ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. (To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)

28 July 1877, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), page 7

…No. 1.  REMINISCENCES . Maitland Mercury 28 July 1877 (To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.) Sir, Having lived in the district of the Hunter for upwards of half a century, I am induced to believe that a few reminiscences relating thereto may not prove uninteresting to the readers of the Mercury . I propose therefore to forward, as opportunity offers, a few remarks relating thereto, premising that there shall be no attempt at elaboration in the matter. It has often been to me a matter of regret that the most interesting period the earlier was passed while I was a mere child, and…

…No. 1.  REMINISCENCES . Maitland Mercury 28 July 1877 (To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.) Sir, Having lived in the district of the Hunter for upwards of half a century, I am induced to believe that a few reminiscences relating thereto may not prove uninteresting to the readers of the Mercury . I propose therefore to forward, as opportunity offers, a few remarks relating thereto, premising that there shall be no attempt at elaboration in the matter. It has often been to me a matter of regret that the most interesting period the earlier was passed while I was a mere child, and consequently many years elapsed without…

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. REMINISCENCES—No. 2. (To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)

4 August 1877, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), page 3

…No. 2.  REMINISCENCES . Maitland Mercury 4 August 1877 Sir, I continue my reminiscences of matters on the Hunter in old times, from the point arrived at in my first letter, published in the Mercury of Saturday, July 28. Another article of food which the blacks much liked was a white grub, from one to three or four inches in length, and up to an inch in diameter, which appeared to be, and was, a mass of fat. They obtained them from various kinds of trees - the oak principally - in which they were often deeply embedded, and cooked them by covering up with hot ashes. Many Europeans…

REMINISCENCES NO. III. (CONTINUED FROM THE " MERCURY" OF SAT. AUGUST 4.) (To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)

11 August 1877, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), page 9

…No. III  REMINISCENCES Maitland Mercury11August 1877 Resuming my reminiscences, I continue my notes as to the black aboriginals in the early years of this district. It was interesting to see a large number of natives indulging in a river bath, swimming hither and thither, diving great distances, and unexpectedly seizing a companion by the legs, who would disappear under the water with cry, of strange admixture of shout and laugh, to again appear with the aggressor choking with laughter in the water. A large party of them were thus enjoying themselves in the Paterson river, one summer's day, when one of them was seized by a…

REMINISCENCES No. IV. [CONTINUED FROM THE "MERCURY" OF SATURDAY, AUGUST 11.] (To the Editor of the Mailland Mercury.)

18 August 1877, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), page 7

…No. IV.  REMINISCENCES Maitland Mercury 18 August 1877 Resuming my reminiscences, I continue my notes as to the black aboriginals in the early years of this district.. I have alluded, in a previous communication, to the fact of my having been present during the administration of punishment to an offending native. The subject had often been broached, and it bad been gathered with difficulty from them, that when an offence had been committed, not involving the death penalty, it was sometimes atoned for by the act of " standing punishment." An opportunity presenting itself, my relative, having their confidence, was invited to attend a fight, as it was…

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. REMINISCENCES No. V. (CONTINUED FROM THE "MERCURY" OF SATURDAY, AUGUST 18.) (To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)

25 August 1877, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), page 10

…No. 5. REMINISCENCES Maitland Mercury 25 August 1877 I much regret my inability to give any reliable opinion as to the number of the blacks in this district in these early times. They appeared to lead a very restless kind of life, constantly on the move, shifting their camps from one place to another, seldom remaining more than three or four days in one camp, and usually numbering from twenty to thirty in a party. On occasions of grand corroboree they would come from long distances, even from Liverpool Plains, the Manning, Port Stephens, &c. I was present at one of these corroborees, about 1834, when there was…

REMINISCENCES No. VI. (CONTINUED FROM THE "MERCURY" OF SATURDAY, AUGUST 25.) (To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)

1 September 1877, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), page 10

…No. VI.  REMINISCENCES Maitland Mercury 1 September 1877 Sir -There are but few persons utterly insensible to the attractions and charms of the beautiful in nature, as not to share in the regret which a small tract of say fifty of brush has not been preserved in all its pristine loveliness, with all its charms inviolate. Had such been the case, what an object of attraction it would have formed at the present day. How rapturous the enjoyment of those who would for the first time look on the vegetable wonders and floral beauties presenting themselves on all sides. The aromatic cedar, redolent when cut with exquisite perfume,…

THE MURDER OF THOMAS MULDOON.

23 March 1850, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), page 2

…hours (causing intense pain), when a large blister is established, and it is said a cure effected. Again, if one of the tribe is unwell, the gins search under the plant for its tuberous roots, which are found to be at the end of long fibrous roots, and which resemble in shape and appearance small yams ; these yams are cooked in such a way as to get every particle of moisture out of them, and then eaten, and the gins say the patient derives great benefit therefrom. The plant is usually found growing in brush lands of some richness. Maitland Mercury 23 March1850 ˆ * Possibly Isaac Pike who arrived on the Hebe in 1820 and died in 1879…