[Following the Equator Part 3 by Mark Twain]@TWC D-Link bookFollowing the Equator Part 3 CHAPTER XXVIL 17/20
It is history--and authentic; and surely, there is nothing greater, nothing more reverence-compelling in the history of any country, ancient or modern. And in memory of the greatest man Australasia ever developed or ever will develop, there is a stately monument to George Augustus Robinson, the Conciliator in--no, it is to another man, I forget his name. However, Robertson's own generation honored him, and in manifesting it honored themselves.
The Government gave him a money-reward and a thousand acres of land; and the people held mass-meetings and praised him and emphasized their praise with a large subscription of money. A good dramatic situation; but the curtain fell on another: "When this desperate tribe was thus captured, there was much surprise to find that the L30,000 of a little earlier day had been spent, and the whole population of the colony placed under arms, in contention with an opposing force of sixteen men with wooden spears! Yet such was the fact.
The celebrated Big River tribe, that had been raised by European fears to a host, consisted of sixteen men, nine women, and one child.
With a knowledge of the mischief done by these few, their wonderful marches and their widespread aggressions, their enemies cannot deny to them the attributes of courage and military tact.
A Wallace might harass a large army with a small and determined band; but the contending parties were at least equal in arms and civilization.
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