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The Sydney Gazette 11 May 1816

CAPTAIN WALLIS

The three military detachments, dispatched on the 10^th ult. Under Captains Schaw and Wallis, and Lieutenant Dawe, of the 46^th Regiment in pursuit of the hostile natives, returned to Head Quarters on the 4^th instant. In the performance of this service the military encountered many difficulties, and underwent considerable fatigue and privations having to traverse a widely extended range of Country on both sides of the River Nepean, from the Banks of the Grose, and the second Ridge of the Blue Mountains on the North, to that tract of Country on the Eastern Coast, called ‘The five Islands”

Captain Schaw with his party, scoured the Country on the Banks of the Hawkesbury, making digressions East and West, but observing a general course to the Southward; whilst Captain Wallis, proceeding by Liverpool to the Districts of Airds and Appin, and thence into the Cow Pastures; made his digressions East and West of the Nepean, taking his course generally Northwards, with a view either to fall in with the Natives, or by forcing them to flight, to drive them within the reach of the central party under Lieutenant Dawe, stationed at Mrs. Macarthur’s farm in the Cow Pastures, or if they should elude his vigilance, that they might fall in with Captain Schaw, who was advancing from the second Ridge of the Blue Mountains, and the Banks of the Grose

It appears that the party under Captain Wallis fell in with a number of the natives on the 17^th ult. Near Mr. Broughton’s farm, in the Airds District, and killed fourteen of them, taking two women and three children prisoners. Amongst the killed were found the bodies of two of the most hostile of the natives, called Durelle and Conibigal.

We are also informed that Lieutenant Dawe had, on the 12^th ult. Nearly surprised a small encampment, but having been discovered, the natives suddenly took to flight, leaving only a boy about 14 years old, whom he took prisoner; and there is every reason to believe that two of them had been mortally wounded.

Without being enabled to trace more particularly the progress of the military parties on this expedition, we learn generally that several of the natives were taken prisoners and have since been brought to Sydney and lodged in the gaol.

The humanity with which this necessary but unpleasant duty has been conducted throughout, by the Officers appointed to this command, claims our warmest commendations and although the result has not been altogether so successful as might have been wished yet there is little doubt but it will ultimately tend to restrain similar outrages and a recurrence of those barbarities which the natives have of late so frequently committed on the unprotected Settlers and their Families.