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44 mr. McMillan and the wild gipps land natives. Though Count Strzelecki was the first who traversed the Snowy Alpine country between Sydney and Melbourne, ascended Mount Kosciusko, and named a province after Governor Gipps, yet Mr. McMillan has undoubtedly the priority of discovery of that very interesting country. Having been specially furnished by that gentleman with an account of his expedition in 1840, we extract such portions for the present work as relate to the Aborigines. We have introduced to us an account of his Maneroo native guide Jemmy, and his fears of the formidable Gipps Landers. “ Jemmy Gibber was getting fearfully alarmed of meeting with a wild tribe of Blacks called Warrigals, inhabiting that part of the country, and consequently refused to proceed any further with me, making an attempt to get away from me. I was then in a wild mountainous country, covered principally with scrub, and my com panion gave me to understand that he was ignorant of our where abouts, and that I must trust to my tinder box (a name he gave to my pocket compass). I got him to go on with me until the eve ning, when we camped and lighted our fire, and after taking refresh ment laid down to rest. I nearly paid dearly this night for my confidence in my companion. After being sometime asleep I awoke suddenly, and to my consternation found Jemmy Gibber standing over me with his upraised wad ly or club, one blow of which would have settled me. I at once presented my pistol at him, when he at once cried out, begging me not to shoot him, that he had been dreaming that another black fellow had been taking away his wife) and that he did not want to kill me ; but it was evident to me his intention was to take my life, that he might then return home.” He then shows us these ugly strangers : “ This was the first day on which I met any of the Black Tribes or Wild Blacks. On meeting us they approached close up to us, and stood looking at us until I dismounted, when they commenced yelling, and instantly took to their heels. It is my belief they took the horse and rider to be one until I dismounted, having never seen a white man or a horse before.”
