THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ERKELOUW 
 
 30K0EALER8 
 IDHEi
 
 RICHARD SAD L-E: I R. R.N., J.P.
 
 THE ABORIGINES 
 
 OF 
 
 AUSTRALIA. 
 
 BY 
 
 TtxaT3:j^:EtiD sjlidleii?., t^.i<t.. j.^p. 
 
 SYDNEY: THOMAS RICHARDS, GOVERNI\IENT PRINTER. 
 
 1883.
 
 s 
 
 i-Zo^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAOt 
 
 Origin —Language —Marriage formalities — Infanticide — Relationsliips — Population — Spitting Tribe — Encounter 
 
 Tribe— Tribal divisions— Intelligence— Laws— Customs— Ceremony of Depilation— Funeral customs 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Religion — Massacre of the crew of the " Maria" —Traditions — Cave Figures — Superstitions — Sorcery — Diseases- 
 Poison revenge — Native songs — Wit and humour — Fidelity — Ajnusements — Corroborees — Weapons — 
 Manufactures— The Bogan Tribes— Native Fruits— Bwellings 14 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 First settlement of the Colony— Claims of the Aborigines— Extracts from CoUuis's works— Bennillong and Cole-be— 
 Dangerous proceedings of the Abor'gines — Frightful massacre by the Blacks — Notes by a University Man^ 
 Mr. TroUope's remarks— Aboriginal Police— Doom of the Queensland Savage— Massacre on Liverpool Plains- 
 South Australian Aboriginals 22 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Effo rts made to c ivilize th e Alinrigin c s- T?"" . T i- E. Threlkeld— R esults of Missio ns — Gove«»in«Bt-6uppwt- of 
 M issions — S ociety for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts — Population in the Port Phillip District — 
 Examination before the Legislative Council on the Aboriginal Question— Lieut. Sadleir's evidence — Rev, L. E. ^-v 
 Thrclkeld's evidence — Captain Grey's opinion ( ^ v 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Aborigines of Victoria— Mr, Westgarth's remarks— Mr. Lloyd's remarks— Buckley's residence among the Aboriginals 42 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Aboriginal Friends' Association — Mission to Lake Alexandrina — Rev. Mr. Binney's remarks — Extract from Mr. 
 Foster — The Bishop of Adelaide's visit to the Native Institution — Report of the Committee of the Legisla- 
 ture—Evidence of the Bishop— The Chief Protector— The P.iglit Rev. Dr. Hale's Mission— The Poonindee 
 Mission — The QueensKand Mission — The Maloga and \\'arangesda Missions — The (ioverument appointments — 
 The Church of England Board of Missions — The Queen's Instructions — The assistance rendered to the 
 Aborigines by the Government ^^ 4ti 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 The last of the Sovereigns of the Sydney tribe, " King Bungaree "-His son 56 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 The aboriginal Jackey Jackey 63 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Tasmania — The Blacks— Mr. G. A. Robinson— The capture and transportation of the Aborigines to Flinders 
 
 Island— Their gradual decay and extinction — Lalla Rookh, the last native Uo 
 
 10S398S
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
 
 Shortly after my arrival in the Colony in 1826, I was appointed to a Commission of 
 Inquiry into the state of the Aborigines. Previous to that, martial law had been 
 proclaimed about Bathurst, where the blacks had been committing serious aggres- 
 sions under Monday, their chief. 
 
 My journey, extending over 1,600 miles, occupied six months. I lived partly 
 with these people, so as to ascertain their number, language, habits, &c., and proposed 
 a scheme of reserves, as in Canada, a border police, and missionary education, but the 
 cost, £6,000 per annum, was considered too much, and my suggestion was therefore 
 not acted on. 
 
 I was subsequently examined, together with Mr. Robinson and the Rev. 
 Mr. Tiirelkeld, before the Committee of the Legislative Council, about 1837, from 
 which much information was acquired. 
 
 The present work is part of a largo manuscript, and I have thought it a favour- 
 able opportunity to [)ublish it, now that fresh interest is awakened about these people, 
 devoting any profits to the Missions lately established within New South Wales. 
 
 R. S.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Origin— Language — Marriage formalities — Infanticide — Relationships — Population — Spitting Tribe — Encounter Tribe — 
 Tribal divisions — Intelligence — Laws — Customs — Ceremony of Depilation — Funeral customs. 
 
 The origin of this race is difficult to trace ; they seem to have no traditions, and, .although the coimtry 
 abounds in gold, copper, and iron, they never appear to have reached the metal implement age. Living 
 principally on the chase, agriculture was not carried on by them, and their only domestic animal was the 
 dingo. There are no remains of architecture amongst them ; yet the same painted hand as is found in 
 South America afi'ords some faint trace of their connection with that country. The language, however, 
 furnishes some clue ; the grammatical structure of all Australian aboriginal dialects is _ the same. A 
 few words show a connection with the Aryan rather than the Turanian race, and are, in fact, allied, 
 both in sound and meaning, to words u.sed by nations deriving their speech from the Sanscrit. 
 
 Many examples may be given of the affinity of the .aborigines' language and tho.se spoken by the 
 various Aryan nations. Possibly this may have been caused by the intercourse with Malays, who from time 
 to time visited the northern coast. The diversity of dialects of the Australian language is deemed to be 
 proof of their high antiquity as a race, as it is thought that a great length of time must have elapsed since 
 they had but one tongue. Their numbers are small in proportion to the extent of the comitry, but this 
 may have arisen from the want of food, in the absence of any cultivation, although in a fine country with 
 few hardships from climate or other causes. 
 
 Some may be descended from the Ar.abs who spread themselves beyond the Indian Archipelago. 
 From the ini ytiirp. nf -^rab words, and the rites of circumcisio n in some tribes, and from the extensive^_ 
 spread of the Arab, there may be reason to suppose they have a large infusion of that blood. 
 
