The celebrated chief, Eumarrah,
captured by Robertson, after two years detention, when his artless
manner and apparent reconciliation to his lot, threw his keepers off
their guard, contrived to abscond. Justice is, however, due to the
reputation of a savage. Eumarrah, afterwards complained, that when
employed on the LINE, he was beaten by a constable: Jemmy, who escaped
at the same time, had been chained to a bench all night, by a similar
functionary. The newspapers of the day complain, that in gaol food
sufficient for their appetites had not been always supplied them. The
women were declining in health, when allowed their liberty. This last,
was the great cause of their restlessness; they felt the oppression of
civilisation; they were weary of clothing; the skin was irritated. The
instinct which prompts a bird to seek some way of exit, also moves a
savage: it was not so much indifference to kindness, as the passion for
roaming--the habit of the race. Nor were they managed always with
prudence: they were left to the mischievous influence of low white men,
who delighted to terrify, even when they did not positively injure them.
It was not until thirty had escaped, nearly equal to the whole number
taken, that it was discovered, that to retain them, even their
prejudices required tenderness, and that they were deeply sensible of
contempt.

These retreats tended to extinguish the hopes cherished by the friends
of the natives, and rooted the conviction more firmly in the colonial
mind, that all efforts to tame them were unavailing. All the plans laid
down for their expulsion, had been tried, and had proved to be
impracticable. They still recurred to their usual haunts, and made up
for their diminished numbers by their improved method, cunning, and
audacity. Having committed depredations, they retired, with their
plunder, to the districts reserved for their occupation, and whither it
was unlawful to follow them, except for sworn offences. The Governor
determined to try a movement, _en masse_, and by the united force of the
entire population, to drive the Austral tribes within Tasman's
Peninsula--a territory, joined to the main land by a neck, about one
quarter of a mile in breadth. The success of this plan could never have
been considered very promising. The Governor expressed his doubt
respecting the result, while it was in progress; and there is no reason
to question that, in putting it to the test, he was moved by the earn