They were, consequently, in a starving condition, and so pitiable were their indications of it, that I was induced to feed such of them as visited the camp, notwithstanding their late misconduct; being likewise anxious to bring about a good understanding, as the best means of ensuring the safety of the smaller party when we should separate, of which I had reason to be doubtful.

These people had killed two white men not long before my arrival among them, and as the circumstances attending the slaughter are singular, I shall relate them.
SLAUGHTER OF TWO IRISH RUNAWAYS.
The parties were two Irish runaways, who thought they could make their way to Timor.

They escaped from Wellington Valley with a fortnight's provision each, and a couple of dogs, and proceeded down the Macquarie.

About the cataract, they fell in with the Mount Harris tribe, and remained with them for some days, when they determined on pursuing their journey.

The blacks, however, wanted to get possession of their dogs, and a resistance on the part of the Europeans brought on a quarrel.