The History of Tasmania, Volume II | Page 2

officers--errors on which the system-was founded--Lord Stanley's

defiance of the settlers--re-emigration--hiring depôts--representations
of Forster--Hampton--Boyd--Fry--crimes increase--laxity of
discipline--Mr. Bishton's views--North Australia--Mr. Latrobe--his
representations--ticket system.
SECTION XXV. p. 318.
Treatment of female prisoners--their transportation a great
evil--numbers--Sir G. Murray's scheme.
SECTION XXVI. p. 321.
Lord Stanley's directions for the disposal of women--Mrs.
Bowden--married female prisoners.
SECTION XXVII. p. 323.
Views of transportation often governed by interest--old
system--incompatible objects sought--frequent changes--every theory
contradicted by results--Arthur's opinion--progress from 1830--capital
expended--value of convict labor--sacrifices of the settlers--effects of
transportation--public works--numbers transported--character of
convicts--repetition of crimes--views of statesmen--moral effects of
transportation--cause of opposition to transportation.
CONCLUSION.
p. 339.
History of Tasmania a type of the Australasian world--early despotism
unavoidable--American and Australian colonists--the despotism
moderated by home associations--by the press--the union of the
colonists--advances of liberty at home--changes required--advantages
of the connection with Great Britain--its dangers--federal
government--importance of political influence--social state--wonderful
prospects--resources--position--exports --gold discovery--the happiness
of the people in their own power.

ALPHABETICAL ACCOUNT OF THE CHIEF PLACES IN
TASMANIA.
p. 355.

HISTORY OF TASMANIA.
THE ABORIGINES.

THE ABORIGINES.

SECTION I.
[1643.] At the era of discovery by Tasman, Van Diemen's Land was
inhabited. He heard, or thought he heard, the voices of people and the
sound of a trumpet: he noticed the recently cut notches, five feet
asunder, on the bark of the trees, and he saw the smoke of fires. He
inferred that they possessed some unusual method of climbing, or that
their stature was gigantic. In the sound, the colonist recognises the
vocal cooey of the aborigines, and learns from the steps "to the birds'
nests," that they then hunted the opossum, and employed that method
of ascent, which, for agility and daring has never been surpassed. Thus,
during more than 150 years, this country was forgotten; and such were
the limits of European knowledge, when the expedition of Cook was
dispatched by Great Britain to explore this hemisphere. No navigator
brought larger views, and a temper more benevolent, to the task of
discovery. To some nations he opened the path of civilisation and
religion: to this race he was the harbinger of death.
[1773.] Furneaux, Captain Cook's second in command, first visited this
country. He saw the fires of the natives, ten miles off. They had left
their huts, formed but for a day, in which were fragments of fish,
baskets, and spears. The British deposited gun-flints, barrels, and nails,
in payment for the relics they removed; and they left Adventure Bay,

concluding that a most miserable race of mortals inhabited a country
capable of producing all the necessaries of life, "and the finest climate
in the world."
One year before, Captain Marian, a Frenchman, according to the
authors of his country, visited this island. The intercourse was hostile
and left traces of blood; and to this may be attributed the absence of the
natives when Furneaux appeared on the coast.
[1777.] The descriptions of Cook are founded on his own observations,
and are, on the whole, favorable to the natives. The English, while
wooding and watering, were surprised by the visit of eight men and a
boy. They were unarmed, except that one of them carried a stick,
pointed at the end. They were of middling stature, slender, and naked.
On different parts of their bodies were ridges, both straight and curved,
raised in the skin: the hair of the head and beard was smeared with red
ointment. They were indifferent to presents; they rejected bread, and
the flesh of the sea elephant, but accepted some birds, which they
signified their intention to eat. Cook prevailed on a native to throw the
stick at a mark thirty yards distant, but he failed after repeated trial. The
Otaheitian, Omai,[1] to exhibit his skill, fired off a musket: at the report
they fled, and so great was their fear, that they dropped the axe and
knives they had received.
A dead calm retarded the departure of the vessels next day, and the
parties sent ashore, were accompanied by Cook. About twenty natives
soon joined them: one, who was conspicuously deformed, amused them
by the drollery of his gestures, and the seeming humour of his speeches.
Some, wore three or four folds round the neck, made of fur; and round
the ancles a slip of the skin of kangaroo. Captain Cook returned to the
vessel, leaving Lieutenant King in charge: soon after, the women and
children arrived: they were introduced by the men to the English. The
children were thought pretty; of the beauty of the women the account
was not equally favorable. They rejected with disdain the presents and
freedoms of the officers, and were ordered by an elderly man to
retire--a command, to which they submitted with reluctance.
Dr. Anderson, the surgeon of the Resolution, describes the natives as a

mild, cheerful race, with