Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/246

 halted, we passed over a small tract of the richest land I ever saw, to the best of my recollection. Travelled eleven miles this morning, and rested in a valley where there is plenty of grass. After taking a little refreshment, we commenced our journey again, and in a little time met with a small party of natives; these are the first I have seen on this excursion. We got a green branch, (which is the emblem of peace,) shouted, and made many signs, but all was unavailing; poor Mungo, I venture to say, was never in such a predicament in his life before; he shouted, and appeared to boil with rage, showed his spear and throwing stick, but when he found that all his bravado did not deter us, but that we still kept advancing, his courage forsook him, and the whole party took to their heels, and away they ran, hooting and muttering, yet apparently terrified beyond measure; and no wonder, for I suppose they had never seen an European before, much less a horse, with a man thereon. As they worship the sun, and probably other celestial bodies, they might think "the Gods had come down." Very little good land this afternoon. Saw thirty kangaroos to-day.

November 3d.— Not having any water last night, except what we had in some small canteens, we arose at half past four o'clock, and commenced a brisk march before breakfast; we got very wet, some heavy showers of rain fell, and after walking six miles, we felt something like Cowper's "Farmer at the tything time in Essex." It was no time to joke. Passed over two or three pieces of excellent land this morning, and beautifully situated; many charming farms may be got about here, from 100 to a 1000 acres, more or less. After breakfast we set off again, and were highly delighted, whilst walking about nine miles over the best land I have seen in the colony; we then fell in with a strong stream, which afterwards proved to be the same, or a branch of the same, discovered by Messrs. Dale and Brockman before: the land here is very good and covered with grasses of excellent quality, even to the tops of the hills; and, in a short time, this part will be found peculiarly applicable to breeding and grazing sheep and young cattle. In my opinion, I never saw a finer country for sheep.