ft V • * * * ‘ ■ ... 5 .«.'.*,^^//^». Me GILL U NIVE RS IT Y ^LIB RARY.^ IJotifcs of IfTr. ^lontoich’s ®orhs. THE LAST OF THE TASMANIANS. Sampson Low, Marston, and Co. 16^. Only a few copies of this work remain for sale. It ought to he one of the most popular hooks of the season.” —Literary TForW. “ Many excellent illustrations are interspersed through its pages, and three charming plates are added to give the stranger an idea of Tasmanian scenery ”_ European Mail. • *'' “ . . . The sympathetic feeling and kindliness of tone which the author if j X friendless ahorigine give us that hias in his favour which we alluded to at the commencement of our notice."— Athenaiim. There are, indeed, countless traits in the character of these simple islanders as told hy our author, to justify the affectionate regret with which he dwells unon their extinction.”— Review. “ Iffr. Bonwick, long known as a zealous and able advocate of the rights of the weaker races of mankind, has narrated the tragical history of the aborieines of Tasmania . . .” —Colonial Intelligencer. “Well worthy of ajilace in every library throughout Tasmania.” —Hobart Town Intelligencer. “ It is the story of a race not only subjugated, but demoralized,—not only demoralized, but extinguished. ” —Daily News. “ The recital is at once romantic, suggestive, and instructive.” —Morning Post. “ . . . He has told his story plainly and forcibly; .so plainly and forcibly that many besides himself will find it romantic, affecting, and suggestive.”— Standard. LIFE OF THE TASMANIANS. Sampson Low and Co. Eeduced to 7s. 6cl. more interesting work than even Mr. Bon wick's former book. Mr. Bonwick has produced a volume which will have much that will be new for the craniologist. The science of language receives in it illustrations from fresh sources.”— Athenceum. He deserves praise for the spirit in which he has undertaken this work, and the breadth of view and industry which chai*acterise it.”— North British Review. «< ipjjg ( Life of the Tasmanians ’ will become popular among all who like to hear particulars of the habits and customs of other countries. This is a com¬ panion volume to the author’s ‘ Last of the Tasmanians,’ a work which was deservedly spoken v6ry highly of."— Public Opinion. “ Everything he says on the subject must command universal attention. In almost every page of the volume we are astonished at the amount of labour and knowledge the author has brought to bear on his subject. To the ethnological student as well a.s to the ordinary reader, every page almost is replete with interest, and he has altogether produced a most valuable book.”— European Mail, “ Both have been highly praised by the daily and weekly press, and with good reason.^ In the latter of these two works, which is illustrated with a variety of engravings,^ he goes into a mass of detail, much of it exceedingly interesting, that leaves nothing more worth knowing to be said.”— Alliance News. “ Deeply interesting as Mr. Bon wick’s elaborate story of extennination has been pronounced, it fairly yields the palm to his account of the habits, the morals, the arts, the superstitions of a people whom English civilization has improved off the face of the earth. The author is an earnest friend to the doomed race. The author’s style is fresh, clear, and forcible; and the twin volumes, with their abun¬ dant research, their careful statements, and their excellent illustrations, constitute a history of one of civilization’s darker episodes, which did not exist before, and need not again be written.”— Telegraph. “ Mr. Bonwick is scrupulously careful to state both sides of the questionJT— Standard. **A composition of his work great local knowledge of his subject, ^d the literary and scientific resource, and philosophical acumen, necessary for the exhaustive treatment of so difficult a topic.”— Glasgow Herald. “Facts methodically arranged and agreeably represented.”— Australasian. CVEIOTJS FACTS OF OLD COLONIAL DAYS. Sampson Low and Co. 35. “ The first things he seeks for in particular, are the religious, educational, and philanthropic.”— World. “The compiler of this really curious work is evidently an enthusiast in all matters Australian.”— Record. ** knows his subject thoroughly from first to last; he is content to tell what he has to say in the simplest and clearest manner.”— Manchester Courier, f •NOTICES OP ME. BONWICK’S WOEKS. “ All that IMr. Bonwick has written upon colonial history and life in the colonies has been of great interest.”— Public Opiniov. “Containing a vast amount of information.”— Weslej/an Methodist Magazine. “ A veiy interesting collection of facts and particulars, relating chiefly to the early religious and educational history of several of our Australian colonies.”— Glasgow Herald. “ Mr. Bonwick describes with much sjunpathy the struggles of the press in the days of the autocracy of colonial governors.”— Athen(Bum» FIRST TWENTY YEARS OF AUSTRALIA. Sampson Low and Co. 55. j cloth. “To place before the public the young days of a penal settlement.”— Colonies “Abounding in matters of interest.” —European Mail. [and India. “ As a plain, unvarnished tale could hardly be improved.”— Morning Post. “ He has rendered good service.”— Scotsman. “Special value for the students of social science.”— Manchester Guardian. “ He is never more at home than in a work of this kind.”— Adelaide Registei\ “So aiTanged and digested—to give us a graphic account.’’— Saturday Review. “ He does not allow his diligent industry to dull his appreciation of what is interesting or life-like.”— Australian. PORT PHILLIP SETTLEMENT. Sampson Low and Co. 215. Many fac-simile sketches taken in 1835, fac-similes of letters and early newspapers, portraits, colonial drawings of primitive Melbourne, &c. “A book which forms a worthy sequel to his previous works, which treat of what may be described as the romance of colonization.”— Daily News. “Cannot but receive a kindly welcome—A mine of information—Colonial histoiy is his hobby, and long may he continue to ride it.”— Melbourne Age. “ Future historians will have every reason to be grateful to !Mp Bonwick for having collected, collated, an'anged in consecutive order, and printed and pub¬ lished in a narrative form, the documents, drawings, and fac-similes of letters contained in his substantial volume.” —Melbourne Argus. “The whole subject is familiar to him, and he makes it interesting.” —York “ It is earnest and thorough.”— Manchester Gzcardian. [Herald. “The chapter on the early press is most interesting.”— Bristol Post. “ A valuable addition to colonial history.”— Glasgow Herald. “Contains a number of curious details.”— Spectator. “ A complete and most interesting record—possesses great intrinsic merit. The author—a kind of Nestor among Australian writers.”—Co/on?es and India. OUR NATIONALITIES. WHO ARE THE ENGLISH, IRISH, SCOTCH, AND WELSH? D. Bogiie. Bound, 35. 6d. “A vast amount of information—ethnological, archseological, hi.storical.”— “Not biassed by political design.” — Tablet. [Academy.. “Full of interesting matter.” —Edinburgh Daily Review. “ Shows wide knowledge and great r'esearch.”— Northern Whig. “Alike thbrough and exact.”—5^^. James's Gazette. “ Interesting account of ancient Irish land system.”— Irish Law Times, “Packed with authorities.”— South Wales Daily News. “ Most interesting to Scotchmen.”— Paisley Express. \ “A good deal of quaint and curious lore.” —Melbourne Argus, “Valuable guide to a quaint subject.”— Brisbane Courier. “Vast amount of very condensed research.”— Standard. “ Discusses the theory of the Lost Tribes.”— Broad Arrow. EGYPTIAN BELIEF AND MODERN THOUGHT. C. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. 105 . 6d. Only a few copies remaining. PYRAMID FACTS AND FANCIES. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. 35. 6d. MIKE HOWE, THE BUSHRANGER. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. 5s. LILY OF TASMANIA. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. 5s. CLIMATE AND HEALTH IN SOUTH AFRICA. S. W. Silver and Co. l5. RESOURCES OF QUEENSLAND. S. W. Silver and Co. l5. The other works of Mr. Bonwick:—as Australian Geography Western Victoria f d'C., are out of print. J. y-- \ ^ BY JAMES BONMMCK, F.E.G.S. fellow of the LONDON ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE AOTHOR or “ POET PHILLIP SETTLEMENT, ETC. loadON I SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, AND RIVINGTON. 1884. CLAY AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS. \The Right of Translaiion and Repjvduction is Reserved.'] PREFACE. Another edition being called for/the Aiitlior declined tbe reproduction of the ‘‘ Last of the Tasmanians/’ an expensive ■work, and preferred, for the popularization of vieu's favouring the claims of Aborigines, to produce, in a simpler form, the leading facts of that sad tale of a Colonial Past. Such is the narrative given in the Lost Tasmanian Pace.” Of late years, great disturbances have occurred in the relations of 'Whites and Coloured peoples. Zulus, Indians, Eechuanas, Malagasy, Annamese, Australians, Pacific Island¬ ers, Egj^ptians and Soudanese, have trembled before the might of European civilization. This has been a terrible period of anxiety to all Coloured nations. Are all Darli Slins to perish, like the unhappy Tasman¬ ians, before Europeans'? Have u^e not often been, in our civilizing processes,.more savage than the Savages'? If the Hatural Laic of /SeZeef/o??-necessitates the destruction of inferior races, as History has illustrated thus far, is there not in Humanity a Higher Law, happily better recognized PREFACE. ill our clay, which should and could he emjiloyed, by moral force, to resist this fearfully selfish struggle for existence ? Perhaps, in this Colonial record, replies aj^pear to some of these deeply interesting inquiries. It is, at any rate, hoped that the perusal of these, pages may raise up a few more friends for poor Aborigines. % l • Sutton, Surrey, April 17 th, 1884. 9 CONTENTS. PAGE Earliest Notices of the Natives . 3 The Eace under British Eule .19 Sorrows of the Eace .38 The "War .49 The Line . .. ■. 84 Capture Parties. - .109 Eobinson the Conciliator.133 Flinders Island Eefuge.158 Oyster Cove Station .177 Sealers and Native ."Women , , ..191 Half-Castes.196 Native Eights ..204 Civilization and Missions.205 Decline and Extinction 210 ILLUSTRATIONS. WOOREDDY, TrUGANINA’s HuSBAND. Mother and Child. Tasmanians and Tasmanian Women . . . . Australian Graves .. Patty and Wapperty. Manalagana. Lalla Rookh or Truganina. Robinson on his Conciliatory Mission . . Patty in Oyster Bay Costume. Bessy Cl/N.rk. ••••••• Walter and his Half-Ca.ste Wife. William Lanne, the Last Man . . . . To face Title To face 2 Mgc 10 9 9 99 18 99 9 9 49 99 99 109 9 9 • 99 135 99 99 140 99 99 146 99 • 99 177 99 9 9 184 9 9 99 191 9 9 99 215 i THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. INTEODUCTION. And who were the Tasmanians ? When Tasman, the Dutchman, in 1642 , was sailing along the then unknown Southern Ocean, that restlessly surges between Australia and the South Pole, he came upon a rocky, wooded island. This he called Van Diemen's Land, since . changed to Tasmania. The aboriginal Tasmanians believed themselves alone in the world. Dark in skin, brilliant in eye, with massive jaw, immense teeth, woolly hair, curly beard, bridgeless nose, expanded nostril, scarred body, shapely feet, small hand, they wandered about in scattered tribes. Except in colour, they were unlike their neighbours of I^ew Holland, now Australia. In hair, in nose, in limb they differed. Both races were wandering hunters, never cultivating land, nor taming bird or beast for food supply. The chase gave no chance of settled habitation or form of government. The wooden pointed spear stayed the kangaroo in its leap, and the whirling stick brought down the winged fowl. The friction of two pieces of wood produced fire, whose embers roasted the food. Without houses, without culinary utensils, without garments, save the raw skin, they had no homes, and needed none. The lowest down the depths of barbarism, they were neither stupid nor miserable; they were still men and B 2 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. women. Left alone those thousands of years, never ad¬ vancing beyond the rudest state, they had sense and feeling. An exj^ansive, and often lofty, forehead betrayed no gorilla look. A language with no ordinary grammatical niceties and complexities proved their human kind. The merry laugh at the evening fire, the ready joke, the boisterous fun, the play of mother and child, made the camp a lively scene. Their wants were few, and easily supplied. With no regrets for past good, and no desire for any future but a fair day’s sport, the present only gave them care or brought them joy. Animal pleasure they sought, and found. If, like their changing skies, the sunny smile was quickly followed by the gloomy rage, the cloud of anger soon melted in the azure of peace. A hasty tumult was raised, and then the little tribal gathering raised the song, shook limb in mazy dance, and stirred the forest echoes in a shout of merriment. If wanting little for the body, they craved less for the soul. With no gods, no form of worship, their vague fears were due only to the wild, dread voices of storm and dark¬ ness. The terrible, because unknown, laws of the universe would at times plough up the fallow ground of their sterile souls; but there was no sower to drop a seed of spiritual truth into the gaping furrow. Of the earth earthy, infants of humanity, not even strugglers for the light, content with one day’s food and gladness, so they lived, so had their fathers lived. Another wanderer came, and another claimant for the bounding kangaroo. The Native saw a man, like himself, but white in skin, clothed, and armed with thunder stolen from the skies. The intruder brought mistrust and gloom into those sweet vales and moonlit glades, so long owned by the dark race in careless glee. Henceforth the "scene is changed j the men and women find another heaven spread over them. To tell tne tale of sorrows flowing from this arrival, and how the war between the weak and strong brought all-pre¬ vailing power to one, but dire extinction to the other, is the object of this present book. EARLIEST NOTICES OF THE NATIVES. 3 EARLIEST NOTICES OF THE NATIVES. The discoverer of the island, Abel Jansen Tasman, never saw the original inhabitants. He detected notches in trees y ^\ lie 1 t ley ^ascended after birds’ nests, as he supposed, after opossums, as we know. He did observe smoke, and heard the noise as of a trumpet. Satisfied with hoisting le Hutch flag, he passed on to the discovery of Hew Zealand. A Frenchman, Captain Marion, held the first intercourse with the wild men of the woods. This was in 1772 beincr ^ after Tasman’s call. Eienzi, the historian; speaks ot the kind reception of his countrymen by the Hatives whose children and women were present to greet the strant^ers But oloodshed followed the greeting. This is the account * oout a.n hour after the French landed. Captain Marion ,, in front of him, one of the Aborigines ottered him a lighted firebrand, that he might set light to a heap of wood heaped up on the flat shore. MarioiAook it, believing that it was a formality intended to give confidence to the SeWages; but hardly had the little pile of wood been enflamed, when the Aborigines retired in mass toward a little height, from which they threw afterwards a volley of stones which wounded the two captains. They (the French) repelled them by several discharges of musket. They killed one aborigine and wounded several others, and the others fled howling towards.the woods.” From another historian of the voyage we learn other particulars. A party of thirty Natives came down, the women carrying their children behind their backs, fastened on with ropes of rushes. The men were .said to be carrying pointed sticks (spears) and stone axes. Presents of pieces of iron, looking-glasses, handkerchiefs, &c., were laid before them, but were rejected with sulky disdain. Some ducks and geese were tendered, but were angrily thrown back again. The nre-stick was presented to a sailor first, and afterwards to the captain. But evidently the act, supposed to be friendly, was taken in another spirit. They might have regarded it as a proof that the strangers intended an establishment upon their own hunting-grounds. The historian adds; “This 4 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. was no sooner done, than they retired precipitately to a small hill, and threw a shower of stones, by which Captain Marion and the commander of the Castries were both wounded.” Shots, of course, replied to the stones, and the Frenchmen returned to their boats. Sending their women backward to the covert of the forest, the wild men ran alon^r the shoie after their foes. The sailors put back towards the land to arrest the pursuit. At this moment an old chief assumed the leadership, and raised a hideous war-cry, when a storm of spears answered to his call. Fifteen Frenchmen now chased the assailants, and by their destructive fire killed and wounded several of them. The unfortunate Marion met with his death in New Zealand. Though a French author describes his country¬ men as being fattened for thirty-two days, to be eaten on the thirty-third, yet it is known that the New Zealanders treated them well till they polluted their sacred places, cooked food with tapued wood, and put two chiefs in irons. May they not have conducted themselves as ill in Tasmania' so as to incur the displeasure of the Natives, and neglected to note the circumstance in their journal? Captain Furneaux preceded Captain Cook there nearly mur j^ears, but storms drove him off the island. Captain Cook, in the Adventure, 1777, saw much of the race on Bruni Isle, and left tlrs record of his observations :—“ They were quite naked, and wore no ornaments, unless we consider as such some large punctures in different parts of their bodies some 111 straight, and others in curved lines. The men were of the middle stature, but rather slender. Their skin and hair were black, and the latter as woolly as that of any native of Guinea ; but they were not distinguished by re¬ markably thick lips, nor flat noses. On the contrary, their leatures were far from being disagreeable. They had pretty good eyes, and their teeth were tolerably even, but verV dirty. Most of them had their hair and beards smeared with a red ointment, and some had also their faces painted with the same composition. When some bread was offered them, as soon as they understood it was to be eaten, they either returned or threw it away, without tasting it.” A couple of pigs were brought ashore to turn adrift; but the Natives seized them by the ears and carried them off, CAPTAIN COOKES VISIT. 5 doubtless to eat them. A musket was fired, when the party fled in great dismay. But one little girl returned, and brought several females with her. Of these it was remarked that they ‘Mvore a kangaroo skin fastened ov.er their shoulders, the only use for which seemed to be to support their children on their backs, for it left those parts un¬ covered which modesty directs us to conceal. Their bodies were black, and marked with scars like those of the men * from whom, however, they differed, in having their heads shaved—some of them being completely shorn, others only on one side, while the rest of them had the upper part of their heads shaved, leaving a very narrow circle of hair all round. They were far from being handsome ; however, some •of our gentlemen paid their addresses to them, but without effect. That the gallantry of some of our people was not very agreeable to the men is certain; for an elderly man, as soon as he observed it, ordered the women and children to retire, which they all did, but some with a little reluctance.'' Cook was surprised at their indifference to presents, and disregard of iron, fish-hooks, &c. They lived like beasts of the forest, in roving parties, without arts of any kind, sleeping in summer like dogs, under the hollow sides of trees, or in the wattled huts made with the low branches of evergreen shrubs, stuck in the ground at small distances from each other, and meeting together at the top." The navigator was struck with the superior virtue of the Tasmanian women over the more polished Polynesians. His remarks upon the conduct of Europeans towards savage women are worthy of citation here. He describes it as “ highly blamable, as it creates a jealousy in their men, that may be attended with consequences fatal to the success of the common enterprise, and to the whole body of adven¬ turers, without advancing the private purpose of the indi¬ vidual, or enabling him to gain the object of his wishes. I believe it has been generally found among uncivilized people, that where the women are easy of access, the men are the first to offer them to strange:rs; and that where this is not the case, neither the allurements of presents, nor the oppor¬ tunity of privacy, will be likely to have the desired effect. This observation will, I am sure, hold good throughout all the parts of the South Seas where I have been.'' - 6 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. But the most important narratives are tliose in the works of the French naturalists Labillardi^re and Peron. The former was with Admiral D’Entrecasteaux, in 1792 ; the latter with Admiral Baudin, in 1802. The first interview is thus described :— “We got ready a few cartridges as fast as Ave could, and set out toAvards the place Avhere AA^e liad seen the Xatives. It Avas noAv only nine o’clock. We had gone only a feAV steps before Ave met them. The men and youths Avere ranged in front, nearly in a semicircle; the Avomen, children, and girls AA^ere ^ a feAv paces behind. As their manner did not appear to indicate any hostile design, I hesitated not to go up to the oldest, avIio accepted, Avith a very good grace, a piece of biscuit I offered him, of Avhich he had seen me eat. I then held out my hand to him, as a sign of friendship, and had the pleasure to perceiA^e that he comprehended my mean- mg very well. He gave me his, inclining himself a little and raising at the same time the left foot, which he carried backivard in proportion as he bent his body forward. These motions were accompanied by a pleasing smile. “My companions also advanced up to the others, and immediately the best understanding prevailed among us ihey received with' great joy the neckcloths which we offered ♦1 people approached nearer to us, and one of them had the generosity to give me a few small shells of the whelk kind, pierced near the middle, and strung like a neck¬ lace. ihis ornament, which he called Canlaride, was the only one he possessed, and he wore it round his head. A handkerchief supplied the place of this present,‘’gratifying the utmost wishes of my savage, who advanced towards me that I might tie It round his head for him, and who expressed the greatest joy as he lifted his hand up to feel it again and again. M e wore abundance of clothes, as I have already obsm-ved on account of the coldness of the nights ; and we bestowed the greater part on these islanders. “ The women were very desirous of coming nearer to us ; and though the men made signs to them to keep at a dis¬ tance, their curiosity was ready every moment to break through all other considerations. The gradual increase of confidence hoivever, that took place, obtained them permission to approach. It appeared to us very astonishing that in so FRENCH INTERCOURSE. 7 high a latitude, 'where, at a period of the year so little advanced as the present, 'we experienced the cold at night to he pretty severe, these people did not feel the necessity of clothing themselves. Even the women were, for the most part, entirely naked, as well as the men. Some of them only had tlie shoulders or part of the back covered with a kanga¬ roo’s skin, worn with the hair next the body ; and amongst these we saw two, each'of whom had an infant at the breast. The sole garment of one was a strip of kangaroo skin, about two inches broad, which was wrapped six or seven times round tlie waist. Another had a collar of skin round the neck, and some had a slender cord bound several times round the head. I afterwards learned that most of these cords were fabricated from the bark of a shrub of the Spurge family, very common in this country. ‘‘I had given them several things without requiring any¬ thing in return ; but I wished to get a kangaroo’s skin, when, among the savages about us, there happened to be only a young girl who had one. When I proposed to her to give it me in exchange for a pair of pantaloons, she ran away to hide herself in the woods. The other Natives appeared truly hurt at her refusal, and called to her several times. At length she yielded to their entreaties, and came to bring me the skin. Perhaps it was from timidity only she could not prevail on herself to part with this kind of garment; in return for which slie received a pair of pantaloons, less useful to her, according to the customs of ladies in this country, than the skin, which served to cover the shoulders. We showed her the manner of wearing them; but, notwithstand¬ ing, it was necessary for us to put them on for her ourselves. To this she yielded with the best grace in the world.” In that party were seven men, eight women, and seven children. Of course the French sailors tried the earliest known process of civilizing savages ,—a taste of grog. But the stuff was promptly rejected by the unsophisticated palate. The merry Frenchmen, however, got the girls together, and induced them to run races with each other. An attempt at any improper freedom was resisted at once, though in a good-tempered way. One girl, more rudely assaulted, fled to a rock overhanging the sea, prepared to throw herself down if her pursuer advanced further. 