Page:The Present State and Prospects of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales.djvu/188

 one part, leaving out some other part which was intended to act as a counterpoise and check. If it he determined that the native should, in this respect, be put on the same footing with other subjects, let him be forced to give to society the same security for his good behaviour by a fixed residence, or, if this be impossible, let the law itself be modified, so as to prevent its being a screen to protect robbery and murder.

During the first few years after the settlement of this district, the settlers acted on the broad principle of the law of nature, intelligible alike to savage and to sage. When they saw men marshalled under their leaders, with deadly weapons in their hands, driving off a spoil, after perhaps having killed some of their comrades, they treated the marauders as enemies, and used their weapons, sometimes with deadly effect; these collisions, however, rarely occurred; intimidated by the bold bearing and superior weapons of the settlers, the natives gave them but little molestation, and in all parts of the country, settled at that time, live with them to this day on the most friendly terms, coming to, and leaving their stations at their pleasure, frequently bringing skins and furs, and receiving flour and sugar in exchange, occasionally employed for a few days together, and on all occasions treated with the greatest indulgence. But