PROBABLE FATE OF LEIGHHARDT.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 3, 21 January 1867, Page 15

PROBABLE FATE OF LEIGHHARDT.

(From the Australasian.) Fbom Perth we learn that Mr Hunt had returned from his exploring trip to the eastward. His report. of the country is fayorable as regards soil,, but 1 unfavorable as regards surface water. : Prom 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 Hoe in the following conversation with a native, Weallarin, who 'had j list arrived from the north:—- - : - “ Did'you see the white-men?—-?No. i. “How did you hear of them ?—Through a named Yengowarra, .who had learnt through seven other tribes all particulirs. •'''■* '' 1 “ What did Yengowana tell you ?—He told me that other.natives, who have;seen the [white men, told him that two men and a native , had died at a place named. being thirteen days’ journey from tins 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 ehore of tiroTake they

“Was there any them?— There was water not far off, but they could not* have found it withoutnatives to guide them,' as it was much concealed. , “ How many horses had they ?—Twoholding 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 whitemen ? —I do not know. • “ Did not Yengowarra tell you ?—No. “ Are you sure the natives did not kill them ?—Yengowarra told me they died; but I think thenatives speared them. “What made you think so?—Because they are savage, and sometimes kill and eat each others , “What way were the tracks coming?— From the eastward. • “ Are you sure that it was not from the west ?—Yengowarra told me that the natives had seen their tracks far back to the east.

“Did thenatives touch the bodies?— No, they were afraid. “ Did they touch the horses ?—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' mainy to count. “How many winters?—He thought Yengowarra told him seven—holding up seven fingers. “ If the white men came out, would the natives show the spot where the white men died ?—-Yes I would go, and get some of my friends to go with me and show the place ; but they must come in the beginiug of winter, when there is plenty of water. “ Do you know any of the names of the tribes that Baw the white men ?—Yes ; 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 summer; when it was very hot.” _ The other version of the story was elicited by Mr Roe in subsequent inquiries put to the most intelligent natives of other tribes, whose statements are thus summarised :

“A long time ago two white men and a 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 whiteman fired at them, but the ball missing, the other man fired and killed two. The natives, afterwards 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 busheß, 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 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 Sloper (Mr MTntyre’s successor) will nessitate a reconsideration of the steps previously determinied on.