Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 160
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[Page 160]
Outrages
to any use on board they could be none; besides the active Field Police who [which] spread over the whole colony, would at all times prevent the convicts passing to the Sea port towns. The poor fellows were by the confession afterwards of the Blacks, often killed at a distance from their dwellings, and never seen or heard of. # No doubt some of the convict servants were despatched by some of the bushrangers, Cattle and Sheep stealers, for it was the practice with those criminals, when any one came by when they were dressing their stolen cattle or sheep in the bush, at once to put him to on one side with a ball, that he might not afterwards recognise them.
I have already remarked that the armed roving parties were not very successful in capturing Bla any of the Blacks, but nevertheless the settlers derived great benefit from their exertions, for a many of them were Police Constables and others sworn in
# Add to all these the outrages perpetuated up until the year 1834, the total sum must appear appalling.