Page:Some account of the wars, extirpation, habits.djvu/88

80 particulars of some occurrences that took place, it may be an hour before the deplorable transactions which form the subject of this paper were completed.

On the day of his death Captain Thomas accompanied by Mr. Parker, rode down to the usual lauding place to superintend the discharge of a large boat loaded with provisions and stores for Northdown that had just before this arrived from Launceston. Two bullock carts followed them to commence the conveyance of the freight to the homestead. The boat was a very large one, and the weight of goods on board amounted to several tons. Near to the boat a large tent was pitched, for the convenience of the boatmen when on shore.

A goodly detachment of the Big river tribe were at this time sojourning at Port Sorell, some of whom were sauntering about the shore, but the greater number stood about the tent of the boatmen, who being well armed caused the natives to be civil enough; for they were a set of cunning fellows, and never attacked at a disadvantage. But each side was on the watch, the one to rush the boat, and the other to entrap the blacks, for the sake of the reward that was offered for all who were brought in alive, which I think was five pounds a head, with a good chance of some Governmental indulgence being added thereto, if the service rendered were considerable. With this view the men gave them liberally of whatever they seemed to covet most, such as tea, sugar, tobacco, and bread, which latter, says one of the witnesses at the inquest, they asked for by the name of "breadlie;" but they were too wide awake for their would be captors, for though two of them entered the tent (most likely only to see whether it were worth plundering) not one of them would trust himself within the boat.

When Thomas and Parker come down to the port, the blacks, though bent on mischief, appeared to be perfectly quiet and friendly with their new acquaintances, which the former who was as guileless and confiding as a child, quite mistook the meaning of. He was one of those kindhearted fellows who never suspect others of being worse than themselves, or of entertaining designs that have no place in their own thoughts. He had long held the belief, that this people were poor inoffensive creatures if left alone, and that the manifold acts of violence done by them were defensive only, and not the result of premeditation, as was constantly charged against them, of which opinions their present seemingly pacific demeanour was an abundant confirmation, as he thought; and he at once took the fatal resolution of visiting their camp alone, with the view of aiding the Government in its so-called merciful endeavours, to establish a good understanding