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Charles Grimes writing to Governor King, Historical Records of New South Wales, Vol. V. - King. 1803, 1804, 1805., ed. F.M. Bladen, N.S.W. Government, 1895, from King Island on the 18th of January, 1803, gives a good description of his impression of King Island:
pp. 6-8.
“Sir,
“Having stopped one day at the Kent’s Group, we arrived at Elephant Bay on the evening of the 8th December, where we found the French ships. The Naturaliste was getting under way for Europe. Mr. Robbins [Lieutenant Charles Robbins in the Cumberland] and myself went on board, and saw Mr. Thompson, from whom a letter to your Excellency is forwarded by this conveyance.
“We were very fortunate in Elephant Bay, losing one and breaking a second anchor, and having our cable cut - the French ship likewise lost one anchor - before we left the bay. The Commodore behaved with much civility, and gave Mr. Robbins every assistance he required. It was impossible from the badness of the weather, to get any water on board until the 14th when Mr. Robbins proposed my walking round to New Year’s Island with Mr. McCallum and Fleming. Owing to the heavy rain we did not arrive abreast of the island until the 19th, having measured the coast. On our arrival there we fortunately found the George [Owned by John Palmer]. Our provisions being all expended, Mr. Stuart very kindly supplied us with everything they wanted.
“The few excursions we made inland coming round gave me a very unfavourable idea of the island. It is entirely a bed of white sand covered with low brush, and badly watered on the E. side. From the hills, as far as I could see, the country appeared the same, and where the trees rose above the underwood they were in general dead.
“The Cumberland having been driven to Kent’s Group by bad weather, did not arrive till the 24th. Having spent our Christmas on board, the whole party landed on the 26th, and prepared for examining the island. After travelling one day we found that it would probably take me longer time measuring the coast, and afterwards go into the interior, than it was possible to carry sufficient provision for. Mr. Robbins proposed dividing the party - for Fleming and Hacking to go inland with him, and the doctor to go along the coast with me. On the 31st we separated. I have not been able to get all the way to Seal’s Bay, finding the rocks impassable, even without measuring.
“Every part of the island that I have seen is composed of sand-hills and swamps - not a blade of grass to be seen, except round the edges of the swamps, and that very thin and bad. Most of the trees are dead on the tops of the hills; but where the sides of the hills are sheltered from the sea wind, and round the lagoons, there are some few very large gum-trees, and great plenty of small but very lofty gum and tea trees. As far as I have seen, there is no ground fit for cultivation. Mr. Robbins found a few small patches of good, light, vegetable mould, and deep, with remarkable large and tall gum-trees, and thick brush-wood growing on it, but of so small an extent as to be scarce worth notice. The whole island is covered with underwood, except some small spots, where the badgers [Bass Strait Wombat] resort, of clear level ground; but from the dead wood round the edges I apprehend they are overflowed at times. They are covered with a kind of short heath. The hills being composed of such very light sand would, if cleared, soon be blown into the vallies. I have not seen a spring on the island. There are abundance of small drains oozing through the sands all along the west side of the island, but very small, which are evidently supplies from the lagoons.
“There is not any safe place for a vessel to lay round the island. Rocks extend out from one to three miles on the west coast, from the heavy breaking of the sea all along it, and the harbour between New Year’s Islands is full of small rocks.
“We have been detained here for some days that Mr. Robbins might get some lunar observations.
“I am, &c.,
“C. GRIMES.”
Extract from a Mr. Thompsons King Island letter, which describes the activities of sealers:
p. 8.
“8th Dec’r. - The Cauarina came in last night, and sailed this morning to survey Hunter’s Isles [See Chart], and at the same time Mr. Rosnard [Ronsard] and Mr. Frou (Geographiste), in the Geographe’s pinnace, set off to survey and circumnavigate the island. The Commodore proposes to stop here until the return of the Casuarina, which is supposed will be about fifteen days. We have seen nothing of the Fanny since our separation on the 6th ins’t, and I suspect she has taken advantage of the easterly wind, and if we don’t make a little more haste, may rob us of the honour of being the first vessel to Europe or America through these straits to the westw’d. She sails equally bad as the Casuarina.
“9th Dec’r. - I was yesterday the whole day on shore. I found in the bay an officer and seven men belonging to the Margaret, which left this on the 8th of July for Otaheite. They have killed about fifty elephants [Southern Elephant Seals] in less than a month after the vessel had sailed which filled all their casks, yielding about 6,000 gallons of oil. They have had indifferent success in sealing, having only got about 600 prime skins, most of which they procured from a very small island, lying about 2 miles off the extreme point of the bay to the north’d. Mr. Palmer has a gang of hands on the other side of the islands, but I do not know of their success.
“The seals, from continual harassing, seems to have forsook the island, and I am much afraid, from similar continued interruptions, the elephant will be forced to seek some other haunts, and from there being none of these animals found on the other islands in the straits, it is probable that there are some particular causes, such as matter for food, bays free from reefs and of easy access to their large unwieldly bodies, &c., &c., peculiar to this island, which, if they are forced to abandon entirely, would be a great loss and detriment to the colony.”
Louis Becke relates the following story about Murrell in The Americans in the South Seas, From ‘The Tapu of Banderah and Other Stories, C. Arthur Pearson Ltd., 1901:
“In October, 1804, there was serious trouble in Bass’s Straits [Bass Strait] between English and American sealers. Messrs. Kable and Underwood, Sydney shipowners, had a sealing establishment in Kent’s Bay [ on Cape Barren Island], and among the men employed were some ‘assigned’ convicts. One Joseph Murrell, master of the sealing schooner Endeavour [p. 135], wrote to his owners a letter in which he stated he was too ill to write coherently, in consequence of the usage he had received from one Delano, master of the American schooner Pilgrim. Delano’s name was familiar to Governor King, inasmuch as he had taken a part in the 1803 attempt to colonise Port Phillip. as follows: One of the officers, Lieutenant Bowen, on his way across Bass’s Straits in a small boat, had the misfortune to carry away his rudder, and when in danger was rescued by Delano. Bowen, anxious to deliver some despatches, hired the Pilgrim’s tender from Delano to carry them, omitting to make a bargain beforehand; and for this paltry service the American charged L400 ! The British Government growled, but paid.
“But let Captain Murrell tell his story: ‘At four in the morning on the 17th I was suddenly seized by the chief mate of the Pilgrim, and three other American ruffians’ (they were really Chilenos) [Chilean], ‘two of whom caught me by the hair, the other two by the arms. They dragged me out of bed and trailed me in this fashion along the ground till they came to the sea beach. Here they beat me with clubs, and then kept me three-quarters of an hour naked whilst they were searching for the rest of my people.’ Murrell then goes on to detail as to how he threatened them with the wrath of the Governor, to which they replied that the Governor was not there to protect him. He was then taken to a tree and lashed to it, stripped, and all the Americans took a hand in flogging him into insensibility. When he recovered, he says, he asked for death rather than torture, and was answered savagely that he and his men were the means of depriving the Americans of 3,000 dollars’ worth of skins by their operations, and that Englishmen had better keep away from Cape Barren and leave the field open to Americans.
