| Narrative | On July 6, 1841, Chief Protector GA Robinson was informed by Robert W Knowles, the manager of Dr Robert Martin's Mount Sturgeon Station at the Wannon River, of a 'clash' with the Aborigines. 'Knowles said that he lost some cattle a short time since and went after them. He came to a blacks' camp' and although they told him that the bullocks had gone on, 'he nevertheless rode into the camp and they threw spears at him and his stock keeper' (Robinson cited in Clark, 1998b, p 305). Knowles was convinced they had his bullock. Robinson wrote: 'This attacking the camp of the natives under the pretence of looking after stolen property is a system that ought not to be tolerated, it is provoking hostility and would not be allowed in civilised society' (Robinson cited in Clark, 1998b, p 305). The following day, Knowles told Robinson that 'sometime earlier, Superintendent La Trobe had intended to gaol him for 'killing natives' (Knowles cited in Clark 1998b, p 306). |
