THE ABORIGINES AND THEIK TREATMENT 231 



they were all drawn up in a row, squatted on their heels, and a 

 wheelbarrow full of pieces of beef was wheeled round, the overseer 

 giving a piece to each in turn. It was amusing to observe the 

 anxiety with which they eyed every piece as it was delivered, each 

 of them squeezing it in his hands to ascertain whether it contained 

 any bone or no ; when it had much of this, or little fat, they freely 

 gave vent to their feelings of rage and disappointment. They all 

 appeared sulky, and had completely the appearance of sturdy beggars 

 receiving a dole. The allowance not being sufficient to satisfy their 

 immense appetites, they frequently made forays upon the flocks and 

 herds of the neighbouring settlers. In fact, this neighbourhood be- 

 came the scene of greater outrage than any other part of the country, 

 the tendency being, in the words of the Governor, to increase the 

 irritation already existing between the two races." 



Not only was the settler's hand generally against the Protectors, 

 but the Crown Lands Commissioners and the military authori- 

 ties denounced them with equal wrath. In September, 1840, Mr. 

 Foster Fyans reported that in the western district the natives were 

 daily becoming more daring, and appeared to consider that no 

 punishment could await them, while the white man should be 

 severely visited for the least offence. He accused Sievewright of 

 grossly insulting conduct towards respectable settlers, threatening 

 them with committal to gaol ; and of illegal and improper proceed- 

 ings in reopening inquiries which had been dealt with by his 

 seniors in office. Finally, he trusted that in the interests of peace 

 and good government Mr. Latrobe would order him out of the 

 district. This sort of recrimination prolonged over two or three 

 years had a very injurious influence. From remonstrance Mr. 

 Latrobe proceeded to stronger measures, and even stopped the pay 

 of the Chief Protector on one occasion because he had failed for a 

 period of seven months to carry out some specific instructions of 

 the Governor. He also suspended Mr. Sievewright, and his official 

 report of his difficulties to Sir George Gipps resulted in that gentle- 

 man advising Lord Stanley in May, 1842, that the system had 

 absolutely broken down. He pointed to the fact hi Mr. Latrobe's 

 despatch that 16,000 had already been spent on the experiment 

 without contenting the individuals conducting it, or in any way 