“ ‘Then,’ he wrote, ‘they began to sport away with their bloody cruelties, until some few Englishmen belonging to other (sealing) gangs out of Port Jackson, stung to the quick to see the cruelties exercised upon me without humanity, law, or justice, determined not to suffer it, and began to assemble. This occasioned the Americans to face about, at which instant I got my hands loose and ran into the sea, determined to be drowned rather than be tortured to death. I was followed by a number of Americans to the seaside, who stoned me, and sent into the water after me a Sandwich Island savage [Hawaiian], who gave me desperate blows with a club I put up my arm to save my head and he broke my arm in three places. I was then dragged on shore and left lying on the beach, the men remarking that they supposed I had had enough, but that there were more of their country’s ships expected, who would not let me off so lightly. They then took away some of my people, rescuing from my custody a King’s prisoner.
“In all a dozen men - convicts and others - were taken away by Delano and his ruffianly crowd of Chilenos and Portuguese, and this particular sealing station was practically destroyed.”
Murell’s letter to his employers, Kable and Underwood, was reprinted in full in the Historical Records of New South Wales, Vol. V. - King. 1803, 1804, 1805., ed. F.M. Bladen, N.S.W. Government, 1895.
pp. 519-521.
“JOSEPH MURRELL TO MESSRS. KABLE AND UNDERWOOD. *
“Kent’s Bay, Sunday, 21st October, 1804.
[Footnote - * Joseph Murrell was in charge of one of the whaling gangs employed by Messrs. Kable and Underwood in the sealing trade in Bass Strait.]
“THE ill-state of body which I at present labour under prevents me from giving you a full and particular account of the unparalleled behaviour of Delano, * [Footnote - * According to the list of vessels cleared outwards from Sydney (post, p. 533), Captain Samuel Delano was in charge of the American vessel Pilgrim which sailed from Sydney for Bass Strait on 9th October, 1894.] master of an American ship Perseverance, his officers and crew, I was, on the 17th of this instant month, at 4 in the morning, seized upon by surprise by the chief mate of the ship and three other American ruffians, two of them who caught me by the hair, the other two, one hold of each arm, dragged me out of my bed, and trailing me along the ground in that manner until they came to the sea beach, where, after giving me several violent blows with their clubs, they kept me nearly three quarters of an hour naked, while they were searching for the rest of my people, one of whom they found; and after I demanded the reason of that treatment, I was answered that my Governor was not there to protect me, and they were determined to take such satisfaction of me as should make me dread the sight of an American, if I lived. They then dragged me and one of my people a considerable way towards where their boats lay, and after stripping him, seized him up to a tree, and exercised most out-of-the-way cruelties, some giving him three, four, or five lashes apiece, others more, and a good many from one dozen to three dozen each. This they continued to act whilst life could be perceived in him. I, being aggravated at this usage, told them if there was a Christian among them, to despatch both the man and myself out of the world at once, and demanded to know what we had done. I was answered by two persons, one by the name of Blake, the other by the name of Thomas, who told me that myself and my gang had been three thousand dollars out of their way since they came into these straits, by killing most of the seal which I at present had, and ought to have kept away from Cape Barren and the rest of these islands, as the rest of the gangs had done, upon which I exclaimed, shame ! I was answered by Thomas that they would soon make me hold my tongue. I answered that they could only take my life, and desired them to do it immediately , as I was in their power. To which the puppy Thomas replyed [sic] that it would be too easy, and that they would torture me to death. That instant a number of them seized me, dragged me to a tree, where, after stripping me of my shirt, seized me up and began to sport away with their bloody cruelties, until some few Englishmen, belonging to the gangs out of Port Jackson, stung to the quick to see the cruelties exercised upon men, without humanity, law, or justice, determined not to suffer it, began to assemble, which occasioned the Americans to face about, at which instant I got my hands loose and ran into the sea, determined rather to be drowned than to be tortured to death. I was followed by a number of the Americans to the seaside, who gave my naked body several violent blows with large stones. They then sent into the water after me a Sandwich Islands savage [Hawaiian], who overtook me, and gave me a desperate blow on the head with a club I have now and shall bring to Port Jackson, please God I live. He then gave me several violent blows on the body and a deep cut on my right arm, and my holding up that arm to save some violent blows on the head, he, with repeated blows, broke my right arm in three pieces. In this condition, he dragged me on shore, where one of them told me that he supposed I had got almost enough, but told me at the same time that there was a number more of their country ships expected in these straits, and perhaps would not behave as well to you Port Jackson gentlemen as their ship or the Charles had done. They then left me and returned with their boats to their ship. I was led to my bed and have ever since undergone the most excrutiating pains, and things are now in such a state at Kent’s Bay that it is past my art to describe. They then lay in wait for the rest of my people, some to carry away and some to use in the same cruel manner, but I have given to Jobson and Sawyers, who I have ordered to head my gangs during my illness, such effectual orders that all their intentions are defeated. They rescued from me, on the morning of the 17th, the King’s prisoner, W _____ P _____, a person who escaped from the Derwent with D _____, and whom I intended to have sent to Sydney in the Endeavour * [Footnote - * According to the Sydney Gazette of 27th January, 1805, the Endeavour, Captain Murrel, arrived at Sydney, on 22nd January, 1805, with a cargo of sealskins from Bass Strait. No mention, however, is made in the newspaper of the ill-treatment complained of in the above letter, and as only the surname (spelt with one l) is given, it may be that this captain was not the writer of the above.] this time, as she returned to that port, at his own request, to be delivered to His Excellency Governor King. Mt ill-state of body does not permit me at this present to make the whole particulars of the conduct of that ship and schooner, at least their crews and officers, in a proper manner, known to His Excellency Governor King, for this is not the only crime he has committed of this nature on these islands. He is endeavouring to persuade all the persons of Port Jackson to leave their different gangs and go with him. He has received five of Mr. Campell’s [see next extract below] people on board of his ship within these two days, one of my men, David White, and seven of your men, vix., Rob’t Pawson and six of his gang. The remaining two, viz., Charles Savage and Robert Cox, they endeavoured all that lay in their power to persuade them to go, which they refused - nay Pawson took a great deal of pains to persuade Savage to go; and your own gang, that was under Pawson’s directions, threatened to tie Savage and carry him into the boat by force. These two men I have retained in your service under me. Pawson left a letter for you, which I received from Savage at half-past one this morning, which was near the time of their escape. This letter I broke open, considering it my duty, fearing some worse plan was on foot against your property, and determined, dead as I was almost, to use every effort in my power to prevent it, but I find there is none. Pawson has taken away the boat, sail, knives, and steels, twine, and other little materials that he had in his chest. I have sent you the letter that Pawson left on the ground.
