534 



VAN DIEMEN^S LAND. 



Feb. 1836. 



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 desired to assist in one 

 great attempt to secure the entire race. The plan adopted 

 was nearly similar to that of the great hunting-matches in 

 India : a line reaching across the island was formed, 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 

 accustomed manner of crawling after wild animals is consi- 

 dered. I have been assured that they can conceal themselves 

 on almost bare ground, in a manner which until witnessed 

 is scarcely credible. The country is every where scattered 

 over with blackened stumps, and the dusky natives are easily 

 mistaken for these objects. I have heard of a trial between 

 a party of Englishmen and a native who stood in full view on 

 the side of a bare hill. If the Englishmen closed their eyes 

 for scarcely more than a second, he would squat down, and 

 then they were never able to distinguish ,the man 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 belong- 

 ing to two tribes came in ; and, conscious of their unpro- 

 tected condition, delivered themselves up in despair. Sub- 

 sequently by the intrepid exertions of Mr. Robinson, an 

 active and benevolent man, who fearlessly visited by himself 

 the most hostile of the natives, the whole were induced to 

 act in a similar manner. They were then removed to Gun 

 Carriage Island, where food and clothes were provided them. 

 I fear from what I heard at Hobart Town, that they are very 

 far from being contented : some even think the race will soon 

 become extinct. 



The Beagle staid here ten days, and in this time I made 

 several pleasant little excursions, chiefly with the object of 



