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

 give food and cdotliing 'limiting it as much as possible," ., 'Vand causing it to be understood as the reward J of a peaceable disposition." He entreated that '* nal unnecessary' harshness might be exertUHed in order to< confine the coloured inhabitants within the boundaries which you have fixed/* Military parties went to the frontier and the natives Avere 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 under- j stootl neither the inclusion, nor exceptions, and the whiteaj did not respect the latter. To make the matter I 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, war. The Governor was sliown superintending the haiigingj of a black for murder, and of a white man for the same offence. Such appeals w^ere not understood, and if under- stood, would have been unheeded. '* Capture parties" wereJ fitted out. John Batman was one of the leaders. A native i of New South Wales, he migi-ated to Van Dieraen's Land in 1821. His services were used against bushrangers, of whoiaj one of the most notorious, Brady, submitted without re- sistance when he found that his challenger was John Bat- man^ then a settler near Ben Lomond, and already the re-1 cipient 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 winch 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 captm^e the natives whom atrocities had provoked,! and who had no sanctuary to abide m. Batman's serviceaj w^ere enlisted, and it is said that he, in the days of blood-l shech resorted to conciliation and kindness. He bad ten convicts assigned to aiiim, Wt his chief assistance was