Page:Extracts from the letters and journals of George Fletcher Moore.djvu/138

 112 them yet; on seeing us prepare to depart, they called to others, who came in groups, until they amounted to twenty-eight merry looking fellows, who accompanied us in a friendly manner for some miles; one of them begged for a few hairs of my horse's mane, which he seemed to prize exceedingly. These people appeared to have painted themselves fresh for the visit; and if we could judge from their anxiously pointing in a particular direction, they invited us to take a lunch at their village; however, we went in a line precisely opposite. Soon afterwards, finding ourselves perplexed in the mazes of a swamp, we began to think that we should have taken their advice, and that the exclamation of "Bogh" was kindly meant to indicate some bridge or ford higher up; at last, however, we got out of the swamp; crossed a sandy country; saw many tracts of natives; halted at a good grassy stream; drank tea, and went to sleep.

8th.—Continued our progress at a rapid pace over a plain of white clay, which produced white and red gum trees; halted, and refreshed ourselves at Ellen's brook; broiled our slices of pork at the fire on the end of a long stick; forward again; had a view of a limestone vein two miles broad, and dined at Mr. Bull's, where I met Mr. Macleod of the 63rd, and several other gentlemen; at night Messrs. Dale and Mackie accompanied me to my own habitation, where I once more got into bed