8 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. In 1798 Flinders and Bass fell in with the Natives hy the river Derwent. As it was in consequence of a report of tliis visit that the island became colonized by the English Government, the first step to the extinction of the abori¬ ginal inhabitants, it is interesting to read the particulars as told by Captain Collins, afterwards appointed to be the founder ot the colony at Hobart Town. After speaking of the run of the Norfolk up the beautiful river, he proceeds in these words : “ In their way up, a human voice saluted them from the hills; on which they lauded, carrying with them one of several swans which they had just shot. Having nearly reached the summit, two females, with a short covering hanging loose from their shoulders, suddenly appeared at some little distance before them ; but, snatching iqi each a small basket, these scampered off. A man then presented himself, and suffered them to approach him without any signs of fear or distrust. He received the swan joyously, appearing to esteem it a treasure. ‘‘ His language was unintelligible to them, as was theirs to him, although they addressed him in several of the dialects of New South Wales, and some few of the most common words of the South Sea Islands. With some difficulty they made him comprehend their wish to see his place of residence He pointed over the hill, and proceeded onwards; but his pace was slow and wandering, and he often stopped under pretence that he diad lost the track, which led them to suspect that his only aim was to amuse and tire them out. Judging, then, that in persisting to follow him they must lose the remaining part of the flood-tide, which was much more valuable to them than the sight of his hut could be they parted from him in great friendship. The most probable’ reason of his unwillingness to be their guide, seemed to be IS fearing that if he took them to his women their charms might induce them to run off with them—a jealousy verv common with the natives of the continent. “He was a short, slight man, of middle age, with a countenance more expressive of benignity and intelligence, lan of the ferocity or stupidity which generally character¬ ized the other IS atives ; and his features were less flattened or negro-like, than theirs. His face was blackened, and the top of his head was plastered with red earth. His hair was KISSES NOT UNDERSTOOD. 9 either naturally short and close, or had been rendered so by burning, and, although short and stiffly curled, they did not think it woolly. He was armed with two spears, very ill- made, of solid wood. Ho part of their dress attracted his attention, except the red silk handkerchiefs round their necks. Their fire-arms were to them neither objects of curiosity nor fear.” But by far the most pleasing stories are told by M. Peron. Eomantic they certainly are, as should be expected in an a"e blessed with the sentimentalities of Rousseau. The air o of extravagance and invention is unmistakable. The de- O scription must be accepted as the portraits taken on that occasion ; sketches and narratives were but approximations of truth. Both were uncommonly Prench-like. Even the figures drawn have a touch of the Parisian about them. o We hasten to present scenes in the language of the amiable naturalist. “ To the signs of friendship which we made, one of them precipitated himself from the top of a rock, rather than descended it, and in the twinkling of an eye was in the midst of us. He was a young man, of from twenty-two to twenty-four years of age, of an* apparently strong constitution, having no other defect than a slenderness of legs and arms, which characterizes his nation. His physiognomy exhibited neither austerity nor ferocity; his eyes were quick and sparkling, and his looks expressed at once benevolence and surprise. M. Freycinet having embraced him, I did the same. But the air of indifierence with which he welcomed this evidence of our interest made it easy to observe that it had no signification for him. (The Frenchmen discovered that kissing was a social mystery to these rude barbarians.) That which appeared to affect him more was the whiteness of our skin. Wishing to assure himself, without doubt, if that colour were the same all over the body, he opened our waistcoats and shirts, and his astonishment was manifested by loud cries of surprise, and above all by extremely quick stamping of the feet. ‘‘ Yet our cutter appeared to occupy him more than our persons, and, after having gazed a few moments, he rushed down to the landing-place. There, without disturbing him¬ self about the sailors whom he found there, he seemed quite 10 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. . absorbed in his new observation. The thickness of the ribs and panels, the solidity of its construction, its rudder, its oars, its masts, its sails, he observed with all that silence and that profound attention which are the least equivocal si^ns of a reflective interest and admiration. In a moment one of the sailors, wishing without doubt to add to his sur¬ prise, presented him with a wine bottle filled with the gro^^ which formed a part of the rations of the ship. The bright ness of the glass called forth a cry of astonishment from the savage, who took the bottle and examined it for’some moments; but soon his curiosity being led again to the vessel, he threw the bottle into the sea, without appearing to have any other intention than to relieve himself.of an indilferent object, and afterwards went to his first research, bieither the cry of the sailor, who was troubled at the loss of his bottle of grog, nor the entreaty of one of his comrades to throw himself into the water to catch it, appeared to move him. He made several attempts to push the cutter free, but the cable which held it attached rendering all his efforts powerless, he was constrained to abandon it and return to join us, after having given us the most striking example that we had had of the attention and reflection in sava^^e people.’' ® We have then a passage worthy of Rousseau himself. A family group present themselves :— ‘‘ The old man, after having examined both of us with as much surprise and satisfaction as the first, made signs to two women, who had hitherto been unwilling to approach They hesitated some moments, after which the elder came to us. Ihe younger followed her, more timid and fearful than the nrst. Ihe one appeared to be forty years old, and lart^e furrows upon the skin of the abdomen announced, not to be mistaken, that she had been the mother of several children. She was absolutely naked, and appeared, like the old man* kind and benevolent. The young woman, of from twenty- six to twenty-eight years, was of a pretty robust constitution • Idve the preceding, she was entirely naked, with the excep¬ tion of a kapgaroo skin, in which she carried a little ^^irl whom she still suckled. Her breasts, a little withered already, appeared otherwise pretty well formed, and suffi¬ ciently furnished with milk. This young woman, like the MOTHER AND CHILD (Pero}i *8 Voyage ) THE FAIR OUR A OUR A. 11 elderl}^ man and "woman, whom we presumed to be her father and mother, had an interesting physiognomy. Her eyes had expression, and something of the sjnrihiel which surprised us, and Avhich since then we have never found in any other female of that nation. She appeared, also, to cherish her child much; and her care for her had that affectionate and gentle character which is exhibited among all races as the particular attribute of maternal tenderness.’’ Another family group excited the most romantic ravings of our Erench explorers. These consisted of a father and mother, a young man, a little boy about five years old, a girl of younger years, and a helle sauvage of sixteen or seventeen. Upon making acquaintance with this distinguished party, Peron, like a true man of gallantry, drew off his glove, while bowing to the beauty, preparatory to his offering the saluta¬ tion of refined society. The fair one of the forest was struck with horror and alarm at the facility with which her admirer apparently peeled off his skin, and was not easily relieved of her fears for his safety. The old man, in primitive simplicity, invited the visitors to his evening meal of cockles and mussels. Peron sang, for his supper, the Marseillaise Hymn. The effect he describes : The young man tore his hair, scratched his head with both hands, agitated himself in a hundred different ways, and repeatedly iterated his approving clamour.’,’ Other and more tender airs followed, which doubtless touched the tender chords of the young lady. Let us hear his tale of this gentle one :— ‘‘ The young girl whom I have noticed made herself more and more conspicuous every instant, by the softness of her looks, and their affectionate and sparkling expression. Oura Cura, like her parents, was perfectly naked, and appeared little to suspect that one should find in that absolute nudity anything immodest or indecent. Of a weaker constitution than her little brother and sister, she was more lively and impassioned than they. Preycinet, who seated himself beside her, appeared to be more particularly the object of her agreeable attentions, and the least experienced eye might have been able, in the look of this innocent child of nature, to distinguish that delicate shadow which gives to simple playfulness a more serious and reflective character. Coquetry appeared to be called forth to the support of natural attractions. 12 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. Oura Oura made us know for the first time the nature of the rouge of these regions, and the details of its applica¬ tion After having put some charcoal in my hands, she crushed It, and reduced it to very fine powder; then keepining. Haraly had one couplet been completed, Avhen some of tliem applauded Avith loud cries, others laughed to the echo, whilst the young girls, more timid Avithout doubt, kept silence evidencing nevertheless, by their movements and by the expression of their jihysiognomy, their surprise and their SciLisiciction, All the women, with the exception of kangaroo skins which some of them carried upon their shoulders, were per¬ fectly naked; but, without appearing to think anything of their nudity they so varied their attitudes and their postures that It would be difficult to describe the hizarre and the pictm-esque effects presented to us by that meeting. Their skin black wid disgusting with the fat of seals ; their hair short crisp black and dirty, reddened in some with the dust of ochre; their figures, all bedaubed with charcoal; their forms, generally thin and faded; their breasts, lonc^ and MERRY FOREST MAIDENS. 15 pendant—in a word, all the details of their physical consti¬ tution were repulsive. "\Ye must always exempt from this general tableau two or three young girls of from fifteen to sixteen years, in whom we distinguished forms agreeable enough, contours sufficiently graceful, and in whom the breast was firm and well placed, although the nipple was a little too large and too long. These young girls had also something in the expression of their features the most ingenuous, the most affectionate, and the most gentle, as if the better qualities of the soul could exist even in the midst of the savage hordes of the human species, the more particular gift of youth, of grace, and of beauty. Among the more aged females, some had a gross and ignoble figure ; others, much fewer in number, had a fierce and sombre look ; but, in general, one remarked in all I know not what of inquietude and depression, which misfor¬ tune and slavery imprint on the features of all beings^who bear the yoke. Almost all were covered with scars, sad fruits of ill-treatment from their ferocious husbands. One only, in the midst of all her companions, had preserved a dignified aspect, with much enjoyment and joviality; it was she who had imposed the conditions of which I have spoken before. After M. Eellefin had ended his song, she began to mimic with her gestures and her tone of voice in a very original and pleasant manner, which much diverted her companions. Then she began to sing herself in so rapid a way, that it would be difficult to apply such music to the ordinary principles of our own. Their song, nevertheless, is here in accordance with their language, for such is the volu¬ bility of speech in these people, that it is impossible, as we shall elsewhere show, to distinguish any precise sound in their pronunciation : it is a sort of trilling sentiment, for which we cannot find any terms of comparison or analogy in our European languages. ‘‘ Excited, so to speak, by her own singing, which we had not failed to applaud with warmth, and wishing, without doubt, to deserve our suffrages on other accounts, our jovial Eiemenese commenced to execute various dance movements, some of which would have been regarded as excessively indecent, if that state of human society were not foreign to all that delicacy of sentiment and action which is for 16 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. US but a fortunate product of the perfection of social order. ‘‘ Whilst all this passed, I employed myself accurately to collect and note the details that were presented, and which I now describe. It Avas remarked, doubtless, by the same woman who was dancing; for hardly had she finished her dance, than she approached me with an obliging air, took from a reed bag, similar to that I have described elsewhere, some charcoal which she found there, crushed it in her hand, and began to lay on me a plaster of the rouge of those regions. I Avillingly lent myself to this obliging caprice. M. Heirisson had the same complacency, and received a similar mask. We appeared to be then a great object of admiration to these women ; they seemed to regard us Avith a SAveet satisfaction, and to felicitate us upon the neAV adornments Avhich Ave had just acquired.” This led our traveller to another philosophical remark, founded upon his neAV experience : “ Thus, then, that European Avhiteness of which our species is so proud is no other than a real defect, a sort of deformity which ought to be resigned in these remote climes to the black colour of charcoal, to the sombre red of ochre, or fuller’s earth.” It might be reason¬ ably supposed that such polite acquiescence to the wishes of these'sable charmers would have moved them to permit of some playful return on the part of the fun-loA’^ing Frenchmen, especially Avhen rendered so attractive by the hand of the lovely Arra Maida. But, alas ! in their timidity or coldness they Avere true nymphs of the chaste Diana. “ The deference Avhich Ave paid to these Avomen, and per¬ haps also the neAV charms Avhich we OAved to their attentions, seemed to add to their kindness, to their confidence in us, but nothing could induce them, howeA^er, to alloAv themselves to be approached nearer. The least movement Avhich AA^e made, or appeared to make, to pass the prescribed line, caused them^ to spring up from their heels, and take to flight. Any longer to enjoy their presence, we were constrained to conform our¬ selves entirely to their Avishes. After having lavished upon • them presents and caresses, Ave considered it proper to retake our route toward the anchorage, and our Diemenese appearing to have the intention of Avalking the same Avay as ourselve^, the two companies left. But Ave* Avere again obliged to MODEST WOMEN. 17 come to terms with these inexorable women, who condemned ns to follow the shore, while they walked upon the sand¬ hills parallel to it/’ The gentlemen were doubtless not used to such prudery in the salons of Paris. But our next extract exhibits a more prosaic sequel to this romantic adventure :— “ As they were returning from fishing when we perceived them, they were laden with large crabs, lobsters, and different shell-fish grilled upon ashes, which they carried in baskets of reed. These baskets were tied round in front by a circle of cord, and hung behind the back; some of these were very heavy, and we very sincerely pitied these poor women, carrying such burdens. ‘‘ Our journey all the while was not less gay than our interview, and from the top of the sand-hills they sent us many pleasantries, many playful compliments, to which we endeavoured to reply as expressively as it was possible. AVithout doubt we should have continued for a much longer time these innocent amusements, when all at once one of the women uttered a great cry, and all the others repeated it with fright. They had discovered our landing-place and our com¬ rades. AVe sought to calm their excitement, assuring them that so far from experiencing any injury from our friends, they were going to receive new gifts. All was in vain, and already the troop were burying themselves in the forest, when the same woman who, almost alone, had made our interview so aGfreeable, seemed to change her mind. At her voice there was a moment of hesitation ; but not being able, as it appeared to us, to induce them to follow her, she threw herself alone from the top of the sand-hill, and walking upon the shore some distance before us with much confidence, and even with a sort of pride, she seemed to deride the timidity of her companions. The others, in their turn, appeared ashamed of their weakness; little by little their courage increased, until at length they decided to return to the beach. Accom¬ panied by this numerous and singular escort, we arrived at the place of embarkation, near which, by an accident no one could foresee, all the husbands of these poor women had been gathered together for some time.” AV'hat followed ? ‘‘ In spite of the least equivocal evidence of the benevolence and generosity of our countrymen, they exhibited a restless c 18 THE LOST TASMANIAN KACE. and sombre physiognomy, and tlieir look was ferocious and threatening, and in their attitude we distinguished a con¬ straint, malevolence, and perfidy which they sought to dissemble in vain. At this inauspicious meeting, all the Avomen Avho followed us appeared much concerned. Their furious husbands cast upon them glances of anger and rage, Avhich Avere not likely to comfort them. After liaAung laid the products of their fishing at the feet of these men° Avho partook of them immediately, Avithout offering them any, they retired behind their husbands, and seated themselves upon the other side of a large sand-hill, and there, during the rest of our intervieAv, these unfortunate creatures dared neither raise their eyes, nor speak, nor smile.’’ After this unfortunate termination of a happy meeting, our voyagers took their departure. But the etiect of the'^visit upon the susceptible nature of the naturalist is recognized in the closing Avords of his journal:— '‘Thus ended our intervieAv Avith the inhabitants of Diemen s Land. All the descriptions A\diich I have given are of the most rigorous exactitude, and Avithout doulbt it Avould have been difficult to deny oneself the SAveet emotions Avhich similar circumstances ought to inspire. This gentle confidence of the people in us, these affectionate evidences of benevolence Avhich they never ceased to manifest toAvard us, the sincerity of their demonstrations, tlie frankness of their manners, the touching ingenuousness of their caresses, all con¬ curred to excite within us sentiments of the tenderest interest. The intimate union of the different individuals of a family, the sort of patriarchal life of Avhich Ave had been spectators,' had strongly moved us. I saAv with an inexpressible pleasure the realization of those brilliant descriptions of the happiness and simplicity of the state of nature of which I had so many times in reading felt the seductive charm.” Such Avere the sentiments entertained of a people, almost uniyersally regarded by English colonists, a fcAv years later as tigers and demons, Avhose destruction Avould be a deed of meiit, as Avell as an act of necessity. Smile as Ave may at the simplicity of P4ron, had our faith in the poor creatures been more like that of the kind-hearted Erenchman, the reader might have been spared the story of the crimes and horrors attending the history of " The Lost Tasmanian Race.” TASMANIAN WOMAN. • THE RACE UNDER BRITISH RULE. !19 THE RACE UNDER BRITISH RULE. TVliatever sorrows arose from the mixture of Whites and Blacks in the little island, it cannot he affirmed that Government was ignorant of the usual effects of such an intercourse, nor unmindful of the duty incumbent on the State to protect the aboriginal inhabitants. Warned by the , consequences of such neglect on the mainland of New Holland, and shocked at the cries reaching England from the shores of New South Wales, Lord Hobart, then Secretary for the Colonies, sent this despatch to Captain Collins, when under¬ taking, at the close of 1803, to form a settlement on the banks of the Derwent. “ You are to endeavour,” wrote he, by every means in your power, to open an intercourse with the Natives, and to conciliate their good-will, enjoining all parties under your government to live in amity and kindness with them ; and if any person shall exercise any acts of violence against them, or shall wantonly give them any interruption in the exercise of their several occupations, you are to cause such offender to be brought to punishment, according to the degree of the offence.” But before the first Governor of Yan Diemen’s Land established his quarters at Hobart Town, the unhappy collision between the Whites and the Blacks had taken place by the river Derwent. A party had been sent down from Sydney just before the arrival of Collins from the abortive attempt to settle Port Phillip. Camping at Restdoimi, afterwards Risdon, five miles from Hobart, it was there, early in 1804, that the unfortunate event took place that ushers in the sad story of the “ Black AVar.” AUittle tide creek flows into the Derwent, not far from the Risdon farm. The sandstone ranges rapidly ascend from the water’s edge, while vast masses of palaeozoic lime¬ stone in the neighbourhood rest as heavy buttresses by the river. This was the site of the massacre. The story of the first conflict of races in Tasmania is involved in misty obscurity. To exhibit this difficulty of writing history, we need only to refer to the diary of the first colonial chaplain, the Rev. Robert Knopwood, who was only a few miles from the scene of war, who inquired into it of c 2 20 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. the very parties concerned in it, and "wdio was accnstomed to enter each day’s occurrences in his journal. And yet all he coidd get to enter was the following : “ Had heard different opinions—that they wanted to encamp on the site of Burke’s hut, half : a mile from the camp, and ill-used his wife—that the hut was not burnt or plundered—that the Natives did not attack the camp that our people went from the camp to attack the Natives, who remained at Burke’s house.” positively know is that one day there appeared on the heights a large body of the Aborigines, and not very far from the spot where Bass and Flinders held friendly parley with one of the tribe ; so that there was no reason to suspect hostile intentions. 'Women and children were there The o fficer in command ordered the soldiers with him to fire upon the advancing hunters, and numbers were slain. One person states that the event took place while the Bieutenant-Governor Bowen was on a tour, and that the JSatives came down the hill shouting and singing, in full pursuit of some kangaroos. Another eye-witness ‘mentions the tact of the man Burke, living just outside of the camp running in great alarm with his wife to the soldiers, at the sight of the five hundred Blacks, whose women and children were with them. It is well known that when a savage people contemplate mischief they invariably send their women to the rear. Thus, then, we have a guarantee of their peaceable intentions. The same evidence records the death of, at least fifty of various ages and of both sexes. There is, also, the assertion that the people came on in a semicircle down the hill, with loud cries, driving the kangaroos into a bottom where they could be easier caught and destroyed ’ The Aborigines’Committee, a body of gentlemen appointed by the benevolent Governor Arthur to watch over the interests of that unhappy people at the time of the Black War when 'r as to the causes producing the ostility of the dark race, took certain evidence which bore upon this historical question. One Edward White, who had been servaiit to W Clark, and who had erected the rude hut Bowm.?^l'‘f f I commanding-officer. Lieutenant iknl i ^ ^ before the Committee that, on the 3rd of hlay, 4, he was engaged hoeing some ground near the creek at Kisdon, when looking up at the shouting, he saw about three MASSACRE IN 1804 . 