Page:Australia, from Port Macquarie to Moreton Bay.djvu/94

 as the river was not fordable until ten or twelve miles higher up, and he would be then obliged to cross its other two arms also. It was in vain that I tried to persuade the blacks to go over to him; promises and threats were equally disregarded. At length, having told them that they should not have the reward I had promised them, "the Bullock" was at last induced to swim across. I directed this black to remain with Boot, and ascend the Nambucca with him to the ford on the north arm. I also gave "the Bullock" the remains of our damper, and bacon, in a small bag, which he fastened on the top of his head, among his long hair, that it might not get wet as he swam.

Whilst I was watching "the Bullock's" progress across the water, the other blacks speared some fish. I had sent the last remnant of our provisions across to Boot, as we were now only eight miles from the cedar sawyers* huts at Werral creek; but as I felt rather hungry from our walk and swim, I was glad to eat a broiled fish, without either bread or salt. We now walked along the sea beach, on which I shot a couple of that beautiful kind of sea-bird which the colonists call Redbills. We slept this night at Werral creek, and next day reached my station at the MacLeay. Boot arrived two days afterwards.

This excursion of mine to the Bellengen, was of no use with regard to the object I had in view, in proceeding thither, for both the valley of the river, and the mountains enclosing it, were covered with such dense brushes, as to afford very little country