THE NATIVES* 
165 
Surely if we acknowledge the first principles of 
justice, or if we admit the slightest claims of huma- 
nity on behalf of these debased, but harshly treated 
people, we are bound, in honour and in equity, to 
afford them that subsistence which we have deprived 
them of the power of providing for themselves. 
It may, perhaps, be replied, and at first it might 
seem, with some appearance of speciousness, that all 
is done that can be done for them, that each of the 
Colonial Governments annually devotes a portion of 
its revenue to the improvement, instruction, and 
maintenance of the natives. So far this is very 
praiseworthy, but does it in any degree compensate 
for the evil inflicted ? 
The money usually voted by the councils of Go- 
vernment, towards defraying expenses incurred on 
behalf of the Aborigines of Australia, is but a very 
small per centage upon the sums that have been 
received for the sales of lands, and is principally 
expended in defraying the salaries of protectors, in 
supporting schools, providing food or clothing for 
one or two head stations, and perhaps supplying a 
few blankets once in the year to some of the out- 
stations. Little is expended in the daily provi- 
sioning of the natives generally, and especially in 
the more distant country districts least populated by 
Europeans, but most densely occupied by natives, 
and where the very thinness of the European inhabi- 
tants precludes the Aborigines from resorting to the 
same sources to supply their wants, that are open to 