21 liundred Natives coming down the Tiers in a circle, men, women, and children, with a flock of kangaroos between them. He then declared :— “ They looked at me with all their eyes. I went down to the creek, and reported them to some soldiers, and then went back to my work. The Natives did not threaten me. I was not afraid of them. Clark’s house was near where I was at work, and Burke’s house near Clark’s house. The Natives did not attack the soldiers. They could not have molested them. The firing commenced about eleven o’clock. There were many of the Natives slauglitered and wounded. I don’t know how many. Some of their bones were sent in two casks to Port Jackson by Dr. Mountgarrett. They went in the Ocean. A boy was taken from them. This was three or four months after we landed. They never came so close again afterwards. They had no spears with them—only waddies. They were hunting, and came down into a bottom.” Another witness, Eobert Evans, belonging to the Eisdon party, was examined by the Committee. He was not present at the time, though on the ground immediately afterwards, and learned the news. He was told then that when they came on in a large body they did not make any attack, but they brought a great number of kangaroos with them for a corrobory. He never heard that they interrupted any one, but that they were fired upon. He did not know who ordered them to be fired upon, or how many were said to have been . killed, though he had heard that there were men, women, and children, and that some were killed, and that some children were taken away. One of my own informants, a settler of 1804, said that the officer. Lieutenant jMoore, saw double that morning from an over-dose of rations’ rum. Several have assured me of the good feeling between the two races before that event. The reputation which the soldiers of the New South Wales corps, afterwards the 102nd Eegiment, earned for drinking propensities, and their officers for spirit-dealing, in the primitive times, led some to think that the whole was the effect of a half-drunken spree, and that the firing arose from a brutal desire to see the Niggers run. That excellent story-teller. Captain Holman, the Blind Traveller round the world, who made such capital use of 22 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. the eyes of other people, lias left us a statement he learned in 1831, when on a visit to ]\Ir. Gregson, the veteran Tasmanian Eeformer. The Blind Traveller heard the story on the identical spot of the massacre (for Mr. Gregson’s house was at Eisdon), and thus narrates it:—• ° It is said to have originated in the following manner, small stone house had heen erected for a gardener, and he was commencing the cultiv’ation of the ground imme¬ diately around it. In the midst of his work one day, he was surprised at the appearance of some !Matives advancing towards him, and ran off much frightened to the camp to give the alarm. Lieutenant Moore, who commanded a party of the 102nd, drew up his men to resist the expected attack; and, on the approach of the IS'atives, the soldiers were ordered to fire upon them. The execution this volley did among them, and their ignorance of the nature of fire-arms, terrified them to such a degree that they fled, without attempting the slightest defence. From this moment a deep-rooted hatred for the strangers sprang up amon.” Old Tom AA^ard, aa’Iio Avas transported in 1818, and aaIio gave me some striking records of the past, said that Avhen up the country in 1820, the stock-keepers at Mr. Stocker’s, of Salt Pan Plains, AA^ere guilty of abominable conduct toAvard tAvo Hative Avomen. These afterAvards told their Coolies or 42 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. husbands, and the tribe surrounded the hut, and killed two men out of the three. Instances are upon record of murders committed solely with the view of seizing upon the females of a Moh. A lady once told me of a man-servant of hers getting speared after offering some insult to a gin. He narrowly escaped with his life, being long confined to the hut. Eepeated cases were known of brutal stock-keepers and shepherds emasculating the males. Horror-stricken by tales of men such as these, the benevolent Quaker, Mr. James Backhouse, exclaimed, ‘‘ They were of such a character, as to leinove any wonder at the determination of these injured people to try to drive from their land a race of men, amoncr whom were persons guilty of such deeds.” ° The Bushrangers of Van Diemen’s Land were sore foes to the Aborigines, from a natural cruelty of disposition, and from a fancied fear of their divulging the site of their brigand retreat. Lemon and others, when in a merry mood, bound them to trees, and used them as targets for practice. It was an ex-Bushranger who confessed to me that he would ‘‘ as leave shoot them as so many sparrows.” Another worthy, who had above fifty years before left his country for liis country s good, declared to me that he heard from a friend of ]\richael Howe, that that celebrated ruffian would lay down his musket to induce the blacks to come toward him, but that on their approach he would fire at them from his retreat, pulling the trigger with his toes. The Bushranger Dunn carried off Hative women to his lair, and cruelly abused them So exasperated were the men against the Wliites, on account of the cruelty of that wetched outlaw, that they murdered several of the neighbouring and inofiensive settlers. ]\Ir Melville, long connected with the press of Tasmania, has the following story in his sketch of the country. ‘‘ The Bush- rangei Carrots killed a black fellow, and seized his gin / then cutting off the man’s head, the brute fastened it round the wife’s neck, and drove the weeping victim to his den.” The Bushranger Dunn was very cruel to the Natives. A letter, in 1815, blames the Bushrangers as the great cause of the Aborigines not mixing with the settlers. A respectable colonist, lately deceased in Melbourne naming many instances of cruelty to the Natives, assured me that he knew of two men who had boasted of killiim thirty INFANT THROWN ON A FIRE. 43 at one time. ^Ir. Backhouse relates'that one party, out after the Blacks, killed thirty in capturing eleven. Quamby^s Blutf, an eastern spur of the great central highlands of the island, curling up with its crest as if torn by violence from the Tier, was so called from a poor hunted creature tliere falling upon his knees, and shrieking out, “ Quamby! Quamby !—mercy ! mercy ! ” A gentleman, many years a ma^jistrate in these colonies, mentioned to me the death of a shepherd of his near the Macquarie Biver. Soon after a company of soldiers went in pursuit of the supposed mur¬ derers. Falling in with a tribe around their night-fires, in a gully at the back of the river, they shot indiscriminately at the group. Many were slain, hut no Government inquiry was made into the well-known circumstance. An eye-witness of a similar night attack has this description : “ One man was shot; he sprang up, turned round like a wdiipping-top, and fell dead. The party then went up to the fires, found a great number of waddies and spears, and an infant sprawling on the ground, which one of the party pitched into the fire.” more illustrative proof of the manners of that dark era can be presented, than we find recorded in the history of Jorgenson, when out in 1826 : “ Two da 3 "s after I saw Scott,” says he, “ a large tribe came down to Dr. Thomson’s hut, which was occupied by three assigned servants. These men struck a bargain with some of the Blacks for some of their women, and in return to give them some blankets and sugar. However, no sooner were the females on their way to join their tribe, than the servants sallied out, and deprived them of their ill-gotten store. The Aborigines, nearly one hundred in number, now exceedingly exasperated, surrounded the hut, and had certainly elfected their revenge, either by burning down the hut, or otherwise killing the aggressors, had not the Bushranger Dunn come to their timely assistance. Being so disappointed, the Blacks, in the heat of resentment, fell in with poor aged Scott, and murdered him in a most barbarous manner.” This Scott had heretofore been on the most friendly terms with the natives, and his dreadful end will furnish the key to many apparently inexplicable murders of innocent people, even women and children, by the Abori¬ gines, when the two races were afterwards in frequent collision. . . 44 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. In treating of this subject, I feel with Dr. Coke, writer of a work on the Is^atives of the West Indies, that ‘‘ the author who records their miseries will be almost deemed an incredible writer , and while his narrative will be perused with astonish¬ ment, it will perhaps be associated with the marvellous, and consigned to the shelves of romance.’* The catalogue, though one of horrors, is too important to be altogether passed by. A few stories are here strung together i without attention to order of time. In July 1827 a man was killed by the Blacks up in the country, near the AVestern Tiers. He had been long familiar with the tribe, having before lived for some years aniong the Hatives of Hew Holland, but had incurred the displeasure of the Tasmanians at last. The neighbouring settlers gathered together for a chase after the criminals, and took rev’^enge indeed for the death of one man ; for the Colonial Times declares : They report that there must be about sixty of them killed and wounded.” A party of the Bichmond police were passing through the Bush in 1827, when a tribe, seeing them, got up on^ a hill and threw stones upon them. The others fired in return, and then charged them with the bayonet. AYe have Mr. G. A. Eobinson’s authority for stating that'' a party of military and constables got a number of natives between two perpendicular rocks, on a sort of shelf, and killed seventy of them, dra^rcrinf^ the women and children from the crevices of the rocks and dashing out their hrainsT ’ A wretched man, named Ibbens, was accustomed to persistently after the Eastern tribe with a double-barrelled gnu creeping among them at dusk, until he had killed the lalf ot them. One man boasted that he had thrown an old woman upon the fire, and burnt her to death. The Colonial Times speaks on one occasion of a party of soldiers and others approaching within thirty yards of their night-fires, and killing an immense quantity of the blacks.” AA^ell mierht Dr. Marshall tell Lord Glenelg, “ The murders whichrat almost every page, have blotted with blood the history of the ±>ntish Colonies, cry out against us unto the Most Hif^h God with a voice that has not always been unanswered, for national calamity to succeed national wickedness.”. Many yeais ago I tell in with one of the lowest order of SHOOTING HUMAN BIRDS. 45 convicts who assured me that he liked to* kill a black fellow better than smoke his pipe ; adding, ‘‘ and I am a rare one at that, too.” He related the following adventure. Out one evening with some armed stock-keeping mates, he climbed ^Maloney’s Sugar Loaf, and saw a tribe lighting their fires for the night. He returned with the news. Then, abstaining from noise and supper-fire themselves, they waited till just before dawn, advanced toward their unsuspicious victims in a crescent line, so as to cut off retreat, and fired close. He quietly remarked : ‘‘ There wasn’t many of them got off.” I dissembled a little, and in an off-hand way inquired how many he had cleared off. He shook the stump of his ampu¬ tated arm, smiled archly at me, and said, ‘‘Ho—no—that’s not a fair question.” Dr. Hixon, Bishop of Tasmania, is forced to say of such scenes : “ There are many such on record, which make us blush for humanity when we read them, and forbid us to wonder that the maddened savages’ indiscriminate fury should not only have refused to recognize the distinction between friend and foe, but have taught him to regard each white man as an intruding enemy, who must be got rid of at any cost.” My worthy friend Mr. Shoobridge, a much-respected Tas¬ manian colonist, is my authority for the story of a sad tragedy. Two men went out shooting birds. Some Hatives, seeing them approach, hastily fled. A woman, far advanced in pregnancy, unable to run with the rest, climbed up a tree, and broke down the branches around her for concealment. But she had been observed by the sportsmen. One of these proposed to shoot her, but the other objected. The first, however, dropped behind, and fired at the unfortunate creature. A fearful scream was heard, and a premature birth took place. That very day the wife and child of this monster were crossing the Derwent, when a sudden squall upset the boat, and both were drowned. The same informant also told me that, when young, a fellow gave him an account of some capital fun, as it was called. He and some others took advantage of a robbery at Hamilton, and charged it upon an inoffensive tribe in the neighbourhood. Without warning, an expedition was fitted out in the night, and a terrible slaughter took place. The miserable remnant were infuriated at the treachery and 46 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. cruelty, and revenged themselves by years of outrage and murder. Mr. Shoobridge’s father was dining with a country settler, when a man came in, and called out, ‘‘ Well, Master! I’ve shot three more crows to-day,”—meaning. Blacks. The historian of Tasmania, Eev. Mr. West, did not exa^r- gerate when he wrote: '-'The wounded were brained; the infant cast into the flames; the musket was driven into the quivering flesh ; and the social fire, around which the Natives gathered to slumber, became, before morning, their funeral pile.” The Courier of June 11, 1836, admits that “ thousands were hunted down like wild beasts, and actually destroyed.” The learned Dr. Broca, the distinguished French ethnologist, asserts that the English have committed upon the Tasmanian race, and that in the nineteenth century, execrable atrocities a hundred times less excusable than the hitherto unrivalled crimes of which the Spaniards were guilty in the sixteenth century in the Antilles.” The public mind gets callous by the continuance of scenes of blood, as the history of the French Revolution testifies. For the character of our colonies, we could wish that such a paragraph as the following, in the year 1826, had never seen the light: Let them have enough of Redcoats and bullet fare. For every man they murder, hunt them down, and drop tell of them. This is our specific—try it.” The feeling is truly exhibited in the statement of the paper of Dec. R 1826, that “the settlers and stock-keepers are determined to annihilate every Black who may act hostilely.” The cruelty took an indirect turn with’ some of these out-station people. Thus, Captain Holman talks about a fellow taking a pair of pistols, one only of which was loaded, and seeking to amuse a native by firing the harmless one at his own ear. Then, presenting the other weapon to the man, and inviting him to try the same funny performance on himself, he had the grim delight of seeing the black fellow’s brains blown out. Let us turn, for relief, to a pleasing story of 1822. A tribe had lighted their evening fires in the Bush not far from a field of corn ready to cut, and the flames were carried by a high wind toward the farm. The farmer writes : “We were doing our best to extinguish it by beating the flames out with green .boughs, but our efibrts would have been in vain had not the whole tribe of Blacks all at once come forward to n. SHOT TO FEED THE DOGS. 47 assist me. Even some hours afterwards, when the flames again broke out in two or three places, they were on the alert in a moment to put them out. I mention this incident, as it was an act of hiendship on their part, and shows that when they have not been insulted, or had cause of revenge, and are able to discriminate their friends from their foes, they are not wanting to reciprocate ofiices of friendship and humanitv.” The Eev. Dr. Lang, in his indignant letter to Earl Durham, narrates a terrible story. “ A spot,” said he, “ was pointed out to me a few years ago in the interior of the island, where seventeen of these had been shot in cold blood. They had been bathing, in the heat of a summer’s day, in the deep pool of a river, in a sequestered and romantic glen, when they were suddenly surprised by a party of armed colonists who had secured the passes, and I believe not one of them vas left to tell the tale. E^ay, a convict Eushranger in Van Diemen’s Land, who was hanged a few years ago for crimes committed against the European inhabitants of the colony, confessed, when under sentence of death, that he had actually been in the habit of shooting the black ^Natives to feed his dogs.” Cruelties to the poor females have already been mentioned. Mrs. Guy, of JS^ew E^orfolk, gave me a proof of attempted ruffianism in her day. Once when standing by her door she saw a native woman, pursued by three Englishmen, run to the high bank, leap into the Derwent, and swim across the broad stream. The benevolent lad}’- hastened down to the poor creature, and found her much agitated with fear, and trembling violently. Taking her home, she gave her some warm tea, and bound a blanket around her. The husband came afterwards to thank the lady, and voluntarily cut up a lot of firewood in her yard as a return of gratitude. Capt. Stokes informs the readers of his valuable work on Australian Discovery, that a convict servant confessed this cruelty to a captured gin : ‘‘ He kept the poor creature chained up like a wild beast, and, whenever he wanted her to do anything, applied a burning stick, a firebrand snatched from the hearth, to her skin.” It is a small satisfaction to be told that other nations have been as bad as ourselves : that a million of Caribs in Hispaniola 48 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. were reduced by the Spaniards to sixty thousand in fifteen years; that, according to Las Casas, fifteen millions of Indians perilled at their hands; or that, as. Cotton Mather reports of the English American Colonies : » Among the early settlers It was considered a religious act to kill Indians.” Some Spaniards made a vow to God to burn or hang every mornin^i^ for a certain time, thirteen Indians; one was to be in com¬ pliment to the Saviour, and the others to the twelve Apostles. A Spanish priest, as Vega relates, seeing some Peruvians destroy themselves rather than work in the mines, thus addressed the others : “ You wish to hang yourselves, my friends, rather than labour; seeing this, I shall han" myself farst; but I must warn you of one thing, which is this, that there are mines in the other world as well as in this • and I give you my word that I will make you work throughout eternity. Upon this the Indians threw themselves at his feet, and begged him not to kill himself. There is a degree of simplicity of selfish injustice, in the following quotations from the diary of one of the early Dutch governors of the Cape Colony “December 3, 1652.-To-day, the Hottentots came with tnousands of cattle and sheep close to our fort. ^Yq feel vexed to see so many fine herd of cattle, and not be able to buy to any considerable extent. With 150 men, 10,000 head ot black cattle could be obtained without the danger of losin « “ They have been murdered in cold blood. They Lave been THE BLACK WAR. 49 shot in the woods, and hunted down as beasts of prey. Their women have been contaminated, and then had their throats cut, or been shot, by the British residents, wlio would fain call themselves civilized people. The Government, too, by the common hangman, sacriticed the lives of such of the Aborigines as in retaliation destroyed their wholesale mur¬ derers, and the Government, to its shame be it recorded, in no one instance, on no single occasion, ever punished, or threatened to punish, the acknowledged murderers of the aboriginal inhabitants.” THE WAR. The Black "War of Yan Diemen’s Land ” was a natural sequel to the events previously chronicled. The outraged Tasmanians were a bold and independent race, resenting an injury, though very feebly provided with means for avenging it. Their weapons were only sticks, whose wooden points were hardened in the fire, and waddies, which were rude clubs. They contended with men armed with guns and steel. Like all weak people, however brave, they depended more upon taking their foes at a disadvantage, than meeting them in the open field. They could come upon the lone hut in the wilds, could waylay the solitary bushman, could set fire to an ill-protected dwelling. If these are barbarous modes of warfare, tliey are similarly akin to civilized ones. And yet, to the great honour of these poor savages, be it recorded, they were content to fight with men. Hot a single instance in early days is recorded of the outrage of a white woman, and women and children were then very rarely killed. In our bombardments the weaker sex and little ones do not escape so easily. It is charged against them that, in their fury, they often attacked the wrong party. When our frigates go to avenge a murder by natives, without inquiry as to the individual criminals or cause of outrage, the shots are directed against the village and the whole tribe. If civilized and Christian 'warriors act so, is it wonderful that heathen savages, per¬ sonally injured, and not paid to slaughter, should fail to discriminate, and confound all who belong to the hated race. Mr. Clark, Catechist to the remnant of the tribes, in a £ 50 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. letter to me, has this remark :—‘‘ They did much mischief prior to their removal from Yan DiemeiTs Land, but it was from a feeling of retaliation, and also their imagining the Whites to be a distinct race of beings, against whom'^they were bound to make war after the first outbreak was pro¬ duced.” The Aborigines' Protection Committee of Hobart Town reported that “ the injuries and insults which the Aborigines had received from dissolute characters had led them to a certain extent, in addition to their savage spirit, to wreak indiscriminate vengeance.” Colonel Arthur had a firm hand and a clear eye. As a Covernor, he had difficulties beyond another. He was on the border of two ages. There was the past of convict discipline, and there was the future of free settlement. The rougher element had to be curbed by strong laws. The rising tide of intelligence and freedom was preparing to remove despotic obstructiveness. Bushranging violence^was his trial on the one side, and the impatient cry of a chained press was his trouble on the other. His cup of disquietude was filled to the brim by the Native difficulty. A Proclamation in June, 1824, rebuked the ''settlers and others” who destroyed the tribesmen, then under British protection. An injury to them, said he, " shall be visited with the same puiiislinient as though committed on the person and property of any other.” Words, words, and nothing more. The Blacks could not rely upon them, and the Whites laughed at them. It was well known that a native witness would not be heard. Another Government Notice appeared, November 29th, 1826. His Excellency regretted the failure of his efforts at conciliation. But the attacks of the wild men must bo repressed. If they show themselves in numbers, if they seein^ as though bent on some mischief, "any person may arm ” to drive them away. Warrants are to be issued against known offenders. Force is to be used in the capture. The law was vigorously enforced—against the Blacks. But while these were being shot down, or hanged, the Governor was protesting that he would " protect the Abori¬ gines of the colony from injury or annoyance,” even to the severest penalties which the law may prescribe.” What colour were they ? The legal fiction supposed them BORDER CRIMES. 51 white; holding tliat they were His ^^lajesty’s subjects, amen¬ able to law, having a common right with Europeans to all the protection that law can afford. But they found them¬ selves anything but white in reality. As nominal subjects, they could be treated as others if transgressing the statutes. It is true, they had never been consulted as to the adoption of British rule, had never been told that they were subjects of King George, had never been taught the "duties of such a position, nor warned of what they should not do. But they did understand the loss of freedom ? The fairest parts of their country, most abounding in game and wild fruits, Avere in the possession of strangers, who drove them off as trespassers. They might take up their quarters in the stormy Avest, in the cloudland of rocks, in the silence of dense scrub, in any barren, in any inclement region not wanted by the Whites. When thus robbed of natural supplies of food, they AA^ere free to pine in famine; but to touch an animal feeding on pastures once held by kangaroos Avas a crime, and a crime resented by bullets. Except they dAvelt Avith eagles on mountain-tops, they were liable to come in contact Avith Avhite men. On the outskirts of civilization are ever found the* rougher characters of our race. At a distance from authority, license prevails. Ke- moved from moral agencies, the tendency is doAAmward, and the passions have freer course. Borderers are seldom saints. The A'ery absence of Avomen, hoAvever coarse and degraded they may be, removes the last barrier to propriety among the reputed civilized. The preAmlence of crime in this outer fringe of society is Avell recognized all over the AA'orld. Kow, in Van Diemen’s Land, that fringe AAms largely composed of convict servants, ex-convict hunters, and a floating community of cattle-stealers, bushrangers, and run¬ away prisoners. With these, and these alone, the poor natives. Avould be immediately in contact, if at any time compelled to retreat from inhospitable hills and forests. Would the association be safe or happy? The weapons provided for the chase or protection could be turned against them. The laAAdessness of passion Avould seek gratification in native Avonien, and too often accompanied with cruelty. Mere love of sport Avould drive shot among the naked ones. If the stealing of a lubra brought her husband, father or E 2 52 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. brother to the rescue, it meant present murder, and future revenge. Whatever good there was in the native, such ill circumstances checked its growth; while all the evil would receive ample exercise. Did the Tasmanian find the vaunted protection, or realize fair play from the law ? A\ itli the worst class, there was open war, and no (quarter. But if near a settlement a wrong were done by either side, was justice meted out in due proportion ? When flour was stolen by one of the tribe, was the offender treated as a subject] When a settler’s servant was speared, was the captured murderer allowed the trial privileges of a subject? When the dark deed was done by the White, was the evidence of the subject, if a Black, ever accepted? Is it any wonder that the poor creatures felt, with such anoma¬ lies, that in the eyes of British law they were neither white nor black. The times were, unhappily, far from merciful. Men in authority were annoyed at the complaints of settlers, exposed to the attacks of bushrangers, and were blamed by the Colonial Office for lack of discipline. Executions were common among the limited population of the island. At one sitting of the judges thirty-seven persons were sentenced to the scaffold. If so little was then thought of the hang¬ ing of Whites, would the shooting of Blacks be niucli considered ? ^ The white-skinned British Islander seems to have a revul¬ sion of feeling against any coloured people. In India, a young or petty English official will speak of an educated and a refined Hindoo, with forty centuries of civilized ancestors, as a Nigger, When the Maories, after they had become Christianized, engaged in arms against us, this was the counsel of a Hew Zealand paper What are we to do with these bloodthirsty rebels ? These men must be shown no m*ercy. They should be treated as wild beasts, hunted down, and slam. It does not matter what means are employed, so lon<^ as the work is done effectually. Head-money, blood-money^ killing by contract; any of these means may be adopted.” Such was the feeling of a Christian Englishman towards the Brown men. Well might a Secretary for the Colonies exclaim in a despatch :—With a view to the protection of LINE OF DEMARCATION. 