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[top right] Coen August 3rd 1897
The Commissioner for Police Brisbane,
Sir,
I have been intending to write to you, since my telegram re the feeding Moreton blacks. In that I stated "Meston promised feed these" - Meston when at Moreton induced the blacks to give him a large number of their weapons, promising them a supply of bullock in the future, in return - They were consequently greatly in expectation when they heard of the others to the South being fed on bullock.
I have just been arranging with Mr. Lindeman at Moreton re the best method of giving the bullock to them. until When the Police are stationed North of the Archer and working under
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[first page] the proposed new system, there will be no difficulty in their killing a bullock at the most convenient place; as they will know approximately the whereabouts of the blacks at any time - But at present the only practicable way is to kill in the vicinity of Moreton where the Batavia tribes and occasionally the Ducie tribe gather together -
I have written to Mr. Inspector Lamond explaining this and the best arrangement that could be made at present - Mr Lindeman rendering every assistance to carry it out.-
When men like Meston come amongst the blacks they do a great deal of harm by taking their weapons and giving little or nothing in exchange - Most bushmen in dealing with the natives in this way give them fair exchange, and being used to this, they give their
[second page] weapons when asked for, in expectation of being fairly dealt with - I have lately seen a number of natives with whom Meston had come in contact with. Their general expression of opinion was "He no good". I was greatly amused at one old fellow called "Tarbucket" - the Mamoose of Prince of Wales Island. He had shadowed Meston all the time he was on Thursday Island. Meeting him Tarbucket afterwards I asked him if he was sorry Meston had gone, he said "I don't know, "I don't think he much good, that fellow "owe me fifteen pounds, no pay it." This was the secret of his attachment. The debt was over the Meston-Purcell spec., when the blacks were stranded in Melbourne.
That pathetic story about "Wild Tom" was rubbish. Meston had promised to take him to Brisbane on his return trip. Tom - who could speak very good English -
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[first page] accordingly waited for him at the Mission station, but when he found that Meston did not intend taking him, he returned to his tribe and Gin, where he is now -
The incident at the Ducie River where the natives followed him a short distance along the bank, and were demonstrative - This was from disappointment at not getting any thing, and hoping to get something at the last moment - He got the Moreton natives to carry his bundles of spears to Bertiehaugh, a distance of about 30 miles, and naturally the boys expected something for their trouble, but got nothing.
The Missionary boy who travelled around with him, was promised some clothes from Thursday Island - but they never came.
I presume there is no likelihood of Mestons [sic] being in any way appointed to control the natives here. If there was, I am afraid it would be a great mistake.
Re. the gift of blankets, I would suggest
[second page] suggest that for the natives in these parts they should be halved, half a blanket being quite sufficient, and of course go futher. I have been amongst a number of tribes lately, and have not seen a single blanket in their camps. This has been on the western coast about the Embley River; the inland tribes about Moreton, Mein and Coen, and the tribes Northward from Port Stewart, on the Eastern Coast. If a supply of tomahawks alternated with the blankets in the yearly gift - as you know, it would be invaluable to them, and a blanket should last longer than one year.
I am just now returning to Possession Island, after a three months [sic] trip in the above mentioned parts - The Embley R. has a splendid entrance, and the Country adjacent to the river, fairly suitable for settlement.
I remain, Sir, Yours sincerely [signed] J.T. Embley