THE ABOBIGINES. 259 



Black's reserve of, I believe, a square mile, is left, 

 and blankets and rations, provided by Government, 

 are served out to them by the master of the station 

 nearest to their reserve. There is also a protector, or 

 kind of magistrate, appointed to look after their worldly 

 interests ; but no one seems to trouble himself about 

 giving them any religious instruction. It is not within 

 my province to offer any opinion as to whether or not it 

 is our duty to do so, after, as it were, adopting them. 

 There is a great cry at home about sending missionaries 

 into foreign parts of which we know but little, and yet 

 here we have tribes of savage heathens wandering about 

 among Christians, in the close vicinity of a large city in a 

 rising colony, which is now certainly more like England 

 than any we possess, abounding in religious sects of all 

 denominations, and yet no pains are taken to instruct or 

 convert these poor savages. Perhaps it is not possible 

 to do so. Perhaps they are better off as they are ; and 

 this is probably the case for, as Bonwick justly observes, 

 " we have a sad tale to tell when we speak of our so-called 

 civilization upon these aborigines." To adopt our habits, 

 they must be entirely removed from the associations of 

 the Mia-Mia ; and what have we to offer in exchange for 

 endearing relations, joyous freedom, and an unanxious 

 existence ? The black man is thrust upon a competition 

 society to earn his bread ; he is exposed to the gibes and 

 contempt of the lowest of our countrymen ; he is without 

 sympathy and without friends ; and is herded with men 

 from whom he learns the most obviously developed prin- 

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