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CHAPTER Y. Aborigines of Victoria—Mr. Westgartb’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 elemen tary 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 dis advantageous circumstances, being too near the white population, who would counteract all religious instruction and vitiate all these unhappy people. That Sir Richard Bourke felt a great interest in these people is certain. He made a trial of what may be hoped on their behalf, by confining some adult aborigines, who had committed some serious offences, on an island in the Sydney Harbour, placing them under the care of Mr. Langhan, who by this means acquired their language and became acquainted with their habits, and was thus trained to the office of Superintendent of the Port Phillip Institution. But my prognostic became, unfortunately, too true. Had the Institution been more judiciously placed it might have had better results, but it had to be abandoned —the fate of almost all attempts hitherto made on behalf of this unfortunate race. The rapid increase of white population alone must in a very few years have crushed such an infant Institution, when it increased in 1836 from Batman with a following of 244 persons to, in 1873,700,472 per sons. ABoard for the Protection of the Aborigines having been appointed, the following is the report to Par liament :—“ The Aborigines of Victoria.—The Board for the Protection of Aborigines in Victoria has sub mitted a report to Parliament, of which the following are extracts:—■* It is a matter for congratulation that the condition of the aborigines in all parts of the Colony is as satisfactory as could be expected, having regard to the habits of this people, and the great difficulty experienced by the local guardians and superintendents of stations in keeping them under control when they are induced by old associations or superstitions, or tempted by the lower class of whites, to wander from the spots where in health they are supplied with good food and suitable clothing, and in sickness tended with the same care as is bestowed on Europeans. Por many years the Board has conducted experiments at the several stations, with the object of producing crops that would necessitate neither heavy nor sustained labours—labours that the aborigines as a rule are not fitted to undertake—and which would yield a return sufficient at least to pay for the support of the natives. At Coranderrk a great many different crops have been grown. At one time it was expected that tobacco would yield largely ; grain has been grown, fruits of various sorts have been cultivated, and at some expense an attempt was made to establish a dairy. All these, however, failed to give such results as were satisfactory to the Board. It was not until the assistance of Mr. Bred crick Search was obtained that any fair prospects presented themselves. He examined the lands at Coranderrk, and recommended that a hop plantation should be established under the care of a competent hop-grower. Owing to his skill and knowledge, and with the assistance of Mr. Burgess—who has proved himself thoroughly competent to manage hop grounds and prepare the produce for market—success has at last