I took a set of angles from this point but the mistiness of the day rendered it very unfit for my purpose.

Whilst I was thus occupied, we heard the cries and calls of a party of natives between us and the tents.

From the loudness and proximity of these I augured badly and therefore hurried my return; but we neither saw the natives themselves nor their tracks, and were quite in ignorance as to what had been their intentions.

Soon after sunset the weather cleared up a little, and the stars, which came peeping out, promised well for the next day.
NATIVES NEAR THE CAMP AGAIN.
March 21.
Although it had rained during the night and the sun this morning rose bright and clear the country was still impassable owing to the late continued torrents.

I therefore went out with a detachment for the purpose of exploring a route by which we could proceed the next day, as well as to define some more points in the country we were about to enter.
In the course of our walk we crossed the track of the natives we had heard yesterday.