Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/220

 Journal, as well as my information, establishes the fact that Batman was only ashore one night at the tract of land he says he met with the blacks upon, and then and there signed the so-called "deeds" and that they are both dated the 6th June, 1835. The words of the deeds convey a complete refutation of their validity. Batman only one night ashore! Yet the deeds say, after describing the tract as being "at the top of the port" (pray which is the bottom?)—the lines run thus:—"About seven miles from the mouth of the river, forty miles north-east, and from thence west forty miles across Tramoo (query—is this not "Iramoo"?) downs or plains, and from thence south-south-west across Mount Vilamarnator to Geelong harbour, at the head of the same." Now here are, first, seven, next forty, again forty; the last line is not stated, but, take it at twenty miles, here were, according to my reckoning, 107 miles to travel over; and thirty more from Geelong to where the vessel lay at Gellibrand's Point, in all 137 miles. Then it is stated that before the deeds were executed, they, the blacks (in presence of the whites, no doubt) "delineated and marked out by us, according to the custom of our tribes, by certain marks made upon the trees growing along the boundaries of the said tract of land." I reserve the Geelong plot of land for further comment. I deny that Batman and party went round the land at all. He was unable, from the disease under which he then laboured, and which finally carried him off. What are the people to do to give "justice to Batman" for attempting? Under the plea of buying the lands from the blacks, he, Batman, meant to shut out all persons (page 48, Batman's Journal), in these words;—"And I gave Gunu written authority to put off any person that may trespass on the land I have purchased from the natives." If Fawkner and others would have allowed Batman to rule, the colony would not have been settled—only squatter-seized. Fawkner invited all British subjects, and assisted many to settle. Batman only wanted land for himself, and Governor Arthur, and for the medley fourteen. In conclusion, what did Batman towards colonizing Port Philip? He came over here in May, 1835, at the cost of a copartnery, to find runs for Colonel