Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/543
months of authorized atrocity martial law was revoked by proclamation, and the shepherds who had fled in terror to Bathurst returned to their avocations.
At Liverpool Plains, whither some settlers had proceeded, an affray took place, provoked by some of the whites, but resulting in a general attack by the natives, in which many of them were shot. Fearful that by some other channel the government might learn the nature of the encounter, one of the principals reported his version of it; and to the discredit of Brisbane a letter was written regretting that the affray had taken place, and adding that there was no occasion to inform the government of such an occurrence when unfortunately it took place.
However good might be the intention of a proprietor he could not control the men whom he sent with his flocks and herds. Many of his servants were criminals of the worst class. Their lust, their fear, their hatred, and revenge, made them indiscriminate m offending the natives, who, with their wooden weapons, avenged themselves when they found opportunity,
A letter from Bathhust, published in the Australian newspaper in Sydney (Oct. 1826), proves that the government received warning of the nature of the strife in which they took part.
"The natives lament very much the death of their women and children that were killed by our people. . . . I here take the liberty of giving my opinion of the cause of the disturbances that took place, unfortunately, between us and the aborigines, and I do attribute the loss on both sides to the impudent and cruel conduct of some of our people. . . . settlers should never be allowed to arm their servants and go after them. It is only defensive measures that can be justified against them."
One of Brisbane's measures had a more lasting result than was contemplated at the time. The corps of mounted
Suttor, of New South Wales, has kindly furnished the author with a copy of a letter published by his grandfather in 1829, which establishes the facts that Saturday wan not captured—that his name was Windradine in his tribe—that he surrendered after Governor Brisbane had offered the reward for his capture—that he "was introduced to Brisbane at Parramatta," where he excited a great deal of curiosity—that the kindness shown to him, when he lived "in the Domain" there, disarmed him of all hostility to the whites, and that, at a comparatively early age, he died of a wound in the knee, received in tribal warfare, in March 1829; and "wrapped in his mantle," after the manner of his forefathers, with his weapons of war beside him, he who was "once the terror" of the country was laid to rest.