We passed several native huts shortly after leaving the creek that were
differently constructed from any we had seen. They were all arched
elliptically by bending the bough of a tree at a certain height from the
ground, and resting the other end on a forked stick at the opposite side
of the arch. A thick layer of boughs was then put over the roof and back,
on which there was also a thick coating of red clay, so that the hut was
impervious to wind or heat. These huts were of considerable size, and
close to each there was a smaller one equally well made as the larger.
Both were left in perfect repair, and had apparently been swept prior to
the departure of their inmates.
On the 8th we started at 5 a.m., and reached our destination (a place to
which Mr. Poole had already been) at 11. We crossed barren stony plains,
having some undulating ground to our left, and the magnetic hill as well
as another to the south of it shewed as thunder clouds above the horizon.
On our arrival at the creek we found about 30 fires of natives still
burning, whom we must have frightened away. We did not see any of them,
nor did I attempt to follow on their tracks which led up the creek.
As I have already stated the fall of Flood's Creek was to the west. The
creek from which we had just removed, as well as the one on which we then
were, fell in the opposite direction or to the eastward, terminating
after short courses either in grassy plains or in shallow lagoons.
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