(Footnote.  Instead of handing a chair the equivalent of politeness with Australian natives is to smooth down or remove with the foot any sharp spikes or rubbish on the ground where you wish your friend to be seated before you.)

Night had closed in and these groups hung still about us, having also lighted up five large fires which formed a cordon around our camp.  Still I did not interfere with them, relying chiefly on the sagacity and vigilance of Piper whom I directed to be particularly on the alert.  At length Burnett came to inform me that they had sent away all their gins, that there was no keeping them from the carts, and that they seemed bent on mischief.

PIPER ALARMED.

Piper also took alarm and came to me inquiring, apparently with a thoughtful sense of responsibility, what the Governor had said to me about shooting blackfellows.  “These,” he continued, “are only Myalls” (wild natives).  His gin had overheard them arranging that three should seize and strip him, while others attacked the tents.  I told him the Governor had said positively that I was not to shoot blackfellows unless our own lives were in danger.  I then went out—­it was about eight o’clock—­and I saw one fellow, who had always been very forward, posted behind our carts and speaking to Piper’s wife.

ROCKETS FIRED TO SCARE THEM AWAY.

I ordered him away, then drew up the men in line and when, as preconcerted, I sent up a rocket and the men gave three cheers, all the blacks ran off, with the exception of one old man who lingered behind a tree.  They hailed us afterwards from the wood at a little distance where they made fires, saying they were preparing to corrobory and inviting us to be present.  Piper told them to go on, and we heard something like a beginning to the dance, but the hollow sounds they made resembled groans more than any sort of music, and we saw that they did not, in fact, proceed with the dance.  It was necessary to establish a double watch that night and indeed none of the men would take their clothes off.  The most favourable alternative that we could venture to hope for was that a collision might be avoided till daylight.

THEY AGAIN ADVANCE IN THE MORNING.

May 25.

The night passed without further molestation on the part of the natives; but soon after daybreak they were seen advancing towards our camp.  The foremost was a powerful fellow in a cloak, to whom I had been introduced by king Peter last year, and who was said to be his brother.  Abreast of him, but much more to the right, two of the old men, who had reached a fallen tree near the tents, were busy setting fire to the withering branches.  Those who were further back seemed equally alert in setting fire to the bush and, the wind coming from that quarter, we were likely soon to be enveloped in smoke.  I was then willing that the barbarians should come again up, and anxious to act on the defensive as long as possible; but when I saw what the old men were about I went into my tent for my rifle and ordered all the men under arms.  The old rascals, with the sagacity of foxes, instantly observed and understood this movement and retired.