Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/592

give food and clothing "limiting it as much as possible," . . . "and causing it to be understood as the reward of a peaceable disposition." He entreated that "no unnecessary harshness might be exercised in order to confine the coloured inhabitants within the boundaries which you have fixed." Military parties went to the frontier and the natives were forced back; but the whites still murdered, and the blacks still roamed over their forbidden soil, until (Nov. 1828) Arthur proclaimed martial law. He told the Secretary of State that there was no such cause for alarm as was professed by some, even in his own Council; for the "blacks, however large their number, have never yet ventured to attack a party consisting of even three armed men." He excepted certain districts, but the blacks understood neither the inclusion, nor exceptions, and the whites did not respect the latter. To make the matter clearer, boards were fixed to trees. Sketches of blacks and whites at peace were painted. The Governor shook hands with a chief. Below were painted the consequences of The Governor was shown superintending the hanging of a black for murder, and of a white man for the same offence. Such appeals were not understood, and if understood, would have been unheeded. "Capture parties" were fitted out. John Batman was one of the leaders. A native of New South Wales, he migrated to Van Diemen's Land in 1821. His services were used against bushrangers, of whom one of the most notorious, Brady, submitted without resistance when he found that his challenger was John Batman, then a settler near Ben Lomond, and already the recipient of favours from the Governor for capturing bush-rangers. On one occasion he sprung unarmed upon an armed robber who attacked him in the dusk. A struggle ensued, during which Batman's grasp was on his assailant's throat. When his foe resisted no more Batman rose, but his assailant was dead, choked by the strong man's gripe. When the government resorted to systematic measures to subdue or capture the natives whom atrocities had provoked, and who had no sanctuary to abide in, Batman's services were enlisted, and it is said that he, in the days of bloodshed, resorted to conciliation and kindness. He had ten convicts assigned to aid him, but his chief assistance was