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14 generally happens as soon as she Is horn, it is considered a most binding engagement, the forfeiture is visited with the most sum mary vengeance. Buckley has had no children either legitimate or illegitimate ; during the whole time of his residence his adven tures here have been devoid of any remarkable interest, having passed nearly the whole of his time in the vicinity of Indented Head, excepting only upon one occasion, when he travelled about 150 miles to the westward of Port Phillip. “He describes the natives as cannibals, rude and barbarous in their customs, but well disposed towards the white man. He was unable to introduce among them any essential improvements, feeling that his safety chiefly depended on his conforming exactly to all their habits and customs. Although he was always anxious to return to civilized life, he had for many years abandoned all hopes of so doing. The following circumstance, however, eventually restored him to his countrymen. Two natives residing at the establishment left by Mr. Batman had stolen an axe, and having by others been assured that the theft would be severely punished, they absconded, and eventually fell in with Buckley, communicated to him the fact of white men being in the neighbourhood, and their reason for running away ; also saying that they would procure other natives, and return and spear the white men. Buckley succeeded in dissuading them from this outrage, and proceeded in search of Mr. Batman’s party, and in two days succeeded in joining them. The Europeans were living in a miserable hut, with several native families encamped around them. On being observed, Buckley caused great surprize, and indeed some alarm ; his gigantic stature, his height being nearly six feet six^inches, enveloped in a kangaroo skin rug : his long beard and hair of thirty three years growth, together with his spears, shields and clubs, it may readily be supposed presented a most extraordinary appearance. The Europeans believed him to be some great chief, and were in no little trepidation as to his intentions being friendly or not. Buckley proceeded at once to the encampments, and seated himself among the natives, taking no notice of the white men, who, however, quickly detected, to their great astonishment, the features of an European ; and after considerable difficulty, succeeded in
