Efforts of conciliation, were made through the medium of three women,
captured by the police; and who, after being treated with kindness, were
permitted to return to their tribe, and to invite their submission. One
of these was seen in the journey, and slain, in error! After the absence
of a few weeks, the survivors prevailed on the chief, and nine other men
of the tribe, to accompany them to the residence of Mr. Batman: this
gentleman, and his family, assiduously cultivated their good will, being
one of the few who entertained a strong confidence in the power of
kindness; notwithstanding, after remaining nine days, they eloped, it is
said laden with plunder--displaying, in their progress, unmitigated
hostility. Two natives, who delivered themselves up to a shepherd, and
were lodged in the penitentiary at Launceston, after being supplied with
abundance of food and clothing, within a month effected their escape,
and were traced by their outrages. The celebrated chief, Eumarrah,
captured by Robertson, after two years detention, when his artless
manner and apparent reconciliation to his lot, threw his keepers off
their guard, contrived to abscond. Justice is, however, due to the
reputation of a savage. Eumarrah, afterwards complained, that when
employed on the LINE, he was beaten by a constable: Jemmy, who escaped
at the same time, had been chained to a bench all night, by a similar
functionary. The newspapers of the day complain, that in gaol food
sufficient for their appetites had not been always supplied them. The
women were declining in health, when allowed their liberty. This last,
was the great cause of their restlessness; they felt the oppression of
civilisation; they were weary of clothing; the skin was irritated. The
instinct which prompts a bird to seek some way of exit, also moves a
savage: it was not so much indifference to kindness, as the passion for
roaming--the habit of the race. Nor were they managed always with
prudence: they were left to the mischievous influence of low white men,
who delighted to terrify, even when they did not positively injure them.
It was not until thirty had escaped, nearly equal to the whole number
taken, that it was discovered, that to retain them, even their
prejudices required tenderness, and that they were deeply sensible of
contempt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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