308 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



and as they passed threw a spear at Scrutton, before anyone was aware of his 

 proximity. The audacious savage had much better have left it alone, for he paid for 

 his temerity with his life. Although the travellers came off providentially without 

 hurt, there were many narrow escapes, for which some of them might thank their 

 good fortune. At the commencement of the fight, as Alexander Jardine was levelling 

 his carbine, a spear struck the ground between his feet, causing him to drop his muzzle, 

 and lodge the bullet in the ground a few yards in front of him. His next shot told 

 more successfully. There were other equally close shaves, but providentially not a 

 scratch. This is one of the few instances in which the savages of Queensland have 

 been known to stand up in fight with white men, and on this occasion they showed 

 no sign of surprise or fear at the report and effect of fire-arms, but it is probable 

 that they will long remember the * Battle of the Mitchell ' (Camp XLIV). Course 

 NNW. Distance 7 miles." 



The camp was probably on the ALICE RIVER, about 3 miles 

 west of the modern KOOLATAH STATION. 



The TACTICS OF THE ABORIGINES consist mainly of AMBUSCADES 

 AND HARASSMENT OF THE REAR of travelling parties. It is rarely, 

 as Byerley observes, that they venture to stand up in bodies to 

 fight. 



The MITCHELL RIVER was followed down to the north-west 

 on 19^, 2Oth and 2ist December, CAMPS 45, 46 AND 47, representing 

 stages of 13, II and 9! miles. The head of the SALT WATER was 

 found between Camps 45 and 46. Heavy RAIN fell on zoth and 2ist. 



At sunset on the 2ist it was discovered that the BLACKS were 

 " STALKING " the party at the camp, under cover of screens of 

 boughs. The Brothers, Scrutton and the four black boys mounted 

 and PURSUED THE NATIVES for a couple of miles, driving them at 

 last into the scrub, but using no fire-arms. At the conclusion of 

 the chase, two dozen abandoned spears were collected along the 

 line of retreat. 



The MITCHELL RIVER l was finally LEFT BEHIND on 22nd 

 December and the camp was pitched 15 miles to the north 

 (lat. 15 2' 10" S.) " at a puddle without a blade of grass " 

 (CAMP 48).' 



In the locality attributed to Camp 48, the modern map (Sheet 

 20 B) sketches a water-course about to fall into the Gulf, and 

 obviously suggests that this water-course is the Coleman River. 

 Mr. Embley informs me that he is not responsible for the sketch 

 or the suggestion, and that he only traced the Coleman down (west- 

 ward) to a point 30 miles east of the coast. He believes, in 

 fact, that flood waters of the Coleman flow southward into the 

 Mitchell by courses indistinguishable in normal dry weather. 



The following day (237^ December) there was HEAVY RAIN. 

 '* Twelve miles of wretched country were traversed, white sandy 

 undulating ground, clothed with shrubs and underwood in the 



1 The river was surveyed for the Department of Lands by Mr. J. T. Embley, in 

 April, 1887. 



2 If the latitude is correct, the distance must have been greatly over-estimated. 