“The public part of this letter it is my particular desire you do order to be copied and forwarded to the Governor, and afterwards published. * [Footnote - * In the Sydney Gazette of 11th November, 1804, an advertisement appeared offering rewards varying from L100, in the case of Robert Pawson, down to L10 in the remaining cases, for information which would lead to the apprehension of the deserters. The advertisement was inserted by the firm of Kable and Underwood. Captain Moody, of the Colonial schooner Governor King, in December, 1803, had a somewhat similar experience to that complained of by Murrell. See the Sydney Gazette, 1st January, 1804.] At the same time, make His Excellency acquainted that my ill-state of body will not permit me to make him acquainted with the whole particulars of that scoundrel’s behaviour since he has been in these straits, nor am I master, at this present, of proper language to address the Governor with.
JOSEPH MURRELL.”
Governor King wrote to Lord Hobart,in a letter marked ‘Particular, per Lady Barlow.’, obviously before Murrel’s letter had reached Sydney Cove:
pp.522-524.
“Sydney, New South Wales,
“My Lord. 20th December, 1804.
“As Mr. Robert] Campbell’s affairs will occasion his return, and as he may apply for some exclusive commercial advantages, and it appearing to me a duty on my part to make such communications to your Lordship as the nature of my situation may have given me opportunities of considering advantageous to the interest of His Majesty and his subjects, I shall, without further apology, do myself the honour of acquainting your Lordship with some ideas which my own personal and local knowledge of this territory and its inhabitants appear to render worthy, and perhaps necessary, to communicate to your Lordship, relating principally to the rising commercial interests of this remote part of His Majesty’s dominions; and most happy shall I be if any thoughts were suggested which your Lordship’s wisdom and discernment may render anyways useful.
“On my taking the government in this colony I found Mr. Campbell resident here as co-partner of a house in Calcutta, waiting the result of an application Governor Hunter had made to His Grace the Duke of Portland, then Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, in which the affairs of this colony was then transacted. * [Footnote - * Note by Governor King. - ‘An answer to which was never received.’] By the enclosed memorial and my answer * [Footnote - * The memorial and King’s answer was in effect identical with the two letters published in vol. iv, pp. 146. 147.] your Lordship will observe the motives by which I was governed; nor shall I make any other comment thereon than that Mr. Campbell immediately began the most extensive improvements on the leasehold he states in these documents.
“In my general letter dated March, 10th, 1801, * [Footnote - * Vol. iv, p. 322.] to His Grace the Duke of Portland, I offered my reasons for the contract made with Mr. Campbell to bring breeding cows, &c., from Calcutta, which your Lordship did me the honour to approve of. * [Footnote - * Vol. iv, p. 687.] And as an accommodation to him, and to make up for any cows dying on the voyage, I permitted 4,000 gallons of spirits to be brought by the same ship as the year’s consumption for the officers, &c. This contract, as far as it regards Mr. Campbell, was of the most liberal nature, being bound by no penalty. How far this conduct was treated with a common degree of attention to my regulations and the Governor-General of India’s proclamation forbidding spirits being exported for this place, I have detailed in my General letter of August 14th last, sent by the Albion, south whaler. * [Footnote - * Ante, p. 428]
“Mr. Campbell has ever and still continues to receive every encouragement as a merchant, nor can I conceal that, as far as comes within my knowledge, his conduct as a merchant in every other respect (except in forcing spirits on this peculiar colony) has been of the most upright kind; nor have I a wish to impede or obstruct any of Mr. Campbell’s commercial views, except restraining the unlimited imprtation of spirits which he appears to be aiming at. 8 [Footnote - * See also King’s letters of 14th August, 1804, ante, p. 428, and of 30th of April, 1805, post. p. 606.]
“Upwards of L16,000 sterling has been paid to him for the articles enumerated in the enclosure * [Footnote - * The articles enumerated in the enclosure referred to consisted of grain, received by Campbell from settlers in lieu of cash; tools and articles of traffic for disposal of Government at Otaheite; cattle; spirits; sugar; provisions; cordage, & c., and for freight of the Lady Barlow to the Derwent. The period covered by the account was from 28th September 1800, to 20th December, 1804. The total paid and ude to this firm appears as L17,983 12s. 9d.] on account of Government since I have had the command, besides his great receipts from the New South Wales Corps and the other inhabitants; yet he has met with considerable losses by bad debts, &c. As his dealings appear to have been fair and regular as a merchant, I humbly conceive that every encouragement should be given him in his commercial views, provided he engages not to import, either directly or indirectly, more than 4,000 or 5,000 gallons of spirits a year for the use of the civil and military and settlers, and that not to exceed the price of 8s. p. gallon, including the shilling duty; and if he pursues the fishery in Bass’s Straits [Bass Strait] he may very beneficially barter the overplus of his goods with the owners of small vessels for oil and skins. And as the allowance of spirits is indispensable to the crews of the Colonial vessels belonging to the Crown, I should suppose he would have no objection to supply from 3,000 to 5,000 gallons a year at 5s. per gallon for that purpose. That quantity of spirits, imported under the existing restrictions, might be attended with none of the bad consequences that formerly prevailed; nor will there be that propensity for it now the brewery is established and is improving.
“As Mr. Campbell may request an extension of his privileges in sealing and procuring oil, I humbly submit that, in giving every encouragement to that object, I have carefully avoided any partiality or exclusive privilege, as I respectfully conceive that pursuit should be open to all His Majesty’s subjects who are competent to exercise it; the more so as there are some adventurers in the colony who commenced that object long before it made any part of Mr. Campbell’s speculations.
p. 525.
“Hence it may appear obvious that now the colony supplies itself with grain, and the rearing of stock continues so successful, that the inhabitants ought, and must of necessity, turn a part of their attention to some other objects besides the culture of grain and the fishery in Bass’s Straits [Bass Strait], which is the only natural staple that has yet been discovered. The latter pursuit has been very successfully followed, and in being highly beneficial to the several descriptions of persons employed in it, it has not been without its advantages to the parent state, although in present in small degree. Having already submitted my opinion that no monopoly of that general advantage should be allowed by locating tracts of land on any of the islands or coasts of the territory where those objects are pursued, so I humbly hope, for the general benefits of the the inhabitants and His Majesty’s subjects in general, that such applications may be resisted. * [Footnote - * Note by Governor King. - ‘I state this, because my refusing to give Captain Colnett [Commander of H.M.S. Glatton] a grant of 100 acres at King’s Island was one cause of his unofficer-like treatment of me.’] I consider it advisable to adopt such parts of the existing Acts respecting the trade and fishing at Newfoundland as may appear applicable to the locality of this colony, which, if prepared before this despatch is sent, I shall have the honour of submitting it to your Lordship’s approbation. And I consider it necessary to add that if extending the means of exporting the oil, &c., from hence, by allowing vessels to take the produce from hence to China or England, that this indulgence should not extend at present beyond three vessels of not more than two hundred tons each and built within the limits of this territory and its dependencies.....”
p. 526.
