Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia | Page 8

of one mile rounded a bluff point; the limestone hills to the
eastward gradually decreased in elevation and we ascended one of them
to gain a view of the surrounding country. I found that the summit of
this range consisted of a terrace about half a mile wide, richly grassed
and ornamented with clumps of mimosas; to the eastward rose a
precisely similar limestone terrace, whilst to the westward lay the
estuary with its verdant and extensive flats.
APPEARANCE OF NATIVES.
As we wound our way along this terrace a large party of natives
suddenly appeared on the high ground to the eastward of us. They
evinced no fear whatever but advanced to within about two hundred
yards, when I went forward with Kaiber to induce them to hold an
interview with us; this however I could not bring about, for whenever I
advanced they retreated, and when I retired they advanced; they also
now began to shout out to their distant fellows, and these again cooeed
to others still farther off, until the calls were lost in the distance, whilst
fresh reinforcements of natives came trooping in from all directions.
INDICATIONS OF HOSTILITY. PROGRESS OPPOSED BY
NATIVES.

Our situation was growing critical for had any of the party been
wounded we could not attempt to save his life by remaining with him
without the almost certain danger of losing our own, whilst on the other
hand to have abandoned him under such circumstances would have
been impossible. I was most anxious to get rid of these natives in peace,
as they now could not be induced to come to us, being most probably
fearful of our numbers. I hoped therefore they would let us go quietly
on our way and moved the party forward; but they now followed us
with loud shouts, whilst those in the distance came running up. I again
halted but they would hold no communication, and when in despair I
again moved the party on we saw a number hastening to occupy a thick
scrub through which we had to pass. The men now became so
dissatisfied and alarmed that I found I should be unable much longer to
restrain them from firing if I did not disperse the natives.
I therefore halted the party, and cocking my gun moved rapidly towards
them, motioning them away; they retired as I advanced, but directly I
turned they again followed us; I now ran towards them with my gun
pointed, when they made off before me once more, and in order to
complete their dispersion I had intended to fire over their heads; but to
my great mortification and their intense delight, my gun snapped, and,
as they found the weapon I had with me, and with which I had menaced
them in so authoritative a manner, appeared to produce no effect, they
took courage, and, turning about, made faces at me and an insulting
noise which was meant to imitate the snapping of the gun. Their
inimical intentions now became more manifest; I however ran at them
again, and fired my second barrel over their heads, which caused a
rapid retreat; but they halted on a rising ground about three hundred
yards from us, and finding on the muster of their forces that they had
sustained no damage, they made preparations, as if resolved to
commence hostilities in earnest.
NATIVES DISPERSED.
As these natives had now unfortunately learnt to despise our weapons I
was compelled to act promptly, or blood would undoubtedly have been
shed. I therefore took my rifle from Coles and, directing it at a heap of
closely matted dead bushes which were distant two or three yards to the
right of their main body, I drove a ball right through it: the dry rotten
boughs crackled, and flew in all directions, whilst our enemy, utterly

confounded at this distant, novel, and unfair mode of warfare, fled from
the field in confusion, the majority of our party rejoicing at the
bloodless victory: we then wended our way along the native path which
led us down to the flats bordering the estuary, and finding there an
underground stream of water bubbling along through a limestone cavity
and having several openings upwards, we halted to refresh ourselves.
I had hoped that finding hostile natives in our vicinity would have
made the stragglers keep up better with the party, but they would
neither hasten on nor throw away their loads, so that my patience was
sorely tried; a man of the name of Stiles was the worst; nothing could
induce him to move along, and even the threat of leaving him behind
produced no effect; I however kept pushing steadily onwards, for I
never thought of the length of the journey we had to perform without
trembling for the