Transcription Page 1

Native Encampment Merru Mru Creek
1st December 1843

Sir,
I have the honor to transmit Journal
of my proceedings from the 1st September to the
1st December 1843 -

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedt. Servant
William Thomas,
Assistant Protector

G A Robinson Esqr JP.
Chief Protector

On the 1st September I was with the Natives
at their Encampment at the Merru Merru Creek, they
were but few in number, My occupation was
teaching the Children and visiting a Black in
Jail; On the 3rd the Yarra Blacks begin to
return; On the 8th after attending the Blacks in
Jail, hearing that a party of Blacks was Encamped along
the

[Annotation: lower]

September

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the beach I proceed towards them, they had
shifted I follow their Encampments to about
10 Miles West of Mount Eliza there was about 30 of them,
I remained with them that day, found from the Settlers
that they had conducted themselves well, I return on
the 11th, when I found another Black in Jail from a
distant part on the Murry, I put a few questions
to him which he appeared to comprehend, - on the 12th to
my surprise and mortification I find that he will
not communicate, I remain with him and Billy
Urquor the other Black 4 Hours, that is to say, 2 visits
2 hours each without gleaning any thing from him,
the Black Billy Urquor who had for some time acted
the same no doubt had cautioned him to act thus,
who I doubt not but was in the first instance prompted
to it by the White prisoners then in confinement. Blacks
being confined in the same Ward with White prison-
ers is a great hindrance to instiling any good into
their minds, - On the 13th I communicate to you
the apparent impossibility of doing any thing
with him, On the 16th Billy Urquor is again put
to the Bar and discharged, I took him some
distance from the crowd who followed us out
of Court, and leaving him at a tree off the
Road, I went to Melbourne and purchased
him

[Annotation: top right]

September