ADVENTURE WITH THE PALMER RIVER BLACKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4172, 2 July 1875, Page 3

ADVENTURE WITH THE PALMER RIVER BLACKS.

(Sydney News.)

A young gentleman at present residing at Cooktown sends to a friend in this city the following stirring account of an adventure which he and two of his associates bad recently in the kcality of the Palmer River goldtields. They one day went on a prospecting Expedition some miles beyond the outskiits of the goldMds. They had made every preparation for a fortni ( .ht's journey, and were equipped, in addition to the ordinary requisites of the camp, with arms to .resist the attack* of the natives. On the fourth day they travelled from early morning, and, except to have the mid-day meal, did not halt till evening closed in. Then they pitched their tent on the brink of a rivulet, made a fire, and ate their supper. They sat round the fire relating to one another the inciden'a of their lives, and nothing disturbed the stillness prevailing around them but their own ■ conversation and occasional peals of laughter. Then the conversation flaggtd. The gloom of the forest beyond the radiance of the fire was impenetrable, and everything was as still, almost, an the grave. After a while, rustling sounds were heard in the underbrush, and the two camp dogs began to show uneasinets. They would lie with their heads close to the ground, between their front paws, with their c} es moving restlessly ; then they would rise and trot round and round the tire whining and peering into the furest, then take their places beiore the tent door, and after a while resume their movements. They were faithful sentinels, and saved their masters' live 3. As time passed on, there came, in the rustling of tho leaves of the bushes and the cracking of twigs, assurances that the forest in the vicinity of the camp was inhabited. , Suddenly two stalwart blacks emerged from the darkness and advanced towards the camp (iie, making meanwhile gestures of friendship and submission ; the dogs crouched ready for a spring, but with something more than instinct appeared to be restrained by the action of their masters, who, beitig no strangers to such situations, had prepared themselves for any emergency. The natives were received with indifference. They glanced round, endeavouring to ascertain the strength ot the party, aud satislied on this point, they left the camp, after begging and obtaining some pieces of cloth and ah old pannikin. Everything was quiet for some hours, and the party retired to their tent, where, instead of going to rest, they made every preparation for their protection ; the rivulet was a barrier to attack from the front, and so they turned their attention to the bush on the side and at the rear. As morning approached similar rustling sounds that were heard from the bush on the evening previous again began to isßiie from it. It was just dawning day ; the party were about giving up thtdr watchfulness, when a low " coo-00-ee" was sounded ; it was answered from the opposite side of the camp, and then, with the spring and movement of tigers, fifteen or twenty Hacks dashed into the circle. As they came from under cover the sharp crack of a rifle rang out on the still morning air, then another and another. They were taken completely aback, as they made sure the occupants of the tent were asleep; but although two seemed to have been wounded, they quickly rallied, and, urged on by their friends in the bush, advanced towards the tent. Again they were received by a smart fire, and as they turned, the fire was kept up on them. Meanwhile, spears and other like weapons were being thrown, but quite at random, and failed to have any effect other than destroying the tent. The natives retired ; all cigu of their presence wns gono ; and tho young men, t; uoying nil danger wits at an i-ud, left their loaded "«eapons in tkn tent, aud went out to the smouldering fire. Within five

minutes after sounding ianother note of attack, tbo blacks again dashed in Upon the pnspectora; one was seized, but the two others were at the tunt and armed ; the blacks who followed the first lot smelt danger and retired; but four or five retained hold of, the third man, and beating'arid bashhig Jiini meanwhile with their weaponi>,fwere striving hard to carry him off. This they found too great a work, for, he rolled now over one and t^.en another, but the fire of his friends put an end to the scuffle, and finding fchimsi 1 vca forsaken by their friends, the blacks, with the exception of two who were womided. scampered off. This was the end of the conflict/ it was clear daylight, and the first act of the prospectors wa* to attend to the two savages lying on the ground ; one had been struck in the ankle, and tli« other just over the light knee. Their wounds were dressed as well as it was possible. The prospector who had been seized was slightly injured on the head and right arm. The wouuded blackfellows were left to the care of their friends, and the | party having breakfasted, broke up theircamp and took up a march homeward. Each; night they camped on rising ground, and through the night kept sharp watch in turnsj nothing further, however, occurred, and they arrived quite safuly among their friends ob. the goldficld.