53 the Natives, the most essential step is to correct the temper and tone adopted toward them by the settlers.” The wars continued. Right-minded citizens were shocked. But one remedy remained for trial. The tribes, now scattered over the island, were all to be driven away from the located districts, and forced back to the more inaccessible regions. A Line of Demarcation was appointed, i Across that they were not to come. In that cheerless western clime of ever¬ lasting rain or frost; that region of vast mountains, dreary morasses, and almost lifeless solitudes; a locality not sought by colonists, and nearly deserted by native fowl and quad¬ ruped—there were the dark-skinned race to dwell, banished from their summer home, their richer hunting-grounds, and far from the graves of their fathers. All barbarous nations have their boundaries. Trespassing upon a neighbouring tribe’s domain, unless permitted, was an occasion for war. The Demarcation Act thrust all the tribes pell mell upon each other. Ko distinction was made. And yet the very preamble of the Proclamation of April 15th, 1828, indicates clearly the occasion of all the mischief:— “ 'Whereas, and since the primary Settlement of the country, various acts of aggression, violence, and cruelty have been, from different causes, committed on the Aboriginal Inhabitants of this Island, by Subjects of His Majesty.” These wrongs are described, as well as the predatory incur¬ sions upon Settlers. The Governor declares his intention, for the safety of both parties, and with the hope of inducing the Natives to adopt habits of labour, “ to regulate and re¬ strain the intercourse between the Whites and the Coloured Inhabitants of this Colony.” The latter were to be ‘‘ ex¬ pelled by force from all the therein districts,” if not suaded to retire. Military posts were to be established along the Bine of Demarcation. Once a year, however, for a brief season, the poor creatures might procure official passports to enable them to gather shellfish on the eastern coast. Posters were duly stuck on gum trees in the forest, giving these particulars. Vet what did the Blacks know of a pass¬ port 1 Would they be ready to come and ask for it'? Were they sure that the gentle shepherd of the plains would respect the Proclamation or the passport 1 The British Ministry urged the Governor to use no 54 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. unnecessary liarsliness in driving back tlie people. For all tins, matters went on as usual. Murders and outrages con- tmued. Ihe Natives were still at large. What could be done 1 Only issue a fresh I’roclamation. On the first of November, 1828, men read on the official poster that “ It seems at present impossible to conciliate the severa tribes of that people.” Even the order for them to retire to the gameless solitudes did not conciliate them. And so Martial Law ” was proclaimed against all Blacks found anywhere but in these localities, namely, the scrub to the southwest. Brum Island, Tasman’s Peninsula, the rocky north-west cmmer, and all westward of the Huon river and tlie W estern Bluff. rlod* Diemen’s Land had no proper survey in those a\S’It M ould have been impossible for colonists to note burner T?®*® less the dark kangaroo nter. The absurdity was thus shown by a Hobart Town paper, in the form of an imaginary dialogue between the from STood ’’ "“""S Whites felffiw l^eiiT a kill plenty black (?we?-»on—‘‘ But your countrymen kill people that neyer 11 f 4. l^lll ■\vonien and children. 1 same’s white un ? A’nt he kill plenty black iin, a woman, and little picaninny tool Goie7’)ior.—“ But you know, Tom, I ivant to be friendly and kind to them yet they would spear me if they met me ^ wZe Ml un kill white felloiv, a nt you send all your soddier, all your con- s able after him 1 You say, that black a devil kill a nurra white man ; go—catch it—kill it—a’nt he then kill all black fellow he see, all picaninny too ? A’nt dat all same black HowdenhSlE?’’®“' ^^“^aroo ground? Tom laughed most immoderately on hearing the nroclam ation read particularly at the idea of the tribes applying for passports to travel through the settled di.stricts. ^ ^ ° 1 •> I says You been a make a proflamation—ha ' ha i ha! I never see dat foolish (meaning, I never saw anything nCTORJAL PROCLAMATION. '55 SO foolisli). When he see dat ? He can’t read ; Avho tell him ? Governor .—‘‘ Can’t you tell him, Tom? Tom .—“Xo ! me like see you tell him yourself; he very soon spear me ! ” It was admitted at last by the official mind that as Blacks could not read the posters, and no White fellow would risk - his life in explaining the contents to the spearmen, that the Demarcation Order was useless. A grand expedient was then to be tried. Xobody doubted that the Xatives had excellent eyesight, were quick of dis¬ cernment, and were possessed of some imaginative power. As we Europeans are so impressed by pictures, how much more would the children of the forest be ! Because the printer failed to make himself understood, let the painter try his art. And what was the daub to be about ? It should declare that the Governor loved his black sub¬ jects as well as his white ones ; that he longed for Blacks and Whites to be loving each other; that he would hang the murderers of the Xatives not less than the slaughterers of Europeans. Deal boards, after undergoing the operation of colouring—blazing in red, white, and black—were to be suspended in the Bush for the edification ot wanderers. The displayed Pictorial Proclamation tells this pretty tale. It is copied from the illustrated boarding found under the floor of old Government House, in Macquarie Street, opposite Elizabeth Street, when the building was being pulled down many years ago. This was not the only time on which this primitive mode of communication was practised. The Surveyor-General, in 1830, sent by the hand of a semi-civilized Aborigine a sketch to show his countrymen. In one part, redcoats were firing upon the naked foresters; in another, well-clothed Eatives were receiving food from white friends. The moral is obvious —to us. A new departure next took place. All Blacks who would not keep the bounds were to be caught and brought in by persons duly authorized for the task, and paid according to the system of results. The Order was issued toward the 56 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. close of 1828, and was in force for several j-ears afterwards. A reward of five pounds was offered for the capture of an adult, two pounds for a child. “ Capture parties,” as they Mere termed, were thus originated. There were promises of pants of land to successful capturers. The Governor thought le could by this means put an end to the evil, and with the least cost of life. For a time the plan seemed to work well, as country ^ttlere enjoyed a sense of security unknown for years before. His Fxcdlency ivas delighted at the agreeable prospect of peace. But all at once the war broke out more fiercely than ever. AMien a yessel is caught in a cyclone, and whirled onward awhile in the rashing storm, it appears to come suddenly out of the strife, beneath a placid portion of the heavens, and rides quite in tranquillity. Yet soon it is seized a^ain by the waltzing tornado, and borne along the destructive cycloid curve in nmddening fury. So was it with this Native trouble, ip temporary calmness preceded a renewed con- vulsion Ihe slumbering anger of the tribes awoke in a series of attacks upon ouUtations and solitary individuals as excited the utmost alarm throughout the country. Colonel Arthur promptly answered the appeal for succour. Another Proclaination came forth, breathing fire and death Tins was intended for Whites to read. As the Natives would not accpt his conditions, and be content quietly to die of cold and hunger in the sterile -wildernessas they used their sanctioned retreats as fortresses from which sorties were made against their foes, to which, also, they fled upon the commission of a crime ;-and as it was so difficult to dis¬ ci immate the guilty, — Martial Law was to be in force against all in eyery part of the island, sayinng off the branches to burn up the trunk.’ M hilst thus engaged one of them [Jones] looked up, and to his dismay saw the Blacks approaching, and one even handling le guns. He called out to his companions, threw his axe at a Black that was approaching him, and fled. Now the piece ot land they were working on was thick with trees. There was a lagoon betwixt it and the sea-beach, and a creek on either side. On the north side the men’s hut stood. Jones in running away, received some spears into his body, which he managed to extract, and crossed the lagoon; as did also Ptoger^. u ho was also speared. The other man. Flack, jumped over the north creek, and escaped unhurt, though very much frightened. The Blacks, not liking to cr;ss th“e laSn S 0 go round it. Jones got away from them by this means ?e"s onTSeTa f “Tp T P-^^vering than tlm tre sea-beach, Rogers keeping close to the surf, while TV 1 f H •'‘^'‘gside, every now and then throwinc^ his waddy at him. But Rogers, being a London lad, dexterously THE QUAKER-DOCTOR’s STORY. ‘ 67 dodged his head, and the waddy went into the water. Thus they went on until, at the end of the beach, the Black became exhausted and gave up the pursuit. Jones by this time had got some distance on his road to Waterloo Point, when he met his master coming as usual to see after the workmen; and addressed him with, ‘ Oh, Master! make haste and get back ! The Blacks are after us. They have killed Eogers.’ Prancis Cotton immediately turned, and reported it to the Commandant, and the military and constables were sent to the spot. But although I was with the sergeant, the first to arrive, there was not a trace of them could be seen. They had stripped the hut of everything, and taken away two kangaroo dogs. One of these dogs returned after two or three days, badly wounded with spears. The other we supposed they had kept, as he was of a milder disposition. However it may have been, we never saw him again. The two men were ill some time with their wounds. “ The inhabitants were kept in constant alarm by the repeated attacks of the Blacks, which called forth the sym¬ pathies of the Lieutenant-Governor, Colonel Arthur, yet no means could be devised to rid the country of such a fearful scourge. They had a great antipathy to the Redcoats; and no soldier, when sent on escort, or other duty, was allowed to go alone, never less than two were sent together. For*flie protection of the inhabitants several stations were formed, where two or more soldiers were placed. A soldier at one of these stations, called Boomer Creek, was sitting amongst some young wattles, peeling the twigs for a bird cage, when the H^atives stole upon and beat him to death with their waddies. Two sawyers were at work at their pit near IMayfield House, when the Blacks came upon them. They, however, escaped to the house ; but one was so terrified that he fell into a fever, and died. So great a terror did they strike into the Euro¬ peans, that, notwithstanding their physical superiority, they were unable, through fear, to defend themselves.” One of the most charming retreats known to me in Tasmania is on the banks of the Clyde. Mr. Glover, the distinguished artist, has left us some sketches of this romantic part of the interior. Twelve years before my visit to the beautiful home of Mr. Sherwin, the E’atives had attacked the homestead of that gentleman. The outbuildings, and even the house itself, F 2 68 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. were fired by the tribe. While the farm-servants were busy in moving tlie flour from the burning store, the slirewd Blacks set fire to a neighbouring fence, by way of distracting the attention of the servants, and giving themselves easier access to the gieat object of attack,—the flour-bag. As usual, they did not remain to fight. They fired the premises, less as a measure of ofl'ence, than as a means of securing jdunder. This partially secured, the band hastily retreated to the forest and the unhappy settler mourned the loss of his property. ’ _ So bold an outrage excited the fears of the colonists, and increased that sense of insecurity which troubled every Bush household. The pen of the ready writer, the Governor, was instantly put in motion, and a formidable Order appeared in tlie Gazette, February 25th, 1830. After a detail of the circumslances on the Clyde, His Excellency assured his people that sucli outrages ^ ^ “ Demand simultaneous and energetic proceedin'^ on the pit settlers, who, it is to be regretted, have°hitherto been too mdiflerent to the adoption of those obvious measures ot protection, which are more or less within the means of almost every individual.” The murder of Captain Thomas and his overseer, Mr. Barker, excited much interest in 1831. Captain Thomas* was agent for the Van Diemen’s Land Company’s Establi.sh- ment, and rvas well known to the Port Sorell tribe of his neighbourhood. The bodies of both gentlemen were found about a fortnight after they had been speared to death. The jury, at the inquest, returned this verdict: “AVe find that Bartholomew Boyle, Thomas and James Parker have been treacherous y murdered by the three Black- Natives now in custody, aided and assisted by the residue of the tribe to winch they belonged, known by the name of the Bi--' Eiver ribe, during the most friendly intercourse, whilst endeavour- ing to carry into effect the conciliatory measures recommended by the Government.” The only evidence procured was that murdef " oman, who professed to have been present at the One of the most stirring incidents in the history of the *’®°*’** communication to the Colonial Secretary, dated Augu.st,25th, 1831, by Captain Moriarty, so , 1 lvllo^\ 11 and respected afterwards in the port of Hobart COURAGEOUS HALF-CASTE WIFE. 69 Town. It’ narrates the circumstances attending an attack O upon an isolated homestead, and exhibits the heroism of a half-caste, Dalrymple Briggs. She was so named from being born at Port Dalrymple, and was the first of her race on the northern side. She had married a settler in the interior, and, in her contention with the Natives, forgot the blood of her own race, in her feelings as a wife and a mother. For six long hours did she sustain a siege, and nobly did she defend her position. It is customary for the historian to describe the strength of the beleagured place, when detailing a succession of assaults. Our heroine fought behind no granite wall, nor was she shielded by a bomb-proof roof. Her castle was a simple slab hut; though the bark roof, fortunately for her, had been covered with a thick coating of mud and lime to keep out the weather. The story will be better told in the Captain’s words :— “There was no person in the hut, when the Natives first appeared, but a woman named Dalrymple Briggs, with her two female children, who, hearing some little noise outside, sent the elder child to see what was the matter, and hearing her shriek went out with a musket. On reaching the door, she found the poor child had been speared. The spear entered close up in the inner part of the thigh, and had been driven so far through as to create a momentary difficulty in securing the child from its catching against either door-post. Having effected this object, she barricaded the doors and windows, and availed . herself of every opportunity to fire at the assailants, but—as they kept very close either to the chimney, or the stumps around the hut, and she had nothing but duck shot—with little effect, though she imagines she hit one of them. Their plan was evidently to pull down the chimney, and thus effect an entrance; but they were intimi¬ dated by her resolution. Finding this fail, they went off, and returned in about an hour. This interval had been employed by them in procuring materials and forming faggots, which, on their return, they kept lighting and throwing on the roof (to windward), with a view to burn her out. She, however, shook them off as fast as they threw them on, and maintained her position with admirable composure, till the return of Thomas Johnson, the stock-keeper, pointed out to them the necessity of a retreat.” 70 .THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. defence called fortli the ■warmest expressions of applause. The Governor was not the last to acknowledge lier lieroic conduct. ° there is a story told, in connection with the early American settlements, of a man whose house had been attacked by Indians during his absence, and who returned to find the ghastly remains of his wife and children amidst the smoulder¬ ing embers of his hut. It was said that the man there and then solemnly devoted the rest of his life to revenge. Alone he followed the trail of the savages. In silence he pursued the rnurderers of his family. Feverish with excitement worn by fatigue, ill through exposure, he still went on, year after year, dealing a sure but stealthy blow upon any of the copper coloured tribes. All attempts to divert his purpose were unavailing. He visited the settlements but to gain a fresh supply of ammunition. He said nothing of his exploits though the Border rang with his deeds; and the Indians whispered low, as they spoke of the AVhite-hairs sheltered by the Manitou from their scalping-knives. Something similar might be told of some in Van Diemen’s Land, who had lost kindred by attack, and who, vowing vengeance against the whole race of Natives, were unsatiated by slaughter, and unrelenting in revenge. It was lucky for one poor fellow that the ISlatives enioy a sense of the ridiculous. A shepherd of Jerusalem—which lies in a carboniferous region, with the greenstone coveriim the coal, and not far from Jericho and the Eiver Jordan— indolence of liis occupation, and the heat of the day, placed his gun against a tree and fell asleep. Some Blacks came softly round, took away the weapon, and, with a loud simultaneous shout, startled the Bushman from his dreams. He jumped up in a great fri^rkt saw the Natives around, missed his gun, and stared in such indescribable confusion, that the risible faculties of the robbers were much excited; and so, after a hearty lau-li at their intended victim, they permitted him to leave in safety. In one of the niost charming spots of Bagdad—the seat of an ancient overflow of basalt on the palaeozoic floor, and therefore, a fertile district now-was a farm belonging to Mr. Espie. One day the tribe attacked the overseer, a man 0 eneigy and tact. Quickly closing the door, and shoutino’ ROBBERIES CHARGED ON THE BLACKS. 71 loudly, lie brought down one marauder with a shot. Then, through holes iu the slab sides of the hut he continued to fire, calling out in simulated voices, as if several were with him, and more than once letting part of his holy be seen with a changed coat or cap, to impress the enemy with a sense of his strength of support. The ruse succeeded, and the discomfited warriors departed. Old George, whom I saw at Casterton, on the picturesque banks of the Glenelg of Victoria, is my informant for a story. In 1821 the Blacks in his neighbourhood, beyond the Xorfolk Plains of the expatriated Xorfolk Islanders, were very quiet and harmless. But a new overseer arriving at the station, a pretty (fin was demanded. The chief, her husband, expostu¬ lated with the Englishman, but was brutally knocked down with the butt-end of a musket, and the tribe were forcibly driven off. From that time,” said George, they became regular tigers, and speared right and left.” Plunder was the primary object of attack. But many a hut was stripped by convict servants and others, and the offence charged upon the Aborigines. Mr. John Batman relates several instances of unfounded accusations. A letter from Ben Lomond, also, says :—The report in the Colonial Times respecting the Natives plundering Mr. Bostock’s shepherd is entirely false; and I am sorry to say similar falsehoods are daily spread, which oftentimes leads the parties astray who are in pursuit of the Blacks. Xot a Black has been seen in these parts for two months past.” An old settler of the interior once told me that he had been coiiHned to his bed with a splinter in his foot. Hearing Xatives coo-ey, he sent a lad to reconnoitre, with injunctions to return, and not to call out. The lad was terrified, and hid himself. Johnstone got up, and looked out upon the advancing party. Forgetting his lameness, he rushed out and ran four miles off to Salt Pan Plains to where a shepherd kept a flock. The splinter came up through his foot with the violence of his running, but without his consciousness. Another informed me that he escaped through wearing an old shirt. His hut had been fired, and, as he tried to escape, he was seized by his shirt sleeve. The piece gave away, and he managed to get clear off A fine hill rises suddenly from the plain at the junction of THE LOST TASMANIAN KACE. 72 • tte Blackman and Macquarie rivers, and goes by the name of Don s Battery. A man, called Don, being chased by some Batives, leached this rampart, and from its top defended ^ '"Oarage and siicceL, that the ^\eaiied attacking mob left him the victor. T>iremarkable circumstance connected with the Black Mar is tins that though the native women had been so crue ly treated by the AVl.ites, the male Aborigines, thoimh ready to infi.ct death by the spear, singularly” eno;,gh ab¬ stained from outrages upon the persons of our females. A Si T r b T “ In all the incursions a le by the Blacks into the settlements, it has never been known^ that a single white woman has been violated bn any of thp^lnlf • y appioach to this crime has been made by t le half-civihzed Batives, who invariably became the greatest ruliiaiis in the war. It would seem that not until they became acquainted with the usages of Christians in warfare^ could they be guilty of the atrocities that have stained the .rnis o ^«rope even in Christian lands themselves. The horrors of the Peninsular AYar and Thirty Years’ AVar were women dreadful addition to the sufferings of Spear-wounds, inflicted by a sharpened point of wood weie far from being so severe as others, and in most cases’ when not mortal, rapidly healed. The stick could be often vithdrawn without the fatal consequences of the removal of t ie javelin from the breast of Epaminondas. Marvellous stones are given of the recovery of men left for dead when transAved by several spears. neaci, iinen Blear the banks of the classic Isis, and within view of the Sit SclltTlh’ Hall, the Ladies’ Mrs A conducted by Mr. and ,y 7 Clark. Being situated in a lonely place about half-way fi;om Hobart Town to Launceston, soli aSni wa! slmuld Te f f ^ ^li®ta»ce, lest their daughters should be forcibly carried off by the Bush warriors As a nieans of protection, a military station was formS in its eighbouihood, so that A^eiuis could be shielded by Mars Er^i Mr. Clark I learned some tales of the past ^ When I stood at the head of the Jordan, near Jericho Minch was then particularly infested with thieves,—for a KEVENGE ON A JEW’ISH DON JUAN. 73 probation party of several linndretls then occupied a position in that bleak retreat,—I beard a series of bloody tales from ^fr. Salmon of that district. It Avas tliere, near Lemon’s Lagoon, so called from a celebrated Bushranger, that Mrs. Gough, her child, and Ann Geary Avere killed. The Quoin and the lofty Jable Mountain there Avere favourite haunts ot the Natives, from Avhich they made their descents upon stray colonists. A poor Jcaa' lad had been betrayed into some licnaon Avitli a gin there, and AA’as subsequently killed by the men. M hen his corpse Avas recoA^ered, it Avas found horribly mutilated by the jealous people of the tribe; a poi tion of the body being found thrust into the mouth of the corpse. It Avas at no great distance off that 'Mr. A. Jones became the sulqect ot an attack, Avhich is thus described by himself at the inquest before Mr. Anstey, P.M. of Oatlands :— “In KoA’’ember, 1826, I AAas attacked by a numerous tribe of Aborigines at my residence at Pleasant Place, in the parish of Rutland, in the county of Monmouth. On Thursday CA^ening I left my Avife and family at home, proceeding my¬ self in search of some sheep, and returned about ten o’clock ot tbe forenoon. I had scarcely entered my dAvelling when my little boy came in crying that the Blacks Avere about; I seized my musket and Avent out, and saAv tAvo. I pursued them ; Avhen I got half-Avay to the tier, I saAv about tAventy ICatives in ambush amongst some AA’attle trees. My Avife Avas at the time standing at my door, AA'ith a loaded pistol in her hand, and called to me to come doAvn, Avhich I did. The Natives folloAved, sAvearing at me in good English. They noAv extended themselves, and as the trees Avere at that time standing close to the house, they singly skulked behind them. I Avas on the alert, for I observed one man on one side, and another one on the other side, Avith lighted bark in their hands ; the Avomen and children Avere up in the tier. I Avas much perplexed, for I Avas obliged constantly to run forAvards and backAvards. The centre of them Avoiked doAvn Avhen they saAv an opportunity. ‘‘ It had been a high flood the day before, and the AAater had scarcely left the marshes, so Ave Avere hemmed in on all sides, the river behind and the Blacks before us. Mrs. Jones had several times prevented the men from coming to the house by presenting her pistol at them, Avhich so exasperated 74 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. . then chief, exclaimed in a great passion, in English, ‘ As for joii, ma-ani—as for you, ma-am, I will put you in the river nia-am ; and then he cut a number of capers. We liad then ^vith us a courageous and faithful little girl, who proposed to go upon a .scrubby hill, about a mile distant, to tell the sawyers who were at work there the dangers to wliich we were exposed ; but we co.ild not allow it, fearing she would be speaied ; it appeared afterwards that she had crawled alon<- the fences and succeeded in getting up to the sawvem Giiessing that she had proceeiled thither! i- about hallan- nien^ ^The .