 Thu p eopleof the adjoining islands resemble closely the aboriginals. They go naked, have no fixed 
 
 habitation, use bone and stone implements, have no knowledge of metals or pottery, and in stature, colour, 
 and appearance are similar; but they resemble more the Tasmanians, who are of purer blood. The natives 
 lived under fixed laws, so when the whites arrived, and those that occupied the shore could not fall back, 
 as their intrusion would have added to the wants of those behind them, they were therefore obliged to 
 stand their ground and take the consequences of meeting a superior race, so that their skeletons were 
 found in abundance in caves and amidst projecting rocks, having fallen victims to famine, especially about 
 Sydney, and to the sm.all-pox. — Collins. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Lang enters largely into the origin of this people. He conceives they must have been 
 originally a martial people. One thing is remarkable, they have no idol worship. 
 
 The aborigines aftbrd us some information upon the original condition of mankind — that they have 
 descended from a higher state of existence, and not risen from a lower state of barbarism. Their language 
 is one proof that it is far above, as some assert to be, the original language of man, that of the imitation 
 merely of the brute creation. It is remarkable for its complexity of structure and the precision with which 
 it can be used. It is evidently derived from one root, although there are diflerent dialects. The term 
 for river is Mawersal ; so with eye, ISIeyl. It is very euphonious and significant, combining great power 
 with simplicity. Thus, the term for a cloud is both elegant and expressive, " Gabley maar," the well of the 
 sky or the fountain of the firmament. " Moorang toeen" is to weep, the same import as " gabley maar." 
 The " ong" of the Hebrew is of frequent use among these people. They have the dual number throughout, 
 six cases in each declension of nouns and pronouns, and verbs with regular roots. They have names for 
 relationship far more copious than we liave in English. If they were only developed from a lower creation 
 they would nevc^r have constructed this language. They must have descended, and their Language is a 
 remnant of their higher ancestry. Next their customs : these are of a most laborious and cumbersome 
 character, having many curious rites observed with great exactness ; yet they can give no account of their
 
 8 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 origin or even of tlieir uses, so that wo may well eoncluclo that they descendod to thom, and were not 
 invented by them. Of inventions : the present natives have no power of invention, and liavc no idea of 
 numerals ; yet we find the boomerang, and throwing-stick for the spear (woomera), the former on scientific 
 principles, and other things which must have descended to them and not been invented by them, denoting 
 a higher ancestry, from which they still draw much, handed down by use and tradition. 
 
 We have in these particulars strong evidence tliat the savages are upon the descending scale ; while 
 from the remains of animals that once inhabited the country, we liave another evidence that in all these 
 kingdoms there is a retrogression rather than a progression, except where man is elevated by copying and 
 improving on the arts of nature to a certain extent in painting, architecture, statuary, Ac, or where 
 Christianity has elevated the human race. And so it is with these natives who have embraced Christianity ; 
 they build houses and churches, read, write, and learn agriculture, and thereby rise above the commoa 
 degeneration. 
 
 In fact, the very ruins of past nations show that mankind has sprung from an intellectual source and 
 gradually descended, as with all the Eastern nations, and more so in social proportion as they lost the 
 knowledge of the true God. The very licentiousness under heathen dominion, and the very crneltics of 
 heathen rites, the degradation of the female sex, and constant wars, have all a downward tendency. So 
 that however high Greece and Eomc rose, they had within them the germs of decay. Hence the value of 
 missions for conveying civilization and moral exaltation, renewing as it were the life of man upon, the earth, 
 regenerating humanity. 
 
 The Bishop of Perth, in his appeal on behalf of the aborigines, says : — " The darkness of ignorance 
 is dark indeed, but far darker is their state when to the darkness of ignorance has been added the degra- 
 dation of the chequered vices of civilization, the consciousness of being treated and held as serfs of a race 
 above them, while all illumination of soul or conscience has been denied them. The primitive state of 
 these people was far better than their present debauched, degraded, perishing condition." 
 
 The Bishop says that in the Eoebournc District, which has now been for some years occupied w^ith 
 cattle and .sheep for some .300 miles along the coast, there is a population of nearly 2,000 aborigines. The 
 majority of them arc in the employ of the settlers, either on their stations or the pearl fisheries, of which 
 the port of Cossack is the centre, while, in the Gascoync and newly discovered Kimberley Districts the 
 natives are very numerous, although mostly iu their wild state. They are, through the Northern Districts, 
 a fine, intelligent, able-bodied race, and when, as in the Eocbourno District, they h.ave been brought into 
 the employment of the settlers, have proved valuable as shcphordK, shearers, and divers. A solitary lady 
 (the only labourer) it appears has gathered a few native children about her for instruction. 
 
 Tlie Bishop then enters into the question of missions. Says he has £500 in hand, also £500 
 promised, hopes to obtain collections, and that the Government has promised every assistance in its power, 
 such as reserves of land and pecuniary aid. There is therefore some promise of commencement here. 
 
 Wliile they allow polygamy, they do not permit marriages within a certain descent, and it is a crime 
 worthy of death to marry one of the wrong sort ; the distinction of tribes by name is the distinction of 
 marriage. Ippai may marry Kapota or any Ippata but his own sister, Murri may marry Buta only, 
 Kumbo may marry Mata only. An infraction of these laws is death. Marriage is not conducted, as 
 generally represented, as a forcible act, at least not iu all the tribes. The female is given in marriage 
 at an early age (ten or twelve years old). It is a kind of exchange; the man who obtains a wife 
 promises to give his sister or other relative in exchange ; the parties may never have seen each other. 
 
