2

IN-LETTER. 4884/1901. Aboriginal Protector Nthn. Div

2.

Cowell

them well." On the other hand, the Europeans have only themselves
sometimes to blame for this condition of things-aliens being
allowed to employ blacks. Atherton forms a case in point.
Here there are some 250 aboriginals occupying from time immemorial
some 64 square miles of rich scrub, which is full of native
food, both animal and vegetable. Unfortunately- for the autochthonous
population - this land is rapidly being felled and
cleared, and the blacks have accordingly to travel further and
further afield to find it. There are upwards of 230 Chinese employed
by, or renting land from, over 70 out of the 76 European
selectors, with the result that the blacks are, necessarily,
mostly employed by Asiatics. If only to prevent the able-bodied
aboriginals from starving-these rich lands being now all of
them taken up, and most of them fenced-I cannot instruct the
local Protector to prevent Chinese employing them (as was urged
by the Atherton Progress Association some two and a half year
ago). At the same time I have given orders that blacks are not
to be allowed to work for any coloured alien once convicted
of supplying opium.

Length of service. With regard to the length of service on the
boats, the Protectors at Cairns and Cooktown do not permit aborginals,
to be signed on articles for periods longer than six
months, an arrangement similar to that at Thursday Island. Any
longer continuous service is as a rule too much to be expected
from the blacks-this applies to those engaged on land equally
well as to those employed on boats.

Removals. That the natives are being removed from one district
to another, without the necessary bonds being entered into for
their return, is proved by the fact that during the past twelve
month, only 13 such recognizances have been forwarded me from
the whole of the Northern Districts, -i.e. from 1st. 22 up. I
also had personal proof of this breach of the Act in the Cardwell
and Herberton Petty-Sessions Districts during my visit of
inspection there last September and October. As the non-return