The Fact Of Two Rivers, Each Containing A Constant
Supply Of Water, Being Found In Such Close Proximity To Each Other, Caused
Much Remark, For None Of Us Had Ever Observed A Similar Instance In
Australia, Which Is As A Rule Very Deficient In Permanent Rivers.
We now turned our attention to getting sufficient provisions cooked to last
the exploring party for three days, as
We were determined to employ the
utmost vigilance, and show as little smoke as possible, for nothing creates
such suspicion amongst the aboriginals as seeing fresh fires constantly
lighted, unless accompanied by the smoke signals, which I have described in
a former chapter. As we were utterly ignorant of the code they employed,
we resolved only to light our fires at night, and not even then unless we
found some sequestered spot where the flame would be unseen. Some of us at
once started for a large lagoon that we had passed in the morning, and
creeping up through the long grass, found its surface quite covered with
water-fowl of every description, from the black swan to the beautiful pigmy
goose. A volley, fired at a concerted signal, strewed the surface of the
lake with the dead and wounded, and we were compelled to stand idly on the
bank until the wind wafted the game ashore, for at the report of the guns
two or three heavy splashes and as many dusky forms gliding into the water
betokened that we had disturbed alligators, either having a nap, or lying
in wait for kangaroos and wallaby coming down to drink.
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