152 HOW TO LEGISLATE [PART I. 



which they will ever obtain it is, by a liberal pay- 

 ment for their land in stock, which can be very 

 cheaply imported from South America, and in cattle 

 from Sydney, if the prices at the latter place continue 

 as low as they are now. 



III. As a great many unions have taken place 

 between Europeans and native women, and a number 

 of half-caste children exist, whose mothers have 

 often received a quantity of land as a dowry from 

 their fathers, or as being their property by birth- 

 right, such land should remain the property of 

 the mother and children. 



The number of half-caste children exceeds 400 

 on the islands : and connections between Europeans 

 and native women are generally fruitful. 



Of all measures which could be proposed for the 

 benefit of the aboriginal population, the most im- 

 portant is to leave them undisturbed in the posses- 

 sion of their old cultivated grounds, and in the 

 enjoyment of their own manners and customs, as I 

 have above recommended. The sudden exchange 

 of their own habits of life for ours has always been 

 followed by the result which might naturally 

 have been expected, viz. their quick return to their 

 kindred and their old habits. Placed amongst a 

 European colonial community, a native, when he 

 ceases to be an object of curiosity to us, is little re- 

 garded, unless he gives us his aid as our servant; 

 and even as such he often finds himself curtailed in 

 the recompense of his labour. He is soon made 



