Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 198
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[Page 198]
in November 1830, the precise time that the line was out, an aboriginal tribe made its way to Cape Portland, where they brought the most exaggerated accounts of many "red coats" that were out after them, with thousands of others in pursuit, and would no doubt kill or the Blacks, or starve them to death. A peaceful party was then at Cape Portland who explained to the Aborigines that it was not the intention to hurt or to kill them, but that if they would surrender themselves, the North East quarter of the island would be reserved for them to hunt, and that they would remain unmolested. Upon this, the whole tribe of thirteen surrendered and they shortly after succeeded in capturing twelve more. These Blacks promised every assistance, and were found extremely useful in promoting a friendly intercourse with the other hostile tribes.
It must be borne in recollection that the conciliatory mission had at that time been out 10 months without affecting any thing good, and hence it is that although the line did not succeed in capturing any of the Aborigines we must consider the grand movement in connexion with the labours of the mission, and then it will be clearly seen that the success of the latter was entirely owing to the demonstration of the large number of men in the field under the immediate command of Sir George Arthur. #
[margin note]
# I shall now proceed with my narrative of the proceedings of the conciliatory mission and in so doing I have adhered to the plan I have pursued throughout the whole of this work, to give a separate and connected account of various transactions with a view to avoid confusion.