Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 225
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[Page 225]
this occasion the mission consisted of Mr Robinson, his son, McGeary and Stanfield, with the S Owyhee native, who was all the time in a dreadful state of agitation. Afterwards the Chief of the Big River tribe sent the women back for seventeen guns, and a great deal of ammunition concealed in the bush, which were delivered up.
The Aborigines both now all proceeded with the mission to Hobart Town. When at Bashans' plains it was nearly as good as a play (so says the journalist) to see them. Mr Espies' hut was full of small portholes, whence they dwelled upon with much emphasis. Three months before old Bob Scott, Mr Espie's overseer, had shot one of the tribe. This man had to fight a whole day, and to make the Natives believe that there were more men in the hut, frequently changing his clothes.
The n Blacks then in revenge burned one of Mr Espies' houses, with nearly a ton of flour, a thousand skins, some bet butter etc in it. They affected their purpose by trying fire