In No. 29 it was stated that a numerous meeting of the inhabitants had been held in Adelaide, and a Committee appointed to present a respectful memorial to His Excellency Governor Grey, urging him to take the promptest measures to protect parties on their way overland with stock.

The Committee consisted of Messrs. Inman, Kinchelar, Jas. Fisher, Captain Ferguson, and Mr. Giles as Chairman. The deputation was politely received by Governor Grey, who expressed his readiness to promote the objects in view, so far as the means at his disposal would permit. He promised to lay the matter before a meeting of his Council, and communicate with the Chairman of the Committee. In his answer he stated ' that it would be necessary to communicate with the Governor of New South Wales. He was will to accept the services of the volunteers offered to assist the police, but he could not admit the idea that a military expedition should take place against the natives ; but the services of the volunteers would be accepted as special constables. That positive instructions had been issued by Her Majesty's Government to treat the aboriginals of all parts of the continent as subjects of the Queen within Her Majesty's allegiance.'

However, orders were immediately given to the Commissioner of Police to prepare for an expedition to the disturbed district, and a large number of colonists were sworn in as special constables— peace officers to meet victorious blacks with spears in their hands !

Major O'Halloran, Commissioner of Police, was appointed to command this second party, with special orders to protect the lives and properties of the settlers, but was not to levy war or to exercise belligerent actions against the aborigines of Australia. The Major was supreme in command of the combined party of police and volunteers, but to be accompanied by the Protector of Aborigines, Dr. Moorhouse, with some native interpreters.

Subscriptions of money and stores were raised by the inhabitants towards the expenses of the expedition. The following gentlemen volunteers were sworn in: — Mounted — Captains Beevor, Inman, and Ferguson ; Messrs. Berry, J. C. Hawker, Langhorne, H. Field, Jas. Fisher, Barber, Brown, Whitpine, Tooth, S. K. Langhorne, Daniel, and Oliver. Foot — Messrs. Martin, Gatwood, Dennis, Pavlin, Head, Day, Deprose, Dayerell, Taylor, and three men as bullockdrivers. Volunteers, mounted and on foot, 27 ; mounted police, officers and men, 26; foot do., including four drivers, 11 ; in all, 64. Volunteer officers — Mr. J. Beevor, senior officer ; Mr. R. Ferguson, junior do. Commissaries — Mr. J. C. Hawker, senior officer ; Mr. G. Daniel, junior do.

" On the 29th May the drays were dispatched containing camp requirements from Captain Fergusson's store. On the 31st the greater part of the volunteers desirous of showing their respects to Colonel Gawler before his departure mustered and waited on him in a body to bid him farewell.

" On a general muster Major O'Halloran took command of the whole party, and marched to Gawler Town, and took up quarters for the night. On the 5th June the whole of the expedition arrived at the Pound, on the Murray. On the 6th, Sunday, the Major read the Governor's instructions to his command. Mr. Moorhouse, with three natives to be employed as interpreters to the wandering black inhabitants, had joined, and was present. Some additions to the force having arrived, the total muster amounted to 68.

Extracts from Mr. J. C. Hawker's diary: — "Two boats, under charge of Mr. Kiffin, had been ordered to join us from Lake Alexandrina in case we required to cross the Murray. Remained for the day. In the morning the mounted men were drilled by Inspectors Tolmer and Gordon, the Major being present. In the evening the men on foot were drilled and practised in firing by the same officers."

I now take advantage of the Commissioner's diary, the use of which I am favored with by Mr. T. J. S. O'Halloran.

" June 8th, Tuesday. — Morning bitter cold, our native interpreters returned by moonlight from their visit to the tribe in whose country we are now encamped, and state that the natives have promised to come and see us in the morning, and are very anxious that we shall kill all the blacks of the tribe who have got the sheep, that tribe being their enemies (as they pre-tended). I dispatched a letter for the Governor by Captain Nixon, who was returning indisposed. Three of the natives from the river came into the camp at 7.30 a.m. Two of them offered to go with us as interpreters to the tribe who have the sheep. Halted at the east-end of Dead Man's Flat at 2.30 p.m. ; distance travelled 17 miles; road very bad. The drays did not come up till 8 o'clock, the bullocks done up.