“In referring once more to the circumstances of the Americans frequenting the straits and the coasts on which our sealers are fixed I consider it as an object of too much consequence and eventual approbation or disapprobation to interdict their coming here or fishing in the straits or coasts occupied by His Majesty’s subjects; there fore no hindrance or obstruction on my part will be given or allowed of by me to their frequenting these places until instructions are received on that head, except the restrictions contained in the documents your Lordship is already possessed of, which I have deemed essential, as I cannot but consider the drawing of British seamen and artisans from hence by foreigners and countenancing them in making this a depot for their commercial concerns, to the injury of the rising commerce of this infant colony, as extremely unadvised for the Governor here to allow unless instructed to do so; and still more incompatible with the interest of the public service do I conceive allowing subjects of other powers to settle and bring vessels under foreign colours at the instance of one or two individuals and when the motives by which I am actuated in this representation is considered, I humbly hope your Lordship’s indulgence for any remark or observation that may have the appearance of premature importunity.”
On reading the above accounts our first reaction is one of outrage at the treatment meted out to Murrell and his gang by the usurping Americans BUT, there are always two sides to a story and Murrell may not have been quite as candid about the circumstances of the incidents as we would hope. Not surprisingly Amasa Delano, the Captain of the Preseverance, gives a different version, to the above events in his A Narrative of Voyages and Travels in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres: Comprising Three Voyages Round the World Together with a Voyage of Survey and Discovery, in the Pacific Ocean and Oriental Islands, Printed by E.G. House for the Author, Boston, 1817. We begin with a quote from the section Biographical Sketch, written by ‘A Friend,’
p. 538.
“..... It may be proper, however, here to observe, that he was always distinguished not only as a man of bold and daring enterprise, but as possessing every generous and honourable feeling. And not a single charge of dishonest or mean action is recollected to have been brought against him. He was a dutiful and affectionate son, and always treated his parents with the greatest respect. He also had credit of being particuarly attentive and kind to his sisters. They always spoke of him with great affection. In fact all his young acquaintance and neighbours esteemed him for his candour and ingenuousness of manners. He had no malignity or revenge in his composition. - He was every ready to forgive those who had injured him; and equally forward to ask forgiveness of those whom he might have unintentionally injured or offended.....”
pp. 439-441.
“The river Derwent was discovered and explored in 1798, by the Duke [of Clarence] and Duchess [some sources name this ship as the Duchess of Bengal], two English ships, and a map of it taken by Captain John Hayes. The latitude of its mouth is 43 degrees 5 minutes south, and longitude 147 degrees 35 minutes east, taken from the chart. It is a delightful river, running in a northerly and westerly direction to about ten or twelve miles from its entrance, before it decreases to one mile in width, having water from shore to shore bold enough for a line of battle ship. On ascending the river about the same distance, it decreases to about an half mile, still retaining a good depth of water, and without any visible indication of danger. A small settlement was made on the easterly side, about six leagues from the entrance, in the latter part of the year 1803 [Risdon]. This settlement was sent from Port Jackson, under the direction of lieutenant Bowen of the navy, whom I afterwards met in distress at Cape Barren Island, on the 3rd of March, 1804, whilst coming last from Port Jackson in the Integrity, (king’s cutter,) bound to the Derwent river. She had lost her rudder, and could proceed no father [sic] on her voyage without assistance. I took the lieutenant, ten passengers, the cargo of the cutter, together with her broken rudder, on board the schooner Pilgrim, and proceeded with them to their place of destination, where I delivered them all in safety, and waited seven days for the rudder to be repaired.
“On our arrival at the Derwent river, we found the ship Ocean, commanded by captain Martha, who had brought out governor Collins and people from England to make a settlement there. They had touched at Port Phillip on the New Holland side, in Bass’s Straits [Bass Strait], with an intention of forming a settlement there; but finding it destitute of fresh water, and with several other circumstances, rather disadvantageous to a settlement, they concluded to proceed on to the Derwent river, where they landed about two weeks previous to our arrival, at a place called Sullivan Cove, on the westerly side of the river about six or eight miles below the other settlement. This place was very judiciously chosen by governor Collins, as the cove affords all the natural conveniences for a settlement that can possibly be found in one to unite together in one place. There is a delightful rivulet running through the part they allotted for the settlement. The country all round is level, and of a charming picturesque appearance, besides which there is an islet off the north side of the cove, covering nearly one third of its width. The passage to it from the main is dry at low water, and is the most convenient place to build commodious wharves upon that I ever saw..... I took my leave of the place on the 23rd of April, 1804, which was my second and last visit to these settlements.”
pp. 460-466.
“ON our first arrival in this country we made King’s Island on the 20th of February, 1804, as has been before described. On this island as well as on the other large islands in Bass’s Straits [Bass Strait] are to be found ,most of the quadrupeds, the feathered race, serpents, and reptiles that inhabit the main island of New South Wales. We took our station in Kent’s Bay [on Cape Barren Island] at anchor, where the ship Perseverance remained moored from the 3d [sic] of March till the 23rd of October. I made two excursions in the schooner Pilgrim to the Derwent river, and out round the south cape of Van Dieman’s Land [Tasmania]. My brother Samuel made two trips to Port Jackson and Botany Bay, and some others in the straits. Having a greater part of the time from four to seven boats exploring the islands in all directions in search of seals, which were the principal object of our pursuit. Several circumstances took place while we lay here; some of which I shall relate. As soon as it was known that our vessels were in the straits, I was visited by six different gangs of men belonging to Port Jackson, who were here on the same business with ourselves; all of which were out of provisions. I considered their situation to be similar to people I had been acquainted with on other sealing islands; though I afterwards found that it was not half so bad, owing to the advantages of the different sorts of game that were to be obtained on the surrounding islands. I supplied all their wants, taking orders on their employers at Sydney Cove, every one of which was honoured at sight, and accompanied with thanks; but the ungrateful men whom I had supplied, and relieved of their wants, did every thing in their power to injure me. The leading motive was to prevent me from getting seal. Their ideas were, that no foreigner had any right to that privilege near the colony.