“^oo-eed, and were speedily answered by' the PI ^ g'lve out a signal and the Blacks all fled. AVe pursued them, and I got very close Sd'l’ ciT s of a fallen tree, and 1 could see no more of him. AVe came up to a sn.it where we found a fire, with some kangaroo half roasted We « ™Lr,bat they felt they were the injured, and they soimht revenf^e dmm tl fellows! I’d ]ia!e done the same.” One tribe, that was once known to possess Jw«tv:;Z‘‘ "'‘“0 i" r-o New Yoip\fAmsterdam, afterwards the difficiiUvStates explains a colonial native 4 1 some Dutch traders, haviiif’* saf^aciouslv ri of wf. '"■» "f’hZalSk warriof ki W t, Z f “I"'?. ‘1“ suit. But some hundreds fled to a tribe near the settle- NEW YORK INDIANS AND THE DUTCH. 75 • ment of jN'ew Amsterdam. The governor, Kieft, ^yould not rest. “ A band of soldiers and colonists was despatched on the liorrid emind : the unsuspecting savages were surprised in their sleep, and more than one hundred of them were massacred in cold blood. The Indians living on the Hudson rose to revenge this cruel treachery, and were joined by the tribes of Long Island. A confederacy of eleven clans, num¬ bering more than fifteen hundred warriors, was formed, and a furious war blazed wherever a Dutch settlement was to be’ found.” A little substitution of names would make this the record of the “Llack AVar’^ of A^an Diemen’s Land. The year 1831 presented appalling scenes before the colonists. Outrages were still in the ascendant. The exas¬ perated Aborigines saw no hope before them, and seemed resolved to die as warriors that, in defending their land, were resolved to do the eiiemy as much mischief as possible. They seemed ubiquitous, from the rapidity of their march. The sky was illuminated by fires in various quarters. Spears were thrown here and there with such terrible energy, as apparently to multiply the forces of the Natives, and keep the country settlers in constant and harassing watchfulness. About one hundred and fifty men alone were sufficient to excite such alarm in the breasts of the members of a flourishing British colon v. «/ The time of terror was well described to me by a colonist, who bore a trying part in the events of that period :—“ Thus they continued menacing the settlers,” wrote he, ‘‘and mur¬ dering those that were found alone and unprotected; so that it was unsafe for a person to travel alone and without a gun, and the mind had to be made up beforehand as to which was the nearest house to run to, in case he was beset by the Blacks. He must not fire his gun, but keep them at bay by pointing it at them, for they had learnt that what they thought would go ‘ Pop, pop, pop,’ would only pop once; and this being over, they would rush upon the unfortunate, and soon despatch him with their spears and waddies.” Mosquito, the desperate leader in many an outrage by the Aborigines, appears so prominently in the Black AVar, as to. demand a particular notice. He was not a Tasmanian, but a New Hollander, or 76 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. Australian native. Although endowed with superior physical powers, as well as a vigorous intellect and indomitable will Jie was indebted to his acquirements in civilization for his extra ability in working miscliief. Belonging to the Broken Lay tribe, located to the north of Sydney, he soon associated with a low class of convict population in his neighbourhood and became an English scholar in our national vices of drinkin" and swearing, as well as in the employment of our tou-me ° Ihe crime that brought him under the penal care' of Government, was one with which he was associated with another wretched man, known by the settlers as Bulldog. Ihese two Australian Blacks waylaid a woman, ill-used, and then murdered her. To gratify their horrible propensities, they ripped open the body for the destruction of the cliild. Strange to say, for want of some European evidence, the mithorities simply sent them to the penal settlement of Norfolk Island. After the death of his bulldog accomplice, . losquito was forwarded to the convict island of Van Diemen’s I^and in 1813. There he was, according to the mode of the day, assigned as servant to Mr. Kimberley of Antill Ponds. It was° not ar from that place that I heard some account of tbe man lor some years he conducted himself tolerably well or so caref ully guarded his acts as to keep out of the hands ’of the constable. An old man, named Elliot, who came to the CO ony in ISlo told me that he knew Mosquito when at service with iMr. Lord, and that he there contracted an improper connection with Black Hannah, but whom he subsequently murdered in a fit of passion. Mr. Melville mentions that he was employed to track bushrangers. For such a task he was peculiarly suited Of a very tall, slim figure, of a wiry, active frame, with remark¬ able acuteness of sense, even for a native, and animated by a profound love of excitement and mischief, he made an admir¬ able blood-hound. Distinguished success attended his track- wL frn !=°n®‘ables with whom he was associated iveie men of the prisoner class, some of them ex-Bushranut he said that he knew for a fact that once the terrible mons er cut off the breast of one of his gins, because she would peisist, against his orders, in suckling her child. He hung about the neighbourhood of Hobart Town for some time, soliciting bread for his people. That food he would e.Ncliange for tobacco and rum, to gratify his own .at7h“l'^ exchangers were readily found at the huts of the convict servants. His manner of life is spoken of by a witness, one Thomas MCAIinn, in some evidence at Oatiands' Magistrate “I arrived in the colony,” said he, “in 1820, and was of Captain Blythe, near Oatlands, with horn I ieniaiiied until his death in 1823. The Blacks were to'I h'bIvS'^'' / and his Mob came ir Mns wf' n f *‘'“1 three wives ivdtfi t hem tI" ''"y to l‘ave infercourse Te ve, vr'i u ® ^ to prostitute tliein- selves to white men for bread and other things. Mosquito otowf f T orders, ihis happened, as I am told, very often ” « ktTtbe''t!tt° Mosquito kept the tethers and sent the Blacks to rob and slaughter He would lurk about, gain information, lay his plans hi a ti'cmlr oT'the'‘“'^ ‘l®®P‘^tch his band Ar "k J +1 ^vaifare. It was among the Oyster Bay o ,0 he east coast, that this worthy practised his de- of terror ^oH T n ®tate death of’a particulars of the horrible declarec tl It f "rj^^^^daughter, at the Ouse River, and Mosquito came dogs before of Ta dtt f Ifm ’® ^“suage of Mr. Meredith, a settler distiict.— They spared neither age nor sex; the POOR TOM BIRCH. 79' ajTed woman and the helpless child alike fell victims to their ferocity.” He adds, also :—“ Owing to their extreme canning, acti\ ity, and cat-like nature, retaliation was all but impos¬ sible. ^ It does not appear, however, that IMosquito was a favourite with all the tribe; for we read of a number of them setting on him one day, and beating him nearly to death with their waddies. Doubtless, this arose from a little political feeling, some of the old chiefs not approving of the assumption of the premiersliip by a stranger, though a good hite-hater. It may have been some Drutus and Cassius conspirators, loving their Caesar much, but their freedom more, who thought to get rid of their self -constituted Dictator. Tom Birch joined IMosquito in 1822. This young Tas¬ manian Xative had been brought up by !^^r. Birch of Hobart Town from boyhood. From his aged and very estimable mistress, I gathered information about him. She repeatedly spoke to me of “Poor Tom,” expressing a deep interest in him. He was so good and useful a lad, so obliging and gentle, so honest and careful, and so thoroughly devoted to his master. He spoke English correctly, and"could read and write. In his attendance at church, and general deportment, he gave promise of true civilization. But in an evil hour Mosquito made his acquaintance. He poisoned his mind against Europeans, representing them as the enemies of his race. He pictured the hopelessness and aimlessness of his future. What could he ever be but the slave of the Whites ] Could he get a Avife among them 1 Would they admit him on an equality Avith themselves ? Did they not look upon him as a black dog ? and Avould they not treat him very soon accordingly 1 Then temptations Avere placed before him. He Avas incited to drink. He AA^as admitted into the licentious orgies of the roaming tribe. The master and mistress saAv the change coming over him, and strove to counteract the evil, but in vain. His regard for them was too strong and real to permit him to Avrong them, or suffer their property to be injured by his vicious friends. But he could not stay in toAvn. He bolted to the Bush, and was then recognized as a bold robber of the forest, and an active accomplice of Mosquito’s. Although the rascally chief long kept his OAvn neck out 80 THE LOST TASMANIA^ RACE. Of the halter by his duplicity and unscrupulous sacrifice of ms confederates, poor Tom Birch was soon captured His old employer was able to preserve his life from the law’s ^ntenced to the dreadful convict settle- HU f Harbour. He escaped • thence through his fertility of expedients, and associated himself with the Abyssinian Mob, beyond tlie Ouse river, then engaged in the that^^l *^® second time, that he was connected with several robberies and murders near the Shannon. muiueis , Town friends heard of his whereabouts, and determiiied, if possible, to save him. They represented to the Governor the desirability of obtaining .the^help of so ntelhgent a Native in his plan of Conciliation, and over- tuies were made to the outlaw. He accepted the proposed terms, and was attached to one or other of the rE. Sr contending races A life of Bush exposure proved fatal to him at last and he died at Emu Bay in 1832, from dysentery. other prominent mate, and who uWquently came to trial with him, was very different to lorn. Able to read and write, this civilized Aborimne was a fit companion for Mosquito. When taking to the Bush he exclaimed, “I’ll kill all the White-.” He has been' heard to say, when torturing some unhappy creature “jS will touch him there again, he don’t like^it.” Old Talbot gave him a very bad character, pronouncing him as cruel as the leader of the Mob. On* one occasion “he whole sang might have been captured, but from the impulsive conduct of the constables, who had primed themsE too much with grog, and, in their Dutch coura-e madrso much noise in their charge, as to give their dalk foes siSnt warning to escape to the scrub. sutticient The course of this hero of blood was stayed in consenuence of a murder committed near the east coast. Mr Meredith hnnfi Gatehouse, on pretence of S t S I'Ua a son «T p“kv ».tu ths .ulfian, ^ ^ J«ey AN OLD hand's story. 81 kangaroo dogs, called out, '‘Don’t take our dogs away.’’ The reply to this was a spear wound in his side from Black Jack. A rush to the hut took place. Bad ford ran wounded, with naked feet, for three miles, chased by the Blacks, but he escaped. Iwo men in the hut were speared to death, IMormer or Mammoa, a Tahitian native, and one William Hol^'oake. Tins took place on November 15th, 1823. Falling in with an “ Old Hand ” at Warrnambool, nearly thirty years ago, I got another version of the story from one who claimed to have been with Badford on that eventful occasion. The old man was one of the notables of Port Phillip history, being one of Mr. John Batman’s men on his first visit to that colony in 1835. For several years before, he had lived with the Batman family in Tasmania, at their Ben Lomond Home, and had accompanied John Batman in his chase of Bushrangers and Black fellows. When I knew him he was seventy years old. Of middle height, but of massive proportions, he would have been more than a match for many a younger man in a close conflict. His chest and neck betokened great ph^^sical strength. His white locks curled briskly from under his broad-brimmed hat, and his hair hung down in a handsome and magnificent beard, to be envied by a Pasha. His mien was bold and cheeiful. His eye was quick and ingenuous. His ruddy cheeks stood out with good humour and the most robust health. Old Daddy, as he was called, bore a good name; and, making every allowance for improvements iqDon a tale so often told, and referring to a date so many years before, I had reason to believe that his yarn contained more than the elements of truth, and that it Avas not a mere story founded upon facts. There may have been reasons Avhy some things he spoke about Avere not told before. Substantially, his story is the same as that of others about Badford, Holyoake, &c. Badford and he happened to leave the hut one morning AA’ithout their guns, contrary to their custom, as the Av^eather Avas AA^et. When fleeing from the Blacks, he received tAvo spear AAmunds, one in his thigh. Informing his master of the outrage, that gentleman is said to have SAvorn not to rest tAvo nights in his bed until he had taken a bloody revenge. Collecting a party of thirt}^— constables, soldiers, and neighbours—he set off to execute G 82 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. his threat. One Douglas Evans, a Sydney iN^ative, "was met upon tlie road, and from him information was r eceived tliat a large body of the Aborigines had camped for the night in a gully by Sally Peak, six miles from Pushy Plains, on the border of Prosser’s Plains. They proceeded stealtliily as they neared the spot; and, agreeing upon a signal, moved quietly in cou[)les, until they had surrounded the sleepers. The whistle of the leader was sounded, and volley after volley of ball cartridge was poured in upon the dark grouj)s around the little camp-fires. The number slain was considerable. Few passed the fatal line. ]\lany children were among the wounded ones. A sergeant seized hold of a little boy, wlio attempted to rush by him in the darkness ; and exclaiming, You-, if you ain’t mischievous now, you will be,” swung him round by his feet against a tree, and dashed his brains out. AVomen were lying about still grasping their children amidst their dying torments. Such was the story given me by the old man. The extraordinary sagacity of Mosquito enabled him to elude several snares for his capture; but he was at length secured through the courage of a half-civilized Xative, named Teener This young lad, though brought up with Europeans, was known to have communications with the murderer. Appli¬ cations were made to enlist his help in securing the arch chieftain. He agreed to attempt the capture if provided with the company of constables at hand, and was promised a boat should he succeed. His ambition had been to possess a boat of his own, and trade between Bruni Island and Hobart Town. Day by day he sought the retreat of Mos¬ quito, who had now separated from his gang, because of the hot pursuit, and was concealed with two of his f/ins near Oyster Bay. Godfrey and Marshall, t\vo constables, were Tegg when the human tiger’s lair was discovered, lending the Europeans to secure the women, this lad of seventeen ran toward Mosquito, and shot him in the thigh. Singularly enough, the wretclied man had no spears near him at the time, and had to run for his life, puisued by the Black, who fired another barrel at him. Brought to bay by loss of blood, he leaned against a tree, and in impotent rage threw sticks at the advancing youth. He was brought down MOSQUITO AND BLACK JACK HUNG. 83 to Hobart Town, and for a while his life was in jeopardy from his wounds. ^Mosquito and Black Jack, in December 1824, were tried for the murder of 'William Holyoake, at Grindstone Bay, committed on the 15th of JS'ovember, 1823. Mosquito was found guilty on this charge, hut Black Jack not guilty. Although Black Jack escaped on that occasion, he was subsequently convicted of* the murder of Patrick Macarthy, hut-keeper, Sorell Plains. He and his chief. Mosquito, were to die together. He implored the judge to send him to the penal hell of IMacquarie Harbour, instead of hanging him ; discreetly saying to a friend, “ Then Pll soon run away.” His Honour seemed to take that view of the question, and declined to grant the favour. One of my tell-tale acquaint¬ ances remarked, ‘‘I had the pleasure of seeing them both tucked up comfortably.” They were in other company, for five Bushrangers were to be suspended wnth them. The scene of their execution was at what was called IMr. IMuster- Master ^Mason’s place. This was at the Cascades,” the site afterwards of the Female Factory, at the farther end of ^lacquarie Street, Hobart Town, where the basaltic columns of INlount Wellington appear to overhang the spectator. It was on the 25th of February, 1825. The Chaplain, the Eev. W. Bedford, made a forcible address to the multitude of curious spectators there. He thus appealed to them :— ‘‘These poor unhappy fellow-worms, whose lives have become forfeited to the laws of violated justice and humanity, implore you to shun the path that leads to death.” All the officers in attendance upon the solemn occasion were attired in deep mourning. Several of the condemned men joined in singing a funeral hymn. To all the clergyman’s exhortations, Mosquito preserved a sullen silence, but Black Jack was much alarmed. The “ Old Hands ”are fond of telling the story that, upon the clergyman exhorting Jack to pray, he exclaimed, “ You pra}’’ yourself ; I too frightened to pray.” Upon this, to use the language of the newspaper of the day, “ the hapless offenders, after a short interval, were launched into eternity.” But, without doubt, the execution of Mosquito, who exerted so fascinating an influence upon the simple tribes, was attended with important results. Many jSTatives came into town to implore the pardon of the man; and, upon the 81 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE, failure of their efforts, returned to the Bush mth bitterer leelmgs against the dominant race. As Mr. Gilbert Eobert- son wrote in 1831 Although Mosquito has been removed, yet the lessons he affordeil the Aborigines of this island have not been forgotten; experience has taught them craft, cunning, activity, and watchfulness, and at this moment they laye found means to spread terror amongst the Colonists residing in the interior.” The Black War ” is, indeed elated by some persons from the death of Mosquito. ’ oo+'^+i® or Teague, as it has been written, did not f®* and he therefore, in sullen anger, promised me a boat, but they no give it; me go with MTld Mob, and kill h tort'® i“’®“ murders were attri- mted to him. He was concerned in the murder of two stockiiien belonging to Messrs. Cox and Barclay. It is also recorded, that a native woman, brought up from infancy by to®i ti”*f*’ "^®“ advanced in pregnancy, speared to death by tins revengeful fellow. Strange to say, he sub- sequently returned to Hobart Town, and received his boat, which was, said the newspaper, “ to concilate the vouth’s unfortunately aggravated feelings.” (!) THE LINE. The Line, the most formidable part of the Black War was formed towards the close of 1830. It was not like the’cele¬ brated Thin Red Line of the Crimea, seen and seeintr all the way, but a cordon of more unequal character, to drive the Aborigines into a corner of Tasmania. History is not without parallels of a Line operation. A huj en masse for a similar purpose took place in Governor Macquarie s time. The Natives of New South Wales had been very troublesome ;• and, in 1816, General Macquarie summoned the colonists, with all available military and constabulary, and drove the Blacks before him beyond the Blue Mountains, with great slaughter. This may haye sug¬ gested to the authorities of Van Diemen’s Land the scheme eyentually adopted there. seneme A remarkably hopeful Goyerument paper had appeared in GRAND CAPTURING EFFORTS. 85 August 1830, whicli urged the colonists not to hurt the well- disposed Natives, hut rather give them a dinner, with smiles, and let them depart, with a blessing. A reconsideration of the subject, after loud complaints of his people, induced Colonel Arthur to qualify his statement, and quiet the surges of public opinion. This produced Government Order 166, Aug. 27th, 1830. In that it was said, that while no measure of conciliation was to be spared, it was not intended that the people should “ relax the most strenuous exertions to repel and to drive from the settled country those Natives who seize every occasion to perpetrate murders, and to plunder and destroy the property of the inhabitants.’’ But the trumpet-tongued appeals of the colony called for more decided action, and Colonel Arthur came forth to do all that a Governor could do for the relief of his subjects. After much discussion, it was determined to depend no longer upon the feeble operations of the Eoving Parties,—the Five Pounds' Catchers, as they were called,—but to make a more decided impression upon the enemy in extensive and simultaneous action, by which they might achieve wholesale captures; for, of course, no allusion could be made to the possible destruction of many. The plan proposed was, to station the military in certain centres of the settled districts, and to call upon the people to volunteer their help in con¬ necting themselves with any commander of these military parties they preferred. A charge was to be simultaneously made from these various foci of strength on the 7th of October, “ one great and engrossing pursuit.” No special rewards were offered, but sufficient inducements were hinted at by a Government known to possess the means of bestow¬ ing prizes. Though not intended as a Line proceeding, this act was the forerunner of that military movement. The Government Order calling for volunteers was issued from the Colonial Secretary’s Office, September 9th, 1830. This, like other orders of the period, may be read in the author’s ‘ Last of the Tasmanians.’ The several stations to be occupied by the volunteers are there given. The Colonists were pleased with the decision of the Government. The Hohart Town Courier, of September 11, already saw, by anticipation, crowds of these poor, be¬ nighted creatures marched into town.” The editor sagely 86 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. recommends the volunteers and military to seize upon the women and children, and then the men would surrender themselves. Perhaps he half fancied that the native males Avould place the tender ones in front, as the Persians did with the cats against the Egyptians. It was, however, admitted that at least thirty, that had been previously caiiglit and well initiated in our English customs, were then with their Bush countrymen, and taking the lead by reason of their superior enlightenment. ^ Before the invitations of Colonel Arthur could be issued however, a change in the arrangements occurred. It was contended that it would be comparatively useless to have the war made at so many points, affording opportunities for the Natives, by their superior Bush craft, to pass between the forces hither and thither, and so keep the colony in constant terror, btill, the inhabitants were anxious to co-operate with their rulers in any project offering relief. A public meeting took place on September 22nd, in the Court of Bequests’ Eoom, ostensibly to make arrangements for the formation of a town-guard. Tlie chairman of that court, Jos. Hone, Esq., brother of the celebrated English writer of that name, was requested to preside. The° old pntleman has more than once told me, at his Hobart Town home. Ins tale of the past. Anthony Eeiin Kemp, Esq., one of the earliest officers m the colony, gave the audience some particulars of the first attack, at Eisdon, in 1804 Mr GeUibmud, attorney, admonished the colonists not to shoot miy Aborigines when they should be flying before them. Mr Hackett doubted the ability of the dark race to know the The first resolution passed declared it the duty of everv man cheerfully to contribute to the common cause every assistance in his power. The second suggested the means • that of personal service in the field, or performing the duties •Hie H the absence of the latter from town, ihe thud pledged the meeting to five weeks’ service in the capital, dated from the 2nd of October. The fourth iircmd the propriety of the inhabitants-selecting their own particular scene of duty, and the election of their officers. ^'Iffie iSt lesolution uas concernmg the nomination of fifteen persons HOBART TOWN PUBLIC MEETING. 