Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/33

 INTRODUCTION. xxiii taken away, and little green branches had been placed in his hands. All attempts to capture the natives failed, though nearly all the cattle were recovered, and the party returned to Adelaide. From reports that reached Adelaide with regard to the attitude of the tribes which had done so much mischief, and which rendered it dangerous in the extreme for persons travelling with stock, another expedition was sent out under Sub-Inspector Shaw, with twentynine men, to meet some persons who were coming overland, and to protect them from the natives. They were met in the country of the hostile natives. They had been attacked, but had defeated their assailants with a loss of about fifteen. A few days afterwards the new expedition was attacked by the troublesome tribes. They had refused all overtures of friendship, and were determined, confident, no doubt, in their numbers, to possess themselves of all the white men’s effects. The engagement lasted about a quarter of an hour, and about thirty of the natives were killed, and some ten wounded. When the expedition returned to Adelaide an investigation was held, and the expeditionary party exonerated from all blame; and, according to the recommendation of the bench of magistrates, before whom the inquiry was conducted, Mr. Eyre was appointed Protector of Aborigines at Moorundi, and police magistrate for the protection of persons travelling with stock..* These affrays have been mentioned in some detail because they were the most important and most disastrous to the native tribes which have occurred in this colony. They will serve to show that active hostilities against the denizens of the soil have had but a small share in the circumstances which have helped to bring about the disappearance of the Aborigines. After the chastisement above mentioned had been inflicted upon them, the overland journey through the bush to the other colonies became safe, and no further outrages are recorded. The dying out of the tribes must, therefore, be ascribed to circumstances other than those which have been enumerated. That some of them in course of time would have brought the races to an end, is highly pro-
 * "Recollections of Colonial Life, " by J. W. Bull. Adelaide, 1878, passim.