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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 448, 21 January 1867, Page 3

PROBABLE FATE OF LEICHHARDT, (From the Australasian.)

Feosi Perth we learn that Mr Hunt had returned from his exploring trip to the eastward. His report of the country is favorable as regards soil, but unfavorable as regards surface water. From the blacks, Mr Hoe, the second in command, received further particulars respecting the supposed loss of an exploring party, which was reported some months ago by Mr Dempster. Mr Roe’s inquiries elicited two versions of the story, contradictory in some respects, but in the main corroborative of each other. The first intimation was given to Mr Roe in the following conversation with a native, Weallarin, who had just arrived from the north:

“ Did you see the white men ?—No.

“How did you hear of them?—Through a native named Yengowarra, who had learnt through seven other tribes all particulars.

“ What did Yengowarra tel] you ?—He told me that other natives, who hare seen the white men, told him that two men and a native had died at a place named Gindie, being thirteen days’ journey from this as before mentioned.

“ From what cause do the natives think they died?—Yengowarra told me that they were crossing a large salt-lake bed, making towards some far distant hills, and on reaching the shore of the lake thev died.

“ Was there any water near them ? There was water in a rock not far off, but they could not have found it without natives to guide them, as it was much concealed.

“ How many horses had they ?—Two—holding up two fingers. “ What became of them ?—They died.

“What made them die?—Yengowarra told me that the sun had burnt their feet, and they couldn’t walk. “ Did they die close to the white men ? —I do not know.

“ Did not Yengowarra tell you P—No. “ Are you sure the natives did not kill them P—Yengowarra told me they died ; but I think the natives speared them. “ What made you think so ?—Because they are savage, and sometimes kill and eat each other.

“ "What way were the tracks coming ? From the eastward.

“ Arc you sure that it was not from the west ?—Yengowarra told me that the natives had seen their tracks far back to the cast.

“ Did the natives touch the bodies ? No, they were afraid. “ Did they touch the horses F—Yes; they ate them. “ Did the natives touch any of the things ?—They took a kangaroo-rug, blanket, and other things.

“How many moons since the white men died?—Too many to count.

“How many winters? —He thought Tengowarra told him seven—holding up seven fingers.

" If the white men came out, would the natives show the spot where the whits men died ? —Yesl would go, and get some of my friends to go with me and show the place ; hut they must come in the begin*"s w winter, when there is plenty of water.

“ Do you know any of the names of the tribes that saw the white men ?—Yes j I know the name of the chief of the tribe— Bondine.

“ Was it in summer or winter when the white men died?—ln the middle of sum* mer, when it was very hot.” The other jrersion of the story was elicited by Mr Koe in subsequent inquiries put to the most intelligent natives of other tribes- whose statements are thus siun.i marised:—

“ A lortg time ago two white men and s native were killed by the natives on the shore of a large lake; and, on Mr Roe asking why they killed them, they stated that the natives first speared a horse, and then the white fellows went out to shoot some the natives for doing so; and when coming on a camp close by. one white man fired at them, but the ball missing, the other man fired and killed two. The natives, a er wards following to their camp, speared them while one was in the act of making a damper. They then covered the white men up with some bushes, taking most of their things—afterwards eating the two natives shot by the whitefellows. They then killed the native belonging to the white men. These natives gave the name of three of the murderers —Yercimah, Canyallie, and Walgbedee.” The inference drawn from these statements by the people of Perth is that the white men referred to were the survivors of Leichhardt’s expedition. There is just so much probability in this surmise as to warrant the Leichhardt Search Committee in directing their attention in any further action they may take to the quarter of the continent indicated. The melancholy tidings of the death of Mr Slopar (Mr M'lntyre’a successor) will nessitate a reconsideration of the steps previously determinied on.