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of the verdant hills about Port Phillip, depasturing ground for their flocks and herds.
The unrivaled position which Australia Felix has attained, lends an almost historical interest to the names of the first settlers, which are here appended:—J. Batman, C. Swanston, J. T. Collicott, J. and W. Robertson, J. T. Gellibrand, M. Connolly, J. Sinclair, T. Bannister, A. Cottrell, H. Arthur, H. Wedge, G. Mercer, and W. G. Sams.
These pioneers endeavoured to establish a right to the land by purchase from the natives, and the following is an exact copy of the original treaty between Mr. Batman, on behalf of the first settlers, "of the one part" and the Aboriginal Native Chiefs of Port Phillip and Geelong "of the other part," for the purchase of certain territory described in the deed.
"Know all Men, that we, three brothers, Jaga Jaga, Jaga Jaga, Jaga Jaga, being the principal Chiefs, and also Cooloolook, Bungarie, Yanyan, Moowhip, and Mommarmalar, being the Chiefs of a certain tribe called Dutigallar, situate at and near Port Phillip, called by us, the above mentioned Chiefs, Iramoo and Geelong, being possessed of the tract of land hereinafter mentioned, for and in consideration of twenty pair of blankets, thirty knives, twelve tomahawks, ten looking glasses, twelve pair of scissors, fifty handkerchiefs, twelve red shirts, four flannel jackets, four suits of clothes, and fifty pounds of flour, delivered to us by John Batman, residing in Van Dieman's Land, Esquire, but at present sojourning with us
