106 Statistics of Van Dieme/t's Land. 



painful impression, that this race of our fellow-creatures — 

 the original lords of the soil — have not heen duly cared for 

 since their enclosure within the pale of civilized life. So 

 far, however, from there being reason to suppose that 

 there has been any blameable neglect, it is believed that the 

 most humane sympathy and consideration has been con- 

 stantly evinced on the part of successive Governments ; and 

 that whatever was likely to contribute to render the condi- 

 tion of these " sons of nature" happy and comfortable has 

 been freely bestowed : nor has this been confined to physical 

 enjoyments alone — to the bestowal of mere clothing, food, 

 shelter, and amusements. Education, to the extent of which 

 their faculties are susceptible, has been attempted ; and of 

 the existing remnant, besides 7 children in the Orphan 

 Schools, there are 5 who can both read and v/rite, and 10 who 

 can read, the remaining 21 being totally uneducated. While 

 withholding assent from M. de Strzelecki's conclusion, that 

 the gradual extinction of the savage races is in fulfilment of 

 any law of Providence, " that the black should disappear 

 before the white," it may be fairly admitted that partial 

 civilization has exercised an influence most unfavourable 

 upon their existence. From their previous habits and modes 

 of life, they are not placed in harmony with their new con- 

 dition, physically or morally, and have become conseq^uently 

 disqualified from its full share of benefit. 



Tables 7 and 8 describe the extent of Emigration to and 

 from Van Diemen's Land during 1848; the arrivals, 

 including 1460 Convicts, numbering 4410, and the 

 departures 3799, — the difference being less than 1 per 

 cent, of the aggregate population. Of those who left the 

 Colony, the proportion of " free" was 63 per cent., of those 

 free by servitude 26 per cent., and of the conditionally 

 pardoned 11 per cent. The emigrants of the last two 

 descriptions were no doubt permanent departures ; but, of 



