better treated than most of her class; but the low tones in which she spoke, and the furtive glances she threw at the sealers, sufficiently indicated the terror under which she lived. A Black fellow from the ship began conversing with her, and urged her to fly from the Whites, and go to Flinders. Jackey, as she was called, was excited, but declined leaving the whale-boat. Lieutenant Darling was on board, and, guessing the reason of her refusal, gave her to understand that he had power from the Governor to take her from the sealers. As soon as she understood this, she bounded upon deck with a burst of joy. Another woman strongly censured her conduct, and went ashore with the sealers. But in the night she ran off, and came to the cutter with her little child.
Mr. Darling was acting in obedience to Government directions. Upon the advice tendered his Excellency, that the women be taken from the bad sealers, a note was forwarded that "this measure be carried into effect, with all the discretion Mr. Darling can apply to it, and he will, as far as possible, ascertain the treatment which the native women receive from the sealers."
Mr. Robinson's campaign in the Straits was carried on with all the resolution of his nature, and with little refinement of manner, or hesitancy of action. He was the bête noir of the sealers. Armed with required powers, and sufficiently attended, he cruised among the islands, compelling men to give up the women, and not very careful about the consequences of the abrupt order, either of the husband or the family.
He gave a sad recital of his first capture, the women of which he carried to Gun Carriage Island, and who told their tales of the past to him. One spoke of having been stolen by the veteran Munro, another of being bought for some skins, while a third detailed her sufferings from the lash. Jock, or Ploic-ner-noop-per-ner, spoke of the way the sealers tied her up and beat her. Smoker was given up to the sealers by her husband, and that after she had given birth to several of his children. She had run away, was chased, taken, and severely flogged. It was with much difficulty Mr. Robinson succeeded in procuring some of them, as the sealers, aware of his errand, concealed them. Among those thus taken were Kit, Sail, Judy, Mother Brown, Little Mary, Little Buck, &c.
Although his instructions were to employ force where the