 These marriages are always of different tribes. During the ceremony the relatives camp apart. A 
 man takes a fire-stick and conducts the bride into tlie midst of the parties and gives her away, w alking silently 
 away with downcast looks. As soon as they apjiroach tlic hut is given up. The bride and bridegroom are 
 placed near each other, and the relatives take tlieir places. The party generally fall asleep ; at daybreak 
 the bride leaves the hut for her friends, and iu the evening is conducted to her husband by their female 
 friends; the tribes then separate and return to their various di.stricts. The man is bound to provide 
 animal food, the wife vegetables, if .she pleases. The husband rubs her over with grease to improve her 
 appearance. If there are several wives they .seldom agree, continually (piarrelling, and arc regarded more 
 as slaves, being employed to the husband's advant.age. The woman who leaves with her own consent to 
 live with a man without tlic consent of lu>r relations, is regarded as a prostitute and exposed to tauiits. 
 Tho sale of wives is frequent, for either money, clothes, weapons, &c. Woman gives consent by carrying 
 fire to her husband's wurlcy and making his fire ; an unwilling wife will say, "I never made fire in his 
 wurley." The eldest wife is always regarded as mistress of the hut. Marriages take place after dark, and 
 are alw.ays celebrated with great ilancing and singing ; sometimes licentiousness takes place, but there are 
 as loving couples as amongst Europeans.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 9 
 
 Many old men have three and four wives, while the young continue bachelors ; the long suckling 
 of children and infanticide both tend to keep down population. 
 
 Women near their confinement retire to be attended by women and to be secluded. After birth, 
 the husband attends on his wife, and often nurses the infant, which, if spared, is most affectionately 
 watched over ; but infanticide is very common, so much so that nearly one-half to one-third of the infants 
 are destroyed, and that in a shocking manner. Ecd hot embers arc stuffed into the child's ears, and the 
 orifice is closed with sand, and then the body is burnt ; sometimes a waddy is resorted to. If there be 
 twins, or malformation, or illegitimate children, they are generally destroyed. 
 
 When native children are born, they are nearly as white as Europeans. Girls have children at the 
 early age of fourteen. The girls wear an apron of fringe until they bear their first child, and if they have 
 no child, the husband burns the apron, probably as an exposure. 
 
 The evil of prostitution is very great. The women are in some districts given up to promiscuous 
 intercourse with the youtlis at certain seasons. 
 
 Eelationships are very intricate, and difficult to unravel. They have the Tamilian system, which 
 obtains amongst North-American Indians, and the Tclugu and Tamil tribes in the East Indies. 
 
 A man looks upon the ofi'spring of his brother as his own sons and daughters, while he only con- 
 siders those of his sister in the more distant relationship of nephews and nieces. So, also, a woman counts 
 her sister's children as her own, but those of her brother by a kinship similar to nephews and nieces. 
 
 Thus, children look upon their father's brother in the light of a father, but his sister as their aunt 
 merely ; whilst their mother's sister ranks as a female parent, but her brother as only their uncle. 
 
 The scale of relationship is as follows : — Nanghai is my father ; Naiukowa is my mother ; Ngaiowe is 
 your father ; Niukuwe is your mother ; Yikowalle is his father ; Narkowalle is his mother. 
 
 Widow is Yortangi ; widower is Eandi ; fatherless is Kukathe ; motherless is Kulgutye. 
 
 One who has lost a child, Mainmaiyari ; one bereaved of a brother or sister, Muntyuli. 
 
 From this scheme of relationsliip it seems possible that some came from Southern India — were driven 
 southward by the Malays. Names are changeable, the parents sometimes bearing the name of the child. 
 They are also significant — Putteri is the end ; Ngiampinyeri, belonging to the back or loins ; Maratinyeri, 
 belonging to emptiness. 
 
 Property always descends from father to son. 
 
 Mr. Taplin observes that the general idea that there is a law by which the savage must disappear 
 before civilized man is not true, and instances the South American and Dutcli colonizations as still preserv- 
 ing the aboriginal races. 
 
 English settlers go forth to exercise their freedom, and the Government does not strictly watch 
 their actions, while it makes no particular law for the aboriginal races suitable for their particular 
 situation. 
 
 English law is forced upon them ; whereas the French and Dutch Governments watchfully manage 
 and regulate everything — tlie governing power goes with them ; tlie roads, police, everything is kept under 
 the governing power, even the aborigines are under the same. 
 
 This, no doubt, in some degree has its mflueuccs, while, on the other hand, the native laws to which 
 they were obedient are removed, and the power of the cliiefs is destroyed, so that the aboriginal is 
 placed between two influences, the one to which he had always been subject is destroyed, and anew law of 
 which he knows nothing is substituted, and thus he is left in a position of doubt and perplexity, while the 
 food, drink, clothing, and vices of the whites soon gain supremacy. 
 
 Nothing can be more disgraceful to a civilized and professing Chrisfian people than this wholesale 
 ruin of their fellow-men, which they attribute to a law, but which is in fact a consequence criminally brought 
 about by our depravity, selfishness, and want of Christian principles. The writer concludes his remarks 
 by saying tliat they are not an irreligious race ; he believes that nothing but the Gospel can save them 
 from extinction. 
 
 A few extracts from the lecture of Gideon Lang, delivered in Melbourne, will throw some more 
 light upon the habits of this race. 
 
 He says the inhabitants of the wliiilo continent form one ])eople, governed by the same laws and 
 customs, with some allowance for the dilfcrcnce of localities ; every Irilu', however, has its own district. 
 The government is most arbitrary, comj)oscd of old men and powtM-ful men, but degrading to women, 
 the old men often having from live to seven wives, which privilege is denied to young men. 
 B
 
 10 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Tho govcrument is administered by a council of old men, tbe young not being admitted. There is 
 also a class that go from tribe to tribe, and their medicine men. 
 
 The intelligence of the natives is quite underrated. Their skill and activity in war, and their 
 subtlety as diplomatists, BIr. Lang says, are quite equal to the North American Indian. (Having mixed 
 with the North American Indians, I think this is rather exaggerated.) 
 
