112 A HISTOKY OF THE COLONY OF VICTOKIA 



Secretary for the Colonies by the time Mr. Fawkner was ready to 

 leave Launceston on his first visit to the Yarra. Mr. G. W. Kus- 

 den has pointed out that Batman's decision as to the site, and the 

 map dated 25th June, 1835, were published in an English Parliamen- 

 tary Paper, with the despatch in which they were transmitted by 

 Governor Arthur. This circumstance fortunately places the truth 

 of the statements on unassailable grounds. The insinuations that 

 the important results of Mr. Fawkner's subsequent settlement had 

 led to their being collusively antedated are absolutely disproved by 

 the fact that the account was in print before any more importance 

 was attached to the Yarra than to the Werribee. 



It may be asked why Batman did not leave his men in posses- 

 sion of the place which he had selected as the site for the coming 

 village. There were two objections very easily apparent. In the 

 first place, he only visited the Melbourne basin in a boat, and had 

 not found the means to get the Rebecca over the bar in the Salt 

 Water River. It would have involved a good many journeys to 

 take up the necessary stores and impedimenta in the ship's small 

 boats, and delay chafed him now that he had so much to report to 

 his associates. And, in the second place, he determined to leave 

 his representatives in some prominent position commanding the 

 watery highway to this pastoral paradise, where if need be they 

 could swoop down upon any stray sail and warn off unauthorised 

 intruders. 



Intent on such thoughts he selected a bold bluff at Indented 

 Head, near the spot where he first landed, and here he planted his 

 small colony, consisting of his three white servants and five of the 

 Sydney natives, supported for purposes of hunting and defence by 

 six dogs. They were supplied with three months' rations and a 

 quantity of potatoes, garden seeds, etc., to be sown. Batman left 

 written instructions with Gumm to build a loopholed sod hut, 

 thirty feet long by ten broad ; to be generous to the natives in the 

 matter of food, but not to allow them to camp within 300 yards of 

 the " fort," and finally to put off any person or persons found 

 trespassing on the land purchased from the natives. And so, with 

 the grand territory inspected, purchased and paid for, with the 

 deed in his pocket and his bailiff in charge, Batman gaily turned 



