They were much disposed to steal.  Mr. White observed one to purloin a teacup from his canteen and conceal it very cleverly in his kangaroo cloak.  Another, notwithstanding the vigilance of our men, had nearly got off with the carpenter’s axe.  They looked rather foolish when Mr. White managed to shake his teacup from the cloak.  The number of our party seemed an object of their attention, and they explained, by pointing in the direction in which I had gone, and by holding up seven fingers, our number, that we had not gone down the river unobserved by them.  They did not appear to be acquainted with the use of bread; but they well understood the purpose of the boat; and when Callide (the sea) was pronounced to them, they pointed in the direction of Moreton Bay, repeating very frequently the word Wallingall.  They immediately recognised Whiting, the top-sawyer at the pit, as was obvious by their imitating, as soon as he appeared, the motion of sawing, and pointing at the same time to him.  They seemed rather struck with the thickness of his wrists; indeed, they took some interest in comparing their limbs with those of the party.  One man had hair and features very different from those of his companions, the hair being parted on the forehead, long, and not curled.  A sailor of our party thought he resembled a Malay.  On the discharge of a double barrel they seemed much terrified, and soon after retired, making signs that they should return, and, by gestures, invited some of the men to cross the river with them.  Two tomahawks were presented to them, and one of their number was dressed out with old clothes.  Their name for the river was understood to be Karaula.  This interview took place on the day previous to my return to the camp.

TENTS STRUCK TO CROSS.  ARRIVAL OF MR. FINCH.

The boat was already in the water, and everything packed up for the purpose of crossing the river, when Mr. Finch approached the camp, and I hastened to congratulate him on his opportune arrival.

MURDER OF HIS MEN.

But he told a dismal tale—­two of his men having been killed, and all the supplies, cattle and equipment, having fallen into the hands of the natives.  This catastrophe occurred at the ponds of Gorolei, beyond Mount Frazer, which Mr. Finch had reached after having been distressed, even more than our party had been in the same place, for want of water.

LOSS OF HIS HORSE.

This privation had first occasioned the loss of his horse and several other animals, so that his party had been able to convey the supplies to these ponds, by carrying forward from the dry camp, only a portion at a time, on the two remaining bullocks.  Mr. Finch at length succeeded in thus lodging all the stores at the ponds, but being unable to move them further without the assistance of my cattle he left them there, and proceeded forward on foot along our track with one man, in expectation of falling in with my party, at no great distance in advance.