police, and so gives time for the offenders to disappear.  The troopers, when they do make a capture of the culprits, bring them in on chains, to the police quarters.  By the Warden, through a tame boy as interpreter, they are tried, and either acquitted and sent back to their country or sentenced to a turn of imprisonment and handed over to the gaoler.  In gaol they have a remarkably good time, fed upon beef, bread, jam, and water, and made to do useful work, such as drawing and carrying water, making roads, &c.  They work in small chain-gangs—­a necessary precaution since there is only one gaoler to perhaps fifteen prisoners—­are clothed in felt hats and short canvas kilts, and except that they are deprived of their freedom have probably as comfortable a time as they ever had during their lives.

From time to time there have been grave accusations of cruelty made by well-meaning busybodies against the squatters of the North and North-West.  Occasional cases have been proved beyond all question, cases of the most revolting brutality.  But from these exceptional instances it is hardly fair to class the whole squatting population as savage. ruffians.  Since I have had the opportunity of seeing what treatment is meted out I feel it is a duty to give every prominence to what has come under my notice.  First of all, let us take it for granted that the white men’s civilisation must advance; that, I suppose, most will admit.  This being the case, what becomes of the aboriginal?  He is driven from his hunting-grounds and retaliates by slaughtering the invading cattle.  What steps is the white pioneer, who may have no more than one companion, to take to protect his own?  If he quietly submits his herd will be wiped out, and he and his mate afterwards.  By inspiring fear alone is he able to hold his position.  He must therefore either use his rifle and say nothing about it, or send perhaps 150 miles for the troopers.  After a time, during which he carries his life in his hands—­for a couple of hundred natives, savage and treacherous, are not the pleasantest neighbours—­he succeeds in convincing the natives that he intends to stop where he is.  What then do they do?  Do they move to fresh hunting-grounds?  They might, for there is ample room.  No, they prefer to live round about the station, a source of constant anxiety and annoyance.  Consequently we find to-day a large number of natives permanently camped round every homestead, living on the squatter’s bounty.  Too lazy to hunt, too idle and useless to work, they loaf about the place, living on the meat that is given them on killing-days, and on figs and seeds, when in season, between times.  Thus, though the squatter takes their country he feeds them for ever after.  A smart boy may be trained and partially educated, and becomes useful amongst the horses and so forth, and some few are always employed about the station—­the rest just lie about and gorge themselves at the slaughter-yards, and then wait until they can again do so.