 In the corroborees they have especial performances. 500 sometimes assemble and represent a herd 
 of cattle feeding, the performers being painted accordingly ; they lie down and chew the cud, scratch 
 themselves, and lick the calves, &c. ; they then proceed to spear the cattle ; next arc heard a troop of horses 
 galloping ; a pariy with faces painted wliite, and bodies painted whitcy-brown, some blue, others to represent 
 stockmen ; then comes a body of natives, and a regular sham-fight takes place, in which the natives are 
 conquerors. But, alas ! the murderous hand of the whites has destroyed them by shooting them down, 
 and even resorting to poison, while by our occupation of the country, the destruction of their game, and the 
 introduction of disease, they arc fast dying out and disappearing. 
 
 Governor Phillip supposed that there were 3,000 aboriginal inhabitants within 200 square miles 
 of Sydney, but now tliere is scarcely one left. 
 
 For the whole of Australia the number is under half a million. Around Melbourne and Sydney 
 the population is extinct. At Port Jackson there were but one male and three females left. And the old 
 Brisbane tribe, which once numbered 1,000, is now nearly extinct. The Tasmanian race is extinct. And 
 so the original inhabitants of this immense country will soon cease to be known. In the north they are 
 a finer race ; but they are likewise doomed to perish by European vices and encroachment. Tet these 
 men have made excellent sailors, good policemen, and stockmen, and recently they were conveyed home 
 to England as first-rate cricket-players. Can they want intelligence ? 
 
 They seem very like the Gipsy race — prone to wander, therefore hard to domesticate. This arises 
 probably from their having to seek their food over a widely scattered area. 
 
 Sir G. Grey's party met with native huts in considerable villages of a more remarkable construction 
 than those of South Australia, being very nicely plastered on the outside with clay and clods of turf ; 
 there v/ere also well marked roads, sunken wells, and extensive warren grounds, certainly indicative of 
 some advance in civilization. 
 
 The most singular tribe JMitchell met with was what ho termed the spitting tribe. These savages 
 waived boughs violently over their heads, spat at the travellers, and threw dust with their toes, and forming 
 into a circle, shouting, jumping, spitting, and throwing up dust, sang war sougs with the most hideous 
 gestures : their faces seemed all eyes and teeth. 
 
 Tlie Encounter tribe is remarkable for daring. In one case, where the natives were pursued by two 
 police, the blackfellows rushed on the troopers, and knocked one down, and he was only rescued by the 
 arrival of the other trooper, whom the blackfellows also attacked, but were captured. 
 
 The sealers on the islands had stolen three women, wives of the blacks. After a short time, two 
 escaped in a miserable canoe ; the third attempted with her child to swim, but was drowned. 
 
 The natives have suffered much from tho whites. There are now three classes of the natives — tho 
 old blacks, who hold fast to the customs of the tribes ; the natives who are inoculated with the worst vices 
 of tho Europeans, being drunkards, gamblers, and utterly lawless ; and lastly, the native Christians, yearly 
 increasing in numbers. The tendency of Christian civilization, when adopted, is to make them more vigorous 
 and long-lived. 
 
 The country is divided into tribal possessions, which none can intrude upon, so that the tribes are 
 confined within a space of country so small that food often fails. 
 
 The tribes arc jealous of any invasion of territory. This accounts for divisions of districts, as well 
 as a variety of feature, texture of hair, &c., the latter being sometimes, but rarely, found to bo woolly in 
 Tasmania. Long hair is generally met with, but in the interior whole tribes are found entirely destitute 
 of the same, while others arc remarkable for being very hairy, except on the ])alms of their hands and the 
 soles of their feet, and a small space round the eyes ; these last are remarkable for strength and stature. 
 Some have frizzled hair like the Papuans, and others have hair over their shoulders like Maccabars, while 
 their beards are as dillcrent as the hair of their heads ; the colour of the skin varies from black to copper 
 colour, and again to almost white. Their features also difier ; tlic Jewish, Celtic, and Teutonic type arc 
 recognizable, from which the stockmen nick-name them Paddy, Sawney, John Bull. They make good 
 seamen, stockmen, and policemen. The aborigines are not Papuans, but are probably cave-dwellers ; 
 having no fixed habitation or residence, they depend entirely upon the natural productions of the soil, 
 game, and fish.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 11 
 
 The formation of their skulls is sometimes low, but in many instances large and equal to the average 
 of Europeans. The theory of their inferiority is not strictly supported ; few persons who have had opportu- 
 nity of judging will admit this inferiority of intelligence ; it needs only cultivation. 
 
 They possess all the tender feelings of our common humanity, weeping over each other's afflictions, 
 as fellow mortals mourning with those who mourn. Exposed to danger and treachery, they are watchful ; 
 the rustling of a leaf will make them start to their feet. Acknowledging the law of retaliation, blood for 
 blood, they seldom feel secure. 
 
 It would appear that the aborigines of the sea-coast had never ventured far inland, and had never 
 passed the Blue Mountains, as they held to the belief that the interior was inhabited by white people, and 
 that there were large lakes and inland seas. 
 
 They are a very law-abiding people ; the tribes are under government of the chief elders, who are 
 chosen or elective ; they are the leaders in war, and in fact rulers of the tribe. 
 
 One of their law.s is that none but native weapons shall be used in their battles ; another, that an 
 unfair wound shall be punished. Capt. Jack Harvey had bitten a man's lips ; the tribe assembled and 
 sentenced him to four blows of a waddy on his head, the justice of which punishment he acknowledged. 
 
