proceeding to blows, were of daily occurrence. The Ben Lomond and Big River tribes were at open issue. The Western would side with either, according to caprice. The Cape Grim Mob, the most remote and barbarous of all, kept completely aloof from the rest. All was in chaos. The native women went about wholly naked, and the greatest disorder prevailed. To add to their trouble, fresh people kept landing, supplies were not flourishing, and the climate put all in bad temper.
A rebellion broke out. The old Sergeant adopted summary measures. He enlisted the services of the sealers, who mounted guard over the Natives. He seized fifteen of the most powerful, or quarrelsome, of the men, and put them upon a granite rock in the ocean, without food, water, or wood, although he had been directed to employ no restraint. Captain Bateman told me that, passing near in the Tamar, he descried the wretched people and rescued them in an almost dying state, they having been exposed to rough weather, without shelter or rations, for five days. Their tale was a simple one. They declared they had been carried off that the soldiers might have no interruption in their criminal commerce with the women.
Mr. Wight's story was that he had discovered a rebellious attempt to upset his government, and to murder the Whites. The Opossum cutter had landed a dozen Aborigines on January 22d. These, with forty others on shore, were to come to the huts of the Europeans by night and kill them. Some native women betrayed the plan to their military friends. A search in some huts was made, and fresh-made spears and waddies were found concealed. Black Tom, the interpreter to the authorities, had informed the Sergeant that the Opossum men were growling. The Blacks were to have seized the boats, and taken their way back to their beloved native country.
The acting Commandant had made up his case. He had got up a statement, certified by Robert Gamble, Joseph Mason, and John Strange, his mark, purporting to be the evidence given on the 30th of January, by no less distinguished a person than Piucommiuminer, more commonly known as Wild Mary. It was as follows:—
"That Broom-teer-lang-en-er was the first who proposed taking the boat away that was on Green Island, belonging to the sealers. She, also, stated that Cantityer, her husband, meant to have put a fire-stick in the thatch of the hut where the surgeon