87 to form a committee, six of whom were to wait upon the Governor. Two dozen gentlemen, however, volunteered to take the battery guard, if independent of this general committee. There was not unanimity of opinion. i\Ir. Gregson, a barrister of no mean talent and oratorical power, had been opposed to Government on political grounds, and took legal excej>tion to their mode of procedure, contending that such a Avarlike demonstration was uncalled for, and that the Natives, as real masters of the soil, ought not to be forced from the territory bec|ueathed to them by their fathers, and now usurped by the I3ritish crown, tie AA’^ould not, therefore, go himself, nor Avould he permit one of his servants “to folloAV to the field some warlike Lord.” His opponents professed to be surprised that a gentleman ownnig such dignified, moral, and correct sentiments, should continue to hold a fine estate, as he did, upon a title granted by public robbers of a nation, and urged him to leave a land desecrated by such violation of the rights of man and the honour of civilization. The Gqvernor felt himself strengthened by the moral sup¬ port of his subjects, and modified and expanded his original views. Instead of a number of separate and unsuppoited, thouLrh simultaneous, operations over the whole of the settled districts, comprehending three-fourths of the island, it was resolved to make one grand, united effort to capture the Oyster Bay and Big Eiver tribes, by drawing a line from A\'aterloo Point on the east to Lake Echo on the west, and driving the Blacks into Tasman’s Peninsula, at the south-east corner of the island. The Survey Department Avas severely taxed on this occasion, as everything depended upon a knowledge of tie country. But therein lay the weakness of the scheme. It was long before the days of trigonometrical survey in the colony. Wen took up laud before survey, and the adjustment of acreage between neighbours was an established source of contention. Even prominent points of physical fdatiues were incorrectly laid down. As it was impossible to do better at the time, the leaders of parties Avere each provu e aa i i a copy of tl.e little map published by Dr. Eoss, editor of the Courier, by Avhich they were expected to guide their march. 88 the lost TASMANIAN RACE. To appreciate the obstacles meetin<^ the adventumnc t i lo illustrate the difficulties n+' T^noi i mania, the relation of an experLl exploration in Tas- pardoned. It vras in 184--^ fiof i ^ wiiter may be ia Hobart Town, about hIiI 2“rfeerin'Tptr®''f was almost in sifrht of tL^. , depth, which my tend M,. OSes. 'V..bSrSte XTo v»"»“ s over dislocated masses of oieenstme trees of liime ma.mitiido ^ *oeks, crossing fallen enemy to bi^achcroth ‘^at was an to a LrrorHvettninl Zrr exit in i\orth-west Bay. °There ivas httlle w as our only path was h, ho i!'t ^ttle water, fortunately, and occasionally dipping* S’,”1,*“ '“h ™ uJ^,c“?tte 0 r*’"'"'' ‘’'•Ctrilll. a tomahawk, in a shnilar nit k S«ide assured us that with of a mile's pioSi”';’'" fSnJm “ 1“'‘“ by te™ KinZKf ‘I'" h“'' loot one. A L.„J„ ‘ “ >•«■■)- «l n In one voya^^e lie came tn PFnK. gone to sea. beauty of Mount 'Wellinsrton and be?'' "' by the he and a mate started a wav Horn tl easy of access, biscuits ivith them. Tive^days had return, though soldiers were qo t P'^ssed without their constables with fire-arms to aH ^ f ?i" *'''™ bugles, and At length a iiiaif plotghiim “. 0 WsV' other side of the raime observed a 1 mg through the forek’ It was\L unfortu""?" m almost senseless exhaustion Two ^ ^ was capable of tellino- his storv 'n P^^ssed before he but missed their way downward 'pf^ 1 "' *°P’ consumed, and the himonaldson’s From P did they earn the glory of such a notice. Hie ? shepherd, who had been guide to a part of the captain s forees, I gathered some information of the trials T)eW®- 11 oonduQted a party of eighteen from near Deloraine to the top of a bfuff some 4000 feet hit^h. Torn y m scrub, hungry and wet, their camp was most miserable J ithout tents, they had to pass an inclement niaht on Thai £ H.’ 31 ‘11”' “f"“1° < “J ees. He told me that several wanted to go home their sense of discomort overcoming their love of “adventure a?d fnn r ^he roaring of a grand caTcade Lad thev them more pleasuri thei the advantage of fine weather, dry boots, better GOVERNOR LOST IN PARADISE. 97 rations, and less aching limbs; as it was, few of the wearied men would turn aside to see the spectacle. Old Hughes told me he picked up a twelve-pound hag of flour there, which had probably been dropped by some marauding fugitive. The other divisions had probably fewer miles to travel than the north-west one, hut some had a more fearful country to pass. One had to go from Quamby’s Bluff of the Western mountains, eastward to Campbell Town, then along the lovely valley of the Avoca, still more eastward by St. Paul’s river, and southward and eastward to the sea at Swanport. Another pressed from Broad Marsh to Eussell’s Falls of the Derwent, thence upward to Hamilton, Both well, and the Crescent Lake of the basaltic plateau. Captain Wentworth reached Brighton by the 16th inst., and walked along the banks of the Jordan to Jericho. There he was met by Major Douglas, and both made their way to Little Swanport on the coast. On the iJOth of October there was a connection from Bichmond to Prosser’s Bay; and, four days after, from Sorell through Brushy Plains and White Marsh to the Bay. Every care was taken by Colonel Arthur to keep his forces in order. Minute regulations were issued nearly every day. Copies of General Orders were sent to the different com¬ manders, who had to put their signature to the official document as an evidence that they had perused the same. Indeed, so active was the pen of the Governor, that some merriment was occasioned from the frequency of the missives and their occasional contradictions. The Colonel’s presence was seen or felt everywhere; none travelled more than he, none wrote more than lie. He has been known to ride, in such a country too, for fifty miles in one day, to see his orders executed. An old hand described the sunshine of a visit, when the party were very dispirited from the vexatious difficulties of the route with the Governor smiling, and saying, ‘‘Cheer up, my lads.^’ Such was his attention to duty that, though a devoted and an anxious husband, he refrained from running up to town at a season of conjugal solicitude; and when the news of a birth came to him, he repelled the natural impulse to return, and stayed at his post. During one of his excursions along the Line^ he got lost three days in Paradise! This celebrated region of H 98 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. inipiacticable travelling, lying between Sorell and the coast, received its appellation from a Bushman disgusted with its wretched country. Bumours about the Blacks were circulated with celerity, as they were invented with facility. The extreme solicitude of the Governor for news, and the desire of commanders to lumour his passion, originated some remarkable and not very reliable stories. But where were the’Natives? With thousands of men beating the Bush and scouring the Tiers, to what possible 3etreat could they fly! A tribe of forty, seen westward of A orfolk Plains, were chased by one of the Line parties till they crossed the Shannon, and were lost in the labyrinths of the scrub. The baffled Whites left a notice of the affair on a piece of bark, and nailed this to a tree. Among the spoils collected from the fugitives were a chemise and a little child’s frock. Jorgen Jorgenson saw them under circumstances which he narrates in a letter As I went this morning over the Brown Mountain, rising a steep hill from a very deep o-ully n^ horse began to rear and snort. Everything was throvm oft saddle and all. My trousers were literally torn to pieces • and, ji^t as I had got the horse quieted, there stood over me three Blacks.” Some men might have been nervous • but our heroic Dane informs us that he had but to draw his cutlass, when the warriors of the wilds scampered away. Jhere were, of course, the usual rumours, with and without founaation, of the appearance of the Aborigines. Some sentries had heard one dark night the rush of many in the scrub, but could not discern their forms. Several rushes were leard, and the fire-sticks of the people were seen in the gloom A man laid down his musket, while he stooped for some fire¬ wood and received a spear in his leg. He seized a fire-stick GAPS IN THE LINE. 99 have got through the ill-regulated Line, much more the cunning foresters. Two or three instances were well known, after the completion of the movement, of i^atives having hurst by the sentries themselves. As the men could not possibly keep their lines, as many were too frightened to maintain the regulated distance from a neighbour, and as others loved companionship too well to smoke alone, the distance was not observed, even when practicable, and large gaps were left. The Government Orders were precise about preserving a certain distance. On October 17th, the Colonel again urged attention to this regulation. He then requested them to camp in parties of three at night, with a fire between the separate gatherings, and said the sentries should walk from the fire to and fro, but so as not to meet each other. In some of the best-regulated parties, after proceeding through the Bush for half an hour, they would halt, for all to come up, and cry 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., to ascertain if any were adrift. So little faith had Mr. Brodribb in the security of the Line, that he offered, as he assured me, to convey a letter for Colonel Arthur through any part of the Line without meeting an individual; and, not a little to the Governor’s vexation, he acco/oplished the feat. A settler chased one fellow by moonlight, but missed him all at once near some fallen, dead timber. Despair¬ ing of seeing him again, he carelessly turned to go away, when one of the supposed charred branches was slowly lowered before his astonished eyes, and a black carcass rapidly rolled off into the thicket. The best story of the Line is in connection with Mr. Wal¬ pole, who has the merit of making the only capture, but at the cost of ruining the whole affair. Mr. Walpole himself furnished an account of his performance, in a communication dated October 29th, 1830 :— I heard the Natives hunting, and, on going closer, saw their dogs. I watched them for four hours, and, on con¬ vincing myself that they were settled for the night, I returned for the rest of my party, and in the evening placed them within three hundred yards of the Natives, where we waited until dawn of day (26th), and crept to one of the Natives, without being perceived by the inmates, until I caught one by the leg. There were five men in the hut, and the other H 2 TOO THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. four rushed out through the back, while some of the party were stooping to catch them. One, however, was caught ■while jumping into the creek, and two others shot. There \yere five other huts across the creek, in the centre of a very thick scrub.” Wedge, in one of his letters to me, agrees with others that the precipitation of klr. Walpole lost the Line an important capture. Instead of a man and a hoy, the whole tribe miglit have been secured by giving proper notice to his superior officer. The subsequent fate of that tribe of lorty individuals is thus mentioned by my valuable corre¬ spondent :— “ I am inclined to think that it warned them of their danger, and put them on the alert to escape from it; and this they accomplished, a day or two afterwards, at or near Cherry- tree Hill, unknown to any at the time, except to the party upon whose encampment they sneaked unobserved, rushed past in a body, and speared, it was said, one of our men slightly in the leg. Why their escape was kept secret I am at a loss to imagine, unless, as was suggested to me hv my informant the party in question thought that discredit would attach tq them if the fact was officially made known. The Hieutenant-Governor, being in ignorance that the Natives had escaped, the force was kept in its position a fortnight or more Necir” an advance was ordered to East Bay There being evidence of the Natives being within the Line every place on the route supposed to afford extra means of concealment was well searched. The Blacks had never been known to move at night, from superstitious fears : but, beincr pressed by danger, they did not then hesitate tmvellin.. darkness A night of storm and an intensely black sky°was selected for a rush at the Prosser’s River, a few miles from le coast, and therefore not far from the East Bay Neck eyeral were seen to pass by Lieutenant Ovens’ division' though a vigilant look-out was maintained. The country was described by one of the parties as being most difficult of access from rock and scrub, and as being heretofore unknown. were detached to search the mdeS tlie Blacks, under leaders well understanding Bush duty. A rush was made upon that NEARLY CAUGHT. 101 portion of the Line occupied by the Eichmond force, on the 27th of October, by six men, who were driven back again. One Englishman dashed onward after the fugitives, and would have brought one down, had he not, in the very act of cock¬ ing his piece, tripped against a dead tree, and got a severe fall. Of the six, two. were observed with blankets round their shoulders, while another carried a bundle of spears. An opossum hunting-party might have been taken, had not an officious constable given an untimely coo-eij for support. . Great hopes were entertained of final success. The Courier gave forth a jubilant sound, and had no doubt but several hostile tribes were now enclosed.^’ The bugles were ordered to stop their noisy intimations, which might alarm the game from the preserves. The Governor directed the settlers towards the East Bay E'eck to keep free from everything that might create alarm, or interrupt the passage of the fugitive !Natives.’^ They were, furthermore, to keep themselves within their homesteads, and to avoid collecting their cattle, lighting fires, hallooing, shouting, or otherwise making a noise in the Bush, in order that nothing may present itself to deter the Aborigines from entering the Peninsula.” Unhappy settlers! StiU further to elevate the hopes of the sanguine ruler, a letter was brought to him giving encouraging news from the prison depot of Swan Island. Mr. Eobinson thence an¬ nounced his success with some people outside the Line, and not then intended to be trapped by the colonial forces, though a north-east expedition was resolved upon, if the southern one proved successful. The letter began : ‘‘I beg to acquaint your Excellency that a successful intercourse has been efiected among those sanguinary tribes of iN^atives who have for so great a period infested the settled districts, and known as the Oyster Bay, Little Swanport; Ben Lomond, Cape Portland, and Piper’s Eiver Aborigines.” Mr. Eobinson further ventures to assert that ^Hhe whole aboriginal population could be brought together by the same means that has hitherto been adopted.” Yet the several members of the Line were not so inspirited. At first the novelty of the occasion, the fun of an encamp¬ ment, the freedom of life, supported them in their march. But when the rain set in, and continued almost without 102 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. intermission for some weeks, the chivalry of the expedition was not so apparent. A friend described to me the scene on the Blue Hills, near Bothwell, the first night of camp. Hie sky was so clear, the air was so bracing, the fellowship was so good, that laughter and song carried the hours away till midnight; but when, just before dawn, the mountain fog crept over the bivouac mth its penetrating chill, and a steady, heavy, cold rain succeeded, all Nature’s gloom was reflected in the faces of the campaigners. It did not surprise many to hear of such desertions from duty as a letter from the Macquarie Biver mentions, where the writer, who may have been one of the patriotic fair, indignantly exclaims : “I blush' to the bone when I tell you that certain volunteers from^ this neighbourhood have crawled home from the Line within the last fortnight.” Their ardour for the service had soon cooled, or they had lacked the spirit of the lame black¬ smith of Sorell, who, being unable to carry his wooden legs along so rough a line, nobly offered to do any work gratuitously for every volunteer from his Kichmond district. To complete success in repelling any possible advance of the imprisoned tribes. Colonel Arthur, on the 25th of October, recommended the formation of abattis, along the rear of the Line, to entangle the fugitives. The forces were told to take advantage of long frunks of trees lying in a direction parallel to the line of position. By such they were to raise a palisade of sharpened sticks, cut from the Bush, which should be two or three inches thick, and driven into the ground, behind the logs, so as to prevent the passage of a man over the same. The abattis of trees felled Ibr the purpose were to lie in the way. To make sure of no mistake, a pictorial illustration of the two was sent to each commander. On the 30th of the month another Government Order congratulated the officers on their zeal in constructing these obstructives, and cutting down scrub in front. Ihe “Three Thumbs” often appear before the eye of the reader of the Line proceedings. It was a district of singular advantage to a beleaguered enemy. The three hills ^ere about two hundred yards apart, and were covered to the summit with huge Eucalypti trees, and a dense underwmod, that made it almost wholly impervious to any but Natives. THE BIRDS FLOWN, 103 The surrounding scrub was seven miles long from east to west, and from two to four broad. It was situated half a dozen miles to the south-west of Prosser’s Bay, and therefore not far from the Peninsula. This IMalakoif of the foe must be stormed. As, according to the Courier's Special Corre¬ spondent, “ into this ambush the great body of the Blacks have embowered themselves,’^ the place must be turned To quote still from the Dr. Eussell of the period : The difficulties in accomplisliing this are of course immense, but we trust not insurmountable, and the thing must be done.” Accordingly, the siege was laid in due form. Three hundred of the very pick of the corps entered the Lines of the fortress, while others stretched themselves like a wall of circuinvallation around the entrenched camp. The enemy were known to be there. The invading and advancing force came now and then upon native fires, still smouldering. They saw chippings from newly-formed spears and waddies. But the persons of the savages were never to be seen. The Europeans, when unable to force the leafy, thorny breast¬ works, stood, like the modern artillerymen upon the Crimean heights, and threw a heavy fire upon the fortress which they could not gain. A continual discharge of musketry would, it was conjectured, drive out the concealed foe ] and, once in the more open glade, his capture would be certain. The anxious Governor directed the assault here and there, with encouraging enforcements of Ponian virtue, and hopeful expectations of a triumphant return with handcuffed captives. Alas! when * the exhausted troops entered this Sebastopol of the forest, they found it deserted of man, and silent but for the crackling of the flames. The enemy had yielded the fortification, and had retired to even stronger Eedans. This severe disappointment was not the only trial. As the few big, pattering drops gave warning of the coming storm, so rumours of movements in the rear of the Line indicated the outburst of new and more appalling outrages. Word came that defenceless homes were attacked by the enraged and hunted Natives. A hut near Jerusalem was robbed, and a poor woman speared to death. Fires began to redden the sky, and shrieks of terror told the tale of woe. A letter from Perth said that one hundred and fifty had 104 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. burst through ^the Cordon^ and were plundering to the rear of Major Gray’s, at Avoca. Thirty were seen and chased by the intrepid John Batman, who was successful in securino” a good part of them, and without bloodshed. ° The Launceston papers were annoyed at the defenceless state of the north, and asked why all the effort of the colony should be directed, to the alarm and desertion of settlements, for the capture of two tribes—those of Oyster Bay and Bif^ Liver as if others were not as sanguinary elsewhere. A northern magistrate wrote of four men being speared near Launceston, and said, I have no person I can send after these Blacks. I have not one man that I can spare, nearly all the constables being out of the county, catchinn at the Blacks in Buckingham.” Such stories increased the anxiety of the Governor to hurry on the movements of the East Bay L^eck. Every officer was sure that, though some might have escaped the meshes of the net, the majority were still in front of the Line, and near the Forres tier’s Peninsula. Forty parties of seven each, with four days’ provisions, were sent forward. One of the Leaders told me that he saw in the Peninsula itself evidences that the Aborigines had been there, though not able to say how long before his reconnoitring. He saw sticks set up in the forest, stuck in the soil, pointing directions for those following. At length the Colonel commanding believed that the time had come for the final charge—the “ Up, Guards, and at them ” stage of the war. On the last day of October he issued an address to the Commanders. In that he said: “ A few days must now terminate the great work in the most satisfactory rnanner, and His Excellency earnestly hopes that the leaders will, for the remaining short period, continue to show the excellent spirit which has all along been so con¬ spicuous in their parties, for they will perceive that the advance of the scouring parties will render redoubled vif^ilance necessary on the part of those who guard the Line, °as the Aatives, when disturbed in the interior, will undoubtedly mcrease their efforts to break through the position ” ^ This was followed by another Government Notice, relative to the fanal operations, and dated the same day. The order closed thus;— NOTHING IN THE NET. 105 '' By this moYement, which should, if possible, he effected by twelve o’clock on Monday, the line will remain of its original strength, and the scouring parties will be in readiness to advance, which they will do as soon as the vacancies have been closed. These parties will then advance towards the south-east, driving the iN'atives in that direction, or capturing them, and on the fourth day, will reach East Bay JS'eck, where they will receive further orders. The investing line which will remain in position, must, during these four decisive days, put forth every effort to prevent the possibility of the Natives passing through them, as the tribes will naturally redouble their attempts to pass Avhen they are disturbed in the interior.” When the force was thus extended from Sorell to the sea, the ‘‘Long Black Line” extended thirty miles, and gave a space of forty-five yards between the men. The right wing was at Sorell, the left at Spring Bay, and the centre at the White Marsh. The Neck was gained. All were in excited expectation. Every possible precaution was taken to prevent escape. The very shore was watched. The capturing parties were told off. The Neck was crossed, the Peninsula entered, the search made, hut nothing found I Not a Block teas there ! The Line had proved so far a failure, though its indirect advantages were great, as the Natives were shown the formidable resources of Government, and the absolute neces¬ sity for their submission to authority. The work was over, and the labourers could leave the field. The Eev. Mt. West, in his ‘ History of Tasmania,’ has expressively written : ‘ ‘ The Settler-Soldiers returned to their homes, their shoes worn out, their garments tattered, their hair long and shaggy, with beards unshaven, their arms tarnished, but neither blood-stained nor disgraced.” The cost of this expedition to the Government was acknow¬ ledged to be thirty thousand pounds—a considerable and welcome expenditure to many of the colonists ; though, con¬ sidering other losses, and private outlay, Mr. G. A. Eobinson, who was ever opposed to the project, spoke thus of it publicly : “ The entire cost to the Colony was upwards of seventy thousand pounds, and the result was the capture of one Black.” 