INTERCOURSE WITH EUROPEANS. 
203 
into a palaver, and two or tliree of tlie most daring would 
advance in front of the others, which latter {part formed 
in a group, and a part extended singly to a distance of a 
quarter of a mile on each flank), would remain ready to 
support them in case of emergenc5^ These few in 
advance would allow one or two of our people to approach 
within two or three paces of them, determined to main- 
tain a superiority of two or three to one. 
Fearful of di-awiug out this memoir to too great a 
lengthj I must refrain from relating any of their daring 
and cunning acts of aggression, or the numerous interest- 
ing occurrences which took place. Suffice it to say, that 
we had one of these savages as a prisoner for several weeks, 
from whom I learned a good deal of their character ; and 
the following little circumstance caused me to conjecture, 
at an early period, the reason of theii- being so suspicious 
of strangers, 
" In one of my interviewa with a tribe of the aborigines, 
who had approached to the outward boumlar)^ of the forest, 
and withiu half a mile of the fort, I observed that they 
appeared more familiar than usual. Having previously 
prepared a medal attached to a piece of scarlet tape, I 
expressed a wish to hang it round the neck of a fine- 
looking young maUj who bore a feather in liis hair, and 
appeared to have some authority. This young man 
remained at a short distance (two or three paces), took 
hold of his wrists, and appeared as if struggling to escape 
from the grasp of an enemy ; he then pointed bis hand 
towards bis neck, looked upwards to the branches of a tree, 
shook his head significantly (evidently in allusion to 
being hung), and avoided coming nigh enough to receive 
