OF VAN DIEMENS LAND. 147 



blacks had been transported thither, and it is from a 

 report made by them to Governor Arthur at his request, 

 and from the MS. journal of Mr. Walker, that I have 

 gleaned a few particulars respecting the aborigines as 

 they appeared when undergoing the process of civilisa- 

 tion on Flinders Island. 



It was in September, 1832, that the friends sailed 

 from Hobart in the Government cutter Charlotte, placed 

 at their disposal by Governor Arthur. The vessel 

 touched at Port Arthur, which had been established two 

 years before as a penal station, and then proceeded on 

 her voyage to Flinders Island. After running con- 

 siderable risk of shipwreck in the dangerous navigation 

 of the Straits, the Charlotte anchored under Green 

 Island, and a boat took the visitors to the Aboriginal 

 Station, three miles off, at " The Lagoons." They say : 

 " Though, according to their usual custom towards 

 strangers, they at first seemed scarcely to notice us, yet, 

 when spoken to by the Commandant, their cheerful 

 countenances, hearty laughs, and good-natured manners, 

 produced an agreeable impression." The visitors noted 

 (perhaps with surprise) that "their countenances ex- 

 hibited none of that marked ferocity which has been 

 ascribed to them." Further observation strengthened 

 the first impression, and they came to the conclusion that 

 the Tasmanian aborigines deserved the character of a 

 good-tempered race. 



There were at this time at the settlement 78 natives 

 in all — 44 men, 29 women, and only 5 children. They 

 looked plump and healthy, notwithstanding that they 

 had been suffering from shortness of provisions. The 

 arrangements for supplies had been shamefully deficient. 

 The white people had for some time been living on 

 oatmeal and potatoes, which were far from good. The 

 blacks, who abhorred oatmeal, lived on potatoes and 

 rice. Fortunately mutton-birds (Nectris brcvicaudus) 

 supplemented their scanty provision. A little while 

 before, when left in charge of Surgeon M'Lachlan on 

 desolate Gun Carriage, if it had not been for some 

 potatoes they obtained from the sealers, the unfortunate 

 blacks would have been actually starved. 



The site of the settlement at " The Lagoons " was 

 most unsuitable. It was a narrow sandbank, running 

 parallel with the shore, and produciug nothing but fern 



