Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847), Saturday 20 July 1833, page 114


THE NATIVES.

During the past week the Natives

have been in considerable numbers in

the neighbourhood of the Bush Inn, on the Fremantle road. Information having been received at head quarters, Captain Ellis and a party were immediately dis-patched in that direction ; they however only found two old women, and a few children. We suspect they are now strongly disposed to be reconciled to us,

we must however be cautious how we

admit them into our confidence. Migo, we understand, came into Perth yester-day ; again we caution the public not to encourage any of them, as an indis-criminate supply of provisions, will ren- der them independent of the advances from the proper authorities, and regard-

less of that influence which it will be

necessary for them to maintain, in order to arrive at a permanent and amicable understanding with the Aborigines.

We look with some degree of curiosity for the result of the death of Yagan, the native chief, to ascertain whether he has left his sovereign influence, to an equally daring successor ; we are inclined to believe it will be the case ; but if not, a favourable time has arrived for adopt-ing some decisive and amicable system of proceeding. Unlike some of our neigh-bours, we are disposed to place a certain degree of reliance upon the word of a native, we should therefore be glad to hear Weeip's relation of the affray, which took place last week and terminated in the death of two natives and the youth Keats. We strongly suspect he will argue with us—that the origin, was a wild and treacherous act ; and not the heroic and courageous deed, which some unthinkingly have designated it. The unfortunate youth has suffered for his temerity, and has entailed upon us, a stigma, which it will be the work of time to eradicate. The penalty of death, we have been led to understand, is at-tached to crime—for the effect of exam-

ple, as well as punishment.—What a fearful lesson of instruction have we given to the savage !—We have taught him by this act, to exercise towards us, deceit and treachery, which, in him, we have daily reproved ; and led him to draw no very favourable conclusions of our moral and physical superiority. Yagan met his fate justly—but let it henceforth be our duty in inflicting punishment to con-vey such an idea of our power and in-fluence, as will strike terror into those who witness it, and from the conviction of the impossibility of avoiding retribu-tive justice, deter them from acts of fur-ther aggression. We do not remember to have heard of one instance, in which the aborigines of this country have abused our confidence, when we have encoun-tered them in the bush ; we must there-fore again deplore, an act, which it

appears to us will annihilate the surest road to perfect amity—mutual confidence. We must remember Yagan was killed,

after spending the morning in company with the youth, who shot him , and when upon the point of taking his frugal re-past, a portion of which he would not have

withheld from the hand that slew him ; we are not vindicating the outlaw, but we maintain it is revolting to our feelings to hear this lauded as a meritorious deed. It was a rash, and unadvised adventure of youth, which we should regret to see held up, by children of larger growth, as

a laudible example of courage to our rising generation.

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY.—The Annual meeting was held on Wednesday, Feb. 1. It was stated that, from the despatches last re-ceived by the commissioner, Sir E. Parry, it now appeared that the soil of New South Wales was not generally favourable for the purpose of sheep grazing, and the flocks of the company's sheep had not been increased to the extent expected. The last lambing season had only produced 4,625 head. The company's previous stock of 21,365 made the total number of sheep on the company's land, after deducting the sheep slaughtered, 21,724, on the 31st of April last. The total stock of beasts on the company's land was 1,951, including Dur-ham, Scotch, and colonial cattle, &c. The colony was well stocked with horses excepting the finest kinds. Sir E Parry's attention was directed to increase the number of horses of the best breed. The horses on the company's land on the 31st of April last amounted to 277. The produce of the wool received from the colony last year was 3,229l. net, there having been imported 44,000 lbs. The colliery on the company's land was expected to become very valuable. The consumption of coal in the colony was rapidly increasing. Two steam-boats had started, and two others building. The coal on the company's land was very good. A specimen was then before the meeting (the fire in the Court-room was burning coals from the com-pany's colliery.) It was as good as the best Newcastle coals. The company had 462 men, and 147 women and children on their land ; two schools had been established, and the moral and religious habits of the people were attended to. From the balance sheet it appeared that the total receipts of the company's, including 10,480l, the produce of the wool accruing from the flocks, had been 249,264l, and the whole expenditure about 245,000l. Much depression was evident at the infructive state of the company's concerns; but the report was received, and the usual business dis-patched.—(We do not thank the company, nor its representatives in this colony, for thus promul-gating that the soil of New South Wales (and of course that of Van Diemen's land) is unfavourable to sheep grazing. Fine gentlemen, truly, to dis-cover for the first time, after both colonies have been prospering for a series of years on the im-provement of sheep and wool, so unwelcome a truth. It does not, however, follow, we trust people of sense will see, bacause the overgrown monopolies at Port Stephen and Cape Grim are improper and unsuccessful things, that the legiti-mate settlers and thriving flocks of the territory are also to fall into the same unfortunate predica-ment, unless indeed the moderate quit rent of which they, are with such partiality relieved, is imposed upon us. If these people find the soil, or their grants so unfavourable to their sheep, let them go back to England with them, and Government will readily find plenty of quite as industrious, and deserving settlers to take the land on the same terms. ) Hobart Town Courier.