t
upon yesterday, and thence to trace upward, or to the left. But before I
descend, I must not forget to relate that to this pile of desolation on
which, like the fallen angel on the top of Niphates, we stood contemplating
our nether Eden, His Excellency was pleased to give the name of Tench's
Prospect Mount.

Our fatigue to-day had been excessive; but our two sable companions seemed
rather enlivened than exhausted by it. We had no sooner halted and given
them something to eat than they began to play ten thousand tricks and
gambols. They imitated the leaping of the kangaroo; sang, danced, poised
the spear and met in mock encounter. But their principal source of
merriment was again derived from our misfortunes, in tumbling amidst
nettles, and sliding down precipices, which they mimicked with inimitable
drollery. They had become, however, very urgent in their inquiries about
the time of our return, and we pacified them as well as we could by saying
it would be soon, but avoided naming how many days.

Their method of testifying dislike to any place is singular: they point to
the spot they are upon, and all around it, crying 'weeree, weeree' (bad)
and immediately after mention the name of any other place to which they
are attached (Rose Hill or Sydney for instance), adding to it 'budyeree,
budyeree' (good). Nor was their preference in the present case the
result of caprice, for they assigned very substantial reasons for such
predilection: "At Rose Hill," said they, "are potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins,
turnips, fish and wine; here are nothing but rocks and water." These
comparisons constantly ended with the question of "Where's Rose Hill?
Where?" on which they would throw up their hands and utter a sound to
denote distance, which it is impossible to convey an idea of upon paper.

Thursday, April 14th, 1791. We started early and reached the river in about
two hours and a half. The intermediate country, except for the last half
mile, was a continued bed of stones, which were in some places so thick and
close together that they looked like a pavement formed by art. When we got
off the stones, we came upon the coarse river sand beforementioned.

Here we began to trace upward. We had not proceeded far when we saw several
canoes on the river. Our natives made us immediately lie down among the
reeds, while they gave their countrymen the signal of approach. After much
calling, finding that they did not come, we continued our progres