“These men practised many impositions, such as stealing from me, enticing my men to run away, conspiring to steal my boats, and to cut my vessels adrift. They would sometimes go on to an island, where my people were waiting for an opportunity to take the seals that were about it; and if not able to take them themselves do something to frighten them away. They would say and do all in their power to irritate and vex my people, in order to cause them to do something that was reprehensible. I had to use all my authority to keep my men under subjection; telling them I would apply to the governor at Port Jackson, as I had business there unsettled, it would not do for them to undertake to redress their own grievances. My people were certainly under as good discipline as any merchant ship’s crew whatever. I kept clear of an open rupture for some months; during which time some of my people left me, as they said, ;because they would not be tied down to such close orders as to be obliged to put up with any insults from such villians.’ At length the time arrived when I was ready to dispatch the Pilgrim for Port Jackson. I wrote to the governor general of New South Wales, whose name was Philip Gidley King, the following letter.
-----
“TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR KING.
“Ship Perseverance, Cape Barren, August 4th, 1804.
“SIR,
“THE bearer, my brother, who commands the schooner Pilgrim, will hand you this, he comes to settle some little business, and if it should meet your excellency’s approbation, to purchase some necessaries for our subsistence on board the ship.
“ ‘I came to King’s Island on false information, with the hope of procuring a cargo of seal skins; I was much surprised to find on that island people from Sydney, and very much disappointed at not finding any seals on it of any consequence. The information I had came to me second hand from the French commodore, that was recently on this coast on survey and discovery. After finding myself disappointed at King’s Island, I ran down into the straits in hopes of finding something there worth our attention, but was still unsuccessful. We here found the Integrity cutter, which was lying in the passage, and before we came up with her she made a signal of distress, we came to an anchor near her, went on board and learnt she had lost her rudder. The next morning I ordered the Pilgrim to take her in tow, and assist her in getting into Kent’s Bay, where she was brought safe. I then offered any assistance in my power to fit the rudder for her, but the spare irons we had on board the Pilgrim were so long they would not answer. Governor Bowen then agreed with me to carry the passengers, and other articles to the Derwent, for the sum of L440 sterling. We unloaded the Pilgrim, took the freight and passengers on board, conducted and delivered them safe. He then gave me a draft on your Excellency for the sum, which I hope will meet your approbation; my brother will present it.
“ ‘It is with extreme pain that I trouble your Excellency with any complaint whatever; but as it may prevent future misunderstanding, I think I cannot do less than to make your Excellency acquainted with it. There is a man in this place by the name of Joseph Morril [Murrell], who has a little vessel belonging to Messrs. Kable and Underwood, and has a gang of men with him; he has taken it into his head that we have no right to procure seals in these straits, and has been for a long time trying to drive us out of them, (as he says,) and I believe that the man would have accomplished his design if it had not been in the winter season; and myself something of an old weather beaten sailor, that dreaded going out in such extreme lowing weather, (as we have had it here,) without the probability of profiting by it on my part. I at first thought the man too insignificant to take notice of, but I was mistaken; he made interest with so many of my people to run away from me, that it has distressed me very much. He has carried six of them out of this bay at one time in his vessel, notwithstanding I had forbid him receiving or harbouring them in the presence of several respectable witnesses. I took two of them out of his vessel one morning after they had been some weeks absent. He still holds a number of them, and articles that have been stolen from me, or I am very much deceived. There has been so many impositions practised by this Morril [Murrell], and his accomplices, that I can only satisfy your Excellency by refering [sic] to the persons on board the Pilgrim, and wish they may be examined, that you may be satisfied as to the evidence. On my part I think as I ever shall, it is a very delicate affair to commence a quarrel between the citizens or subjects of any two nations, but I will candidly say, that I do not think one of my countrymen out of an hundred would pass over so many insults and injuries as I have done under similar circumstances, purely from motives of delicacy, on his account of being of another nation. I beg you will have the goodness to order an examination of the persons on board the Pilgrim schooner, and favour me with a few lines, making me acquainted with your Excellency’s opinion on the subject. Any civility shown the commander of the Pilgrim, will be very grate fully acknowledged.
“By your Excellency’s most obedient,
“and very Humble Servant,
“(Signed,) AMASA DELANO.’
-----
“The above letter was delivered by my brother; but as governor King was out of health, and had recently been put out of temper by some false accusations that had been made to him by the same description of men that I was complaining of, respecting some American captains that were in the straits before my arrival; from which causes he did not seem disposed to do any thing towards giving me satisfactions for the injuries we were daily receiving. But he gave my brother permission to purchase any provisions or necessaries we might want, and in all other respects treated us well, except the grievances stated in the letter, and forgetting to answer it, although he promised my brother repeatedly that he would. The Pilgrim returned, and made a report of the proceedings at Port Jackson; not having effected the object of the visit to that place, I ordered her back with all possible dispatch, my people growing more dissatisfied every day.
“In the absence of the schooner this time, an affray took place between our people and those of the convict cast; they being on a small island, ten or twelve miles from the ship, waiting for some seals to be drove up by an easterly wind, that were lying on that side of the island, too near the water to be taken; and the convict people finding that they were watching an opportunity to take them, contrived to frustrate their plan. Fourteen or fifteen of them went to a point near the island on which about twelve of my people had lived, who were then watching the seals. Morril [Murrell], the head man of the gang, ground his cutlass on our grindstone, and loaded two or three old muskets. He told a lad who was left to take care of their houses on the point, ‘that he should make his sweet lips do its duty on the present occasion, kissing his old cutlass repeatedly.’ When they had got all the things prepared, they pulled over to the island, directly against a law they had made themselves, and had more than once put in force with my people, by presenting their loaded and cocked muskets to their breasts, obliged them to abandon their pursuit, when their object in landing was to look for some runaway men, whom we had certain knowledge of being secreted at the place. When Morril [Murrell] with his party arrived at the island where our people were, they were asked by them, what they wanted. They were answered, ‘that is our own business.’ They were then told that they certainly could not come with an intention of getting seals, as they were so near the water that it was impossible to get at them before they could get off the shore and that it was well known to them that they had been watching there a number of days, sleeping on the rocks at night waiting for an easterly wind to drive the seals up on land, so as to enable them to get between them and the water; and that they could have no other object than to defeat them in their plans, by frightening the seals away. They also told them that it was a law of their own making that neither party should land on an island where the people of the other might be placed for the purpose of sealing; and that under these circumstances they forbid them coming on shore. On this the Port Jackson men shoved their boat in, and attempted to step out of her, when they were met by our people armed only with their sealing clubs, and a battle ensued. The other party could not make their guns fire after snapping them several times at our people, who wrested the muskets out of their hands with their clubs, and the fracas ended by throwing at each other clubs, sticks, stones, and every thing they could get hold of. The result was that Morril [Murrell] and his party got worsted; and they afterwards came to me with a complaint against my men for their conduct towards them. Four or five of the had their heads, legs, and arms so maimed that they were unable to do their duty. I asked them what they wished me to do. Their answer was, that if I should punish my people, and give orders that they should not do the like again, they would be satisfied. I expostulated with them, and tried to reason them into a principle of justice, setting forth the necessity of mankind’s treating each other with more propriety. I promised them that my people should use them as well as they were treated themselves. They left me apparently with a disposition to do better in future; but it lasted only for a short time, as the first opportunity that offered they took the advantage of it to do us injury, and other difficulties took place.
