rovision was made to define their interest in the soil of their
country. Their migratory habits were unfavorable to official
supervision, and the success of humane suggestions depended on the
doubtful concurrence of ignorant cotters and wandering shepherds.

In 1810, an order was issued by Governor Collins, forcibly describing
the wrongs of the natives, and the revenge to which they were prompted.
They had pursued an officer, residing at Herdsman's Cove, and failing to
capture him they fired his premises. Two persons, George Getley and
William Russell, had disappeared: it was supposed, the victims of
resentment, awakened by the "abominable cruelties and murders" (such is
the language of Collins) perpetrated by the white people. This Russell
was himself notorious for skill in their torture--the subject of his
boast. The government declared that persons who wantonly fired on the
natives, or murdered them "in cold blood," should suffer the last
penalties of the law.[3]

The official treatment of the aborigines was not always judicious, or
calculated to impress the whites with the notion of civil equality. A
native, whom it was deemed desirable to detain, was fettered by Colonel
Collins. Notwithstanding, he escaped, and was seen long after with the
iron on his leg; nor can the punishments inflicted for crimes committed
against the blacks, unusual as those punishments were, be given in proof
that both races were valued alike. It is not, however, true, that
cruelty was always unpunished. A man was severely flogged for exposing
the ears of a boy he had mutilated; and another for cutting off the
little finger of a native, and using it as a tobacco stopper.[4]

The natives continued to shun the settlement for many years, but their
confidence was easily renewed by gentle treatment; it was, however,
capricious, or more probably it was soon shaken by insult, unknown to
all but themselves. It was desired by Colonel Davey to establish a
friendly intercourse, and he instructed the men to invite the tribes
they might encounter. A servant of this governor, employed at South Arm,
suddenly came on a tribe of thirty-six persons. A native woman, living
with a white, willingly went forth to communicate the wishes of the
Governor. They consented to visit Hobart Town, to which they were
transferred by water. Davey endeavoured to win their confidence, and
they remained about town for weeks. Having received some offence from
worthless European