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