| Narrative | According to the Colonial Times on September 3, 1830, p 3: 'One day last week a servant of Captain Wood, of the Clyde, brought to Hobart Town an Aboriginal prisoner which he had captured. It appears from what we have heard, that a mob of of these misguided wretches rushed on the man in question, who took shelter in a stock-hut where fortunately for him there happened to be some fire-arms ready loaded, which he put immediately to requisition and in the course of a short time, as we are informed, killed several of the Natives, and took the one in question, prisoner. On arriving in Hobart Town, Captain Wood's man conveyed the black to the Police Office, of course expecting to be immediately paid the reward offered by Government for the apprehension of the Natives, but he was there desired to leave the man, and his case would be in due course be laid before His Excellency. The man was apparently not very well satisfied in his own mind about the time which might elapse before his reward would be forthcoming, and he therefore refused to deliver his prisoner without payment there and then. Ultimately a letter was written to His Excellency by the magistrate, and handed to the man, who attended at Government House accompanied by his prisoner. His Excellency ordered that one of the black Natives who are under the charge of Mr Robinson of the Newtown Road, to be sent for to act as interpreter, and by his assistance endeavoured to obtain some information from the prisoner, but we understand that all that could be got from him was that the white man had destroyed several of his companions, and that he had most reason to complain; that when the tribe attacked the hut it was in order to obtain food, and such articles and such articles as the whites had introduced amongst them, and which now instead of being luxuries as formerly, had become necessaries, which they could not any other way procure. ...the reward was given instantly.' |
