and there found a grave rudely formed by the natives, evidently not one
of themselves, sufficient pains not having been taken, and from other
appearances at once set it down as the grave of a white, be he who he
may. Returned to lake to await the coming of the camels which was not
till about 5 p.m. Determined in the morning to have the grave opened and
ascertain its contents. Whilst I went to top of sandhills, looking round
me, Mr. Hodgkinson strayed a short distance to some old deserted native
huts a short distance off, and by and by returned bearing with him an old
flattened pint pot, no marks upon it--further evidence that it was a
white, and felt convinced that the grave we saw was that of a white man;
plenty of clover and grasses the whole distance travelled, about eighteen
miles. Kept watch as usual (but did not intend doing so) but just as we
were retiring a fire suddenly struck up and we thought some of the
natives had followed us, or some others had come to the lake, rather a
strange matter after dark. The fire soon after disappeared, which made us
more certain still that it was natives. Intend spelling the camels for a
few days to recruit them; one on arrival was completely done up and none
of the others looking very sprightly.

Monday, October 21.

Up in good time; before starting for the grave went round the lake,
taking Mr. Hodgkinson with me to see if natives were really on lake, as I
did not intend saddling the camels today if there were no natives here,
intending to leave our camp unprotected, rather unwise, but being so
short of hands could not help it, the grave being much out of sight.
Found no natives round the lake nor any very recent traces saving that
some of the trees were still burning that they (when here last) had
lighted. We started at once for the grave, taking a canteen of water with
us and all the arms. On arrival removed the earth carefully and close to