account of this wonderful movement, the reader is referred to a subsequent chapter.
Whether from the early activity of so many separate parties being engaged in native hunting, for five pounds a head, or from several causes co-operating, a part of this year was comparatively free from outrages. In fact, notwithstanding the Demarkation Order, and the Martial Law itself, so jubilant did the Governor appear to be at one time, as almost to hope that better times had fairly commenced. Under the influence of this comforting assurance, his ready pen set to work and produced the following Government Notice, 160, on August 19th, 1830:—
"It is with much satisfaction that the Lieut.-Governor is at length enabled to announce that a less hostile disposition towards the European inhabitants has been manifested by some of the Aboriginal Natives of this island, with whom Capt. Welsh and Mr. G. A. Robinson have succeeded in opening a friendly intercourse.
"As it is the most anxious desire of the Government that the good understanding which has thus happily commenced, should be fostered and encouraged by every possible means. His Excellency earnestly requests, that all settlers and others will strictly enjoin their servants cautiously to abstain from acts of aggression against these benighted beings, and that they will themselves personally endeavour to conciliate them, wherever it may be practicable; and whenever the Aborigines appear without evincing a hostile feeling, that no attempt should be made either to capture or to restrain them; but, on the contrary, after being fed and kindly treated, that they should be suffered to depart whenever they may desire it."
Such a document might well excite the astonishment of the colony. After the most formidable arrangements for the capture of the Blacks, the leaders, whose hopes of five-pound notes and grants of land lay in prospect of successfully carrying out their mission, were in the simplest manner appealed to, and requested to feed the fellows, and then let them go. Some thought the Governor very weak of purpose; others, excessively benevolent; while a few doubted not that it was a stroke of policy to throw the injured tribes off their guard, for the purpose of beguiling them into the great net he was then preparing.
