personal freedom consistent with a due regard to their health, and the formation of religious and civilized habits. They were instructed in the Christian religion. Their attendance was perfectly voluntary: all, however, attended, and their conduct would be a pattern to many congregations of civilized Europeans. In sacred melody they had displayed great proficiency.—He had established three schools on the settlement—a day-school for boys, a day-school for girls and women, an evening-school, and a Sunday-school. They had neat stone cottages, with gardens, in which they raised their own vegetables; with cooking utensils and other useful articles."
In 1861, reviewing the past, Mr. Robinson said: "I established at Flinders Island an Aboriginal Fund, which was raised from the proceeds of work performed, and the sale of various articles prepared by them; such as salted mutton-birds, birds' skins, &c.—which were generally sold at Launceston. I also formed an Aboriginal Police, to preserve order, and to decide all disagreements which might arise among them. I also established a circulating medium amongst them, which was attended with the happiest effects, as it gave them a knowledge of the rights of property; and lastly, and consequent upon the latter, I established a market, to which they brought their produce. Thus they acquired the habits of civilized life, and felt an interest in the acquisition of property, which rendered them industrious and cleanly."
Dr. Ross intimated, in his Courier of October 8th, 1836, that "Mr. Robinson has been the means of establishing a weekly newspaper among them. It is entirely written by the Aborigines, and is published under the name of the Aboriginal Flinders Island Chronicle, on half a sheet of foolscap, every Saturday, price twopence each, and the profits arising from the work are equally divided among the editors." Concerning this, the subsequent Superintendent, Dr. Jeanneret, writes: "I have no knowledge of the newspaper you refer to. None, in my time, were capable of such a work."
We cannot pause in this glorious career of civilization, and again introduce Mr. Robinson as the speaker:—
"At the periodical examination of the schools, some of the native youths were able to answer questions in the leading events of Scripture history. Christian doctrine and duty, arithmetic, the
