| Narrative | Encounter by Frederick Walker's expedition in search of Ludwig Leichhardt and Burke and Wills with Aboriginal people at Leichhardt River. 'My men shot two ducks in the river; and a couple of blacks were watching them a little down the river. After dinner, or a make-shift for one, my men went over towards the river, in hopes of getting some ducks; but as they were crossing the plain they saw two mobs of blacks approaching. As their appearance looked hostile, they returned to camp. I directed Mr Macalister, Mr Haughton, Patrick, Jungle, Rodney and Coreen Jemmy, to get some horses saddled. In the meanwhile Jemmy Cangara mounted a tree, to observe the movement of the blacks. He reported that they were stretching out in a half moon, in three parties. This move, which my men term stockyarding, is, I believe, peculiar to blacks throwing spears with a woomera, the object being to concentrate the shower of spears. It was one long familiar to me, and I directed Mr Macalister to charge their left wing. The result was that the circular line doubled up, the blacks turned and fled. Their right wing which was, I think, the strongest mob, got over the river, and were off, but their centre and left wing suffered heavy loss' (The Argus, 16 April, 1862, p 7). |
