For the enforcement of law and protection of both races, Capt. Grey recommends the establishment of a mounted police; also, that native evidence, under peculiar restrictions, should be admissible in our Courts of justice. Capt. Grey states some instances of injustice under which natives have laboured in consequence of their evidence not being admissible; also, of their being puzzled as to our forms of law—that when they pleaded guilty they were punished, and when some were induced from the consequences they saw resulting from this line of conduct to plead not guilty were punished likewise, they became perfectly confounded; further, the natives not being tried by their own people, but by those likely to be prejudiced against them, and relying chiefly upon an ignorant interpreter, he recommends counsel to be provided for them.
The preventives to their civilization Captain Grey sums up as follows:—The irregular demand for their labour, the inadequate payment they often receive for it, not being able to comprehend the variable value of labour regulated by the skill required.
He then proceeds to point out the difficulty of instructing the aboriginal population, showing that it can scarce be expected that individuals would undertake the task; and even if they did, the natives would only be employed in the most menial offices, and that in forming native institutions, and these could be only local and partial; he therefore proposes a scale of remuneration to all who may undertake to instruct these people, arguing that as the expense of introducing labour is already provided for, this plan would occasion but little additional expense in obtaining labour, while a fresh good would arise out of it in converting those who would be otherwise hostile and useless into good subjects.
The disposal of these remunerations to be subject to the following restrictions:—
A deposition before a Magistrate, a certificate from the Government of the District, and a further certificate from the Protector of the Aborigines, as to the residence and attainments of the natives employed, and on whose behalf remuneration has been applied for; thus civilization would proceed (Capt. Grey observes) upon an extensive scale, not being confined to mere institutions or isolated attempts. In densely peopled districts the natives may be collected together, but in the more thinly inhabited districts, as this may be attended with danger, the employment should be of a description not to congregate. Capt. Grey concludes by observing that some of these plans have been already brought into operation in Western Australia; and further, that in the selection of work for these people it must be of a description suitable to their unsettled habits, possessing variety, such as opening out new roads and clearing old ones, some of the party being engaged hunting and fishing so as to provide food for the others; and as remuneration to the natives for these labours, &c., he proposes that any native being constantly employed for three years at the house of a settler should receive a grant of land in the district of which he may be a resident, also a sum of money to be laid out in the stocking of the same; that rewards should be given to those natives who may be content to live with one wife, and who would register the birth of their children; and that some competent person should be employed to instruct some of the native youths so as to fit them for interpreters in Courts of law.
Many of these observations of Capt. Grey are deserving of attention, and, as Lord John Russell in a despatch to Sir George Gipps suggests, appear fit for adoption, subject to such modifications as the varying circumstances of the Colony may suggest; but they have never been acted upon: expense overrules every other consideration.
CHAPTER V.
Aborigines of Victoria—Mr. Westgarth’s remarks—Mr. Lloyd’s remarks—Buckley’s residence among the Aboriginals.
Dr. Leichhardt visited the Moravian Mission in 1843, and said no better persons could be found than the seven families and twenty-one children to establish a colony; a little land surely might be granted them. The Rev. Dr. Lang describes these missionaries as travelling about, and preaching to the settlers; but this mission broke up also. Dr. Leichhardt describes the northern natives as a fine race of men, and the mode of preparing their food as remarkable, especially one poisonous plant.
Sir Richard Bourke had established in Melbourne an Aboriginal Institution, of which the Bishop says, “Some of the boys appear to be acquiring some knowledge already, and of the most elementary truths of religion, which it may be hoped will lead to their future improvement; but there are no apparent signs as yet of any impression having been made upon the adult natives, many of whom are attached to the place, and derive advantage from the stores of provisions which are distributed amongst them; but they have in no respect broken off their savage usages.” The time was too short to have expected any such changes. Missions amongst barbarians have generally been slow in effecting results, but this institution, as I told Sir Richard Bourke, in an interview with him, was placed under most disadvantageous circumstances, being too near the white population, who would counteract all religious instruction and vitiate all these unhappy people.