" June 9th, Wednesday. — Most delightful weather. Halted here for the day, and sunk one of the drays in the river till our return, and put the supplies on the other two. We shall thus get on better with ten bullocks yoked to one dray and eight to the other. The three natives who joined us yesterday have promised that no injury shall be done to the dray sunk in the river. Mr. Moorhouse and myself put them through an examination after breakfast, and the following is a correct report of questions and replies : —

" THE EXAMINATION OF THE NATIVES WHO JOINED OUR CAMP YESTERDAY.

" Dead Man's Flat, 126 miles from Adelaide, June 9th, 1841.

" These men state that the sheep are only six hours march from this place. One of them stated that he saw the sheep five days ago, a number of which were still alive, with one sheep dog, some bullocks, one or more drays, some shirts and blankets, all of which were in possession of the hostile blacks, who admitted that they had beaten and speared to death one white man. To these statements was answered: —

" 'You say it is but six hours from this to where the sheep are ; now, we know that the sheep are seven days from us. Have you ever seen the place where the sheep are ?'

''No, we have not, but we have been told by other blacks that the sheep are near?'

" How near are we from the country of the hostile blacks ?'

'' Two days' march; when we get there we will tell you.'

" Is the tribe numerous, and have other tribes joined with them ?'

" They are a big tribe, and have other tribes with them.'

'' Will they fight us?'

" No, there are too many whites.'

'' Then what will they do with the sheep?'

" They will take to the river when they see you, and will be so frightened they will not spear the sheep.'

" How soon will they know we are coming up the river ?'

'' We will go in advance of you one day ; they will not know you are coming till we tell them.'

" Are all the tribes together, and will they sit down till all sheep are gone ?'

" They are now together, with the sheep, men, women, and children, and when we tell them they will stop for you to talk to them.'

" That is what we wish, and you are to tell them that we are not cross, and if they give up the sheep we will not hurt them.'

''We will go and make them sit down till police come in sight, and then we will bring them to you.'

" Will they believe you when you tell them we will not hurt them ?'

" We think so.'

" If we get the sheep we will give you blankets.' ?

" Very well, we will try and get the sheep.'

'' In the late fight there was a chief before his tribe who had a white band round his head, and some cockatoo feathers, but no spears. Who was he ?'

'' There were plenty such— old men of the tribe. '

" Are the sheep-stealers on same ground where they attacked the whites?'

'' Yes, same ground.'

" Are sheep in yards at night, and wild dogs kept off ? '

" We do not know.'

" Why did the blackfellows attack the whites?'

'' Because they came in black man's country.'

" Have you ever heard them say white men coming down river ever killed blacks or took lubras, or had done them any wrong ?'

" The whites have had fights with hostile tribe, and killed several.'

'' Have whites ever had fights with your tribe ?'

'' Never, never; we were always frightened to attack whites.'

" Does your tribe ever fight with tribe of sheep-stealers ?'

" We never fight, and have no spears or other arms.'

'' When some of your tribe see two boats coming up the river let them tell them to go on up the river.'

" Very well.'

" How many blacks did white men kill in last fight?'

" They shot many.'

" How many blacks were killed when they took the sheep ?'

" One blackfellow.'

" Were any blacks wounded ?'

" None ; but one black was speared by another black by accident.'

" Remarks. — These men commenced their statements by falsely declaring that the sheep were near. On being detected they said they meant that the first sheep tracks were near. Now, this was a still grosser falsehood, for the fight occurred more than 100 miles from this camp. Much falsehood is apparent throughout their answers. The spot where we are now encamped has been named by me 'Dead Man's Flat' in consequence of McKinnan's overseer having been killed by this very tribe, and in this flat he lies buried. It is not 50 yards from where I am now writing. Mr. Eyre had also, to turn back to rejoin his party. Mr. Tooth and others were here attacked. '

" June 10, Thursday. — Several more natives have crossed over to our camp this morning. Feed bad here, struck camp at 10.30 a.m., and moved on nine miles on account of better feed. One of the volunteer's bullocks lost. Several wallaby and crested pigeons shot yesterday, and today. The drays did not arrive at our new camp till 6 p.m., although they had only nine miles to travel, they are in such a wretched condition and unfit to travel. It is too bad that the Commissariat should have sent out such weak animals, as we shall be greatly retarded in our progress to our destination, and also on our way homewards. One pole was broken and the dray capsized in coming down the steep pitch into this flat.

" June 11. — Halted here. Passed a bitter cold night. Foot drill and sword exercise from 11 till 12.30. The drilling gets on admirably. The boats have not arrived. They ought to have been here.

" June 12, Saturday. — Another cold and frosty night. Halted for the day, most anxiously looking out for the boats. Sword and carbine exercise. During the afternoon some more natives joined, but could not get more satisfactory information from them than from the previous examination of the men of their tribe.

