1837.] -Account of the Neio Colony of Western Australia. 315 



organ of acquisitiveness, and chastised them severely, whenever they 

 discovered the theft. The natives, who appear to enjoy property in 

 common, did not understand being punished for taking their neigh- 

 bours' goods, and resented the insult. They attacked the houses of 

 the settlers, generally of those living in isolated places, distant from 

 the towns, plundered them, and sometimes murdered whomsoever they 

 caught in the house. They also speared the cattle, and killed and 

 carried away the sheep. In the rencontres which took place on these 

 occasions, several black and eleven white men were killed, and a great 

 many wounded. The government, anxious to put a stop to these atro- 

 cities, which endangered both life and property, offered a reward for 

 the capture of Yagan, a supposed chief and ringleader. It was not 

 long before this daring fellow, with two of his companions, were en- 

 trapped into a boat and made prisoners; they were sent to the island 

 of Carmac, with an instructor, ^and two soldiers as a guard, for the 

 purpose of being taught our language to interpret with their country- 

 men. After three weeks confinement, they rose one night, while the 

 party in charge of them were asleep, seized a boat, and regained the 

 main land and liberty. They were now forgiven, and with the rest 

 of their tribe, became again on friendly terms with the settlers. 

 Their genius for thieving could not, however, remain quiet ; they 

 were soon again discovered attempting to rob a store at Freemantle 

 which contained provisions : the proprietor being alarmed got 

 out of bed, fired on them, and shot one dead. Their rule in such cases 

 being the lex talionis, they watched an opportunity for revenge. In 

 a few days they observed a cart laden with provisions, and accompa- 

 nied by two men, proceeding into the country ; they proceeded to a 

 lonely plaee in the road, where the cart was to pass, and waited for it. 

 On its arrival there, the men were attacked and both murdered. A 

 gentleman rode up while they were in the act, fired two shots at them 

 without effect, and identified the three principals, named Midgegoroo, 

 Yagan and Monday. The government immediately offered a reward 

 for their capture, dead or alive ; but the miscreants evaded search for 

 some time ; at length Midgegoroo was made prisoner by Captain 

 Ellis, superintendent of native tribes, and a party of the 63d regiment, 

 brought in and placed in the jail of Perth on the 16th of May 1833* 

 He was tried and found guilty soon after, and was shot on the 24th of 

 the same month. Not long after Yagan was met by a lad, the servant 

 of a gentleman up the country, who shot him dead. Mercy was extend- 

 ed to Monday, who still lives and is the most daring of his tribe. 

 The severe and merited punishment inflicted on these unhappy in- 