 "While the great change from their natural habits, diet, and mode of living, when brought under the 
 restriction of civilization, and their natural love of freedom — the influence of the elder people on them 
 when they reach the age of twelve, that they must undergo the ceremonies of piercing the nose and 
 knocking out the tooth, &c., &c. — while these failures (not however destitute of civilizing and Christian 
 evidences) are nevertheless disappointing, yet they have proved that these people are not so degraded as 
 represented, that they are not, as has been openly declared, scarce human, and may therefore be 
 destroyed — indeed, that thi.s is the decree of God. The fact is now incontrovertible that they possess much 
 capacity, considerable intelligence, and are capable of instruction ; have the same affections, the same 
 domestic and social relationships as ourselves ; are subject to special laws, and defend their country with 
 patriotism. That they have not risen to something higher is well expressed by Mr. Marsden, " They have 
 no wants." They live in a fine climate, with no ferocious animals to guard against, no mighty lakes and 
 rivers to navigate ; they are therefore in a position needing no exertion to quicken their energies, while 
 by their seclusion from mankind for ages, it is only astonishing that they have not descended still lower 
 in the scale of humanity. 
 
 They have much natural nobility of character, and much groundwork to work upon. Their case is 
 far from hopeless : Faith removes mountains. Miracles, says Mr. Simeon, have ceased, but wonders have 
 Dot. Let any man go forth with faith and prayer and perseverance, and he will accomplish wonders. 
 Therefore, in great undertakings, give me the man who loves to trample on apparent impossibilities. 
 
 An aboriginal youth is not allowed any of the privileges of manhood, which include not only per- 
 mission to take a wife (when ho can catch one from some neighbouring tribe), but also the right to cat 
 certain kinds of food, before he has undergone certain ceremonies, which, as they arc oxtromely painful and 
 revolting, are supposed to test his courage and power of endurance. These differ in various tribes. 
 Knocking out the front teeth and tattooing the back are amongst the mildest operations. The most pain- ,• 
 ful which is in vogue amongst the South Australian blacks is depilation. The unfortunate victim is Laid 1 
 on his back, his body daubed with clay and ochre, and then the old medicine man of the tribe deliberately ' 
 plucks every hair from the body of the suffering wretch, accompanying the business with a low monoto- 
 nous chant. It is a point of honor to endure these brutalities without a murmur, and, after their com- 
 pletion, the young man is hailed as a warrior by his new comrades, and from that time is treated 
 as a man. 
 
 The boys are not allowed to either cut or comb their hair until they undergo the ceremony of 1 
 manhood. They are also prohibited from eating certain game. When I have travelled with the tribes, 
 I have observed when we obtained honey the young men dared not partake. "When of age, the tribes 
 assemble at night, the youth or youths are seized ; the women trying to jirotect them, their beards are 
 torn out, and their hair combed by spears ; they are then smeared with grease and red ochre. For three 
 days and three nights they are not allowed to sleep or eat, and only to drink water through a reed ; for Kix\ 
 months they are obliged to walk naked, with a slight covering round their loins ; they have" to undergo three ] 
 times the plucking out of the beard, and must refrain from any food eaten by women. Everything is sacred ' 
 from the touch of women. They arc not allowed to marry until the time of trial has expired, but they are 
 allowed promiscuous intercourse with the young girls.
 
 12 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 In my travels 1 was sho-n'ri places, on the tops of hills in general, whore the trees were marked with 
 various devices, and there was a circular path all round. Here the candidates wore said to have undergone 
 various initiatory ccreraouies to qualify them for manhood, fi'om which the women arc strictly prohibited. 
 Here, I believe, the front teeth were knocked out by a stick placed against them, and then a blow from a 
 piece of wood. Thus is aecoiuplishcd this piece of dentistry. On the sea-coast, the fisherwomcn have tho 
 point of the finger cut off. Many perish undergoing these ceremonies, which a.re chiefly intended to make 
 them hardy. 
 
 The custom of exchanging names with strangers is a pledge of affection and protection in common 
 use. When meeting the natives in the bush alone or in camj), it is advisable to hold up the hands, 
 displaying a branch of a tree, with the view of declaring peaceable intentions. 
 
 The tabooing of several kinds of food to the women and young men may arise from the want which 
 has in some instances pressed so upon them that they have resorted to bleeding themselves to preserve 
 life, and indulged in cannibalism to some extent for the same purpose. 
 
 The names of deceased persons are not mentioned during mourning, nor the names of the mother 
 by a man seeking marriage of the daughter, nor can he look at his intended mother-in-law. 
 
 Sir Thomas Mitchell seems to think that many of their customs were of Eastern origin. Their 
 manner of fishing is described by him, the young men diving down, and sj)eariug the fish under water. 
 This I have witnessed myself. Sir Thomas also describes their villages. The huts are substantial, holding 
 fifteen persons, and having large tombs for burial-places. 
 
 They lived much on fish, and took them and birds, especially ducks and geese, with nets. 
 
 The enormous powers of the aboriginals in eating is described by Mr. Eyre, in his exploration 
 towards King's Island Sound. 
 
 His native boy Wylie managed to kill a kangaroo. He commenced his repast by eating a pound 
 and a half of horse-flesh and a little bread, they having had to slaughter a horse ; to this repast, he added 
 the entrails, paunch, liver, lights, and two hind legs of the kangaroo ; to this he added tho hide of the 
 kangaroo, having singed off the hair ; and having found a dead penguin on the shore, he wound up by 
 eating it all, including the tough skin of the bird. Admitting that his belly was full, ho made a little firo 
 and laid down to sleep, this apparently being the happiest moment of his life. On an average this boy 
 could consume 9 lbs. of meat per day — rather a dangerous companion on short allowance ; but these 
 people can fast as long, in proportion, as they can gormandize. 
 
