Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/155

 He was indebted to his own loyal bearing for the confidence he inspired amongst the natives.

In later times his conduct was not imitated. The slaughter of any black, whether suspected or not to have been implicated in some deed of violence against life or property indeed of every black found by the avenging band became a common practice under the assumed sanction of government; when bodies of native police were let loose by their hardened officers to slay any and every black who could be hunted down. To whom this sin is chiefly due it may be difficult to pronounce. But that it has been a sin crying aloud to the covering heavens, and the stars the silent witnesses, can be denied by none who know the course of Australian history.

It is true that when a black man was shot his countrymen did not distinguish between the slayer and others, and that they endeavoured to retaliate upon any white man. But it is equally true that this savage lex talionis, which smites the innocent instead of the guilty, was the practice of dissolute whites who were, in early days of settlement, the border pioneers. It is sad, but true also, that sons of English gentlemen have linked themselves with the atrocious practice, and have not been ashamed to glory in it, to the horror of their auditors. But not thus did Phillip act. In June, 1788, he offered a free pardon to any one giving information as to a native reported to have been killed by a convict; but he obtained none. In July there were further collisions, although even while the relations between the two races were becoming hostile, there was a family of natives in one of the coves of the harbour, which was continually visited by the convicts in the most friendly manner, although none of the family would venture into the settlement.

In August a party of natives landed from their canoes in a threatening manner, menacing a sailor who resisted their successful attempt to kill and carry off a goat. Phillip followed them, but could not identify the robbers among the natives he encountered. In this manner, without any common language for intercourse with the natives, unable