Before I resume the history of the conflict with the natives on the Rufus, from the point to which it was brought in No. 22 of this series, it is necessary to hark back and return to the time when the first news of the attack on Inman's party reached the Government, and was published in the Register of the 21st April, 1841.

I have now through the favor or Mr. T. J. S. O'Halloran, S.M., the use of his respected father's well-kept diary, from which I can give the account of the proceedings of the first police party under Major O'Halloran, which was dispatched by His Excellency Colonel Gawler on the day after the distressing news was published, but which force His Excellency from his embarrassed position found himself compelled to recall when within two days' journey of their destination — that is, from the spot where the greater part of the sheep were supposed still to be alive, and might be recovered. Major O'Halloran in his diary records : —

" On the 22nd of April, I started with a police force consisting of Inspector Tolmer, Dr. Weston, and 13 men, sub-officers, and privates." [Dr. Weston was sent by the Governor to dress the wounds of Mr. Inman and his men.]

" On the 23rd arrived at Dutton's Station, and found Messrs. Bagot, G. C. and J. C. Hawker, Jacob, Hart, and others. Inman and his party had arrived only two hours before we had, in a very weak and exhausted state, Inman and two of his men severely wounded, he having three spear wounds, and one of the men seven. They are now all doing well, although Inman is greatly emaciated, having travelled seven weeks in his wounded state. Before we arrived, Field started with Mr. Jacobs, jun. in quest of Inman, but has been re-called to accompany me with two of the shepherds and a native boy. Have arranged with Mr. Hawker to forward supplies to the bend of the Murray. Wrote by Mr. Allen to Private Secretary Hall, reporting progress for Governor's information.

" Saturday, 24. — Dr. Weston returned to town, having dressed the wounds of the patients. The party under me now consists of Inspector Tolmer, 14 police, Mr. Field, and a native boy, having 19 horses and one cart. Moved off at 11.30 a.m., guided by the native boy Tommy, for the Nicota Springs. Arrived at 5.30 p.m. Here met Messrs. Jacob and Field, jun. Found the course we took quite dangerous for carts or drays. Detained waiting for cart with supplies from Gawler. Police-constable McLean arrived, and reported cart coming up drawn by bullocks, horses having refused. In consequence have to remain for the day — a great loss. Notified by letter to Mr. Allen that I could not add him to my party. At 1.30 p.m. Corporal Prewett arrived with two police-constables, one native, 'Sambo', and two of Inman's shepherds, with a cart and three bullocks with provisions from Gawler.

" After dinner, at 3 p.m., leaving Mr. Jacob, jun., started with Inspector Tolmer, 18 police constables, Lieut. Field, Field, jun., two shepherds, two natives, a bullockdriver, 23 horses, three bullocks, and two carts. Dispatched Police-constable Saunders to town with letters. At 5.30 p.m. camped at margin of scrub. Scrubby feed; no water.

" Monday, April 26.— Moved off at 8 a.m. Rain, with thunder and lightning. Made the 'Pound' on the Murray at 4 p.m. Good feed on the flat ; much needed by the cattle. The river here not more than 100 yards wide. Put the party on one pint of flour daily to each, and ordered rice to be mixed in the dampers to make the allowance go farther.

" Tuesday, 27.— At 8.30 marched for the North-West Bend. Ordered the Inspectors on the march to drill the men in carbine and sword exercises, and in the formation of threes charging. Explained to the party my orders from His Excellency in presence of Lieut. Field and Inspector Tolmer. At midday halted for dinner, on a rich flat, on which we found survey pegs. The water in the river muddy, but sweet. At 4.30 camped about the west end of the bend, and just past a lagoon, where we disturbed some natives who were cooking. The bend is not abrupt, but gradually rounds off to the eastward. The sun at times powerfully hot.

