J.LATROBE." "The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, etc.etc.

etc." Rumours of another similar occurrence existed in the settlements north of Sydney, about the same time.

To the inquiries made on the subject, by the Government, the following letters refer.
"Moreton Bay, Zion's Hill, 14th January 1843.
"Sir,--In reply to your inquiry respecting the grounds on which I made mention in my journal, kept during a visit to the Bunga Bunga country, of a considerable number of blacks having been poisoned in the northern part of this district, I beg leave to state, that having returned from Sydney in the month of March 1842, I learnt, first, by my coadjutor, the Rev.Mr.Epper, that such a rumour was spreading, of which I have good reason to believe also his Excellency the Governor was informed during his stay at Moreton Bay.

I learnt, secondly, by the lay missionaries, Messrs.

Nique and Rode, who returned from an excursion to "Umpie-boang" in the first week of April, that natives of different tribes, who were collecting from the north for a fight, had related the same thing to them as a fact.Messrs.Nique and Rode have made this statement also in their diary, which is laid before our committee in Sydney.