Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/31

 INTRODUCTION. xxi the women. On receipt of Lieutenant Pullen’s report, the Governor, Colonel Gawler, organised a strong party under Major O’Halloran, Commissioner of Police, to proceed to punish the offenders. Their country was in that part of the south coast known as Lacepede Bay. The tribe was but little known, but was described as being remarkable for ferocity. The party crossed the mouth of the Murray on the 21st August, 1840, and on the following day captured thirteen men, two lads, and about fifty women and children. The men were detained, but the others were at once set free. All of them had something of the shipwrecked party’s property, and some of the clothes recovered from them were saturated with blood. After some trouble, two more-blacks were taken, and on the following morning were tried by court martial for the murders, of which seventeen had been committed. Two of the blacks, Mongarawata and Pilgarie, were found guilty, and sentenced to death. They were hanged on the following day, in the presence of a large number of the tribe, who were considerably impressed with the proceedings. This politic act of summary vengeance was done under the authority of Colonel Gawler, then Governor, and it had an excellent effect upon the tribe. Yet the Governor was much blamed in England for his share in the transaction. As a matter of fact it was illegal, but it was far more merciful to the blacks themselves, and produced a far more lasting impression upon them, than if they had been brought to Adelaide and tried in due form of law. Savages cannot be made to understand the value of civilised legal procedure. What is wanted with regard to them is a means of bringing them speedily and summarily to justice; and when they seriously offend, whatever punishment may be awarded to them should be so inflicted as to come directly under the notice of the other blacks; for severity is not so much a requirement as certainty and example. Some years ago a law was passed which required that blacks convicted of murdering whites should be executed in the presence of their tribes, as near as possible to the scene of the crime. The operation of this law has been effectual, and now many years have elapsed since any murder of white