Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/620

 themselveB to "put men to death in coltl blood, and tbat the magistrates do not at all interfere/' He was con- vinced that Darling could not be aware of these things. He appealed to him to stop them, DarUnj^ did little. The crime had occnrred at the Hunter Eiver, and it was to a resident in that district that Brisbane had mtimated that if the blacks were shot there was no occasion to report the fact. The natives there w^ere numerous and warlike, however, and to the disgust of some residents seemed disinclined to be shot. Settlers sent to the Governor a petition praying for protection *'from the incursions of numerous tribes of black natives, armed aud tbreatening death to our servants",. . ** until the threats and murderous designs of the natives shall havtj subsided, the lives of our labourers and our property will be exposed to tiie revenge and depredation of these hifuriated and savage people." Darling replied (5th Sept.) that nothing was to be feared, and the settlers should show no apprehension. ** Vigorous measures among yourselves would more effectually estab- lish your ascendancy than the utmost power of the military. ., , I strongly recommend you to unite and take measures for yoiu! own defence, and you may be satisiied that in any exertion you may make, you shall receive every necessary support" He observed that some of the memorialists resided in Sydney, and recommended tbem to live on their properties. '* It would have the effect of preveuting irregu- larities on the part of your own people, which, I apprehend, is in many instances the cause of the disorders committed by the natives/' Thus stirred, the settlers obeyed. The natives retaliated. Eannister rei>orted (7th Sept. 1826) that *' extremely violent proceedioga wore going on, on both sides/' Darlhig ordered a detachment of the military to the district, to *' punish the natives agreeably to my instructions on this head, which, noder present circumstances, will, I have no doubt, prove the most eifeetual course." Bannister, ** placed in a situation of great difficulty," asked for a copy of the lustructions. He thought "that the indiscriminate slaughter of offenders, excei>t in the heat of imiaediate pursuit, or other similar cnciimstanceB,