.*

(*Footnote. T. ciliata, Lindley manuscripts; caulibus erectis tomentosis
filiformibus, foliis oppositis verticillatisque obovatis ovatisque
ciliatis subtus glabris, pedicellis setosis, sepalis ovatis concavis
acutis, petalis obovatis.)

August 6.

The passage of the rivulet which I named the Chetwynd, after Stapylton
who had explored it at considerable risk, was effected with ease by the
temporary bridge and we proceeded, soon crossing by similar means two
other running streams, probably tributaries to this.

SLOW PROGRESS OVER THE SOFT SURFACE.

When we had travelled four miles we came to a swamp where a considerable
current of water was flowing into it through some ponds; the margin of
this running water being broad, flat, and grassy, and having also lofty
gumtrees (white bark and eucalypti) growing on it. Unfortunately it was
so soft and rotten, as the men described it, that all the whe