Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/543

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515
515

WINDRADINE, A BATHCJB3T NATIVE. 515 months of authorized atrocity martial law was revoked by proclamation, and the shepherds who had fled in terror to Bathurst re turned to their avocations. I At Liverpool PlaioB, whither some settlers had pro- 'ceeded, an affray took place, provoked hy some of the whites, but resulting in a general attack by the natives, in which many of them were shot. Fearful that by some other channel the government might learn the nature of the eneoanter, one of the principals reported his version of it; and to the discredit of Brisbane a letter was written regretting that the affray had taken place, and adding that there va& no occasion to inform the government of such an occm^rence when unfortunately it took place- However good might be the intention of a proprietor he could not control the men whom he sent with his flocks and herds. Many of his servants were criminals of the worst class. Their lust, then- fear, their hatred, and revenge, made them indiscriminate m offending the natives, who, with their wooden weapons, avenged themselves when they found opportunity, A letter from Bathm*st, published in the Australian newspaper in Sydney (Oct. 1826), proves that the govern- ment received warning of the nature of the strife in which they took jiart.

    • Tke DativeB lament very much the death of their women and

Lchildren that were killed by oiir people. ... I here take the liberty of giving my opinion of tho cmma of the disturbauces that took place, rtinfortutiately, l^etweeu i3 ami the aliorigines, and I do attribute the loss oji both sides to the impudent and cruel conduct of some of our people. , . . 8uttlei"a should never be allowed to arm their servants and go alter It is only defenaive measures that can be juatifietl againat tbem." One of Brisbane's measares had a more lasting result than was contemplated at the time. The corps of mounted Suttor, of New South Wu.les, has kindly f uroiahed the author with a copy of a letter published by his grandfather in 18*29, which establishes the fact«  that Saturday wan not captured^that his name waa Windradinc in hia tribe ^that he suiTcndered after Gov-ornor Brisbane had offered the reward for hla oaptm-e— that he ** was introduced to Brisbane at Parramatta/* where he exeited a great doal of eiiriosity — that the kindness shown to hira» when he lived **iii the Domain" there, dlBarnied him of all hostility to the whites, and that, at a comparatively early age, ho died of a wound in the knee, received in tribal warfare, in March 1S29 ; and *' wrapped in his maotle,** after the manner of his forefathers, with hia weapons of w^t i«SkL«ianv» he who wuB *' once the terror of the country wua Va,d. to Tea*, hh2