222 
INSTANCE OF CANNIBALISM. 
Hopkinson had so much over-exerted himself that it was 
with difficulty he crawled along. 
In my depatches to the Governor, from the dep6t, I had 
suggested the policy of distributing some blankets and other 
presents to the natives on the Morumbidgee, in order to 
reward those who had been useful to our party, and in 
the hope of proving beneficial to settlers in that distant 
part of the colony. His Excellency was kind enough to ac- 
cede to my request, and I found ample means for these 
purposes among the stores that Harris brought from Sydney. 
We left Pondebadgery Plain early on the 5th of May, and 
reached Guise’s Station late in the afternoon. We gained 
Yass Plains on the 12th, having struck through the 
mountain passes by a direct line, instead of returning by 
our old route near Underaliga. As the party was crossing 
the plains t rode to see Mr. O’Brien, but did not find him 
at home. 
While waiting at his hut, one of the stockmen pointed out 
two blacks to me at a little distance from us. The one was 
standing, the other sitting. “ That fellow, sir,” said he, 
“ who is sitting down, killed his infant child last night by 
knocking its head against a stone, after which he threw it 
on the fire and then devoured it.” I was quite horror 
struck, and could scarcely believe such a story. I there- 
fore went up to the man and questioned him as to the fact, 
as well as I could. He did not attempt to deny it, but 
slunk away in evident consciousness. I then questioned 
the other that remained, whose excuse for his friend was 
