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THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 35 From the report of the Port Phillip District Committee of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, the following tables represent the numbers and localities of the white and aboriginal popula tion in and about the Port Phillip District in 1844:— White Population in the Bush. Within Circuits Beyond Circuits Moving population Mount Rouse. ... 1,046 270 250 The Lodden. 1,102 270 250 The Goulbum. 750 250 250 Dandenong. 290 167 250 Total. 3,188 957 1,000 Totals ... 1,566 1,622 1,250 707 Total British population entirely destitute of religious ordinances On purchased lands Ill villages and farms near town 1,000 2,000 5,145 3,000 Total British population 8,145 Aboriginal or Black Population. At stations Accessible beyond the limits of occupation... Mount Rouse. 400 800 The Lodden. 300 800 The Goulburn. 400 1,000 + Dandenong. 200 Total. 1,300 2,600 Totals ... 1,200 1,100 1,400 200 Total black population .... White population 3,900 8,145 12,045 These proposals were communicated to His Excellency Sir George Gipps, together with a letter from the Immigration Office with the views of the Land Commissioner on the project; hut the result of this truly liberal and Christian proposal seems to have met with no response. I may here venture to add my own testimony to that of the Rev. Mr. Threlkold and Mr. Robinson upon this subject, as given in evidence before a Committoe of the Legislative Council, in the year 1838 ; also Captain Grey’s opinion. I fear Mr. Robinson’s evidence is not obtainable ; but the wonderful achievement of that gentleman in accomplishing single-handed what the whole power of the Yan Diemen’s Land Government could not succeed in with a large military force, backed by the settlers, and at a heavy cost, is one of the noblest triumphs of moral over physical power probably ever accomplished. I have described this in the “ Reminiscences of Tasmania.” Examination before the Committee of the Legislative Council, 1838.—Extracts from the Minutes of Evidence on the Aborigines Question. Lieutenant Richard Sadleir, R.N., Liverpool, examined :— When I first arrived here, in 182G, I was employed on a tour of inquiry as to the state of the aborigines, by order of the Home Government, and under the immediate direction of Mr. Archdeacon Scott. I proceeded first into Argyle, and examined into the numbers of the tribes, and as to their inter course with the whites, and the cause of the disputes with them. From the Murrumbidgee, I struck off to Bathurst, pursuing the same inquiries, and from thence, I went 80 miles below Wellington Yalley, on the Macquarie River; afterwards to the head of Hunter’s River, which I traced down to Newcastle. I had with me only one man, two horses, and a cart. I sometimes ventured from 30 to 60 miles beyond the stations of the whites, and on one occasion reached a tribe consisting of about 100 persons, at the Cataract, on the Macquarie, who had never seen white people. I made them presents, and was received in a friendly manner, and remained with them for the night. I had intended to have proceeded further, but was apprehensive of danger in doing so, and there fore returned, accompanied for some distance by the tribe, who, however, would not go to the establish ment at Wellington Valley, but took alarm about 9 miles from thence, and left me. I think it would be dangerous for a single individual to go amongst the native tribes beyond the white settlements. It would be a perilous undertaking, but one which I have already ventured upon
