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[first page]
accordingly waited for him at the Mission
station, but when he found that Meston did
not intend taking him, he returned to
his tribe and Gin, where he is now -

The incident at the Ducie River where
the natives followed him a short distance
along the bank, and were demonstrative -
This was from disappointment at not
getting any thing, and hoping to get something
at the last moment - He got the Moreton
natives to carry his bundles of spears
to Bertiehaugh, a distance of about 30
miles, and naturally the boys expected
something for their trouble, but got nothing.

The Missionary boy who travelled around
with him, was promised some clothes from
Thursday Island - but they never came.

I presume there is no likelihood of
Mestons [sic] being in any way appointed
to control the natives here. If there was,
I am afraid it would be a great mistake.

Re. the gift of blankets, I would
suggest

[second page]
suggest that for the natives in these parts
they should be halved, half a blanket
being quite sufficient, and of course
go futher. I have been amongst
a number of tribes lately, and have
not seen a single blanket in their
camps. This has been on the western
coast about the Embley River; the
inland tribes about Moreton, Mein
and Coen, and the tribes Northward
from Port Stewart, on the Eastern Coast.
If a supply of tomahawks alternated
with the blankets in the yearly gift -
as you know, it would be invaluable
to them, and a blanket should last
longer than one year.

I am just now returning to
Possession Island, after a three
months [sic] trip in the above mentioned
parts - The Embley R. has a splendid
entrance, and the Country adjacent to the
river, fairly suitable for settlement.

I remain, Sir,
Yours sincerely
[signed] J.T. Embley

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