rushing forward, and made many feints to throw spears.  He went through many manoeuvres, and gave a signal, when the whole number made a rush towards us, yelling and shouting, with their spears shipped.  When within thirty yards, I gave the word to fire; we all fired as one man, only one report being heard.  I think the natives got a few shots, but they all ran up the hill and there stood talking and haranguing and appearing very angry.  We re-loaded our guns, and got everything ready for a second attack, which I was sure they would make.  We were not long left in suspense.  They all descended from the hill and came on slowly towards us.  When they were about 150 yards off I fired my rifle, and we saw one of them fall, but he got up again and was assisted away.  On examining the spot we found the ball had cut in two the two spears he was carrying; he also dropped his wommera, which was covered with blood.  We could follow the blood-drops a long way over the stones.  I am afraid he got a severe wound.  My brother and Windich being away we were short-handed.  The natives seem determined to take our lives and, therefore, I shall not hesitate to fire on them should they attack us again.  I thus decide, and write in all humility, considering it a necessity, as the only way of saving our lives.  I write this at 4 p.m., just after the occurrence, so that, should anything happen to us, my brother will know how and when it occurred. 5 p.m.—­The natives appear to have made off.  We intend sleeping in the thicket close to camp, and keeping a strict watch, so as to be ready for them should they return to the attack this evening.  At 7.30 my brother and Windich returned, and were surprised to hear of our adventure.  They had been over fifty miles from camp E.S.E., and had passed over some good feeding country, but had not found a drop of water.  They and their horses had been over thirty hours without water.

June 14th, Sunday. The natives did not return to the attack last night.  In looking round camp we found the traces of blood where one of the natives had been lying down.  This must have been the foremost man, who was in the act of throwing his spear, and who urged the others on.  Two therefore, at least, are wounded, and will have cause to remember the time they made their murderous attack upon us.  We worked all day putting up a stone hut, ten by nine feet, and seven feet high, thatched with boughs.  We finished it; it will make us safe at night.  Being a very fair hut, it will be a great source of defence.  Barometer 28.09; thermometer 68 deg. at 5 p.m.  Hope to have rain, as without it we cannot proceed.