CHAPTER V.
THE LINE.
The Line, the most formidable part of the Black War, was formed towards the close of 1830. It was not like the celebrated Thin Red Line of the Crimea, seen and seeing all the way, but a cordon of more unequal character, to drive the Aborigines into a corner of Tasmania.
History is not without parallels of a Line operation. A levy en masse for a similar purpose took place in Governor Macquarie's time. The Natives of New South Wales had been very troublesome; and, in 1816, General Macquarie summoned the colonists, with all available military and constabulary, and drove the Blacks before him beyond the Blue Mountains, with great slaughter. This may have suggested to the authorities of Van Diemen's Land the scheme eventually adopted there.
As has been stated, a remarkably hopeful Government paper appeared in August 1830, which urged the colonists not to hurt the well-disposed Natives, but rather give them a dinner, with smiles, and let them depart with a blessing. A reconsideration of the subject, after loud complaints of his people, induced Colonel Arthur to qualify his statement, and quiet the surges of public opinion. This produced Government Order 166, Aug. 27th, 1830:—
"The Lieut.-Governor has learned that the intention of the Government in issuing the notices Nos. 160 and 161, which appeared in the Gazette of last week, has been misinterpreted by some of the inhabitants of the districts in which the Natives have shown the most decided hostility.
"A friendly disposition having been slightly manifested by a tribe which had been hostile, His Excellency anxiously availed himself of the occasion to repeat the injunctions which have been uniformly expressed in the Orders and Instructions of the
