Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 140
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[Page 140]
evinced all along by Sir George or Arthur towards the Blacks, certain lines of demarcation were marked out, beyond which it was not permitted to molest or injure the Aborigines; beyond the prescribed limits po martial law was not in force. The whole North East quarter of the island was to be left entirely to the Aborigines, and nearly the whole country to the westward from the North to South fifteen miles to the Westward of the settlements was also forbidden ground. This measure was adopted on a supposition that the Aborigines would at length perceive that on no occasion were they interrupted when confining themselves to their proper occupations of hunting and fishing. This humane consideration produced not effects on the Blacks, but gave them an undue advantage over the whites, for they remained sculking about until they found an opportunity of to attacking the stock huts, with perfect impunity.
Hitherto the whole arduous duties of superintending all affairs