MISSIONARY EXPLORATIONS 685 



PORT MUSGRAVE and the lower reaches of the DUCIE and 

 BATAVIA RIVERS were surveyed by Mr. E. A. CULLEN, of the 

 Harbours and Rivers Department, in May, 1887.' (SEE M\P B.) 



The conclusions and recommendations embodied in the reports 

 of Meston and Parry-Okeden differed widely. 



MR. MESTON 's REPORT, which was issued about the middle of 

 October, 1896, recommended the total abolition of the native police, 

 and the performance of all police duties, except tracking, by white 

 men. The white police should cultivate the friendship of the 

 natives, and besides affording them protection, should try to 

 reconcile hostile tribes. The mission stations and telegraph 

 offices should be regarded as centres for the distribution of food. 

 Reserves should be created where certain of the aborigines could be 

 collected to form a permanent home, and marry and beget children, 

 and live happily, free from all contact with the white race, except 

 those placed in charge to establish order, distribute the food supplies 

 and teach them gardening and farming, so as to make the reserves, 

 as far as possible, self-supporting. Apropos of the latter proposal, 

 he expressed in the strongest terms the conviction that the 

 mission stations had been planted in situations unsuitable for 

 cultivation. 



Meston claimed to have a very special knowledge of the manners 

 and customs of the blacks, having been " among them since seven 

 years of age." It was therefore possible for him " to establish 

 friendship with even the wildest and most suspicious tribes." He 

 adds, in his report : " Henceforth there would be no hesitation 

 on my part in going alone and unarmed through all those between 

 whom and myself a mutual confidence was created. The preva- 

 lent mischievous delusion concerning the supposed l treachery of 

 the blacks ' is the result of complete ignorance of aboriginal 

 character. ' All war,' according to Carlyle, ' is a misunder- 

 standing.' Such have been most of the miserable contests between 

 the black and white races in Australia." 



It may be remarked that it cannot be otherwise than difficult 

 to replace the mutual suspicion and watchfulness of blacks and whites 

 by a complete understanding of the motives and intentions of the 

 other party. What may have been possible to a man of Mr. 

 Meston's early experience must be absolutely impossible to the 

 rank and file of pioneers and prospectors. 



MR. PARRY-OKEDEN, Commissioner of Police, who set out on 

 his northern travels immediately after the issue of Mr. Meston's 

 report, was also well equipped for the investigation, having already 

 a considerable knowledge of the natives and understanding some 

 of their dialects. His experience had led him to the conclusion 



i Mr. Key's letter of i5th April, 1915, and Report by Mr. Hugh Milman, Acting 

 Government Resident at Thursday Island, on Port Musgrave and the Batavia and 

 Ducie Rivers. Brisbane, by Authority, 1887. 