" Wednesday, 28. — As I find our flour likely to run short, and our progress is slow, waiting for the dray, I have ordered two of the troopers to return, and by this arrangement our flour may last ten days. By the police sent a letter to Private Secretary Hall, also one to Mr. Hawker, with an order for 100 lbs. of flour to be sent on to us. Marched at 8.30 a.m. Encamped at 5.15 p.m. Made 19 miles; road very heavy; cart horses knocked up. Encamped at a spot where several parties have been attacked by the natives, and where one European was killed by the natives and lies buried between two trees, with 'F' cut upon one of them. From what I can gather from some of the men who came overland several blacks had been killed here. Mr. Tooth was attacked and nearly killed. Mr. Eyre was turned back and obliged to get further strength before he could pass. This night and for the future good positions for camping will be selected, and double sentries posted.

" Thursday, 29.— Left 'Dead Man's Flat,' so named by me, at 8 a.m. Found roads dreadfully heavy. Changed draught horses at midday hoping to make better progress, but will scarcely make 20 miles. It is fortunate that we have amongst the police horses four good in collar. The cart horses are allowed oats. At 9.30 a.m., saw a vast number of native feet-marks along the track. The dogs killed a wallaby with a young one in her pouch. Had to pass a flat seven miles long which I named the 'Great Flat.' When about half way across saw natives on the opposite bank, who gave us the 'Cooee.' Others I think were hiding behind trees, as the voices seemed to be numerous. To the left of this flat there is a long narrow lake, running a considerable distance. Encamped for the night on another flat, not far from the former, at 4.30p.m. Distance 19 miles. I call this Pine Flat.

" Friday, 30. — Marched at 8 a.m. About mid-day the dogs killed a wild dog, at which time a despatch arrived through the Private Secretary, ordering me to return with the party to town. Proceeded onwards, however, expecting to find a flat to feed the horses, and refresh the party, and dispatch Inspector Tolmer in advance to see if he could find a good flat, on his return he reported that we must proceed several miles further, ere we could be suited. At 14 miles a halt was ordered. At 2.30 p.m., made a movement homeward. Our advance from Adelaide was at our return 161 miles. Lieut. Field proposes to return to-morrow morning to Mount Dispersion, and in that neighborhood to beat up for volunteers to accompany him back to endeavor to recover the sheep. I will give him, as escort till he gets to his destination, two troopers. It is with extreme pain that I have been obliged to return back to Adelaide when within 50 miles of the place where lnman and Field were attacked ; but I have no alternative, as an old soldier, than to obey His Excellency's orders, who of course has his own just reasons for ordering me back, and which it is my duty not to question, but obey. Ordered Police constables Stuart and Rose to be ready in the morning to accompany Lieut. Field back, and to take sufficient rations for the journey.

" Saturday, May 1. Lieut. Field and the two men left the camp at daybreak. Sent a note to Hawker to countermand the order for flour, and also to report my return march. On the 29th Mr. Tolmer and Sergeant-Major Alford shot a duck and three wild geese on the lake, and as we got to the extreme western end of this lone flat we surprised a party of natives, who had a canoe with a fire in it, and a duck, which I suppose they were about to cook. They had also a fishing-net, and on seeing us they dashed off in great alarm, and remained in the centre of the stream till we departed. At 4.30 p.m. halted for the night in a good reed flat. Twenty-two miles under a scorching sun.

" Sunday, May 2.— Started at 7.30 a.m. Delayed at a steep hill up which the horses refused to pull, and the cart was drawn up by the men. Some time after this, when riding on ahead of the party a considerable distance, I saw about 50 natives on the opposite bank, who began chattering loudly when they saw me. At 9.30 a.m., when in the centre of ' Dead Man's Flat, we espied a cow and calf in the reeds. I fired two shots with a rifle at the calf, and, though not more than 50 yards off, I am ashamed to add that I missed. I ordered then a general chase, and Sergeant-Major Alford rode up and from his horse dropped the calf with a ball from his carbine. It was a bull calf, as fat as butter, about ten months old, and would weigh about 160 lbs. We cut off his hind-quarters, which will be sufficient for our wants as long as the meat will keep, and the rest we left in hopes that the blacks might get a feast. This supply of fresh meat is most acceptable, as we have been living on ship pork for some time past. At the extreme end of Dead Man's Flat the horses again refused to draw the cart up that very steep hill, and the men had to do. it. At 13 miles the horses in the cart were done up, and with a change of horses reached the Bend at 5:30 p.m;, having marched. 25 miles in 10 hours, including stoppages, the sun powerfully hot.

