EFFORTS OF GOVERNMENT. 427 
hav e been his brother ? —what white woman his sister ? He 
had two courses left open to him, — he could either have re- 
nounced all natural ties, and have led a hopeless, joyless life 
amongst the whites, — ever a servant, — ever an inferior being ; — 
or he could renounce civilization, and return to the friends of 
his childhood, and to the habits of his youth. He chose the 
latter course, and 1 think that I should have done the same.” 
Such are a few of the disadvantages the natives 
have to contend with, if they try to assimilate in 
their life and habits to Europeans, nor is there one 
here enumerated, of which repeated instances have 
not come under my own observation. If to these 
be added, the natural ties of consanguinity, the 
authority of parents, the influence of the example of 
relatives and friends, and the seducing attraction 
which their own habits and customs hold out to the 
young of both sexes ; first, by their offering a life of 
idleness and freedom, to a people naturally indolent 
and impatient of restraint ; and secondly, by their 
pandering to their natural passions : we shall no 
longer wonder that so little has been effected 
towards ameliorating their condition, or inducing 
them to adopt habits and customs that deprive them 
of those indulgences. 
In New South Wales and Port Phillip, the 
Government have made many efforts in behalf of the 
Aborigines ; for a series of years past, and at present, 
the sum of about ten thousand pounds, is annually 
placed upon the estimates, towards defraying the 
salaries of a Chief Protector, and several subordinate 
ones, and for other expenses connected with the 
natives. 
