In my despatches to the Governor, from the depot, 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 accede 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 I rode to see Mr. O’Brien, but did not find him at home.

Instance of cannibalism.

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 therefore 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 that the child was sick and would never have grown up, adding he himself did not Patter (eat) any of it.

Many of my readers may probably doubt this horrid occurrence having taken place, as I have not mentioned any corroborating circumstances.  I am myself, however, as firmly persuaded of the truth of what I have stated as if I had seen the savage commit the act; for I talked to his companion who did see him, and who described to me the manner in which he killed the child.  Be it as it may, the very mention of such a thing among these people goes to prove that they are capable of such an enormity.

We left Yass Plains on the 14th of May, and reached Sydney by easy stages on the 25th, after an absence of nearly six months.

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CONCLUDING REMARKS.

To most of my readers, the foregoing narrative will appear little else than a succession of adventures.  Whilst the expedition was toiling down the rivers, no rich country opened upon the view to reward or to cheer the perseverance of those who composed it, and when, at length, the land of promise lay smiling before them, their strength and their means were too much exhausted to allow of their commencing an examination, of the result of which there could be but little doubt.  The expedition returned to Sydney, without any splendid discovery to gild its proceedings; and the labours and dangers it had encountered were considered as nothing more than ordinary occurrences.  If I myself had entertained hopes that my researches would have benefited the colony, I was wholly disappointed.  There is a barren tract of country lying to the westward of the Blue Mountains that will ever divide the eastern coast from the more central parts of Australia, as completely as if seas actually rolled between them.