THE FOUNDING OF MELBOURNE 99 



subjected. For years the petty despotism of irresponsible power 

 had held its communications with them by means of the cat-o'-nine- 

 tails, with the result that all but the savage instincts of a wild 

 beast were flogged out of them. But from whatsoever cause the 

 trouble arose, it was too serious not to be grappled with ; and 

 prompted, partly by the necessity for protecting their homes, and 

 partly by the liberal rewards offered by the Government, the 

 settlers united in numerous hunts after the desperate outlaws, and 

 promptly shot them down when they refused to surrender. Bat- 

 man, who was a perfect bushman and delighted in any active 

 service that displayed his qualification in that direction, naturally 

 took a prominent part in these exploits, and having been fortunate 

 enough to capture single-handed one Brady, a leading spirit 

 amongst the bushrangers, he was rewarded by the Governor with 

 an additional grant of land. 



A strange episode in his career occurred during this period, in 

 which the elements of romance and commonplace were most curi- 

 ously blended. The story, as told by Richard Howitt, is that he 

 discovered amid the fastnesses of Ben Lomond an outlaw of the 

 female sex, whose youth, good looks and touching story so worked 

 upon the susceptible young man, that for once he swerved from his 

 devotion to law and order, and provided her with a safe refuge until 

 he should be able to negotiate for her pardon. In due season the 

 opportunity offered, and in consideration of services he had rendered 

 to the Government, his petition was favourably considered by 

 Governor Arthur, and he was permitted to lead the object of his 

 solicitude to the altar, as a free woman. The records are silent as 

 to the cause of the initial trouble, but judging from Batman's letters 

 and journals, there are abundant indications that the marriage was 

 one of affection, cemented thereafter by a family of one son and 

 seven daughters. The "Black War," which raged intermittently 

 in Tasmania for twenty years (1810-1830), reflects the greatest dis- 

 credit upon the administrators of the Government, and the settlers 

 generally. It is a record of feeble incompetence on the one hand, 

 and vindictive ferocity on the other. No one can read Mr. Bonwick's 

 graphic account of the lost Tasmanian race without a feeling of 

 humiliation that deeds of such wanton and purposeless cruelty 



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