s when I saw one of the
most interesting results of my expedition vanish into smoke. Mr.
Gilbert's small collection of plants, which I had carefully retained
hitherto, shared the same fate. But they were of less value, as they were
mostly in a bad state of preservation, from being too much crowded. My
collection had the great advantage of being almost complete in blossoms,
fruit, and seed, which I was enabled to ensure in consequence of the long
duration of our expedition, and of the comparative uniformity of the
Australian Flora.

I left the unfortunate place, and travelled about six miles up the river,
which kept a W. N. W. course. Open box-flats were bounded by ridges two
or three miles from the river. At the opposite side, ranges were seen
with some rocky bluff hills. Charley shot a bustard.

Oct. 22.--We travelled about seven miles to the westward, when we came to
a broad creek, which compelled us to go five miles to the southward in
order to cross it. The country was still a succession of box-flats along
the river, with rocky barren ranges in the distance; the latter, however,
approached so near the creek, that we found it difficult to pass along.
About two miles and a-half from our last camp, we had to cross a running
Casuarina brook, which, though very small, was so boggy, that two of our
horses were again in great danger of being lost.

Last night we heard the calls of natives at the opposite side of the
river. As soon as they saw us, they crossed the river, and came pretty
close to us: the discharge of our guns, however, kept them at a distance.
Several of our party, during their watches saw them moving with fire
sticks on the other side of the river. In the morning, three of them came
boldly up; so I went to them with some presents, and they became very
friendly indeed. Presents were exchanged; and they invited us in the most
pressing manner to accompany them to their camp; and were evidently
disappointed in finding that we could not swim. I gave them horse-nails,
and they asked me to bend them into fish-hooks. They had doubtless seen
or heard of white people before; but of our horses and bullocks they were
much afraid, and asked me whether they could bite: they accompanied me,
however, pretty near to the camp; but kept their arms round my waist, to
be sure of not being bitten. As we proceeded on our journey, they
followed us for a long distance, and offered Charley and Brown a gin, if
we would go to their