“About this time the Pilgrim returned the second time from Sidney [Sydney], and we made preparations to leave the straits. Three or four days previous to our sailing, the people went on shore early in the morning with an intention, as I afterward learnt, to settle some old grievances with the Port Jackson men; but it was without my consent. They landed and took Morril [Murrell}, with two or three of his men who had been foremost in doing them injustice, tied them up to tree and flogged them, giving them one or two dozen lashes each, with a common cat o’ nine tails. It must be understood that every one of the people so punished was a convict that had been transported to New South Wales for crimes committed in England. One thing took place that I very much regretted. While they were giving Morril [Murrell] his quota, the convict-cast of men rallied to attack our people, who left him to defend themselves, and drove the assailants off. Morril [Murrel] took advantage of this, and loosed himself from the tree, and run. Our people followed him, and one of my Sandwich Island [Hawaiian] men overtook, and struck him with a stick on the arm. The blow, falling lengthwise on the part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist, was so heavy as to cause the flesh to burst open.
“When I went on shore they again came to me to make their complaints. Morril [Murrell] shewed me his arm; I told them that I was very sorry that they had sustained such injury, but they must bear in mind that when they imposed upon, and insulted any description of men in the manner they had mine, they must expect something would be done in retaliation. I dressed Morril’s [Murrell] arm from my own medicine chest, and supplied him with salve and other necessaries for dressing it until it should be well. I have been particular in the statement of what took place in New South Wales and its vicinity, with the government and people of that colony, on account of its causing considerable talk in that part of the world at the time; but I assure the reader that I have told to the extent of all that was done by my people, which could not be considered as bad; and that I have not noticed all the causes of complaint on our side.”
On the 30th April, 1805, King wrote to Earl Camden; Historical Records of New South Wales, Vol. V. - King. 1803, 1804, 1805., ed. F.M. Bladen, N.S.W. Government, 1895:
pp. 601-602.
“In a former letter I had the honor [sic] of stating the general and individual inconvenience that attended the Americans not only occupying fishing stations in and about Bass’s Straits [Bass Strait] but frequently this port, from which they have drawn several useful people, and in fact depriving the inhabitants of the only staple hitherto acquired. How far this may or may not be allowable I have not taken upon me to decide, but have requested instructions thereon.”
Deplored by the perceived state of affairs with the Americans and, more particularly, the deplorable conditions of the men employed in the fishery at Bass Strait; King reacted in the most appropriate way to him, and on the 5th of September, 1805, the following ‘Government and General Order’ is noted:
pp. 688-690.
“THE Governor has received information from Lieut.-Governor Paterson, dated 1st August last, that a boat’s crew had arrived at Port Dalrymple from Cape Barren [Island] to solicit a supply of provisions to relieve their distress and those of twenty other people belonging to the employ of Henry Kable and others, to the truth of which they disposed on oath; and His Excellency having also received a complaint from a gang of men employed in the same neighbourhood by Mr. Campbell, stating their distresses, having been (then 21st of August) ten weeks without provisions, and languishing with cold and hunger.
“As this is not the first time these unfortunate people have been thus treated, and notwithstanding the Governor’s endeavour to forward the exertions of those employed on the fishery, yet he cannot in justice to the complaints omit the severest censure to those who have negligently trifled with the existence of their fellow creatures, Nor can he pass over in silence the litigation, chicanery, and every other species of irregularity that has more or less been forced on the attention of the Governor, magistrates, and Courts of Justice in attending to the perplexing and unwarrantable conduct of the owners in the south fishery and their men, which causes the following regulations necessary, viz. : -
“No security is in future to be admitted for those who are detained for debt until the creditors are fully satisfied.
“Free men having wives and families at this settlement will not be allowed to engage in the fishery, because it is known that American vessels have taken people of that description from the several islands, and most certainly with with the consent of their employers, by which means their families will become burthensome to the public, but the owners or employers of all Colonial vessels and sealing gangs may enter into a separate bond, themselves in L200 and two sureties of L100 sterling each, to maintain the wives and families of those permitted to engage, witha ration equal to that issued from the public stores during the husband or parent’s absence, unless satisfactory proof is adduced that the husband or parent so engaged is dead, and not taken from the colony or its limits; and to bring them back to this settlement (if required) when the term if his engagement is compleated [sic].
“If employers engaging free men do not do not maintain them until an opportunity offers of sending them to the gangs, * [Footnote - * The employers were in the habit of leaving gangs of men on the various islands to collect skins and oil during certain parts of the year.] those engaged may relinquish their contract, because it is a well known fact that men thus bargained with or for have no other resource for their maintenance than robbery, by which the inhabitants are much annoyed.
“In order to prevent any description of persons being taken from hence without the Governor’s leave, and to prevent those obtaining that permission from experiencing any want of provisions while absent, His Excellency directs every person owning Colonial craft of any kind to enter into the recognizance required by the General Orders of March 30th, 1805, * {Footnote - * See the General Order of 31st March, 1805, ante, p. 588.] in which penalties will be included an obligation to lay in a sufficient stock of provisions for the use of their respective gangs at the places they are stationed at; and that no reliance may be placed on the settlements at Port Dalrymple and the Derwent for affording those supplies, which, in the infant state of these settlements, they are unable to do without distressing His Majesty’s service, in case the sealers should, through the negligence of their employers, be compelled to seek relief at either of those settlements, the Governor has directed the respective Lieuten’t-Governors to cause depositions being taken as to the cause of their wants, which depositions are to be transmitted to the Governor-in-Chief, who will (on proof of its being occasioned by the negligence of the employers, or those acting under them), exclusive of forfeiture of the penalties, direct that no future clearance be given any vessel belonging to the proprietor or employer of such distressed gangs, and that the said Lieu’t-Governors, and the officer in command at Newcastle do direct the Deputy Commissarys to make a charge to the owners of ten shillings for each pound of salt pork, wheat, maize, or other grain and animal food so required and furnished, bills for the payment of which to be required of the master upon the owners before the provisions are delivered.....
“By command of His Excellency.
“G. BLAXCELL,
“Acting Secretary.”
