Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 112
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[Page 112]
I have seen an account published in a periodical, and well authenticated, where charges of treachery and ingratitude are made against the Blacks. In the winter of 1827 a party of tame Blacks sixteen in number, remained three or four weeks at the Dulverton Rivulet about four hundred yards from Mr Ans' Anstey Barton. They had were every day, by order of Mr Anstey, supplied with as much bread as they would consume. Notwithstanding all the kindness shown towards them, they came one day on the men unperceived who were splitting shingles at Mount Sydenham in Dulverton Parish & robbed them of their tools. On the same day they followed up the outrage by doing the same thing to a party of white men in Michael Howe's marsh taking away from them their bedding, provisions, and tools for cutting grass, and went with their plunder to the Table Mountain, Mr Anstey's men, and the road men cutting grass for the Government, were without fire arm with them, and being taken by surprise, they did not resist the Aborigines, and only escaped death by flight. This display of ingratitude is a moot subject for contemplation.
[Margin note]
Mr Anstey would however never suppose the [indecipherable] or to the mens hut. Many had done so whereby the Blacks were afforded opportunities to see what was going on, and observe the strength of the inmates, and to watching convenient opportunities for attacks. It had also at times led to great irregularities with respect to assigned servants and black females, which has had often been a sources of arrogance, broils, and bloodsheds.