 Funeral customs difler in tribes. The Narrinyeri tribes point out several stars, and say they are 
 deceased warriors who have gone up to heaven. These are Wyungare and Nepollc, tho Manchingga, and 
 several others ; and every native expects to go to Wyirrewarre after death, so that there can be no doubt 
 of their belief in a future state. They also believe the dead descend to and walk the earth, and that wicked 
 men will injure them. They are very much afraid of ghosts, and seldom venture in the scrub in the dark, 
 yet they travel long distances to surprise an enemy. The name of the deceased must not be mentioned 
 until tho body has decayed, lest they shoidd be considered wanting in feelings of respect. When a man 
 dies they conclude that sorcery has been exercised, so the nearest relative lies with his head on the corpse 
 80 that he may dream of the sorcerer. Next day the body is raised on men's shoulders on a bier, and 
 several names are called out as suspected persons until tho impulse of the dead body, which the beai'ers 
 pretend they cannot resist, confirms tho name of the sorcerer. 
 
 In some of the tribes the body is placed over a slow fire until the outer skin is blistered, when it is 
 rubbed over with grease and red ochre and placed within the wurley in an upright position. Then great 
 lamentations are made, while they besmear themselves with charcoal and oil, and the women with disgusting 
 filth, and they all beat and cut themselves. The corpse is then subjected to a further slow fire, to dry 
 the humors, while the relatives cat, drink, and sleep under it ; and tlicre is great weeping, especially among 
 the women. J3ut the deceased's spirit must be appeased by the death of the sorcerer. Messengers pass 
 through the tribes to find the suspected person ; this often loads to battles, sliould the tribes be at 
 variance, but otherwise a few spears are thrown and some abuse passed ; the old men then pronounce tliat 
 satisfaction has been made, and tho ceremony ceases. The hair of tho dead is spun into a cord and 
 made into a head-band ; they say that thus they smell the dead. The whole body is skinned with tho 
 nails attached, and with this they cover the sick. 
 
 In the Polynesian tribes there is a somewhat similar ceremony. In these islands the body is dried 
 and preserved in a sitting position for months, and an offering of food, fruit, and flowers, is daily placed 
 before the dead body, tlio priest attending to the ceremonies continually. The skeleton is finally burnt 
 within the temple of the family and the skull carefully kept.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 13 
 
 Death is certainly a terrible visitor, and people of all nations seem to desire to retain the identity, 
 as it were, amongst them. They do not like to consider the separation as final, and the being with whom 
 they have been so familiar as removed from all intercourse. On the death of a husband, the widow is not 
 permitted to look at any of the relatives for some time. Should she meet with any of the relatives, she 
 immediately prostrates herself on the ground and conceals herself in her cloak. In some districts they 
 bury the body in a sitting posture. 
 
 In some districts they bury the dead with the face towards the east, depositing the arms, &e., of 
 the deceased in the grave, and tying the legs of the corpse to the head, probably to save labour in 
 digging. 
 
 Their grave-yards are rather singular. They lay various casts of heads made of gypsum or lime 
 on the graves as marks of friends, and a number of oblong balls connected with each end, and of the same 
 material.
 
 14 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Religion— Massacre of the crew of the "Maria" — Traditions — Cave Figures — Superstitions — Sorcery — Diseases — Poison 
 
 Revenge — Native Songs — Wit and Humour — Fiilelity — Amusements — Corroborces — Weapons — Manufactures — Tlie 
 Bogan Tribes — Native Fruits — Dwellings. 
 
 They are a people free from idolatry. One -would suppose they would be open to receive the Gospel, 
 but it is not .so. They are superstitious, but not over-religious and do not seem to have such a deep 
 sense of siu as idolatrous nations who make expiation, and seek to be reconciled to the Superior Being. 
 This is a singular feature in their character. The North-American Indians are not idolatrous, but have 
 a belief in a Superior Being. 
 
 Many writers, amongst these Mr. Bennett, represent them as hiiving no knowledge of a Supreme 
 Being. " They have no knowledge whatever of the existence of a God," but from my travelling with 
 them I have always considered that they have a belief in a Supreme Being. 
 
 I find from the narrative of the Rev. Geo. Taplin, missionary to the aborigines, there is reason to 
 think likewise, although lie seems rather doubtful. In religious matters they are superstitious and 
 reserved, therefore it is only by such intercourse with them as Mr. Taplin's that we are likely to reach 
 correct notions. 
 
 He says the Narrinyeri tribes call the Supreme Being by two names, Nurundere and Martummero : 
 " He made all things on earth, and has given to men the weapons of war and hunting. He instituted all 
 rites and ceremonies practised by them connected, with life and death. The ceremony of roasting a 
 kangaroo, accompanied by shouting a chorus, and brandishing spears, was instituted by Him." 
 
 Of Nurundere they have many traditions : " He pursued an immense fish in Lake Alexandrina, and 
 having caught it, he tore it into pieces and scattered them ; out of these pieces other fish came into being 
 and had their origin. He threw some flat stones into the lake and they became tinuwarre fishes." 
 
 Wyungare, the remarkable hunter, had no father, but only a mother ; he was a red man from his 
 infancy. Of Nepelle they have traditions. They were both great hunters. Nepelle sought to revenge 
 himself on Wyungare for having taken his two wives ; the latter tried to escape, and fleeing, flung a spear 
 into the heavens with a line attached, and it having stuck there, he haided himself up ; and afterwards, 
 the two women. Three stars are pointed out as AVyungare and his wives. 
 
 The natives told the writer that the milky-way was the smoke of a great chief on the Murrumbidgee, 
 who was roasting mussels there. Thus it is evident they have many traditions of unseen Gods and 
 great chieftains, while the belief of some of these natives is that the milky-way is tho canoe of NcpcUo 
 floating in the heavens. 
 
 Of the flood they seem to have some tradition. They believe that Nurundere's two wives ran away 
 from him ; he pursued them, and met them at Encounter Bay, and there called upon the water to arise 
 and drown them. A terrible flood gathered .and swept over the hills, overtaking the fugitives, and his 
 wives were drowned, while he was saved by pulling to high land in his canoe. 
 
