er, with the sad intelligence, that children and wife were
murdered, and that she only had escaped. He found the mother leaning
against a fence, covered with blood: "Dear Gough," she said, "it is all
over with me; the blacks have killed me!" He endeavoured to staunch her
wounds; then hastened to his children, and found them, not dead, but
dying. The blacks had inflicted reiterated blows, and answered
entreaties with threats of murder. Mrs. Gough was shortly afterwards
laid beside her children. The attack was more fierce, and yet
deliberate, than common: but not long before, some stockmen at the Lakes
requested two women to ascend the trees: while there, they shot them. It
is necessary to add, that the women sometimes approached the huts, as
spies, or such actions would be incredible.

The government and the press complained repeatedly, that no regular
resistance was offered to the depredators; that the settlers did not
instantly pursue, and, by combined efforts, intimidate or destroy them.
It was said, that they easily forgot the danger, so soon as the blacks
had withdrawn, and abated even the ordinary vigilance, which such
formidable enemies might inspire. Thus, the slaughter of a shepherd had
become too frequent to produce much sensation, and was set down as a
common risk of colonial life. When they heard that a servant was
speared, they would exclaim, "Ah! is he killed? poor fellow!"--and
having brought in a verdict of wilful murder, they left him to the
forgetfulness of the grave.

It was said, that as the passenger approached the towns, he found the
anxiety of the people diminished, and their feeling revolutionised. In
the interior, the blacks were spoken of with intense fear, and
detestation: in the capital, even their depredations were questioned,
and the subjects of conversation, were rather their sufferings than
their crimes.

Governor Arthur strongly censured the negligence of farmers; but this
was rather to arouse them, than to decide finally the fact, or
culpability of their inaction. In truth, the pursuit of a party of
aborigines, was a very hopeless affair: it required a minute
preparation; and to a well fleshed, and not perhaps youthful yeoman, was
attended with vast fatigue, and almost certain failure. An organised
enemy may be found: not so, naked and scattered blacks,
undistinguishable from the trees of the wood; who could crouch in a
gulley--creep almost as rapidly as a dog. The appearance of apath