n mob; and
who had already killed half that tribe, by creeping upon them and firing
among them." He thought that "the worst men were the best to engage" in
this work. Another proposed to employ the sealers--men who had waged a
war of extermination with great success. It is but just to observe, that
proposals like these, though received, were not favored by the Governor.
They are in the records of Office, connected with the names of their
authors, and they admit no other excuse than a reference to recent acts
of aboriginal violence, which had shaken the common principles of
British humanity.

The Governor had already announced the re-capture of the natives who
escaped from Mr. Batman's, while he was absent at the war. They
re-commenced depredations: he finally re-took them without bloodshed.
But the most pleasing intelligence, and that which chiefly inspired
hope, came from the south-east extremity of the island: Mr. Robinson
went round the coast; touched at Macquarie Harbour, visited Circular
Head, and Portland: there he took Lemina Beginna, a chief, and
twenty-two others, including thirteen conciliated at George's River.
These were brought round to Gun Carriage Island; a temporary abode,
ill-suited for their entertainment, and where several soon concluded
their troubled career.

Lemina complained that, many years ago, his wife had been taken away by
sealers, and entreated the Governor to procure her restoration; another
petitioned, that his sister and his mother might be recovered from the
same vile oppressors. The sister was known as Black Jock, and seems to
have been greatly in request: she was in alliance with the leader of one
of the parties--less modest than familiar. A sealer, from whom she had
eloped, when she came back to the coast demanded her, with some
vehemence, as his wife! So much beloved was this Tasmanian belle. The
arbitration of these disputes was no easy task: though sufficiently
ridiculous, they often seriously endangered the mission. The Governor
issued an order against the interference of the sealers, and declared
Mr. Robinson under the special protection of government.

In reference to these captures, the Governor publicly expressed his
great gratification, and requested the colonists to promote pacific
intercourse, by all available means. The discretion displayed by
Robinson, not less than his courage, excited much admiration, and hopes
were entertained that the true means of safety were at l