Transcription Page 81

Commissioner Crown Lands Office
Port Albert, 4th. April 1846

Sir,
The rumour mentioned in your
Honor’s letter No 46/237 of the 10th. March, that
a white female was living with the wild
Blacks of this district, reached me very
recently - I have made enquiries, and
find there are some grounds for the
Report - These grounds rest upon the
statement of two Native Troopers - and
a young Native Black about eight
or nine years of age taken from a
wild Tribe at Lake Wellington about
six months ago -

The Troopers’ statement is to the
effect - that when on duty a few months
since with Mr. Walsh protecting Mr.
McMillan’s cattle from the depredations
of the Wild Blacks - they came upon
a party of Natives on the lower part of
the ranges - that among these they
saw a yellow woman with red or auburn
hair reaching to her shoulders: that she
wore an opossum cloak - which she
threw away to facilitate her escape -
This was picked up by one of the
Troopers

[Annotation:top left]

No 46/665

[Annotation: top right]

Recd & reg/d 4th May 1846
The Crn Canr of Gipps Land
Appends statts with refn to ye rumr of a
White female havg been seen with ye Wild Blacks
of Gipps Land

[Annotations: margin]

Copy

Acted
ye 6th May

Statement
appended here to

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Troopers - who on smelling it was
satisfied that it had not belonged to an
Aboriginal Native -

The statement the aboriginal
Boy has made to two several parties, is
herewith transmitted: it would induce
a belief that a vessel was wrecked
about seven or eight years ago on the
Ninety mile Beach - and that among
those who reached the shore was a white
female - that the female has been living
with the Blacks ever since - and that
she has two half-caste children - The
Boy according to his own statement has
never seen her - nor does he know
where she may be found - but has heard
this account from other Blacks - He
speaks of the Children as play-fellows of
his own - and has offered to take the
man with whom he is living to where
they may be found -

The method of procedure for
the recovery of this female should no doubt
be one of caution - The best that suggests
itself to me is by communicating with
the tribe to which the boy belongs - thro’
the boy’s instrumentality - and by
presents of blankets and other articles
likely

[Annotation: margin]

Statement
appended -

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likely to be useful to them - endeavour to
establish a good feeling between us & to gain
their confidence - Hitherto, your Honor is
aware, we had no means of opening any
communication whatever with the
Gipps Land Blacks. An opportunity
however now presents itself - which I
shall do all in my power to take
advantage of - The little Native Boy
Tacka-wadden having lived about six
months at Boisdale has learned to
speak English, and seems to understand
it well. He has been kindly treated,
and is attached to several men on the
Station, particularly to the Storekeeper. He
has asked Mr. McMillan to lend him
a horse for the purpose of proceeding
under charge of the Storekeeper to his
tribe to induce his father to return with
him to Boisdale - Now, if we succeed in
becoming acquainted with the father, I
have no doubt that by presents and kind
treatment we shall obtain information
that may lead to the recovery of the female -
Nor am I without hopes that we shall
obtain the assistance of the Boys tribe for
her recovery, and possession of the Children

Should this plan fail I know of
no