255 



which led to the formation of these circles was narrated to 

 me by an eye-witness, who had lived for nineteen months 

 among these tribes ; and his testimony is strongly supported 

 by facts that have been recently elicited during the formation 

 of the settlement at Brisbane Town. 



It was discovered, by one of the tribes inhabiting the banks 

 of Pumice-Stone River, that a neighbouring tribe had tres- 

 passed on their hunting and fishing stations, whereupon a 

 warrior was sent to the aggressors, who resided at three 

 days' journey north, to demand satisfaction by battle. The 

 challenge being accepted by the latter, they marched to meet 

 their enemies in a body amounting to about 250 souls, in- 

 cluding women and children, and when they had reached the 

 territories of the aggrieved chieftain, they sent to request per- 

 mission to cross his boundary-line. The chief was absent on 

 a kangarooing expedition, but he immediately granted leave 

 when he returned. The party, on passing the boundary- 

 line upon tlie beach, made each a mark across with their 

 toes, the meaning of which is not yet known; they then 

 approached the scene of action, and encamped for the night. 

 In the morning all the warriors were in readiness, and ad- 

 vanced to meet the enemy, followed at no great distance by 

 the women and children, whom they gave in special charge 

 to my informant, the European Finnigan, with strict orders 

 that he should not quit them. Curiosity, however, urged 

 him to approach the field of battle, when he states that the 

 picked men on both sides, being armed, entered the pathway 

 and marched into the circle. Here two were selected from 

 each party to fight with spears and eillmans, and the contest 

 lasted a long time, until both the men from the aggressors' 

 party fell, covered with wounds, on which a number of their 

 friends rushed into the circle and carried the bodies away. 

 Immediately on this an appalling cry was raised by the tribe 

 which had originally been injured; they fell on the enemy 

 with the utmost fury, and chased them for a considerable 

 distance, keeping up a running fight, till night put an end to 

 the combat. 



The vanquished tribe immediately forsook their former 



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