" June 13, Sunday. — Halted for the day. At daybreak this morning one of the police horses was found nearly strangled. He had wound himself with the tether rope round his neck and legs up to a tree. His struggles must have been great, as he was much bruised and swollen. He was unable to stand, and is not likely to live. The two blacks whom we examined, and who promised to accompany us to the hostile tribe, have disappeared, and told our natives previous to departure (one of them) that he was lame, and the other that his children would cry, so that all hope of their usefulness ae interpreters has vanished, and their desertion will I fear prove a most serious disadvantage to us. Some natives crossed from the opposite side of the river in a canoe, which some of the men borrowed to assist them in fishing. One large fish was caught.

" June 14. — The agony of the unlucky horse has been such that to put an end to his sufferings I ordered him to be shot. Blazed three trees close to the river, and wrote largely upon them — 'Boats to follow on.' I have named this camp Wallowby Flat. Marched at 9 a.m., and reached Pine Flat at 11.30; distance 11 miles. Drays came up at 3.30, men having to unload the police dray, and carry the things over a deep sand. Some natives joined us on the march, and one of them said he had seen the sheep three days ago, and that they were numerous, but were afraid of the blacks, who could not manage them. He also stated that the blacks were aware of our approach, and were going up the river, and would not fight us. This blackfellow offered to go with us and show us where the sheep are. The drays did not come up till 6.15 p.m. Rain commenced to fall at seven and continued at intervals during the night.

" 15, Tuesday .—Fine morning. The feed is here so bad have had to strike camp and move on to a flat six miles distant, and halted at 10.30 a.m. For the last three days the wind has been fresh and fair for the boats, and yet they have not arrived, though we have halted at various times, in all six days, to enable them to come up. I must now calculate the distance we may have yet to advance, and push on for our destination with all speed possible, to prevent the chance of our provisions falling short. We are now 16 days from Adelaide. Some of the men found two caves in the cliffs, in the roofs of which were seen designs scratched by the natives in the soft sandstone. If the boats do not come up the day after to-morrow I shall blaze the trees, and order the boats to remain after their arrival at the blazed trees until our return. Two of our Adelaide natives refuse to go further, and have remained behind with some of the river blacks. I was not aware of their remaining behind or I would have prevented it, and I will take care that on our return to Adelaide these worthless vagabonds do not join us. Their loss to us will be great for the third black is lazy and stupid, and he was not engaged, but allowed to accompany us a supernumerary.

" June 16,. Wednesday.— Moved off at daybreak. Marched through a 17-mile scrub, and encamped in a very long polygnum flat, with a long pole stuck up in the centre by natives, at 2.15 p.m. ; distance, 20 miles. Drays up at 4.45.

" 17. — Heavy rain about 4 this morning. Yesterday the Governor's servant Binstead was assaulted by one of the river blacks who had joined us. He was away from the party, endeavoring to procure rare specimens of birds for His Excellency. The black attempted to take his gun, which Binstead was obliged to present several times at the fellow to keep him off. The tents wet through, and as the camp is in low ground we are surrounded by water.

" 18. — The morning fine and clear. Examined Binstead's charge against the black fellow, and ordered him out of camp. At 10.45 started. On the march fell in with 31 blacks ; saw also others in various directions, and 14 on the opposite side of the river. All the blacks we have seen are small and by no means powerful. Blazed three trees close to the river, and wrote largely on them, 'Boats return to Bend. Dig underneath.' Buried a bottle containing instructions and information to look out, as natives are numerous and not trustworthy. Established an alarm post, and ordered extra sentries, five in all, to be placed around the camp during the night.

" 19th June, Saturday. — Struck camp an hour before daybreak. Moved off with the drays at 8.30 a.m. Passed Lake Bonney at 10 a.m. About 150 natives are in our rear, who say that they want to see us fight and kill their enemies, with whom they will also fight. I do not allow them to come near us. We are marching in fighting order, with an advance and rear guard; the drays in the centre. I keep these rascals off, for if we beat the natives they will take their wives, and if we are beaten they will turn upon us. Crossed Lake Bonney and got to the north side of it, and upon a ridge of scrub, the commencement of the country of the hostile tribe, at 11 a.m. On looking to the rear we saw a large signal fire just lit by the vagabond blacks behind to give notice to those ahead of our approach. Lake Bonney dry. Encamped a little before dark. Distance marched, 16 miles."

