for the men to reach their hut as the natives had gathered on their path. Without loss of time one man seized an axe and another a spade, and both set off at the top of their speed towards a military barracks situated more than a mile away from the opposite side of the river. The aboriginals noisily pursued them. The Canning was bridged by a fallen tree, which, from the water running over it, was slimy and slippery. Bounding upon this Gaze and Thomas sought to reach the other side. Thomas successfully accomplished the feat; the natives were so close that spears shrieked dangerously around him. His companion slipped in the stream, and was speared in the back. Notwithstanding this wound he made the opposite side, but not until he was pierced by several spears. Thomas recognised that he could render his partner no assistance, and as spears continued to rain down around him, he rushed to the barracks for assistance. With a soldier and another man he returned to the river. The natives had disappeared; Gaze was still alive, but groaning loudly in his agony. He died a few hours afterwards.
About the same time some fifteen natives approached the military barracks on the Swan, near Guildford. It is doubtful whether their intentions were hostile, but before they came very close the soldiers fired upon them. The aboriginals hurried away into the woods. In June serious onslaughts were made by natives on the live stock of settlers. During the absence of one colonist they drove into the bush several of his cattle. Ten men formed a band and pursued the robbers. They came upon them at night asleep in their camp. The natives did not at once rise from their resting-places; one of their dogs rushed out upon the settlers, who fired at the animal, but in the excitement of the moment shot one of their own party. The natives escaped unhurt. Numerous pigs and cattle were killed or driven away by the aboriginals. According to one estimate more than 200 pigs were lost to settlers. The flesh of these animals would have sustained the white population for some time, but, notwithstanding the scarcity of fresh food, they wisely did not encroach upon their own stock. Many of them now regretted that they had not done so. It was a waste of precious time to have to employ their servants to do nothing but watch their flocks, their herds, and droves. Numerous spears were thrown through the windows of settlers' huts, and struck in dangerous proximity to the bodies of the inmates.
On the 26th June settlers held a meeting at Guildford to discuss the native question. Strong and serious resolutions were carried expressing the opinion that the colony must be abandoned if ample steps were not taken to protect property. These resolutions were presented to the Governor, and as a result of this and other meetings the police corps was established. But the natives were ignorant of such things as resolutions. As an instance of their hardihood, in July they speared several of the Governor's own pigs. A soldier while proceeding on the 9th July from Perth to Guildford afterwards announced that he was attacked by natives; he shot two dead. Another soldier on the Murray, so it was said, was speared and severely wounded by blacks, and in retaliation killed five and wounded many more of them.
The native warrior Yagan was the most serious aggressor. After the murder of Gaze the Government offered a reward for his apprehension, and in October he and two other natives concerned in the affair were seized by two boatmen. The aboriginals were fishing in the river, and the boatmen were able to entice them into the boat. They were there secured and taken to Perth. Lieutenant-Governor Irwin and his Executive decided to imprison them on Carnac Island, They were taken across and a guard was engaged to look after them. Mr. R. M. Lyon was appointed superintendent. This gentlemen took a lively interest in the aboriginal race, and earlier in the year formulated schemes for their civilisation, which the Government was unable just then to accept. At Carnac he carefully studied the habits and language of the prisoners, and was able to glean much information from them relating to the country east of the Darling Ranges. In fact, these clever natives drew plans of the Avon and other rivers. Just when Mr. Lyon considered he was making strides towards civilising them they escaped from the island. In November a boat was incautiously left on the beach, which seizing, Yagan and his friends rowed over to Woodman's Point, and soon regained their old haunts. In his report on these men Mr. Lyon expresses the great hopes which dominated him during his sojourn on Carnac Island. "After being there a few weeks," he says, the "savageness of their disposition was mollified; they were becoming cleanly in their persons, cheerful in their manners, and orderly in their habits." Their health improved, and he was arranging to make a treaty of peace through them with all the native tribes, when their escape dashed his hopes.
The first outrage on white women was committed by natives on the Canning in November, when they speared a soldier's wife. This was considered a very serious departure, and served to intensify the hatred of many colonists for the aboriginal race.
The year 1832 was notable so far as exploration is concerned for the journeys which were made into the southern country. In following years little was done other than to elaborate the information gained on previous occasions. The community was satisfied that it had a splendid estate, but it wished to discover how far the good patches of soil extended. Mr. Dale and Dr. Collie supplied the most interesting data.
Mr. Dale was at this time stationed at King George's Sound, and late in 1881 he was requested by Captain Stirling to proceed to a high hill named Toodyeverup, or Toolbrunup, near the middle of the Koikyennuruff range of mountains. The Governor wished to ascertain the nature of this hill, and also of the adjacent country. In addition, the King George's Sound natives had described two kinds of grain—kuik and quannet—which the White Cockatoo tribe used for food, and which, they said, grew in the vicinity of the Koikyennuruff Range. The kuik resembled rice, and the quannet was compared to a large pea. The former was eaten raw, the latter was ground and cooked in the ashes like a damper.
On the morning of the 21st January, a party comprising' Mr. Dale, Mr. Clint, three soldiers, and Nakina (a native of King George's Sound) left Albany. They walked through the cleared parts of the settlement, and entered the bush and woodlands to the north. Soon they struck a native path leading over the higher lands, which they followed until they were confronted by the King River. They crossed and resumed their journey on the other side, and a north by east course was made over hills, by large lakes, and through voiceless valleys, until they reached the eastern slopes of Porrong-u-rup. Thence they entered a dense forest which seemed to have no outlet, but after struggling through its dark recesses they emerged into an open country almost destitute of trees. Over this plain, bisected here and there by dry channels, they made a tedious course to the vale of Kalgan. The river was here but a chain of brackish ponds, from which the ground rose gradually into flattened eminences, bordered with narrow strips of white gum trees. Ramparts of mountain ranges were observed from these eminences, and presented bold and varied outlines, and gave some character to a scene that was otherwise monotonous and even depressing. On the 23rd January, while they were priding themselves on the killing of a kangaroo, they fell in with the White Cockatoo and the Will tribes of natives,
