ABORIGINES OF SOUFH AUSTRALIA. ABORIGINES OF SOUFH AUSTRALIA.
WE have been favoured with the following extract from a private letter from Sir JOBS JEFFCOTT, the Judge of the new colony of South Australia. In conjunctionsvith his charge to the Grand Jury, • this narrative cannot but be pleasing to those who take an interest in the fate of aboriginal natives of British colonies.
" You will perceive that I dwelt at some weight upon the question of the Aborigines, and the treatment which it was our intention to pursue towards them. I did so, because I know it is one upon which many of our friends take a deep interest ; and it is one upon which I am by no means indifferent myself, having been, while in Africa, 'ram/ des Nuirs; —as vou may see by a charge to the Grand Jury which I delivered at Sierra Leone in 1Seite printed in the Par- liamentary Paper (No. tail, I think, in April IS31 or l'W2.,) and being equally inclined to be so in South Australia.
" Nothing can he more mild and inoffensive than the character and conduct of the natives who have as yet ventured amongst us; awl I have every hope Skit we shall in time go far towards civilizing them and making them useful to os in their turn, as they appear by no means indisposed to work, and, if I have aay skill in physiognomy or craniology, are not by any means deficieut in intela leetual capacity. • We had prepared a melee of this obarce, and other parts of the Second Number et the zcete Australian Cicatte; but eatmot and room for it this week. '6 A very interesting scene took place as the Court' was about to adjourn which, as it does not appear in the newsparr, I will give to you. " Some of our labourers had been accused of stealing a jacket and some other articles from one of the natives, and they had been apprehended in consequence. From a defect, however, in the evidence, it was deemed advisable to discharge the prisoners, on their finding sureties to answer the chatge at a future time. The natives having, however, been informed that they would be tried for the offence at sessions, I thought it might have a had effect to let them go with- out explaining the reason to them. I had them accordingly brought into court; when they were attended by their hiterpreter, Cooper, an English sailor, who bad been wrecked some years before on Kangaroo Island, where and on the main land lie had ever since lived with the natives, ant had acquired a perfect knowledge of their language and habit. " Four natives, tine athletie.luoking fellows, with long black hair (not wool) banging in ringlets down their shoulders, sparkling eyes, Weil foreheads, and teeth as white as ivory, were placed before 'my Honour; ' and I addressed them, or, as I should have said in Africa, I mode palaver with them, to the fol- lowing effect. I explained to them why the White men who had stolen their things could not be punished this time. I told them, however, that they should not escape, as it was the determination of the White men to protect them and to treat them as brothers, and not to allow anybody to molest time or hurt them. When this was explained by Cooper, they all smiled, apparently well pleased, and showed their white teeth, and chatteted to each other in evideut approval of what I said. I then endeavoured to explain to them the nature of property; and told them that as we intended to respect their property, we trueted they in turn would respect o«rs. To which my sable friends nodded and laughed assent,. and told Cooper they would net tief.' I told then them that whenever they or any of their countrymen came amongst the White men, they should be kindly- treated, and that we would give them food and clothing, and shelter them from the weather. This seemed to be equally pleasing intelligence ; and as a
qualifieo of their joy, I added, that in return for the food and clothes which I
promised them, I loped they would not object to do a little work fur the White
men, such as fninging wood and water, and digging now and then in their
gardens. This, through their interpreter, they faithfully pi emised to do; and I then told them that the property of which they had Lien itubbed should either be restored to them, or they should get an equivalent for it in articles of a similar kind. I thou directed Cooper to take them away ; when the natives said something to him in their language, which be interpreted into a hope on their part that I would not punish the White men this time, ae they, the natives, wished them to be tioviren, and the were sure they would not do it again. " If I was personally acquainted-with Fowell Buxton, I would certainly give him this anecdote, which I give you verbatim et litetatim as it occurred, as it affords in my mitel an additioual testimuuy to the value of the exertions of those who have devoted themselves to the civilization of the savage."
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