Murrell was to return to Bass Strait, but on this voyage he was headed for King Island; Sydney Gazette, 27th of October 1805:
“On Thursday three persons who left the Cove [Sydney] with three others in a whale boat about three weeks ago for King’s Island [King Island], under the direction of Mr. Joseph Murrel, came in over-land from Botany Bay with the unpleasant information of the crew being assaulted by the natives at Jervis’s Bay [Jervis Bay], and Mr. Murrell dangerously wounded in the back by a spear. The account given by these people is as follows; - - - That every where along the coast the natives wore a menacing appearance, and manifested a wish to attack them: that upon making Two-fold Bay [this is a mistake and should read Jervis Bay] they perceived a small group round a fire, who greeted them in a very friendly tone; trusting in which they landed, and proceeded with buckets towards a watering place, but before they reach which, a flight of spears was thrown without mischief; but being speedily succeeded by a second, one of the weapons, most dangerously barbed, lodged in Mr, Murrel’s [sic] side, which was transpierced; and as the whole of the barb appeared, it was broken off and readily extracted. They made to the boat, leaving their inhuman assailants to express their joy of the barbarous event by re-echoed peals of mirth, were soon out of their reach. The travellers next set down on a small neighbouring island [Bowen Island]. The morning following, four natives visited them, and having begged a jacket or two, left four boys as hostages of their return with fish, but heedless of its consequence, these wretches soon returned accompanied by a vast number of others armed in their canoes, and a determination was formed to resist their landing: - - - the blacks in consequence commenced a new assault with their spears, which were answered with muskets, and at length retreated with the loss of two killed, besides several being wounded. They returned the same day from the back of the island unperceived; and in increased numbers taking the little party by surprise, they were obliged to take precipitately to their boat as the only means of preservation: but leaving their provisions and necessaries, upon which they left their adversaries voraciously regaling. Unable to proceed for their destination they reversed their course, but could only reach Botany Bay, on account of contrary wind, and have there received from the owner every comfort and assistance.”
Sydney Gazette, 3rd November 1805:
“Mr. Murrell is almost perfectly recovered of his spear wound, received near Jervis’s Bay [Jervis Bay]; the natives in and about which, and indeed all along the coast, give daily proof of the actual necessity for the most guarded circumspection in approaching them, even when invited upon amicable circumstances.”
Murrell must have recommenced his voyage to Bass Strait soon after this as we shall see below.
King refers to the situation of the fishery again, on the 1st of November 1805, in a letter to Under Secretary Cooke:
p. 717:
“Another cause for the want of agricultural labourers is the number of men who are employed in the seal and oil fishery, which, as a productive article of export, has received every encouragement so laudable and successful an undertaking required in every point of view and as long as grain can be raised for the consumption of the colony, there cannot perhaps be a more advantageous employment fore the benefit of the inhabitants in general, as long as that object is confined to Englishmen and English vessels [my emphasis]; but I am sorry to say that if the most decided checks are not given to the introduction of Americans and American vessels, any benefit this colony may possess would become the property of Americans at the expense of England. However these material circumstances may have deprived the settlers of that labour they formerly could procure in a more abundant way than they can at present, yet the introduction of ploughs and carts, with the advantage of having cattle from the Government herds, has removed much of that inconvenience to the real industrious cultivator.”
Joseph Murrel, who played such an important roles in these events, returned from King Island some years later; Sydney Gazette, 16th of April 1809:
“Sunday last arrived the colonial vessel Eliza, from South West coast of this territory, with oil and about 1000 Kangaroo skins.
“At Kangaroo Island she fell in with a gang consisting of 7 persons, who had been there three years since, under the direction of Joseph Murrell. Their provisions exhausted three months after their landing, and they never received any supplies at all, they were there the long time of two years and nine months and subsisted entirely on the flesh of wild animals - Mr. Murrell and two of the people came in the Eliza from the island leaving four others behind.”
One can only wonder at the extraordinary circumstances, some might call it bad luck, that attached themselves to Joseph Murell’s career in the Bass Strait fishery !
We close this chapter of history with an article from the Sydney Gazette, 1st of July 1826, which was originally printed in the Hobart Town Gazette:
“ON KANGAROO ISLAND AND THE RUNAWAYS IN
THE STRAITS.
-----
“Nearly six months have elapsed since we first directed the situation of the public to the characters hovering about the island in the straits. At that time Captain Welsh supplied us with some interesting materials, the publication of which, it is not too much to say, has not a little paralysed the evil practices of these men; it has also excited some remarks in the elder Colony, the propriety of which, we shall presently shew. The great importance of the subject has by this means been gradually developed; and the Government, we are sensible, is fully impressed with the necessity of speedily adopting some measure which will arrest the ruin of a valuable Colonial export, and repress a dangerous and increasing band of pirates. We regret that our confined space obliges us, as usual, to abridge our ideas on this generally interesting subject; we shall however endeavour to draw the brief outlines so distinct as to enable the Reader to embody the picture, and to fill up the blanks. These islands are, with few exceptions, inhabited by runaways from this and the elder Colony. Their escape is effected partly in boats, previously filled with plunder, as was the case with Duncan and others. The necessity of a well regulated excise or guard boat is very apparent, which should night and ay ply about the harbour and river, under the direction of persons of responsibility, with armed rowers worthy of that confidence. The attempts now made at concealment in every vessel about to sail would then cease. Others escape under false names in the clearances, sometimes it is to be feared at the connivance of their employers. Here again we see the necessity of an officer attached to the police, whose sole duty it shall be to take cognizance of, and to give passes containing full personal description to, all prisoners leaving the point at which he is stationed, whether by land or water. But the question arises, if this officer, by reference to his record, can correctly fix the identity of the prisoner, how are others who may be authorised to examine passengers on the road to be so informed, and how are they to discover any description that would be put upon them ? Above 400 prisoners annually become free by servitude or otherwise, and the difficulty is by every day becoming greater. If the wholesome measure of questioning every traveller not previously known, at the various stations, be continued, in order to make it effectual, every one, both bond and free throughout the island, ought, as we have said on a former occasion, to be furnished with a passport. Added to these regulations, if boats and vessels setting out on fishing expeditions were restricted to the proper season, and obliged to return at an appointed time, and then to surrender an account of every one of the crew, the growing mischief among the islands would be powerfully checked. These runaway boats having evaded detection detection under the cloak of night, and having slipped down the river, creep alongshore, stealing at every point. The flocks of Oyster Bay and Swan Point have at various times suffered in this way. Having reached George’s River, they there get a convenient supply of fresh water, and plenty of provisions, as well as pastime among the wild swans. If they have dogs, they effect frequent landings where the beach permits, and live on kangaroo and small