I have been assured that they can conceal themselves on
almost bare ground, in a manner which until witnessed is scarcely
credible; their dusky bodies being easily mistaken for the
blackened stumps which are scattered all over the country. I was
told of a trial between a party of Englishmen and a native, who was
to stand in full view on the side of a bare hill; if the Englishmen
closed their eyes for less than a minute, he would squat down, and
then they were never able to distinguish him from the surrounding
stumps. But to return to the hunting-match; the natives
understanding this kind of warfare, were terribly alarmed, for they
at once perceived the power and numbers of the whites. Shortly
afterwards a party of thirteen belonging to two tribes came in;
and, conscious of their unprotected condition, delivered themselves
up in despair. Subsequently by the intrepid exertions of Mr.
Robinson, an active and benevolent man, who fearlessly visited by
himself the most hostile of the natives, the whole were induced to
act in a similar manner. They were then removed to an island, where
food and clothes were provided them. Count Strzelecki states that
"at the epoch of their deportation in 1835, the number of natives
amounted to 210.
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