BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. 83 



had always shown themselves shy and suspicious, but 

 relations had hitherto been quite friendly. The unhappy 

 event of the 3rd May sowed the seeds of a hostility on 

 the part of the blacks, which, exasperated from time to 

 time by mutual injuries, filled the colony with deeds of 

 outrag^e and horror, v/ith savage murders of innocent 

 settlers, and almost equally savage retaliation, until the 

 native race was nearly exterminated, and the miserable 

 remnant removed to Flinders' Island, to perish of slow 

 decay. Of the origin of the affray the accounts are very 

 contradictory. Two of these are contemporary ; one re- 

 corded by Mr. Knopwood in his diary, the other in a 

 letter by Lieut. Moore, the officer in charge of Risdon. 

 The Chaplain says, under date Thursday, 3rd May : — 

 "At 2 P.M. we lieard the report of cannon once from 

 Risdon. The Lieut.-Governor sent a message to know the 

 cause. At half-past 7, Lieut. Moore arrived at the camp 

 to Lieut.-Governor Collins, and I received the following 

 note from Risdon : — • 

 Dear Sir, 



I beg to refer you to Mr. Moore for the pa,rticulars of an 

 attack the natives made on the camp to-day, and I have every 

 reason to think it was premeditated, as their number far 

 exceeded any that we ever heard of. As you express a wish 

 to be acquainted with some of the natives, if you will dine 

 with me to-morrow, you will oblige me by christening a fine 

 native boy who I have. Unfortunately, poor boy, his father 

 and mother were both killed ; he is about 2 years old. I have, 

 likewise, the body of a man that was killed. If Mr. Bowden 

 wishes to see him dissected, I will be happy to see hira with 

 you to-morrov/. I v/ould have wrote to him, but Mr. Moore 

 waits. 



Your friend, 



J. MOUNTGARRET. 



Hobert, six o'clock. 



The number of natives, I think, was not less than 5 or 6 

 hundred. J. M." 



Knopwood continues : 



" At 8, Lieut. Moore came to my marquee and stayed some 

 time ; he informed me of the natives being very numerous, 

 and that thej^ had wounded one of the settlers, Burke, and 

 was going to burn his house down, and ill-treated his wife, 

 &c., &c." 



Lieut. Mooi'e's letter — a copy of which is preserved in 

 the Record Office —is dated Risdon Cove, 7th May, 

 1804, and is addressed to Governor Collins, He says — 



Sir, 



Agreeable to your desire, I have the honor of acquainting 

 you with the circumstances that led to the attack on the 

 natives, which you will perceive was the consequence of 

 their own hostile appearance. 



