Correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's Office

proceeded to the hut, and found the bodies of Burns and his wife, lying on the floor of the hut, and frightfully mutilated.

2. Burns had evidently been sitting at the end of the table reading a book. The back of his head had been beaten in with a Nullah-Nullah; his head had fallen forward on the table; he had evidently made a great effort to rise up, had upset the chair, and had fallen dead on the floor. He lay on his back, and had the blows been inflicted while he was in an upright position, he must have been slashed upon his face. The Blacks had subsequently punctured a small wound in his windpipe but I cannot say with what instrument. His feet were scarcely removed from the position they had occupied

8 [centred]

red shirt, which was identified by M^r Bennett, lay on the ground and two bags, completely filled with gowns, caps, vests, trousers, and other articles belonging to Burns and his wife, were beside it. In one bag we found some money, and a sheep muster of Burns'. I heard several shots in the direction in which "Dicky" had run, and the troopers returning said they had found it impossible to take him, and that he was shot. After placing the stolen articles on a pack horse, I proceeded to the spot where "Dicky" had fallen, but found nothing but a pool of blood, and the traces of his having been lying there. The policemen, on examining

[Marginalia]

[in right margin, beside line 11] £1 " 10 " 0