quadrupeds. An inch of tobacco, however, or a pint of rum, are dangerous bones of contention among such men in an open boat, and the numerous individuals who can in no wise be accounted for in Mr. Humphery’s list, are a proof the one-half of these unskilful mariners perish in the deep. Those who are more fortunate proceed to Clarke’s and Preservation Islands, where the old man, Munro, who inhabits the latter, no doubt initiates them in their new career. The rocks and inlets are so distributed along that channel, that they can easily proceed from one to the other, without once losing sight of land, and thus complete the tour of the Straits. The aquatic birds, the swans, the opossums, shell-fish and seal, though at first a revolting flavour, and yet so numerous, and so easily obtained, as to afford a sure defence against starvation. Preservation Island, which scarcely contains a square mile in extent, is mostly a bare rock, covered with birds, and [Cape] Barren Island, equally sterile, with the exception of some few narrow valleys in the same. Flinder’s Island, about 40 miles in length, is less known, and is in general thickly covered with brush-wood. King’s Island, at the western extremity of the Strait, nearly equidistant from Western Port and Cape Grim, is described as thickly wooded, with a convenient harbour. Rotherston, who lived on it for 13 years, we learn is coming to Hobart Town, and will be able to give a more authentic account of its resources. Our runaways having reached the beautiful terrace banks of Western Port, will probably be induced to make some stay there, as well as in other desirable spots on the Coast of New Holland. It is, however, a curse entailed upon the wicked, to be contented in no situation; and these rovers having again set sail, usually follow the coast, which winds for 500 miles along a sandy beach, in a north westerly direction, skirting a fertile country, until they reach Kangaroo Island. in latitude 35 1/2. This island, nearly 300 miles in circumference, is the Ultima Thule. It lies opposite Spencer’s and St. Vincent’s Gulphs, and at one part is separated from the main by a narrow channel of only 8 miles across. The hills, though numerous, are not lofty, and there is the appearance of much level good land, with a climate perhaps the most enviable in the world. A bay called the Bay of Shoals, on the north coast next the main, is resorted to by the fishermen on account of a salt lagoon, or sea pool, which, when dried up after the rainy season, is filled with excellent salt to the depth of 5 or 6 inches. Near it is a lake of fresh water, both being situated about 2 miles from the beach, which distance the productions are carried on the back to the boats. This, as well as every other labour, is performed by the native women, whom these unprincipled men carry off from the main, and compel to hunt, work, and fish, and do every other menial service, while they themselves sit on the beach, smoke, drink, and sleep by turns, occasionally perhaps rowing to kill a young seal while basking on the sunny beach. This food, though far from palatable, is all that their indolence will in general allow them to procure, and they sometimes salt it down for future store. It is much to be lamented that so debased a specimen of the Christian race as these men, should be the first to give an impression to the natives, who are there very numerous, and of a superior cast to those here and at Sydney. They live in regular villages, are all clothed with a cloak made of skins stitched together and ornamented, and though like all other savages and addicted to stealing, are nevertheless friendly and hospitable. The tide in this bay rises about 6 or 7 feet; it is not however safe for any large vessels, and about first quarter ebb, numerous shoals are visible. Ten miles to the east is a fine river called American River, with an excellent harbour. It is so named from an American [Captain Pemberton in the Union, 1803] who visited that neighbourhood about ten years ago, and built a very handsome schooner of the pine tree, peculiar to the island. This wood resembles the red Swedish timber, and contains turpentine. Mr. Smith sailed 13 miles up this river, and by cutting one of these trees in halves, scooping it out with an adze, and afterwards uniting it with hoops, he constructed an admirable pump for his vessel. The trees common here also abound there, and the small species of kangaroo is very numerous. Among the animals which we have not seen here, is a kind of edible guana [goanna], a species of bear [Koala], about the size of a fox, and species of cockatoo, of a grey colour, with a red crest. The fish are superior, and well favoured; among them a kind of whiting is described as being excellent eating. When the fishing season for seals is over, these men, with the native women and their offspring, amounting in al to about 40, retire into a valley in the interior of the island, where they have a garden and huts. One man called Abyssinia, has led this life for 14 years. Are then these men, thus strangers to religion, among whom raping of every kind, and even murder is not infrequent, are they to be suffered to debase human nature ? They are at present supported and encouraged by the Colonial vessels that visit them for the purpose of bartering their skins for rum. Many of them are armed, and in a short time it will not be safe even for a large vessel to go among them. A person, signing himself W.H. Skelton, published a letter in a Sydney Newspaper, about three months ago, in which he says that he has traded for the last three seasons among these islands. We hope that that gentleman, whom the publisher of his letter calls a Captain, will also publish, the names of the mercantile houses, established in the straits, with whom he has carried on business for so long a period, and will say whether we have not to thank him, and such as him, for the enticement held out to these wretched men to embark in and to continue their abandoned course of life. By his account he assisted Mr. Whyte in capturing the various runaways. He suspected their haunts, and, but for his co-operation, the plan would have failed ! Other accounts do not however corroborate the statement, and the plan, we believe, alluded to, if there was such a plan, must entirely have failed but for the exertions of Mr. Smith. By his means, chiefly, the runaways were discovered and apprehended. He had but just before saved from their hands his life and part of his property, whit which he escaped as if by a miracle. This shews how judiciously it would be to permit any settlers on these islands, and other remote situations, except in number, and with property sufficient to induce Government to protect it by a detachment of military. We have heard conjectures respecting the eligibility of some of them as a secondary penal establishment; for ourselves we have doubts of the propriety of the distant establishment for the severer punishment of offenders. If such a place be chosen, it ought certainly to be secure from escape and not of too large dimensions and the employment of the prisoners ought not to be scattered over a large surface in the woods, but within safe limits. Hence, it resolves itself into an extensive House of Correction or Penitentiary. Of all means to punish and reclaim, solitary confinement is the best - a system which we must come to at last, or employ men at sufficient salaries to take out the worst characters, in small divisions, and reclaim them. The success of the chain gang under a military guard is such as will probably make the necessity of a penal settlement less obvious. In the mean time, no boats ought to be permitted among the islands; and we trust that Kangaroo Island, being without the jurisdiction of this Colony, will not be any obstacle to efficient and speedy measures being adopted to check this serious and growing evil. The Governor of New South Wales is invested with the command of these seas; and we doubt not from the paternal interest which actuates General Darling in watching over and promoting the prosperity of this of the British Dominions, that a representation will be made to the Lords of the Admiralty, and a swift sailing armed cutter be stationed here, which, visiting the coast of New Holland, the straits, sweeping round this Island entering the Derwent and the Tamar unawares and at unexpected times, will awe and annihilate these irregular characters, and add life and security to the exertions of the Colonists. - Hobart Town Gazette.”
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