100 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



could have been performed in these latter days by men of his own 

 kith and country. In 1828, when the blacks were being shot every- 

 where "on sight," John Batman made a proposal to the Governor 

 to devote his time and his most strenuous exertions to effecting the 

 conciliation of the unfortunate race, and to persuade them to surren- 

 der themselves to the control and protection of the "Government. 

 His offer was accepted, and for a couple of years he pursued a 

 course of kindly conciliation, accentuated by firmness and determi- 

 nation, that had the most beneficial results. By the employment 

 of female spies, whose confidence he had won by kindness and sym- 

 pathy, he induced large numbers to surrender themselves to his 

 direction, and during the whole period of his numerous expeditions 

 was only once involved in an actual fight with them. Governor 

 Arthur reported Batman's proceedings to the Home authorities in 

 terms of the highest praise, and shortly afterwards awarded him a 

 further grant of 2,000 acres of land in recognition of the valuable 

 services he had rendered in bringing the discreditable war to an 

 end. 



But meanwhile (even before he volunteered for his humane 

 efforts amongst the natives) he was getting restless over the poor 

 prospects which the wild country allotted to him offered for mak- 

 ing his fortune at sheep farming. He learned with delight of the 

 discoveries made by his friend and companion in many a bush 

 exploit, Hamilton Hume, and he projected schemes by which such 

 valuable enterprise might be made to yield profitable results. 

 That a desire to seek for more suitable pastoral country on the 

 mainland of Australia had long been simmering in his mind is 

 evidenced by the fact that as far back as 1825, when Mr. John 

 Helder Wedge was surveying the land granted to Batman at Ben 

 Lomond, a project for an exploring expedition across the Straits 

 was seriously discussed between them, and was only postponed on 

 account of more immediately pressing duties. In the following 

 year the New South Wales Government made their feeble attempt 

 to occupy Western Port, and the accounts of Hume's journey, as 

 published in the Sydney papers, having erroneously located his 

 most valuable discoveries in that region, the idea was again re- 

 vived. This time Batman was associated with Mr. J. T. Gellibrand, 