I now continue with extracts from Mr. J. C. Hawker's diary : —

" 20th, Sunday. — One of the horses, although in hobbles, swam across the river, on which one of the friendly natives was directed to swim after him, and catch him, and take off his hobbles, and drive him back, but seemed not to understand the order; on which Inspector Tolmer dashed into the water and succeeded in catching the horse on the opposite bank and turned him back, but on his return was much exhausted, as the river here was about 150 yards wide and the water very cold, current strong. Off at 9.40. The mounted men had to halt at about every three miles, to allow the drays to come up, the country being boggy. Passed a great many tracks of wild cattle. Men were sent out to procure beef for rations but could not succeed, the cattle being wild. Large numbers of natives showed themselves on both sides of the river. Efforts were made to induce some of them to come to us, but they remained shy. Distance, 14 miles.

" June 21. — Off at 9 a.m. Track better. At 3.30 arrived at a creek running into the river. On the opposite bank of which many natives were assembled ; with them some of the blacks who had been with us and had bolted. They told us that the sheep were still alive, and they would give them up to us ; they also said a party with cattle coming down the river were a few days journey from us. Camped on the lagoon. Distance, 15 miles.

" 22. — The men in bringing in the working bullocks reported they had seen recent footmarks of a number of sheep. Off at 8.30, as the Major desired to recover the sheep without delay. The natives here left us, saying they would join us when we reached the place at which we would find the sheep alive, as they would take a shorter cut than we could travel on. At 12 camped, distance eight miles, on a creek which crossed the small flat where Messrs. Inman and Field were attacked, the creek now running good water. After an hour's rest the Major proceeded on with the mounted men."

Mr. J. C. Hawker, having charge of the drays, did not accompany the advance party. In addition to Major O'Halloran's diary I am indebted to information furnished me by Inspector Tolmer, Sergeant - Major Alford, and Sergeant Naughton, for the following particulars and remarks :—

" 22. — The Major with the mounted men pushed on, hoping to come up to the travelling cattle party as well as the remains of the sheep. After riding five miles they met a white man in a deplorable state, naked, except a blue shirt which he had converted into trousers hanging from his waist, with a pair of Wellington boots on his feet, with no other clothing. He reported an attack of the blacks, and that some of the party had been killed. A little further on we met the drays with the survivors of the party, one of them named Miller, the conductor, lying in a dray with five spear wounds in his body.

The Major was told that at the time of the attack some of the drovers had been sent back by Mr. Miller to recover and bring up part of the cattle which had parted and gone back, and the weakened advanced party were attacked, and the men on being overpowered, and seeing three of their mates killed, and their overseer seriously wounded, took to the river, and after remaining some time in the water, finding the blacks had retired from some (to them) unknown cause, came out of the river, and finding three of the bodies of their dead comrades, they rolled them over the bank, as much out of sight as possible, and hastened forward on the track.

As Major O'Halloran subsequently found one of these bodies shockingly mangled, as will be described hereafter, it must appear that the cause of their suddenly abandoning the ground on which they had defeated the overlanders was that they had received in the midst of their work the first news from a flying scout of the large number of armed whites who were approaching ; and that afterwards getting further information from the lying spies that the police were still some distance off, they had returned to effect the mangling of the bodies, and, perhaps, at the same time slaughtered the remainder of the sheep, and left them in fulfilment of their promise, as will be explained in full details in another number.

It will be my duty in completing the history of this fatal outbreak to relate what a heavy slaughter ultimately had to be visited on the natives of this part of our colony before the communication between the colonies could be made open and safe. Such weak tampering with aboriginals, when combined and with arms in hand, and after murderous conduct, is anything but a policy of mercy, either to the natives or to the settlers, as no grounds ought to be given to the latter to take the law into their own hands.

It is a remarkable circumstance that immediately after the arrival of Captain Grey to displace Colonel Gawler, he should have to report to the Imperial Government the non-success of the weak policy he had undertaken to carry out as to the treatment of the natives. He had himself experienced in his explorations in Western Australia something of the dangerous character of untamed blacks. I feel it a fair remark to make that as it was taken for granted in his instructions that the aboriginals of all parts of Australia were " subjects of Her Majesty and within her allegiance," that it should have followed that subjects of whatever color found in arms, and after committing such crimes as these had, should have been promptly treated as subjects in revolt, and have been dealt with accordingly, constables' staves being left at home. The remainder of this distressing experience must be held over for future numbers.

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