31.
1864
| August | 25 | I returned home shortly after which Jacky told Albert that the Natives were sulky on the 23rd & were playing with their spears merely as a ruse to get them down in the flat unarmed when they would have made an attack on them. I believe what he said & had told them what they had intended on the 23rd. McCourt employed the same & self helping him & in garden. |
| 26 | McC. the same, self & Tucker cutting grass a.m. p.m. both at work at home. | |
| 27 | McC. making cap pouches. Tucker & self cutting qrass. Albert brought in all the horses & cattle & went down to W's.[Withnell's] | |
| 28 | (Sunday) I went up the river to see the bullocks & what the blacks were about; when I returned McC. went to W's to shoe Bobby & Captain next morng. | |
| 29 | Albert returned with the cattle. McC. also self at work about home docking 23 lambs, repairing gate, tool handles etc. Keeping a sharp eye on the blacks as many strangers keep appearing, some of them intend mischief I think, when they have their great gathering as they do not seem very well pleased & are frequently inquiring where all hands are, & reckoning us up among themselves. I think we shall be prepared for them as the arms are at hand & in order, & we have a spy among them. | |
| 30 | Docked 24 lambs & branded 12 calves a.m. in garden p.m. planting cabbages etc. | |
| 31 | McC. & self looking up bull, & bullocks & carting grass for thatch — several showers. |
| Sept | 1 | Albert brought in bullocks with lame bull. McC. & self preparing to kill bull Jinnette sod tool handles made, bull killed, very good meat. |
| 2 | Salting meat, took much trouble to clear away all appearances (of having killed) very early, as many natives about & it might be the cause of them attacking the herd which is now turned out; in garden etc. Weight of bull 684lbs. | |
| 3 | McC. & self cutting thatching rods. Albert saw all the horses & brought in the cattle. |