" 11.30 a.m., doing 17 miles in four hours. Soon after our arrival some natives came over from the opposite side with fish, and were very quiet and well-behaved. At 3.30 p.m., to our astonishment, we saw a whale-boat approaching, rowing up the river, and shortly after Mr. Scott and his crew came onshore. He left Pullen's party that day week with supplies for us and has made his way from the river mouth in seven days. I now gave Inspector Tolmer orders relative to marching into town, and to leave on his way one man at Dutton's Station, and one at Gawler Town, to be ready to convey any orders from His Excellency to Mr. Scott, whom I requested to wait at the Bend to receive instructions from head-quarters. The march through the scrub to the Nicota Springs being a long and fatiguing journey without feed or water I decided, as the heat was now extreme during the day and the moon was about full, to march about sundown, and we left the Pound at 7.30 p.m. I pushed on ahead of the party for Adelaide, accompanied by Police-constable Cusack. Rain began to fall, and we got a thorough soaking at 12.30 a.m. on Tuesday."

" May 4. — Reached the Springs, and there dismounted in the pelting rain, with a high wind blowing, and no shelter. However, I contrived to get about two hours' sleep, and after moving on a short distance to reach wood, lit a fire and dried our clothes, and then pushed on to Bagot's Station, where we halted till midday, and then continued on and arrived at Gawler Town at 4 p.m. Little Peter has carried me 85 miles since yesterday. He is a noble little horse, and considering that for the last fortnight he has been on bad feed he has proved himself a trump."

"May 5. — Having slept at Robertson's like a top left at 8 a.m., and arrived at home at 4.30 same day."

The only benefit of this toilsome and expensive expedition was the good done to Mr. Inman and his men by the attendance of Dr. Weston. It appears that when His Excellency the Governor received Major O'Halloran's first despatch, which gave the information that the whole of the party had survived the attack, and that Mr. Inman and his wounded men were doing well, after being treated by Dr. Weston, he did not consider himself called upon to allow the police to come into collision with the natives, when the rescue of the sheep was the only object to be gained — perhaps influenced by the remembrance of the home censures on his actions against the Mileminura natives. Immediately the recall of the police party commanded by Major O'Halloran became known Lieut. Field lost no time in collecting and organising a party of volunteers, and started and was driven back as detailed in No. 22. On referring again to the diary of Mr. J. C. Hawker, I have considered some further extracts from him will make the narrative of the outbreak of these natives more complete, and which I give as follows : —

" May 5, 1841. — The following volunteer party started from Adelaide (the same day as the return of Major O'Halloran), to endeavor to recover some of the 5,000 sheep, the bullocks, dray, and other property of which the blacks had taken possession when they defeated the party of Messrs. Inman and Field: — Lieutenant Field, R.N., Messrs G. C. Hawker, J. C. Hawker, John Allen, James Kinchela, Kenneth Campbell, S. Samuel, J. Jacobs, and H. Field ; also some shepherds. Five mounted and two foot police were ordered by Colonel Gawler to accompany the party to the supposed boundary of the colony, to protect the volunteers; also Turner and Ross, Mr. Allen's overseers, in all 20 men.

" May 7. — On arriving at the Pound on the Murray we found Mr. Scott with the surveying boat. He was in charge of a survey party. Lieutenant Field delivered to him a letter from His Excellency Colonel Gawler, instructing him to keep with the force as far as the police were ordered to go, and to render assistance to the party.

" May 7. — Arrived at the Pound, so called because it consisted of a small piece of flat ground on the banks of the Murray, and enclosed landward with cliffs having only one entrance.

" May 8.— Left the Pound at 8.30 a.m. Rested at midday at a picturesque lagoon, and shot a number of beautiful crested pigeons. Camped at 7.30. Made 22 miles. Two blackfellows joined us here. Scott with the boat did not arrive. Having no tents we lit large fires, and cut bushes for screens, huddling together for warmth.

