Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 183
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[Page 183]
In the beginning of 1830 nothing material was achieved, and the peaceful mission was far from being successful, the Aborigines continued to attack the settlements with increased boldness and remarkable perseverance. In the beginning Mr Batman, Mr Gilbert Robertson, and Constable Danvers met with some success, but the Blacks had been taught caution from experience. A few partial successes did not compensate for the general disappointment. Mr Howells, a gentleman on the Shannon captured some of the hostile Aborigines for which he was rewarded with a grant of one thousand acres of land.
On the 27th of July 1830, Mr George Anstey, son of Ths Anstey Esq of Anstey Barton Esquire, a young gentleman of about sixteen years of age, accompanied by some of the servants captured four Blacks. The Aborigines had the afternoon before plundered Mr Anstey's mans hut not above six hundred yards from the Mansion house. The Blacks got clear off with their booty, but the ground being covered with snow, they were traced to some distance off. When the pursuing party came to a small hillock they squatted down for the night, waiting in the cold with the utmost patience until daylight the next morning, and rushed upon the Aborigines when, as above stated, four were captured and the rest fled, these might have been shot, but