An expedition of some hundreds of warriors was at once fitted out.

The enemy was apparently only too ready for the fray, because the armies promptly met in an open plain, and I had an opportunity of witnessing the extraordinary method by which the Australian blacks wage war.

One of the most redoubtable of our chiefs stepped forward, and explained the reason of his people's visit in comparatively calm tones.

An opposing chief replied to him, and gradually a heated altercation arose, the abuse rising on a crescendo scale for ten or fifteen minutes.

These two then retired, and another couple of champion abusers stepped forward to "discuss" the matter.