106 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. An English, paper afterwards made merry over the subject, having satisfied itself that the circumstances were these :— that a soldier had killed a J^ative, and, if punished for the fault, all would have been well; that as this was not done, the Blacks arose in wrath; and, lastly, that it had taken 6000 Europeans to quell their revolt! ! But the worthy Governor was ‘^game” to the last, and, conscious of having done his best, professed to be satisfied. He dismissed his army with dignity, acknowledged their service with gratitude, and foresaw their speedy deliverance from Hative troubles. His parting Order, November 26th, 1830, held forth the belief that future good would follow the efibrts thus made. The poor creatures, seeing the hopelessness of the struggle, might now be induced to surrender. He could not contem¬ plate their possible extermination but as ‘‘an event fearfully to be apprehended.” He was happy to announce the tidings of the capture of a tribe in the North, without bloodshed. He confessed his conviction that “ it would be in vain to expect any reformation in these savages while allowed to remain in their native state.” Those Natives already secured, about thirty, would form the nucleus of an asylum on some neighbouring island. At a self-coDgratulatory meeting of the Liners, held at Hobart Town, on December 22nd, 1830, resolutions were passed denouncing the Blacks, while praising tlie plans and deeds of the Governor. Public dinners became the order of the day throughout the colony. Should not colonists rejoice, when Government had spent among them thirty thousand pounds of British money ^ While the loud hurrah of exulting meetings, the jingling of convivial glasses, and the trumpet note of Government House, fell on the ear as symbols of rejoicing after victory, there boomed in the distance the sound of conflict. From the depths of forest, and from the expanse of plains, a cry of horror was heard. Men returned to their habitations to find but smouldering ruins, and sought their families to behold but ghastly corpses. Wives waited the return of husbands, transfixed with spears. Mothers coo-ed for children, brained by waddies. The wrath of an infuriated race was unappeased, and the memory of their murdered kindred was yet unavenged. WAR CRIES WORSE THAN EVER. 107 The country, scoured in vain for their presence, now echoed with the shrieks of their victims. And wliat were to be the future operations against them Were fresh commandoes in preparation ? Were new and more vigorous assaults to be made upon those naked savages 1 If the thousands of men, with the thousands of pounds spent, were insufficient to overcome the feeble and dislocated bands of sable wanderers, were more men and greater expenses to be employed ? When all the power of'a strong Government, and the war¬ like appliances of advanced civilization, were exhausted in the vain attempt, the simple influence of kindness in the heart of a brave man subdued these barbarians ; and, bound with the mighty cords of manly sympathy, the brutal bloodshedders were conducted in triumph to the city of their enemies, and 2 >revailed upon in peace to forsake the home of their youth, and the graves of their fathers. Having been at one time favoured with the reflections upon this interesting epoch of Colonial History by the Hon. John Holder Wedge, I beg to publish the following extract from his letter :— A plan of the expedition, and the carrying it out in detail, was, as might be expected from the political feeling of hostility that was entertained against the head of the Government, criticized and commented upon in no measured terms: and these criticisms were not unaccompanied with some leaven of personal abuse. I thought at the time, and I still think, that the circumstances which imperatively required that an attempt should be made to put an end to the deadly warfare that was carried on between the occupiers of the out-stations and the Natives, and mostly to the advantage of the latter, were not considered with that liberality of feeling to which they were entitled. Frequent, and almost daily, representations were made to the Government of the depredations and murders committed by the Hatives. Heither sawyers, splitters, shepherds, nor herdsmen could attend to their avocations with safety; nor could the solitary hut-keeper show himself out of doors, without the danger of being speared, even when not the least suspicion was entertained of there being any¬ thing to apprehend. A general feeling of insecurity was felt throughout the colony j and a demand, as with one voice, 108 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. was made that the Government should adopt measures for the greater security of the colonists and their property. I believe there was scarcely any possessing a knowledge of the country and experienced in traversing the forests, and knew anything of the habits of the Natives, who anticipated any other result than a failure of the expedition, so far as their capture was concerned. And I was led to believe, being present when the Lieut.-Governor was speaking on the subject, that few were less sanguine of success than His Excellency.” He thus closes : I could not at the time suggest, nor have I since been able to surmise, how the forces could have been otherwise employed, which would have afforded a greater chance of success—nor did I ever meet with any of the faidt-finders who could do so.” A year had passed, and one of their great jubilees was approaching for the Aborigines. This was the season of swans egga, so favourite a food with the people of the forest. It was a time of tribal reunion, the anniversary of family greetings and festive joy. A wooded, rocky point of land projected into the eastern waters ; it was known as the Schouten Peninsula. Too barren and rough for colonization, too distant for a visit, it was a secure asylum for the feathered race a fitting scene for swan-like love. This was the place, the period, the occasion, of annual pilgrimages to the Aborigines. A large party, a mingling of tribes, had taken advantage of the lull after the storm of war, and had ventured by stealthy steps to the old spot. But their tracks had been sighted, their destination guessed, and their extermination was at once resolved upon. The alarm was sounded. Nothing seemed easier than their capture. Here was the proper locality for Line operations. A Cordon could be drawn across the narrow isthmus, and the Blacks would be secured at leisure. Troops constables, settlers, gathered in joyful confidence at the gateway of the Peninsula. It was at the close of October, 1631, the loveliest season of the bright little island, the spring of beauty and hope. The Neck was but a mile across, and upon this the Europeans took up their position. It was a highly romantic region. . Five cones threw up their forest heads far above the gigantic Eucalypti of the valleys. I’ATTr, THE RING-TAILED OPOSSUM. WAPPERTY, A TASMANIAN WOMAN. {Photographed by Mr. C. A. Woolley, 1866.) {Photographed by Mii. C. A. Woolley, 1S66.) ANOTHER CORDON FAILURE. 109 They stood as guardian genii to protect the last home of the ■wasted people. Their hastion-like masses "were strengthened hy intricate scrub and pathless woods, whose black shadows fell upon the hostile band in front. The enemy sought to gain the barbican by fire. Soon the flames were seen pene¬ trating the dark gorges, and climbing the rocky steeps. The colonial force constructed their huts, established their sentries, and kept up the vast fires for observation and destruction. Gradually long, black lanes were made through the thicket, and fresh arrivals from the townships around assured the Whites of 'vdctory. It was full moon at the time of a visit of a friend, who subsequently describedjto me his admiration of this stirring scene. The soft light fell so calmly upon the roaring flames, as if to rebuke their violence, and each hilly cone, "wreathed with fire, vainly, like Hercules of old, sought relief from the fatal robe. But when nothing but charred timber or smouldering ashes remained, and when the moon had evening after evening decreased its light till darkness rested upon the encampment at night, then the time for watchfulness arrived, lest the imprisoned should escape. Troops were gradually assembling; and while some guarded the entrance with dogs, fires, and arms, others were to pass down the peninsula and seize or kill the egg-gatherers. In fear, but determination, the poor creatures waited for the favourable moment. A night of misty blackness came. They had crept as closely as they dared to the Lines, their very dogs preserving silence, and then, with a bound and cry, followed by their yelping friends, they dashed by the fires and guards, and gained the dark forest beyond in safety. The only captures made by the formidable besiegers were a few young puppies, distanced in the flight. CAPTURE PARTIES. Allusion has already been made to the system of offering a premium of five pounds for the capture of a Black. It was from the very perplexity of affairs that Colonel Arthur sought the advice as well as co-operation of the most 110 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. experienced and intelligent of the settlers. The leading magistrates were addressed by circular. In reply, James Simpson, Esq., J.P., of Campbell Town, wrote, Nov. 18tli, 1828, recommending the following up of one particular tribe' with all available strength, night and day, till fairly run down and secuied. He thought the engagement of native women serviceable. A\ bile transcribing Mr. Simpson’s letter, I read on the turned-down corner, in the bandwriting of the upright Colonel Arthur : “ The expedient of taking^some of the women may be attempted—in fact, anything founded in prudence, and prosecuted with humanity and firmness I shall approve.” ’ Thomas Anstey, Esq., J.P., of Oatlands, near the centre island., took tli6 most active part. Among his su<^ores- tions, forwarded Nov. Uth, 1828, were these: That parties should he organized, under suitable leaders, to be in pursuit, and that a few active men should be selected to look after Native fires at day, lie in ambush near, and make their capture in the cold morning twilight. “ To rid the country of this scourge,” he adds, “ a considerable number of troops Will be required. It was his opinion that the employment of prisoners, or at least of men seeking an extension of freedom, would he most advantageous, as these would endeavour to obtain a free pardon by their labours. The Governor resolved to try the scheme, and directed the magistrate to make a selection as a trial. By the end of IS ovember four had been chosen. Three were ticket-of-leave Hopkins, Samuel May, and William Wakeman, all well acauainted with iho , „ j > 1 , N c«;ies. 111 aaaiuon to the five pounds bounty, if he caught twenty in twelve months. But little was really done until the energies and experience jiounds’ LEADERS OF CAPTURE-PARTIES. Ill of Mr. Anstey were brought into requisition. In IMay, 1829, all leaders of parties were directed to make their monthly reports to him. It was at his suggestion that twelve men Avere placed under the authority of ]\Ir. John Batman, six Avith Mr. Nicholas of Campbell ToAvn, five Avith Mr. SherAvin of the Clyde, and fiA^e Avitli Mr. Doran of NeAV Norfolk. A man named John Small Avas promised a free pardon should he succeed in bringing in ten captives during the year of his engagement. While five pounds Avas paid for the possession of an adult, and two pounds for a child, a promise of grants of land Avas held out to the leaders. Mr. Anstey entered heartily upon his Avork. In deA^otion to duty, he reminds one of the ancient Spartan. An anecdote is recorded of him that suggests the parting Avord of the Spartan mother—‘‘Eeturn a victor, or upon your shield.’' When his son, then out Avith the Line after the Blacks, suffering from the hardships of the Bush in an inclement season, Avished to return home, Mr. Anstey forAvarded this decided rejdy : “ Stay till all is laAvfnlly dismissed. If you return before, the house Avill be closed against you.” His children Avere energetic and intelligent like himself. One son became an influential legislator in South Australia. Another (Chisholm Anstey) Avas Avell knoAAm as a prominent member of the British House of Commons. His son George distinguished himself in the Black War. On the 27th of July, 1830, some Natives were heard prowling about the farm in the night. Heading a small number of serA^ants, the lad, being then but sixteen, dashed after the enemy. For¬ tunately for the pui’suers, the ground Avas covered with snow, and the track could be readily folloAved in the darkness. The tribe Avas gained, a charge Avas made, four Avere captured, and the rest fled in terror. Not a shot Avas fired. Among the spoils were fourteen dogs, fifteen blankets, and fiA^e spears. The colony rang Avith acclamations at the daring deed, and the courage of many a drooping Bush tracker revived. The Governor honoured the brave boy Avith a Gazette notice, and the gift of fiA^e hundred acres of land. The sequel of the incident is soon told. Three of the four Avere of the weaker sex. When they were being led to Hobart ToAvn by the constables, the man shammed illness ill the wattle-perfumed valley of Bagdad. The constables 112 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. were compelled to place the agonized fellow in a wheel¬ barrow, and trundle him to a hut for the night. Leaving him there to groan in peace, the guardians indulged in some sleep, being perfectly assured of the safety of the prisoner. The dark and subtle captive climbed the chimney, in the silence of night, and regained his forest mates. One part of ]\Ir. Anstey’s scheme, the employment of soldiers, was not so desirable. They were slow in move¬ ment, they needed Bush-craft, they ill sorted with civilians, they were soon demoralized, they stood little fatigue, they were often cruel, and their red coats were ready sicriials. A corporal with a party of the 40th earned no reputation by a most atrocious massacre of a large number of men, women, and children, upon whose camp-fires they came suddenly. ^^fficiilty^ which our troops have often experienced while Bush-fighting with the Maories calls to mind a proiect brought forward in June, 1829, by Mr. Horace Eowcroft, and seconded by^Major Gray, to introduce a number of New Zealanders into Van Diemen’s Land. It was contended that, as they 111 their country sold slaves for a musket each, they would be quite willing to catch Tasmanian Black-fellows at the same rate. Their great intelligence, their crafty policy, and their warlike bearing, with the use of weapons better adapted than ‘‘Brown Bess” to forest contests, made the plan acceptable to many. But the humane Colonel Arthur feared the massacre of his black subjects by the cannibal Maories, and rejected the proposal. The “ bounty five,” as the capture money was stjded, was not stopped till June 5th, 1832, when the head-hunters were informed by the Governor that the reward was no loncrer offered, because the “ present tranquil state of the Colony nacl rendered it unnecessary.” ^ When caught, the Natives were not easily held. A good smearing of opossum grease on their naked skins prevented a secure grasp. Thus, four were one day surrounded, and held for a time, at St. Phil’s Plains; but three managed to wriggle mblish an f'lrw ® ever-watchful Coiimr hastened “to Pane?“ ^ mfaUible Cure. “Some persons,” quoth the Irmo thrusting the arms beneath the armpits of the Black, to brin<- the SUFFERINGS OF THE PURSUED. 113' liands lound heliind the neck or head, and, being thus clasped completely secure and overpower him.” ’ Some independent parties were highly successful. Mr. Howell, of the Shannon, obtained a thousand acres for his exploits. Mr. James Parish, an Australian by birth, and a pilot, was said to have been the means of securing no less than twenty-two Aborigines, and a host of dogs, close to Swan Island, on which he managed to place them." Another person caught a Hative, called Tommy Hotoes, from having lost these useful members. One man escaped after being first secured, but was wounded by a shot in his retreat He managed, however, to gain the shore, and attempted to swim away; but, soon exhausted, he was retaken, and his wound was dressed. Placed in a hut for security, he again escaped, and was not recovered. Two Avere caught by a shreAvd felloAv who exposed a sugar-bag in the Bush, and then hid himself till his victims AA^ere in the SAA^'eets. ^ ^tiA’^es AA ere terribly harassed by these roving parties. Their sufierings Avere severe, especially from theii- fear to light a fire to Avarm their bodies, or to cook their food. Children and veak persons rapidly sunk Irom fatigue and Avant, or AA^ere hiiiiied by A’^iolence to a grave that AA’ould shield them from theii implacable foes. Opposing craft to force, the men of the AA'oods concealed themseh^es in chosen retreats, kept up a vigilant look-out, and kncAv hoAv, at fitting times, to silence then' faithful and obedient dogs. They Avere accustomed to indicate their Avay through the pathless Avilderness by the Indian mode of breaking branches, or of pointing sticks in the ground, so that their felloAA^s might track them to the camp. But, pursued by the M bites, these sticks, as previously agreed upon, AA^ere placed right in some places, and AA’^rong in others. Sharp points and sharp stones Avere left just aboA^e ground to Avound the feet of those folloAA'ing them.; as many ot these Avore home-made moccasins, a severe laming Avould attend a misfooting. The guides of the parties Avere either white Bushmen, or HatiA^es. The latter Avere not to be depended upon ; and some acknoAvledged, Avhen on Flinders Island, haAung brought the leaders near the sought-lbr tribe, and then refused to°go further, or led oft' in another dhection. Black Jack, Avho Avas out AAuth Mr. Gilbert Robertson, told Mr. Jorgenson, that after I 1:14 -THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. he had been beaten by that gentleman, for some supposed fault, he was often upon the track of his countrymen, but would not trace. Mungo was an intelligent lad, and did good service. He was the son of an influential chieftain, and accompanied both IMr. Eobertson and Mr. Batman, but early died of disease. As the wild people were caught, they were transferred to the nearest gaol. Some were at first taken to ^Ir. G. A. Eobinson at Briini; or, under his care, to the establishment at.Hewtown, a couple of miles out of Hobart Town. Mr. Stirling was in charge of the latter asylum, during the journey of his chief to Port Davey. Such an establishment was soon found of little use, as numbers came in, and numbers went out acjain. In spite of the success of some of the roving parties in capture, for 236 were secured by the end of 1832, it was felt that great destruction of life had taken place. Mr. Carr, manager then for the Van Diemen’s Land Agricultural Company, calculated upon the effects of the “ Five Pounds’ Proclamation,” as it was called, and said, “The Proclamation as usual will enjoin the sparing the defenceless, and that the people are not to be killed, but taken alive j and the way in which it will be acted upon will be by killing nine for one iakeny Some such feeling was evidently shared by the authorities; for a Government Hotice, appearing on August 20th, 1830, bears upon the subject, and again utters a warninfr against cruelty. ^ ‘‘The Lieutenant-Governor,” says the command, “has learned, with much regret, that the Government Order of the 25th of February last, offering certain rewards for the capture of the Aborigines, appears in some recent instances to have been misapprehended ; and, in order to remove the possibility of^ any future misunderstanding on this important subject, His Excellency has directed it to be distinctly notified, that nothing can be more opposed to the spirit of the above-named Oidei, and to all that of the different Proclamations and Orders which preceded it, than to offer any sort of violence or restraint to such of the aboriginal Natives as may approach the European inhabitants with friendly views :—the reward was offered for the capture of such Natives only as were committing aggressions on the inhabitants of the Settled JOHN batman’s work. 115 Districts, from which it was the object of the Government to expel them with every degree of humanity that was practic¬ able, wlien all efforts for their conciliation had 'proved abortive/’ ^ Among the Leaders of Parties the name of John Batman stands out in bold relief. Though only one of the ordinary Leaders of Parties after the Aborigines, yet, as the most prominent of these, the most esteemed by the Governor, and the most approved of by the Blacks, a separate notice might be given of his part in the war. There is an additional reason for bringing him thus to the front, because of the great work he was afterwards tlie means of accomplishing, in 1835—the colonization of Port Phillip—and thus becoming the Founder of the pro^mvus Colony of Victoria. John Batman was an Australian, being born at Parramatta, in Xew South Wales, and subsequently becoming a farmer under the shadow of Ben Lomond, in Tasmania. Por par¬ ticulars of his career, the reader is referred to the Author’s works on ^ The Discovery and Settlement of Port Phillip,’ ‘ John Batman, the Founder of Victoria,’ and ‘ Port Phillip Settlement.’ Of powerful^ frame, goodly stature, great activity, untiring energy, quick intelligence, and superior Bush-craft, he was fitted for leadership in the Black War. But, of agreeable manners, exuberant spirits, and genuine kindliness, he became the admired of men, and the favourite of women. Governor Arthur acknowledged the public efforts of Mr. Batman, and was pleased with his society, while the convict servants of his household, and the roving tribes of the island, alike felt the benevolence of his heart, and bowed before the force of his character. That the writer be not supposed too partial toward him, other evidence will be produced. The Quaker Missionary, Mr. George Washington Walker, often spoke to me of his interest in the man, and acknowledged the correctness of the Eev. John West, the historian of Tasmania, when he stated, “ To Mr. Batman belongs the praise of mingling humanity with severity, of perceiving human affections he was com¬ missioned to resist. He certainly began in the midst of con¬ flict and bloodshed to try the softer influence of conciliation 116 THE LOST TASMANIAN KACE. and charity, — being one of the few who entertained a strong confidence in the power of kindness.’^ Mr. MelviJle, another colonial historian, asserts that he “ proceeded not with the sword, but with the olive branch.” Honest old Captain Hobson, who was with him in an early trip to Port Phillip, gave me this testimony of his friend : He was a brave, athletic, daring, resolute man, fearing nothing—neither wind nor weather. His perseverance was beyond anything I ever saw.’ The Hon. J. H. Wedge adds a strong recom¬ mendation of his ancient companion. Wm. Pobertson, Esq., J.P., who knew him intimately, has this observation : '' His character for veracity and probity cannot, with regard to the truth, be in the slightest degree impugned.” Mr. Hamilton Hume, the veteran explorer, who walked overland from Sydney to the site of Geelong in 1824, was born in the same colonial village as Mr. Batman, and was enthusiastic in writing to me of his good personal qualities, and his Bush-abilities. Batman was called from his home, and a fine family of daughters, to take the field after the marauding Hatives. He had previously been, from love of adventure not less than the patriotic impulse of a citizen, a chaser of flyin \* '_'nSi»4-.ii'»'v.- r^'^li- ■.' ti j ■{_ : w‘\ M «►* ■*' V'^ ^ j." ' ii ,* ■■ ** * i»*'' -n; .;■•% ' K"’'*»''*rVv^-''..*5- -':JSE»J--. f' j- ~ 4 > f" > ■-S.ij. ilj; ■■'•I'-r |,,T ■Vv r.ja'.- > ■ ■;/ : . - V ■ ' * I. ■ * >f ■ ">. - a -V ■ «* •-' » nod. ,,'w .*■..* -r " '‘V'4'!i'f.,..'r, fs i.. -•.'?• 4- '?-“l • . . ■ “* v' - •' ^ _ J‘ .' .3 *% .: * ‘""i- ‘ ^ ♦■'V- *■ “j .* •; ^'^"'.*1 •>, . ' .^. " ' '• ■- vy • • /■'. ’■• ‘ X'^ ■rf' .. .^' .- fZ < < 4-^ ~ T' . - . ^ 'i. • 4 - . - f“jf.-' ’ • j»' • ••> ^-. , ■. ^ ■• • '--.v-,, , . ■ ••* -- ■ . jr- . " I ■if- y *{■..- .. ■ it.. ’ ^ r .n -s ’ I - 'V* -1 V » ‘ f* - * ■ < I*.: ' *. A . ^1 • . _. . ^ ■.■-•> -iy ■ ’■.•■ rriiu^^’ L-- ' ■" p ity-. • m ■ A ^ ^ ,;■ \ ..V-; ,-■ -stS'-*' « I ■ r*- • ■ • - - ."•?:* - . ■ •<•• ■*. ' ^ ii2Srrr?^"t’ ■ r^'-|^' .rf’, -• - ■*--■ » . " V>," r c . ^ - oi2C.-| ‘‘i 'ivfeii-? -' ' ; ' i :\-A - " - SSaflf MfSt' ~ ’ ' v.- : ? ? '*il'-'\,- ''S-•?:%''' -a v’^.» ' - • - •-.■ >ri‘'-'‘'/' ■ IS ''.■"«•"'•'•c.'..,4F7-vv‘' is .tT,'- , * ' . • *< ■ ■ ■ v'■ ■'' ■ 'V.'.. _ '■?. r,.^-i 2 -i? .■ -*■ '. i Vi, k, ;-’ .'ci ^*---_ ^.W-' '. V H.‘ •- LW t WS".#"- ’.■:t'' 'i ,«'■■ .0. 'i'.- .. FI, m ; ■■ ■ '■<:;'Am 'm^gga^ 4.:*-**—1 ilP^^ K H ''rf .. TRUGANINA OR LALLA ROOKH. 