Chapter IX.

Boy speared by the natives—­anomalous state of our relations with the
aborigines—­Mr. Scott Sails for Adelaide—­dog bought—­Mr. Scott’s
return—­cutter Waterwitch sent to co-operate—­send her to streaky
bay—­leave port Lincoln with the dray—­level sandy country clothed with
brush and shrubs—­salt lakes—­mount hope—­lake Hamilton—­stony
country—­lose A dog—­better country—­wedge-hill—­lake Newland—­A boat
harbour—­mount Hall—­rejoin party at streaky bay—­singular
spring—­character of country—­beds of oysters.

October 6.—­In the course of the afternoon I learnt that a little boy about twelve years old, a son of Mr. Hawson’s, had been speared on the previous day by the natives, at a station about a mile and a half from my tent.  The poor little fellow had, it seems, been left alone at the station, and the natives had come to the hut and speared him.  The wounds were of that fatal character, being from barbed spears which had remained in the flesh, that no hopes could be entertained of his surviving their removal.  The following account of the occurrence is extracted from a report, on the subject, to the Government by Dr. Harvey, the Colonial Surgeon at Port Lincoln, who attended the boy in his last sufferings.

“The poor boy has borne this heavy affliction with the greatest fortitude, assuring us “that he is not afraid to die.”  He says that on Monday (5th), he was left in the station hut whilst his brother came into town, and that about ten or eleven natives surrounded his hut, and wished for something to eat.  He gave them bread and rice—­all he had, and as they endeavoured to force themselves into his hut, he went out and fastened the door, standing on the outside with his gun by his side and a sword in his hand, which he held for the purpose of fighting them.  He did not make any signs of using them.  One of the children gave him a spear to throw, and while in the act of throwing it, he received the two spears in his chest—­he did not fall.  He took up his gun and shot one of the natives, who fell, but got up again and ran away; they all fled, but returned and shewed signs of throwing another spear, when he lifted the gun a second time, upon which they all made off.

“He remained with the two spears, seven feet long, sticking in his breast; he tried to cut and saw them without effect; he also tried to walk home, but could not; he then sat upon the ground and put the ends of the spears in the fire to try to burn them off, and in this position he was found at ten o’clock at night, upon the return of his brother Edward (having been speared eleven hours.) He immediately sawed the ends of the spears off, and placed him on horseback, and brought him into town, when I saw him.