t are the reverse. All whites to them will be
the same, and will become objects of their hatred."

"I agree with you to a certain extent," replied Tom; "and I believe the
aborigines can not only be conciliated, but be made certainly useful, if
not industrious. I don't like the idea of driving the poor wretches
away from the country: at the same time you must admit our property must
not be despoiled without an effort on our part to protect it."

"Certainly," replied John; "but I believe the very violation of which
you speak is merely the result of the harsh treatment persevered in by
your brother. Their visits to you are only their retribution for
injuries received at his hands. You see they respect my property, simply
because I treat them with some degree of lenity; at the same time I give
them to understand that I would not permit any appropriation on their
part; and I have no doubt if your brother would adopt the same course he
would experience a similar result."

"Very likely," said Tom; "but he does not seem to think so, and I
imagine it would be hard to convince him. The hostility which he now
experiences from the blacks, I believe, as you say, is the result of his
austerity; but he imagines it arises from their own natural
predilection for stealing, while his severity is his only safeguard. I
am quite of opinion that the blackguards are naturally disposed to
pilfer; but at the same time I have no doubt our property could be
preserved by the exercise of a moral firmness, without any of that
unnecessary harshness and cruelty which my brother displays. But see,
here they are, paying you a visit apparently, and in open day too; see
now, if they don't upset your theory."

The appearance that caused this expression of Tom's was of a party of
blacks who were approaching the station in a slow though by no means
silent manner; for, in fact, the incessant din of their jabber heralded
them before they were actually visible. The party consisted of about
thirty men, who were armed with their usual weapons of spears,
boomerangs and waddies; and clad in nature's own habiliments. They were
headed by two fellows of commanding stature and appearance; though
little differing from the others, except that one wore a necklace of
small bones; and the other, suspended from his neck by a cord and
resting on his breast, a small brass-plate of a crescent shape, on which
his name was engraved. This individual, who was the chief of the tri