141 journeys to entrap and secure her countrymen. Some have thou.orht vanity was her leading passion, and that the desire of distinction among Whites and Blacks induced her to become the prominent guide and interpreter. Without doubt she was personally attached to Ur, Eobinson, and strove earnestly to serve him. It was for this purpose that she studied to acc^uire other dialects, so as to hold intercourse with the wilder tribes of the interior. Although her husband, Wooreddy (or the Doctor ”), consented to" be one of the Conciliator’s party, there is a story told that shortly after the departure of the Mission, in January 1830, as Mr. Eobinson was sleeping near a large cave, the excited husband arose in the night, took a weapon in his hand, and would have mur¬ dered our white friend, from jealousy of his influence over Truganina, had not his intention been discovered in time. And yet Wooreddy continued to accompany him. ‘‘ He was present,’' says JMr. Duterrau, “ at all Mr. Eobinson’s inter¬ views with the Blacks. Through the intervention of this man, IMr. Eobinson has been preserved from extreme danger when his life was about to be taken from him. ’ IManalagana (or, Limina Bungana), as a warrior,” said Mr. Duterrau, ‘‘stood unrivalled amongst the Aborigines, and was considered a sage by his tribe.” The artist, who was a devoted friend to Mr. Eobinson, goes on to observe :—“ Such was the commanding influence Mr. Eobinson possessed over these singular people, that, at the first interview, Manalagana left his native wilds, and accompanied Mr. Eobinson on all his missionary enterprises throughout the island, to whom he continued faithfully attached to the conclusion of his service in 1835.” Manalagana then removed to Flinders Island, whither all the captured were taken, and died in March of the following year, 1836. Of his wife, Mr. Duterrau has these words of commend¬ ation :—“ This woman laboured incessantly to promote the objects of the Mission. Tanleboueyer and her sister were originally stolen from their country by the sealers, when children, and held in bondage until emancipated by Mr. Eobinson (in 1830). She was superior to the other Natives both in person and intelligence, and possessed much dignity of manners, seldom participating in those frivolities the others indulged in. She was exceedingly attached to her husband. 142 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. The feeling was mutual, for during the period of six years they were with Mr. Hobinson they never quarrelled.” i he start was not an auspicious one. A boat had been provided for the passage to Port Davey, on the south-west; but it was wrecked, with the loss of nearly all the supplies. The determination of his character Avould permit of no delay, nor retrograde movement; so Mr. Eobinson set off with his knapsack of bread, and tramped it to the place. He had given himself to his work, and was resolved, like a good soldier, to go through the campaign he had begun. His engagement with the Government was for twelve months; but, aware of the uncertainty of life, he had required payment of one half-year’s salary in advance for his wife, and the Governor’s authority for some provision for his family in the event of his decease. His mission Imd nearly terminated in his destruction in this first year of his course. Walloa, a female Aborigine, rose, like a Joan of Arc, amidst a nation of warriors, to deliver her people. She gathered a party together by her eloquence, urging a band to violence and war by her appeals, and by her courageous conduct in the field. Heading at last the Port Sorell tribe, she led them to the murder of Captain Thomas and others. Hearing that Mr. Eobinson was in her neighbourhood, she immediately directed her force against him. Being warned of her approach, he fled in haste."^ For five days did the pursuit continue, when, just as all hope of escape was relinquished by the Mission, he was delivered from this tigress of the north by the unexpected arrival of M‘Geary and his party. So strong a front of armed Europeans stayed the expected assault, and the dark Seiniramis retired northward again. It was during the last quarter of 1830 that the great campaign called ‘‘The Line” took place, which absorbed the attention of the colony, and exercised a powerful and happy influence upon the fortunes of the Conciliatory IHission. The whole strength of the island was collected to be hurled in anger against the dreaded Blacks. That manoeuvre, though not productive in immediate results, was doubtless the means of completing the success of Mr. Eobinson. In his first year he had traversed the whole of the western and northern country. At Cape Grim, to the north-west, he NATIVE FEMALE DECOYS. 143 liad met ■with the distinguished Bendoadicka, his wife ^N^arraga, and brother Peewee. Two went onward with him from the Mersey. liile the Liiifi was out he was in the Cape Port¬ land Pistiict, to the rorth-east. It was there he heard of tlie splendid capture of thirteen at one time, and twelve at another, by the party of Messrs. ]\PGeary and M‘Kay. Dis- appointed in his own plans, it was then that he executed the hist part of his mission among the sealers. That formed the relief to his year of failures. Having authority from the Governor, he visited some of the islands in the Straits, and rescued eighteen native females from the sealers. In 1831 His Excellency sought the trial of moral agency alone. ]\lr. Pobinson had urged the withdrawal of the armed parties from the Push. Some said this was to secure the whole management of the capture, and deprive the earlier leaders of the prize. Certain it is, however, that high rewards were oficred to secure the aid of persons in this benevolent enterprise of unarmed intervention, without a single response. Mr. Pobinson had, therefore, the problem to resolve alone. His salary was raised to 250Z., and a strong force organized. There were many, of course, who saw no hope in such chivalrous ventures, and derided the sugar-plum speculation. As he had to forego the use of physical force, he had recourse to some stratagem. His black female guides were decorated as decoys in gaudy ribbons, to attract the eye of the Push wanderer. Trinkets were distributed, and marvel¬ lous toys provided. An ex-Pushranger assured me that he had found red feathers, red strings, and other pretty-looking objects hung in the trees of the far interior by the adven¬ turous party. Gooseberry, Violet, Molly, Truganina, and others, looked well in their civilized adornments, and em¬ ployed their arts and smiles to secure their simple country¬ men. They were the light skirmishers of the force. Put that upon which stronger reliance was placed was the power of sympath 3 ^ The gathering numbers added, like a rolling snowball, to the strength of the Mission. One had a sister or brother in a neighbouring tribe, and natural affection urged ' the search after the lost one, to save such from the danger of the w^ar. Or, a wild son of the tribe had longings after a wife previously captured, and so entered the fold to find a mate. A father sought a son, or a child a parent; and many 144 THE LOST TASMANIAN EACE. a joyous reunion was thus effected. Then, as the families formed, or sufficient numbers arrived, they were drauf^hted off to join the free and happy neighbours already safe in the new hunting-ground. The first conquest of 1831 was the Stony Creek tribe. Its chief, Moultehalergunah, as Mr. Eohinson spells his name, had been a great White-hunter. Twenty of these were secured by Mr. Eohinson, with iM^Geary, M’Xean, and Platt. Limina, or Manalagana, was of service near Cape Portland. It was affecting to hear the gathering tales of trouble. One asked for a son, another for a sister, a third for a wife. One was much interested in a sister, Black Jock, who had been stolen hy the sealers, and he entreated the JMarmanuke, or Father, to go in search of her. Eumarra met Mr. Eohinson in the forest, rushed towards him, and grasped his hand with warmth. He brought five men and a woman in with him. In June 1831, in his official report, Mr. Eohinson was able to say that, through the efforts of his party 123 had yielded, 236 had been commimicated with, 110 had returned to their hunting-grounds, and 16 had escaped after capture. He himself had become acquainted with sixteen tribes of this people. It was toward the end of 1831 that ]\Ir. Eohinson had such remaikable success. His faithful friend, IManalagana, was M^ith him. Tins noble-minded savage is al ways presented to US in lieroic attitude, and tlie enthusiastic painter,* Mr. Duterrau, with other admirers, were justifted in their estim¬ ation of the superior intellect, courage, and benevolence of this extraordinary man. His son had been murdered by a ruthless tiibe, and yet, with all the natural feelings of a father, and the human passion for revenge, he appears to have acted the Christian part of not only restraining the impetuous vengeance of his sable friends, but of co-operatincr in good faith and principle with Mr. Eohinson to brin> 11 iJclilLlWJ peculiar ortliograph}^ and punctuation. CIIIVL puilUtUclLlUIl. 1 lie tribe had yielded as friends, not prisoners. It is true tliat they laid down their spears, and brought forth from hidden places sixteen stand of arms, which they had taken 111 the war; but the captors had prudently as Avell as generously leturned their spears, so needtnl for hunting purposes. At any easy rate the mixed parties proceeded toward the settle¬ ment of Eothwell, situated to the westward of the main line from Hobait Town to Launceston. They arrived there to the great alarm of the inhabitants, on the 5th of January Mr. Eobinson guaranteeing the peaceable behaviour of his wild chaige. M hen visiting the little township in 1842, I was shown the site of the encampment, and I heard the tale of unnecessary fears. On the road thither the Conciliator conversed with his sable companions, and heard many sad stories of the sufferings of the tribes, and vehement denunciations of the cruelties of the Europeans. They showed him their Avounds. They all “ men, women, and child,’’ he said, ‘‘ had dreadful scars.” He 'Avent to the EothAA^ell Inn, and had the nuAvonted luxury of a bed, Avdth no apprehension of the tribe leaving him in the night. Erom EotliAvell he addressed this letter to head-quarters, 150 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. on January 5th, 1832 :—On the 31st ultimo, I succeeded in effecting a friendly communication ■with these sanguinary tribes. Their whole number was twenty-six, viz. sixteen men, nine women, and one child, including the celebrated chief Montpeilliatter of the Big Eiver tribe. I fell in with these people thirty miles hr.W. of the Peak of Teneriffe.” On they came in their confiding trust, though much to the terror as well as curiosity of the settlers. Mr. Eobinson was greeted indeed with a triumphal entry. His own house was at the head of the town, and his wife and children were spectators of his glory. He came with prisoners, but no victims. He ended a war, and presented voluntary captives. The whole population assembled to witness the procession. First came the worthy victor, with his white companions. Then were seen his own fourteen faithful native followers, and the twenty-six wilder people of the woods, the men with spears in hand. Shouts of welcome greeted all. The estimable Governor was deeply moved, and waited at Government House to receive and entertain his guests. The tender eyes of women were swimming with tears as the dark race passed on, and kind looks and smiles fell gently upon the war-tossed ones. Presents came before the Governor’s feast; lollies or sweetmeats, toys, pictures, dresses were showered upon them. Two specimens of Colonial poetic fire appeared to commemo¬ rate so auspicious an event. One, by Hobartia, was published in the Hobart Town Magazine, for 1834. It commenced :— “They came, sad remnant of a bygone race, Surviving mourners of a nation dead ; Proscribed inheritors of rights which trace Their claims coeval with the world ! They tread Upon their nation’s tomb ! * * * * “They came like straggling leaves together blown. The last memorial of tlie foliage past; The living bough upon the tree o’erthrown, Wlien branch and trunk lie dead.” The next is called ‘ Lines written on the recent Visit of the Aborigines to Hobart Touui: ’— “ They are come in their pride, but no helmet is gleamin^^ On the dark-brow’d race of their native land ; ^ Eo lances are glittering, nor bright banners streamino-, O’er the warriors brave of that gallant band. ° HOBART RECEPTION OF NATIVES. 151 “ They are come in their pride, but no war-cry is sounding, With its woe-fraught note, over hill and plain ; For the hearts of those dark ones with gladness are bounding, And bright songs of peace breathe loud in their strain. ‘^They are come—they are come, and a boon they’re imploring, Oh ! turn not away from their soul-felt prayer, But to high hopes of Heaven this lost race restoring. For yourselves gain mercy and pardon there.” Colonel Arthur pleased them with his courtesy. Anxious to afford them additional gratification, he ordered the band out. But the effect was different from that which he ex¬ pected. The poor creatures screamed Avith terror, and croAvded round j\Ir. Eobinson Avith entreaties for protection. It AA^as long before their fears subsided, Avhen they Avould cautiously approach the drums and touch them, as if to test the poAver of the noisy animal. Then a grand demonstration took place. During the festival their confidence increased, and they Avere induced to show forth their strength and skill, after being personally decorated Avith ribbons by the GoA^'ernor. Ondia put a cra}"- fisli on a spear, and at a distance of sixty yards brought it doAATi Avith another spear. Thus hours passed in the Governor’s garden, Avliich Avas thrown open to all comers on the occasion. That evening IMr. Eobinson took them to his OAvn home, and they camped about liis premises. It AA^as on this occasion that portraits AA'ere taken of the Aborigines by Mr. Duterrau. My late esteemed friend, Mr. Thomas TIapier, J.P., of Essendon, Victoria, then took sketches of some of the people, and copies of Avhich paintings I haA^e secured by the brush of the late Mr. Thomas Clark, the jMelbourne artist. A few days afterwards a vessel was prepared, and the XatiA^es Avere induced to go on board, in order to reach splendid hunting-grounds, where no soldiers and parties Avere to be found, and Avhere they Avould never be molested. On tlieir Avay to the Straits they suffered much from sea-sickness. The captain of tlie vessel assured me that it AA^as pitiable to Avitness their distress. Their moaning Avas sad indeed. They appeared to feel themseh^es forsaken and helpless, and abandoned themselves to despair. The children, AAuth few exceptions, Avere not suffered to go 152 . THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. to the prospective settlement, but were placed in wliat was known as the Orphan School, near Hobart Town. This establishment was for the care and education of neglected and orphan children of convicts. The building is of great extent, the grounds are spacious, and the arrangements generally are suitable for the object. Hundreds of children, from help¬ less infancy to the age of fourteen, are there provided with board and education. It is over forty years ago since I had the pleasure of seeing there the dark offspring of the warriors of the Black War. Most of them struck me as being sickly and depressed, and I wondered not at the terrible mortality that had thinned their numbers. The greatest enthusiasm attended the reception of Mr. Eobinson. The newspapers were loud in his praise, and the jealousy of his rivals yielded to admiration. Although his salary as Conciliator, or head of the Friendly Mission, had been previously raised to 250/., and a bonus of 100/. bestowed, some fresh demoustration of gratitude for his efforts was demanded. He himself wrote a letter, presenting his claims. The Committee for the Protection of the Aborigines were prepared to second his memorial. A grant of four hundred pounds was made, and a promise was given of seven hundred more upon the completion of his wonderful mission. Ever prompt in his decisions and movements, we find him off on the 11th of February for Great Island, afterwards Flinders Island, to report upon a suitable home for the captured ones. Then he struck off to the west once more, as the poor hunted creatures had by this time quite and for ever deserted the central and eastern portions of the island—the scene of the Line operations. At Port Davey twenty-six were saved. Several of these were found to be above six feet in height. One old man put the captor in mind of Abraham with his white beard. The tribe had never been active in the war. More conquests of peace followed the capture at Port Davey. At Birch’s Eock, sixteen were taken; at West Point, six; at IMount Cameron, five; at the Surrey Hills, four; and at Sandy Cape, thirty-seven. From the report of July 12th, 1832, we learn that thirty-two were gained in the neighbourhood of Macquarie Harbour. At one place on the west coast, where sixteen were collected, their appearance TRUGANINA SAVES ROBINSOSf. 1 loo vas so vrotched that they ■were said to resemble oiirang- outangs ratlier than human beings. One poor old man had had his eyes shot out by some Chvistion pursuer. Mr. Eobinson was much moved at this spectacle of misery. A most formidable difficulty was experienced by IMr. Eobinson on the Arthur Eiver. This was in the inhospitable region to the north-west. A strong band of Aborigines had been brought under his notice by the friendly Blacks, and a conference had been held one evening in September 1832. In spite of the appeals of the E^estor, Manalagana, and the lucid exposition of the situation by the leader in his best Tasmanian speed), the forest men distrusted the offered con¬ ditions, and sullenly declined the advances of the AVhites. A night of dreadful suspense followed. After the conference, the strangers camped at a little distance, and kept up noisy talk and rattling of spears through the hours of darkness. Our leader, conscious of the necessity of reassuring his own party, put on a calm and confident appearance, threw off some of his clotlies, rolled himself in his blanket before the fire, and watchfully waited for the morn. The subse(]^uent adventures are thus told b}'’ himself:— At the earliest dawn of day they made a large fire, around whicli tlie men assembled, and began preparing their weapons intended for my destruction. At tliis juncture, one of the ild Eatives (a relative of one of my friendly Aborigines) commenced a vehement discussion, and argued against the injustice of killing me, and asked wliy they wanted to kill their friend and protectoi*. I had by this time put on my raiment. iMy aboriginal companions were exceedingly alarmed, and, on looking for their spears, found that the wild Natives had taken them away during the night. Several of their blankets had also been stolen, and attempts had been made to tie up the dogs. In the midst of the discussion I rose up, and stood in front of them with my arms folded, thinking to divert them from their savage purpose. I said if they were not willing to go with me, they could return again to their own country. ^ Scarcely had I spoken ere they shouted their Avar-whoop, seized their spears, and proceeded at once to surround me. With their left hand they grasped a bundle of spears, Avhilst in their right they held one. My Aborigmes shrieked and fled. The E^ati\’^es had nearly encircled me. 154 THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. Their spears raised were poised in the air. The friendly Aborigines were gone. At this crisis, I made off. Although I saw not the slightest chance of escape, I pursued my way rapidly through some copse, winding round the acclivity of some low hills, and took a north-east direction toward an angle of the river; on approaching which I saw one of the friendly Natives who had escaped, who, with much trepida¬ tion, said that all the rest of the iS'atives were killed. At the same instant she descried the hostile Blacks approaching, and in much alarm begged of me to hide, while she swam the river and went to the encampment. To have attempted con¬ cealment at such a crisis would have been next to suicide. And looking up (for the river hath steep banks on either side), I saw one of the wild Natives looking for my footsteps. At this instant he turned, and I lost sight of him. I saw no chance of escape, except by crossing the river. The difficulty appeared insurmountable. I could not swim. The current was exceedingly rapid, and it required time to construct a machine. The jJsatives were in strict search after me, and I expected every moment to be overtaken. The raft on which I came over was nearly a mile lower down. I was persuaded the hostile Natives would be waiting to intercept me. I therefore abandoned all thoughts of crossing on this machine. I made an attempt to cross on a small spar of wood, and was jDrecipitated into the river, and nearly carried away by the current. After repeated attempts, I succeeded, with the aid of the woman, in getting across. In 1838, at a public meeting in New South Wales, he gave full credit to Truganina for saving his life. It is pleasant to record this acknowledgment. The man tried to get across the river by striding a log and paddling with his hands and arms, when, falling over into the water, he would have been certainly drowned, had not the courageous Native jumped into the water and rescued him. On visiting her at Oyster Cove I reminded her of the incident, wdien the little old woman clapped her hands, danced about, and laughed most merrily. She then gave me her version of the affair, adding most expressive and pantomimic performances to aid her in her narrative. ^ The sequel of this adventure was, that upon his arrival at his party’s retreat, Mr. Eobinson found several of his Natives DANGERS OF THE MISSION. 155 missing. In the mean time, instead of rushing across the rapid stream, the "svild Blacks were content with sitting on a hill on their side of the water, and indulging in had language. They threatened that if they caught the chief of the"^ Con¬ ciliatory Mission they would burn his body, and make charms of his ashes to wear round their necks. The Englishman sought to mollify their m\ath, again and again urging his innocence of any evil design against them. His a])peals had, at least, some ellect, for the soft heart of a girl was moved at his eloquence, and Kyenrope, the daughter of the chief of the Pieman’s River tribe, made her way over the river, and joined the Mission. Old AVyne, her father, wit¬ nessed her flight, and denounced her foliy in choicest native Billingsgate. Still, Mr. Robinson did not feel comfortable in the vicinity of such neighbours, and made use of a ruse to extricate him¬ self from the dilemma. He caused his men to make a great fire of damp wood and leaves, so as to create a vast cloud of smoke, as if signalling for assistance from some countrymen near at hand. The alarmed Aborigines beat a precipitate retreat, and left the course open to the exultant beleaguered. Though now forty miles from Cape Grim, the nearest British settlement, he hastened off to that place of refuge. JS'otwithstanding Mr. Robinson was in this instance unsuc¬ cessful, we may credit him with having left some impression ; for we read in ]\Ir. Cottrell’s letter to Mr. Robinson, on January 19th, 1833:—‘‘On the 10th, we fell in with the tribe that attacked you at the Arthur’s River. Old AVyne and Edick were with them. They remained with us all night, and agreed to accompany us to Macquarie Harbour; but when we had marched about four miles, the following day, they disappeared amongst some scrub.” AVell might the good man exclaim in after-times :—“In all my difticulties, my sole dependence was on the Omnipotent Being; and I may truly say, I was led in the paths which I knew not, preserved in danger by His power alone. Fre¬ quently have I seen the sun go down without any expectation of beholding it again in the morning; and I have been surrounded by savage Blacks, with their spears presented at me, and have been spared when all hope had fled.” That successful Eijian Missionary, the Rev. Mr. Hunt, told a 15G THE LOST TASMANIAN RACE. meeting in Sydney “ It is very easy to sit down and write, don t believe the Blacks to be men ; ’ much easier than to go among them, as Mr. Eobinson has done, and show tliat they were not the brutes they are represented to be. but were susceptible of moral improvement, and fully possessed the attributes of humanity.” The work went on. More came in 1833. In October of tliat year, Mr. Eobinson returned to Hobart Town, with his ^n, iinging thirty Aborigines. These were taken to Oovemment House, royally entertained, and subsequently forwarded to the island retreat in Bass’s Straits. Their triend, in his official communication, wrote “ It cannot afterwards be said that these people were harshly treated, that they were torn from their country. Eo ; their removal las ^ een or their benefit, and in almost every instance of tlieir own free will and consent/’ In 1834 we find the indefatigable man at his post. On succeeded in capturing eight, and placing them, for temporary safety, on Hunter’s Island, at tlie western Three tile Strait With the help of some sealer’s boats. I-S llth, and nine on April -th. These twenty—seven men, five women, and eic^ht Pe^ons—were then conveyed in the Emerald to Lrn c i®v® ol'tained in the north-western coiner of Tan Diemens Laud, ami were, singularly enoimh, the remnant of that tribe that attacked Mr. Eobinson on th^ Aijur Elver, two years before. They confessed their in¬ tention was to have murdered him on that occasion Upon native information, TIr. Eobinson wrote to the Governor that there were but two old men and their families e t at large in the island. Colonel Arthur and the Colonial Sem-etary thought otherwise, and so it proved. EobinTn^’ indomitable Eobinson. Bo one ignorant of the western country of asmania can form a correct idea of the travelling difficulties. T r resident in Hobart Town, the Governor Sir Mam^" the western journey to Macquarie Harbour, and suffered terribly. One man who assisted to carry her ladyship through the swamps * ' * " * , » < • f ^ , '»■ V,' " ^ € '" m ^ ■ ' ' ' ' V , ^ ■ ; . . ‘ ' ^ ' •'*'%« ^ -• 1.1 ’-A* ' '?! »r |. eir,: 4 • •■ jCX - * . . Kt ^i. '-:t ^ t t , r • ,»V ■* ' .?*. •.?!4 ■. ■>'■'^ '. '--^if ' ■•? ^ ' C;': '* I , s > ». • ., 1 - _ ^ if / • MCGILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ?yZ I 3 # •e \ I Lj-lKZlO^