Page:Some account of the wars, extirpation, habits.djvu/77

Rh between me and them. Conceiving that my presence would give them confidence, I crossed the Arthur River, accompanied by four of the friendly natives (this he did on a raft). Soon after I had crossed, a body of wild natives, well armed with spears, were descried in the woods, and advancing to where I then stood. This was at meridian. On their arrival I proposed to cross the river and proceed to my encampment; but this was objected to, and it was suggested that we should remain for the night on the south side of the river, and that the male aborigines should hunt for game.

"Previous to setting off on the hunting excursion, I distributed amongst them presents of beads, knives, boxes, handkerchiefs, &c., with which they appeared highly delighted.

"At the time I met these people I was unaccompanied by any but my aboriginal attendants, and without the slightest means of protection," (he means fire arms, for his men had their spears). "I sojourned for upwards of 18 hours with them."

He says that during the whole night he was with the Tackines "I was kept in a state of the most awful suspense that it is possible to imagine; for it was not till night set in that I was made acquainted with the extreme danger of my situation. Escape appeared to me impossible, and every moment I expected to be massacred. … I was in the midst of them. They slept not, but employed themselves in preparing their spears; some sitting with them across their shoulders, others held them across their knees, while others kept walking about. Their fires were put out, and they sat by the embers. My aborigines kept their fires in for the purpose of watching them, and the better to see their spears coming." (Then follows a little half-poetical bosh about nothing being heard but the "hoarse whisperings" of his new acquaintances, &c., which is not worth quoting.) "On this occasion I deemed it prudent not to evince the least feeling of alarm." So he undressed and lay down in his blanket as usual.

"At the earliest dawn of day, they made a large fire, round which the men assembled, and began preparing their weapons intended for my destruction. At this juncture, one of the wild natives (a relative of one of my friendly aborigines) commenced a vehement discussion, and argued against the injustice of killing me, and asked why they would kill their friend and protector?

"I had by this time put on my raiment. My aboriginal companions were exceedingly alarmed, and on looking for their spears, found that the wild natives had taken them away during the night. … In the midst of the discussion I rose up and stood in front of them, with my arms folded, thinking to divert their savage purpose. I said if they were not willing to go with