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nality of drunkenness in the sight of our Heavenly Father, the reply was, that they would only get drunk a little, but if it be really wicked to get intoxicated, why do the Whites sell rum, but that they might drink it? Gentlemen get drunk! Ladies get drunk!! and why should not they? They promised to return again in a little time, which I am confident will not be religiously observed, for they know not how to "use this world, as not abusing it."
Several Bushrangers have been taken in the bush and brought hither by the blacks, whom I sent with the captured prisoners to the Police Office Newcastle, where they delivered them up without injury. Some requested their Black Captors to suffer them to escape, and they informed me that they pretended to allow them, but, when the two Culprits had gone a few yards, they poised their spears and commanded them to return! This dangerous experiment might have proved of a serious nature, leading to Bloodshed, and illustrates the necessity of Aborigines being admitted as competent witnesses, for had the matter come to extremities, and the unfortunate convicts been speared, what legal evidence could have been obtained, but through those very blacks who are now declared incompetent.
His Excellency the Governor directed that a bush Constable should be stationed near this place some two years back; but, it not being carried into effect, precludes the possibility of adopting the more safe measure of delivering up to a regular authority British prisoners. The Aborigines are useful as auxiliaries to the Police; but, as yet, ought not have unlimited power over our own Countrymen, however much they may have become depraved.
There is an inconvenience attached to the mode of paying the Blacks the reward for bringing in runaways &c. &c.; namely:- An order is given at Newcastle Police Office to receive money at Sydney Police Office, a distance of more than an hundred miles! they applied to me on the subject, I applied for them to the Bench, but the rule is general, they had to proceed again to Newcastle making altogether a journey of 160 miles, backwards and forwards for ten shillings from which a per centage was deducted before they could get the order cashed thus reducing the trifling amount and discouraging any person from troubling themselves where there is so much difficulty attached, and such a drawback in obtaining the petty reward.
An Aboriginal Youth of about 13 years old, from the Manilla River, has resided with me for some months, he could not speak English when he came, but can now a little,, and is progressing in learning to read and write the English language: a communication is so opened with the lad's tribe, by my Son's taking up with him, to his Station on the Manilla River, a distance of 300 miles in the Interior, an Aboriginal youth brought up here and named Billy Blue, who is taking to himself a wife of the said tribe, and is expected shortly to return hither. Should His Excellency the Governor concur with the proposal addressed to His Excellency in a letter of date July 25th 1839, requesting aid to support a certain number of Aboriginal youths from the Interior, who, if removed from their usual haunts, might be the more easily managed, they being afraid to associate with these tribes, and would remain with more certainty for instruction in their own districts. The Youth mentioned does not appear anxious to return although he has two opportunities afforded him. In a few months it will be desirable in order that he may communicate with, and perhaps induce others of his tribe, on the Manilla River to return with him, but if they bring wives, civil protection must be afforded by the Government at this place, or, the women will be forcibly taken away by the tribes belonging to these parts, they being deficient of the Female Sex.
"Do not say those words, they are bad," said the Aboriginal lad to one of the Newcastle Blacks who swore, "for he who is above is angry with those who use them," "Yes," replied the one reproved, "you go into Master's study, and he will tell you about that, I know it all already!" -- He was observed one Lord's day making the following Soliloquy, with a pebble stone in his hand ready to throw at a small bird in the garden: "I will not kill you little bird to day, because the great Master above will be angry, but to morrow I will kill you!" His dialect is very different to that of the Aborigines in these parts, a comparison is attached to this report, of languages, and if the Government will bear the expense of providing for the maintenance of a few Blacks from the different districts, much information respecting Dialects could be obtained.
Several deaths have taken place, in the immediate neighbourhood of this Inlet, during the present year, some natural, others have been occasioned by violence; and I am informed of only one Birth, and that a half-cast, consequently, the decrease of Aborigines proceeds rapidly; in the elapse of a very few years, humanly speaking, the race will become extinct in these parts.
The recent arrival of the American Squadron at Sydney, in the course of a Scientific Voyage, allowed the favorable opportunity for two of the Gentlemen connected therewith, to visit this station: Mr. Agate, limner, who took sketches of Aboriginal characters, and Mr. Hale, linguist, who examined the nature of the language of the Aborigines. The latter Gentleman kindly furnished me with "Remarks on the Indian languages of North America, by John Pickering," in which are clearly manifested a very great similarity of construction in some of the peculiarities when compared, as will be perceived in the "Remarks on the Aboriginal Language," attached to this report. The interest which the American Government takes in behalf of the Aborigines, in a general sense of the