" May 9, Sunday.— Off at 7 a.m. Track very sandy. Passed Dead Man's Flat, so called by Major O'Halloran. Found the approach to the river to be so steep that we had to lower the cart down with ropes. Distance travelled, 25 miles. As our supporting police force, by orders, had to remain here, it was decided to leave the cart, and each man to take on his horse rations for five days, consisting of flour, tea, and sugar, taking no meat to avoid over-loading our horses. Lieut. Field left a note for Mr. Scott with the non-commissioned officers in charge of the police, instructing him to supply them with rations, and to push on after him.

" May 10.— Left at 8 a.m. Our party consisted of 10 volunteers. Three mounted and two men on foot, employed as paid assistants, were left with our dray. We passed through 18 miles of dense gum scrub; total distance, 33 miles to camp. Two natives in a canoe made a visit of inspection, but on seeing the watch which had been set, dropped down the river, and remained on the opposite side, where we could see two large native fires. Found a tree behind our camp bearing an inscription cut in the bark — E. Howe, Jany.; 1841, via Hume.'

" May 11. — Made a good breakfast on wallaby which were shot yesterday. Started at 7.30. Came upon natives fishing. The women, alarmed, swam the river with children on their backs. Crossed at midday Lake Bonney, at this time waterless, the whole surface covered with mussel-shells. Width of lake about 1½ miles, and length about five miles. Three horses running wild here. Crossed recent cattle tracks.. Killed two kangaroos, and took with us some of the meat. Camped at 26 miles. A large signal-fire to the N.W.. of us.

" May 12.:— Off at 7.30. The kangaroos here are a deep red color. Camped on a river flat to feed the horses. Crossed a salt-water creek and pushed on, hoping to reach the place before dark where the attack on the sheep party was made. Had to camp on a brackish creek. Mr. Field, who had come down with the sheep, considered we were not far from the place, and rode on with his brother (Lieutenant Field) and myself, and at two miles arrived at the spot where the sheep had been taken from him. We then returned to the camp. The distance from last camp 28 miles, and from Adelaide 230 miles.

" May 13.— This day will decide whether our expedition; is to be successful or not. Our only hope is that they will stand in order that we may show them the use of good firearms."

[As previously stated, the support of the small party of police which Col. Gawler had. granted to Lieut. Field's handful of volunteers had, in obedience to orders, remained behind on arriving at the supposed boundary between this colony and New South Wales (which was afterwards found some miles west of the true line).]

" Reached the place of attack about 8 am., where the sheep were taken from Messrs. Inman and Field. Found the abandoned dray. On the ground were scattered in all directions tea, flour, fragments of casks and chests. As the tea was not much damaged , we secured some part of it, and some tobacco. One wheel was off the dray, and some of the iron work had been cut away. A little further back on the overland track, on the bank of a lane lagoon, we found two of the bullocks lying dead, and two more on the further bank of the same lagoon."

Having given in No. 22 Lieut. Field's report of the fight and retreat, I will only add a little more here from Mr. J. C. Hawker's diary : —

" On the retreat a number of blacks followed behind their fighting men, and continued to hand them spears. I consider the total number of them to have been over 300. One native with a white band round his head carried no arms evidently the chief or leader giving orders. In addition to the number who opposed us were many who were not immediately engaged. They were not in the least intimidated by the number who fell, which could not be less than eight. When the ground was clear for us to gallop they kept on after us and did not seem the least winded. The wish I had written down in the morning was thus disagreeably realised to our discomfort. Had not Mr. Jacob's horse been speared many more might have been shot ; but still it was the opinion of all of us that it would have been impossible to have recovered the sheep with our small party, as we had only eight effective men, two of the pieces having become useless early in the fight ; and after rallying the third time, by the loss of Mr. Jacob's horse we were again reduced; and subsequently by the spearing of Lieut. Field's horse. The ground the encounter took place on was covered with polygnum and scrub, and intersected with creeks. The place had been rightly named by Captain Sturt on his way down the river — 'The Islands.' We rallied three times, and kept our adversaries in check. On our arrival in Ade-laide we found that Captain Grey, formerly of the 83rd regiment, had arrived to displace Colonel Gawler."

A numerous meeting of the inhabitants was quickly held in the Auction Mart, when it was resolved that a respectful memorial should be prepared and presented to His Excellency the new Governor, particulars, of which will be given in next number. (To be continued.)

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_River_massacre