the novel. At or around this time also met Catherine Kennedy, another baptised Tasmanian Aboriginal raised by settlers at Cross Marsh (now Kempton), in the south of Van Diemens Land, and married her at Batsman's property on 16 August 1830. Shortly afterwards, and due to their success in the aforementioned roving party, John Batman appealed to Governor Arthur to have 100 acres of land granted to William and Catherine as a reward for his service, a controversial proposal at the time. Ponsonby appears to have sought a partner to help run the property but ultimately this land was never granted and was subsequently sold by Batman. Little more is known of the fate of the couple; however, G.A. Robinson, in his diaries, and John Batman, in his letters, refer to a 'civilised' aboriginal woman at Ben Lomond who was subsequently abducted by hostile Aboriginal clans. James Simpson, police magistrate at Campbell Town wrote in 1831 that, 'Black Kate''' left William Ponsonby after a domestic dispute and was 'forcibly taken by the blacks at Ben Lomond', even though she 'spoke nothing of the language'. A similar report in March 1831 described an Aboriginal woman 'brought up by whites' living with two sawyers at 'Stringybark Gully- 6 Miles from Massey's farm' (perhaps under Stringy Bark Tier, near Deddington) - whereupon she was captured when the sawyers were attacked by hostile clansmen. Despite a search party being organised by Massey, it was presumed that she was killed by her abductors . Subsequently, Robinson reported in his diaries that Catherine Kennedy was killed by Maleteherbargener (probably Moulteherlargenner / Multiyalakina aka Eumarrah an Elder of the Tyerrernotepanner (Stony Creek) Nation. As to Black Bill, John Glover stated to Robinson in January 1834 that 'Batman's former black absconded and headed a tribe.' but no mention is made of his fate. John Batman See the wikipedia entry for John Batman. John Batman was engaged to track and capture the (Tasmanian) Aboriginal at large that were harassing colonial settlers in the South-Esk and Ben Lomond region. He was initially permitted by Lieut-Governor George Arthur to select a party of nine men including two ‘Sydney Aborigines’ and three ticket-of –leave men commissioned to serve three years in the bush, or in the field police, before receiving conditional pardons. The six others might receive tickets of leave after 12 months service as dictated by Batman's appointment as a leader of