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[Page 144]
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by the disallowance of their evidence ; nor can the small remnant of the tribes long exist to call forth sympathy, even were they to enjoy every protection of British law, unless some fostering arm be stretched out, some special providence intervene to resure them from ruin.
Two cases only have been mentioned, because they came under my own cognizance ; in which it may be clearly perceived that the aborigines need as much protection from the violence of each other, as they do from unprincipled Europeans, at least within the limits of the Colony ; and within the limits it is hoped that the sanguine disposition which has hitherto disgraced so many in their brutal acts towards the aborigines, has become subdued ; and whilst we would gladly erase them from remembrance any more on earth, we would fervently implore that they may be blotted out of the Book of Heaven.
The blacks have nearly forsaken this Lake, having found at Newcastle employment suitable to their habits ; some being engaged in fishing, some as water carriers, messengers, servants, and some on board the numerous vessels, according as their services are required. Thus they seldom appear at this place, the employment already stated being more congenial to their taste than any of an agricultural nature, excepting such as are connected with stock requiring horsemanship. Many have learned to become good horsemen with us, and then have gone to other persons. Two lads have been exceedingly serviceable, for several weeks past, in tracing out and pursuing, with the horse police, a gang of bushrangers who have plundered many persons in these districts in a most daring manner, and have ended their career in blood. One of the lads traced them for miles to the very place where the horse police found and captured their horses, though at the time the robbers escaped. My stated visits for preaching have been prevented fot the last two months through these lawless men.
As a proof of the dispositions and capabilities of the aborigines, when employed in such occupations as suit their wishes, it may be stated, that at the station of George Imlay, Esq. at Twofold Bay, that gentleman mentions, "that he has two whale boats manned entirely by aborigines. One of the boats got five whales this season, the other three ! The men live in huts with their families, and cook their own provisions the same as white people. They keep watch at night ; some of their women are good washerwomen, and two or three have made gowns for themselves." If it be inquired, how is it that they do not employ themselves in some such manner on this Lake, it may be answered, that there are no similar means in existence here to employ them, and therefore, they finding their wants supplied at Newcastle. and loving society, they congregate there, and have done so for some time past. But it is to be deployed, that whilst they are, in many instances, usefully employed, spirits too often are the wages for the services in that town, and consequently drunkenness is a daily occurrence, although there is an Act of Council prohibiting the supply of spirits to the aborigines.
Many years have now elapsed in endeavouring to congregate the aborigines at this Lake without success ; and as it appears that at Newcastle they not only assemble, but remain at that place, the distance of which prevents my frequent communication with them, it will be more advantageous to the residue of the tribes, who look up to me in every circumstance in which they feel themselves aggrieved, and convenient for myself to reside there, if our efforts for their becoming Christians are to be continued with any prospect of success, before the tribes become utterly extinct. It is therefore respectfully submitted, that something be done by the Government, in order to carry out the benevolent intentions of Her Majesty, abundantly expressed in a despatch to His Excellency the Governor from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in order to ameliorate the condition of the aborigines in these parts, resorting principally to Newcastle. First-that a suitable building for instruction be erected, in which the aborigines can be assembled, and taught Christianity. There is an unappropriated sum in the Estimates for this purpose, which I declined receiving, because the property is private on which the building would have been erected, and because the determination of the blacks to reside at Newcastle was becoming more and more apparent every day. If, therefore, a small building is erected on a Government reserve, no future loss can possibly be sustained in the event of the Blacks becoming extinct. Secondly-that some provision be made for their habitation, as all Newcastle, the birth-place of many of the aborigines, is being sold from under their feet, and only the sea-beach, one hundred feet from high-water mark, is the place where they may rest their heads beneath the burning sun or pitiless storm. A few huts, for the accommodation of about one hundred persons, would be amply sufficient ; could be erected at a small expense ; and should the effort to domicile the blacks prove unsuccessful, could be let hereafter to the gain of the Government. Thirdly-boats should be provided for the tribes who fish, but only in the first instance, to furnish them with the means of providing for their own, by vending the produce of their own industry ; and in soliciting this on their behalf, I am only acting agreeably to frequent requests from the aborigines, but which I have hitherto refused, hoping to induce them to reside at the Lake, and establish a fishery there. Two boats with complete gear would be sufficient for them, together with one large net.