Number of blankets served out to Aborigines at Bathurst

Ink on wove paper in ledger book

A 3016

Governor Darling initiated an annual distribution of blankets and cheap ready-made clothing (‘slop’) in 1826. These blankets were to replace the traditional animal skin cloaks usually worn. To account for expenditure of the annual distribution, Government officials created what are called ‘Blanket lists’ which often included an individual’s English name, Native name, probable age, number of wives, children, Tribe, and district of usual resort.