McKinlays Journal of Exploration in the Interior of Australia | Page 9

of thousands of the flock pigeon here; in fact since we
came north of Lake Torrens they have been very numerous and at same
time very wary. Mr. Hodgkinson has been very successful in killing as
many of them as we can use, mixed with a little bacon. Before the
native went to fetch the pistol he displayed on his body, both before
and behind, the marks of ball and shot wounds now quite healed. One
ball inside of left knee so disabled him that he had to be carried about
(as he states) for some considerable time; he has also the mark of a
pistol bullet on right collarbone; and on his breast a number of
shot--some now in the flesh but healed. His family, consisting of four
lubras and two boys, remained close to our camp awaiting his return,
which he said (from pointing to the sun) would be 10 or 11 o'clock next
day. When called at twenty minutes to 11 p.m. to take my watch, I had
not been on duty ten minutes when I observed a signal fire in the
direction he had gone, about six miles distant, and wondered he did not

make his appearance, but all was quiet for the rest of the night,
excepting that at intervals the fire was replenished.
Wednesday, October 23.
4 a.m. Just as we were getting up, not very clear yet, headed by the
fellow I yesterday sent for the pistol, came about forty others bearing
torches, shields, etc. etc. etc., shouting and kicking up a great noise and
evidently endeavouring to surround us. I immediately ordered them
back, also telling the native that was with me to tell them that if they
did not keep back I would fire upon them, which they one and all
disregarded--some were then within a few paces of us, the others at
various other distances. I requested Hodgkinson and Middleton to be
ready with their arms and fire when desired. Seeing nothing else left
but to be butchered ourselves, I gave the word Fire. A few of those
closest retired a few paces and were being encouraged on to the attack
when we repeated our fire; and until several rounds were fired into
them (and no doubt many felt the effects) they did not wholly retire. I
am afraid the messenger, the greatest vagabond of the lot, escaped
scathless. They then took to the lake, and a few came round the western
side of it, southward, whom we favoured with a few dropping shots to
show the danger they were in by the distance the rifles would carry on
the water. They then cleared off and we finished with them. I then
buried the memo for any person that might happen to follow my
footsteps, at the same time informing them to beware of the natives as
we had, in self-defence, to fire upon them. I have no doubt, from the
manner they came up, that they at once considered us an easy prey; but
I fancy they miscalculated and I hope it may prove a useful lesson to
them in future. Got breakfast ready and over without further
molestation and started at 10.30 on a bearing of 197 degrees. At 11.15
reached a recently-flooded richly-grassed flat, surrounded by a margin
of trees; the main bulk of it lying south of our course; thence bearing
202 degrees, stopping twenty minutes for camels; and proceeding and
at 12.30 crossing north-west end of another dry lake or grassed and
clovered flat similar to the other. At 1.20 made a large box creek with
occasional gums, about from fifty to sixty yards wide and eighteen to
twenty feet deep, sandy bottom, where we struck it perfectly dry where
a stream flows to west of north with immense side creeks (I fancy
Cooper's Creek is a branch of it); followed its bed in its course

northward and at 2 p.m. reached a waterhole with no very considerable
quantity of water. Watered the camels and horses. This creek is named
Werridi Marara. From thence Lake Buchanan bears 232 degrees 30
minutes; Kadhiberri 41 degrees; Lake Mooliondhurunnie 296 degrees.
Crossed the creek and went on a bearing of 215 degrees 30 minutes till
6 p.m., striking same creek and following its bed (dry) for about two
miles and reached Dharannie Creek; a little indifferent water in its bed,
very steep banks (about thirty feet high) and sixty yards broad. The bed
of the creek from where we struck it at 6 p.m. was chiefly rocky or
conglomerate stone resembling burned limestone.
Thursday, October 24.
Left at 7.15 bearing 215 degrees; travelling one hour and twenty
minutes over splendid grassy flats with low intervening sand-ridges. At
five minutes to ten made Arannie, a recently-dried lake (abundance of
clover and