OBSERVATIONS ON CAUSE OE OEEENCE. 818 



that I should have considered any injury sustained 

 on our side to have been most richly merited j more- 

 over^ I am convinced that some at least of the 

 collisions which have taken place in Australia^ 

 between the first European visitors and the natives 

 of any given district^ have originated in causes of 

 offence broug-ht on by the indiscretion of one or 

 more of the party^ and revenged on others who were 

 innocent. As a memorable instance I may give 

 that Avhich happened during* Leichhardt's overland 

 journey to Port Essing-ton^ Avhen his camp was 

 attacked one evening-^ and Mr. Gilbert lost his life. 

 Long- afterwards the undoubted cause of this appa- 

 rentty unaccountable attack transpired in the 

 acknowledg-ment^ while intoxicated^ by one of the 

 persons concerned^ that a g-ross outrag-e had been 

 committed upon an aboriginal woman a day or two 

 previously^ by the Uxo blacks belonging' to the expe- 

 dition. 



One day I witnessed a native fig'ht; which may 

 be described liere^ as such occurrences^ althougii fre- 

 quent enoug-h in Australia, have by Europeans been 

 witnessed only in the settled districts. It was one 

 of those smaller figiits^ or usual modes of settling- a 

 quarrel when more than two people are concerned^ 

 and assumed quite the character of a duel upon a 

 larg'e scale. At day-break_, I landed in company 

 with six or seven people who Avere g'oing- out on 

 different shooting- parties. The natives came down 

 to the boat as usual^ but all carried throwing'-sticks 



