That they appreciated my apparent lenity in not calling for the defaulter, I am sure, and I feel perfectly conscious that I should have failed in my duty had I acted otherwise than I did.
EFFECT OF FIRING A GUN.
Although the natives had shown so good a disposition, as they were numerous, I thought it as well, since I was about to leave the camp, to show them that I had a power they little dreamt of about me.

I therefore called for my gun and fired a ball into a tree.

The effect of the report upon the natives, was truly ridiculous.

Some stood and stared at me, others fell down, and others ran away; and it was with some difficulty we collected them again.

At last, however, we did so, and, leaving them to pick out the ball, mounted our horses and struck away for the Darling.
We crossed the river a little above where we struck it, and then proceeded N.W.into the interior.
EXCURSION ACROSS THE DARLING.
It is impossible for me to describe the nature of the country over which we passed, for the first eight miles.