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warrior was lodged in the gaol. As several had been shot and Musquito had been surrendered, King determined, to the gratification of his sable capturers, to send him and others to Norfolk Island instead of hanging him. A general order expressed a "hope that the apprehension of the native called Musquito might effectually prevent further mischief." Atkins, the nominal legal adviser of the Governor, plied him with arguments for field-slaughter. He wrote (July 1805):

"The object of this letter is to impress the idea that the natives of this country, generally speaking, are at present incapable of being brought before a Criminal Court, either as criminals or as evidence, that it would be a mockery of judicial proceedings, and a solecism in law, and that the only mode at present, when they deserve it, is to pursue and inflict such punishment as they may merit."

In March 1806, King reported that the natives had continued "on the most amicable footing since their last misconduct." The transportation of "two of the principals to Norfolk Island" had a great effect, and occasioned "the present good understanding." The stranding of a coasting vessel at Twofold Bay in 1806 brought natives around her, and, "according to report," their hostile demeanour rendered it necessary to fire on them, when

"Some of the natives were killed. However much (King wrote 15th March 1806) the white man may be justified on the principle of self-defence, yet I have cause to think the natives have suffered some wrong from the worthless characters who are passing and repassing the different places on the coast; nor would they escape the punishment such conduct deserves if it could in any instance be proved."

In spite of this moral sentiment it cannot be held that King rose to the height of his duty. No man but Phillip had shown that he was just or sagacious enough to punish the excesses of the whites, which, in the pages of Collins and elsewhere, are proved to have been rampant in the land. The white people were amused sometimes by the fights of the natives. In 1803 one Musquito (whether the hero of resistance to the English or not is not stated) had to defend himself against the kindred of a native he had

"The singular influence which he obtained as the leader of the natives in Van Diemen's Land will appear hereafter. After assisting in warfare against the Tasmanians, and aiding in the capture of daring bushrangers, Musquito himself became an outlaw, and had the address to put himself at the head of the hostile natives.