1836.] ABORIGINES, 447 
Straits, so that Van Diemen’s Land enjoys the great advantage 
of being free from a native population. This most cruel step 
seems to have been quite unavoidable, as the only means of 
stopping a fearful succession of robberies, burnings, and mur- 
ders, committed by the blacks; and which sooner or later would 
have ended in their utter destruction. I fear there is no doubt, 
that this train of evil and its consequences, originated in the in- 
famous conduct of some of our countrymen. ‘Thirty years is a 
short period, in which to have banished the last aboriginal from 
his native island,—and that island nearly as Jarge as Ireland. 
The correspondence on this subject, which took place between 
the government at home and that of Van Diemen’s Land, is very 
interesting. Although numbers of natives were shot and taken 
prisoners in the skirmishing, which was going on at intervals for 
several years; nothing seems fully to have impressed them with 
the idea of our overwhelming power, until the whole island, in 
1830, was put under martial law, and by proclamation the whole 
population commanded to assist in one great attempt to secure 
the entire race. The plan adopted was nearly similar to that of 
the great hanting-matches in India: a line was formed reaching 
across the island, with the intention of driving the natives into 
a cul-de-sac on Tasman’s peninsula. The attempt failed; the 
natives, having tied up their dogs, stole during one night through 
the lines. This is far from surprising, when their practised senses, 
and usual manner of crawling after wild animals is considered. 
I have been assured that they can conceal themselves on almost 
bare ground, in a manner which until witnessed is scarcely cre- 
dible ; their dusky bodies being easily mistaken for the blackened 
stumps which are scattered all ovér the country. I was told 
of a trial between a party of Englishmen and a native, who was 
to stand in full view on the side of a bare hill; if the English- 
men closed their eyes for less than a minute, he would squat 
down, and then they were never able to distinguish him from 
the surrounding stumps. But to return to the hunting-match ; 
the natives understanding this kind of warfare, were terribly 
alarmed, for they at once perceived the power and numbers of 
the whites. Shortly afterwards a party of thirteen belonging to 
two tribes came in; and, conscious of their unprotected condi- 
tion, delivered themselves up in despair. Subsequently by the 
20 