 Nurundere also lost two of his children but recovered them after a conflict with a blackfellow, 
 whom he killed. 
 
 The natives always mention his name with reverence. 
 
 The reverend writer's opinion is that Nurundere i.s some deified chief. The natives regard thunder 
 as his voice iu anger, and the rainbow as the production of his power. It is evident that they look to
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 15 
 
 Bome creative power ; although, in this instance, the more intelligent blacks told the missionary that 
 Nurundere was a chieftain who led the tribes down the Darling to the country they now inhabit, where he 
 appears to have met another tribe and had with them a battle, in which he and his tribes were victorious. 
 
 A writer "in 1842 says that,about 200 miles from Sydney, they assembled for a corroboree for rain, and 
 described God as a great blackfellow, high up in the clouds, having arms nine miles long, eyes the size of a 
 house, ever in motion. He never sleeps, flashes lightning, iind dries up the waterholes as punishment. 
 They have their songs and festivals for dry weather when on journeys, thus indicating a higher state of 
 things. 
 
 Every tribe has its ngaitye or tutelary genius or tribal symbol, in the shape of a bird, beast, fish, 
 reptile, insect, or substance. 
 
 I hereunto add the names of tribes in Victoria : — 
 
 Tribe. Locality. Ngaitye. 
 
 "Welinyeri... ... ... Murray Eiver ... ... Black duck and black snake with 
 
 red belly. 
 Lathinyeri ... ... do. ... ... Black swan, teal, and black snake 
 
 with grey belly. 
 Wunyakuldc ... ... do. ... ... Black duck. 
 
 Piltinyeri... ... ... Lake Alexandrina... ... Leeches, catfish (native pomery.) 
 
 The Narrinyeri have for their neighbours the AVakanuwan and the Merkani tribes ; the latter are 
 cannibals, who steal fat people particularly. If a man has a fat wife, he is particular not to leave her 
 exposed, lest she should be seized ; the consequence is that the other tribes confederate against cannibal 
 tribes, and battles are frequent ; some 500 to 800 men are mustered on each side. 
 
 Two stray bullocks having wandered amongst the Lake tribes, they took them for demons, in which 
 they believed, and decamped in great terror ; they named them Wundawityeri, as beings with spears upon 
 their heads. 
 
 There is a very tragic history of these tribes : that the survivors of the " Maria," wrecked on the 
 coast, supposed to be twenty-five in number, men, women, and children, were induced to place themselves 
 under their guidance to lead them to a whaling station at Encounter Bay. The native guides took advantage 
 of their being separated in crossing the Coorong, quietly placed a man behind each of the whites, and at a 
 signal clubbed them. The poor wanderers had marched 80 miles from the wreck, when they were thus 
 treacherously murdered. A party of police were despatched ; they found the camp, in which were large 
 quantities of clothing and other articles. The officers seized two of the most desperate men, and then hanged 
 them up by the neck to a tree, and shot two others. The natives gazed for a minute at the suspended 
 bodies, and then fled. They never cut down the bodies, which remained hanging until they dropped from 
 the trees. 
 
 In some instances, the native secures his ngaitye in the person of a snake, he pulls out its teeth or 
 sews up its mouth, and puts it in a basket. These snakes have suddenly given birth to thirty young ones, when 
 it becomes necessary to destroy them. It seems that their belief in Ngaitye is also peculiar to the natives 
 of the Taowinyeri. One saw his God in the shark, the eel, the owl, the lizard, fish, and creeping things. 
 How deluded and debased is man without Divine revelation, yet we are told by philosopliers and their 
 followers that all men have to do is to study nature, and there read the character of the Deity. But have 
 they ever done so through ages ? Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, have all clianged the glory of God into four- 
 footed beasts and creeping things ; even leeks and onions have been worshipped. AVHiy should tlie aborigines 
 be an exception ? Divine revelation alone teaches man tho true character of the Divine Being, " for man 
 by wisdom cannot find out God." 
 
 With regard to the advantages of civilization, they do not believe the same to be the result of a 
 superior intellect, or of religion, but of a resurrection from the dead. " Blackfellow bj'-and-by jump up 
 whitcfellow," is the common mode of expressing their belief 
 
 The Rev. A. Meyer, in his pamphlet, gives some interesting particulars of these people. He says 
 they do not appear to have any story as to the origin of the world, and they believe in the transmigration 
 of souls. Men have been transformed into animals, even into stones ; to the latter they give the names 
 of men and women, and point out their head, feet, liands, and their waist and face. In one of their 
 dances, one that had been speared and wounded ran into the sea, and was transformed into a whale, and 
 ever afterwards blew tho water out of the wound in his neck. Others became fish, others became opossums ; 
 and thus they account for the creation of animals and fish, &c., &c.
 
 16 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Of tho diversity of dialects, they have a tradition that when an old woman named Wurruri died, the 
 various nations assembled, and one tribe ate her flesli and others ate her intestines, and they all thus 
 acquired different dialects. Certainly nothing here indicates the dispersion of Babel. 
 
 On Nurundere's removal, he left his son behind. On discovering this, he threw his spear to him witli a 
 lino attached. The son thus succeeded in reaching his father, and this line is the way the dead reach 
 NurunJero, who provides men with wives, and converts old men into young ones ; therefore they have no 
 fear of the future. Some of the legends are very obscene. 
 
 Tliey have curious legends about animals. They conceive tho turtle and the snake exchanged 
 the venomous fangs. A battle took place between the pelican and the magpie about fish ; in the struggle 
 the magpie was rolled in the ashes and the pelican became besmeared with scales of tho fish, and so had 
 white breasts. They believe in two Wood Demons ; the one assumes any shape, sometimes an old man, 
 then a bird, to lure individuals into his reach that he may destroy them. 
 
 The noise on the Lake of Alexandrina is very remarkable, and the cause was long undis- 
 covered. Of course it is attributed by the blacks to a water spirit. It is heard with a booming sounJ, 
 resembling distant cannon or an explosive blast, at other times like the falling of a heavy body in tho 
 water. This now is known to be caused by a bii-d. 
 
 The cave figures are very remarkable, and seem to puzzle every writer on their origin or use. It is 
 very probable they were connected in some way with religious observances, which the natives are very 
 unwilling to divulge. 
 
 These figures and others cut in rocks are found in several parts of Australia, thus doing away with 
 the supposition that they may have been the production of str.angers who have landed on portions of the 
 shore, as figures have been found on the eastern shores by Sir George Grey, and also near Sydney, not 
 only on rocks but on trees. How many of these have been engraven on hard rocks with the want of 
 suitable implements it is diiEcult to divine. 
 
 Sir George Grey's description of some of these is remarkable, a rough sketch of one of which I sub- 
 join, being a figure painted on the roof of caves. This figure is painted on a black ground so as to produce 
 a stronger effect, and covered with the most vivid red and white ; its head encircled with bright red 
 rays inside a broad stripe of brilliant red, crossed by lines of white, and then crossed again with 
 narrow stripes of deeper red ; the face painted white, tlie eyes black, surmounted by red and yellow lines ; 
 the body and hands outlined with red, the body being curiously painted with red stripes and bars. The 
 dimensions were — head and face, 2 feet ; width of face, 17 inches ; length from bottom of face to navel, 
 2 feet 6 inches. 
 
 There were other paintings in the cave vividly coloured — one with four heads, joined together with 
 a necklace, but having no mouths, and good-looking, executed on a white ground. Length, 3 feet G 
 inches ; breadth across two upper parts, 2 feet G inches ; lower heads, 3 feet Ij inch. 
 
 Tliere were several other paintings of singular character— one being a disc representing a kangaroo 
 as an oftering to number one ; also spears thrown at some unknown object ; the impress of a h;ind ; an 
 arm in the black wall, so as to appear extended round some one in the cave, inviting him to some more 
 concealed mysteries. 
 
 In another cave, approached by steps, until they reached a central elevated stone slab, supporting 
 a slab to uphold the roof, was a seat at the extremity. The principal figure was that of a man 10 feet 
 6 inches in length, clothed from the chin downwards in a red garment reaching to the feet, the hands and 
 feet being painted of a deeper red ; the face and head were enveloped in a succession of circular bandages 
 or rollers. 
 
 These were vividly coloured yellow and white ; the eyes were alone represented on tho face, no 
 nose nor mouth. On the bandages were a rolled series of lines, painted in red, regularly done, as if to 
 indicate some meaning. Its feet reached just in front of the natural scat, whUe its head and face stared 
 grimly down on the floor of the cavern. There were numerous figures of kangaroos, emus, turtles, snakes, 
 &c., on the sides of the cave. 
 
 From the appearance of grease on tho roof just over the scat. Sir Geo. Grey conjectures that at 
 certain times some doctor or chief man sits tliere, and that the cave is resorted to in cases of disease or witch- 
 craft ; footsteps were seen about the place. Tlie figures are remarkable; the rays of the sun, as we may 
 suppose, emanating from the liead, would lead to the belief of the woi'ship of Baal, the God of Fire ; while 
 some of tlie names of tho tribes partly support this idea, such as Binbal, Bundyil, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 Tlie other figures are clothed from lieail to foot. This is singular, as tho natives have no such 
 garifionts, their opossum cloak having no sleeves, and not reaching to the feet as hero described.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 17 
 
 That these caves may lie places of worship, like the eaves in India, is not improbable, especially 
 when we see the offering of the kangaroo, and the seat for some presiding person, priest, or doctor. The 
 whole no doubt is mysterious, but we hardly think that these people could bo entirely destitute of some 
 form of religion, when we take these cave figures into consideration, with the ceremony of initiating young 
 men to manhood, the exclusion of women, prohibition of certain food, their belief in spirits and a future 
 condition, the deification of their chiefs into stars, the deification of heroes, and even of the lowest 
 reptiles and animals. 
 
 One figure, representing a whale, was carved near Dawes Battery, Sydney, besides many figures 
 carved on rocks and cut on trees — a kind of picture-painting. On another rock there was a figure of a 
 man 10 feet high, wearing a light red robe, close at the nook, reaching to his feet. He had a pair of eyes, 
 and his face was surrounded by a circle of yellow, and an outward circle of white edged with red. 
 
 There were many such paintings, and in an isolated rock was the profile of a man cut in solid atone, 
 of a character more European than Native, executed in a style beyond what any savage would be 
 thought capable of. 
 
 Both Flinders and King, along the coast, discovered drawings of porjDoises, turtles, fish, &c., and a 
 human head, done in charcoal or burnt stick and something like white paint, upon the face of the rock. 
 
 These paintings are on the coast or near it, and may be the work probably of some persons who 
 had visited the coast, and not of the aboriginals themselves, as the Malays frequently visited the coast. 
 
 The red hand seen in the caves is another singular device, which is also met with amongst the 
 North American Indians. But what are most remarkable are the stone circles at Mount Elephant, 
 Victoria, resembling the stone monuments at Stonehenge in England. 
 
 The stones in these structures are of ponderous masses, raised upright, seemingly pointing to a 
 fact that the same people were spread far and wide, of which we know nothing at present. 
 
 With regard to superstition, Sir G. Grey's party had reached a stream of fresh water, where there 
 was abundance of mussels, but Kaiber would not touch any of them, and was in great terror on seeing 
 the whites devour them. A storm of thunder set in, which made the party rather chilly and miserable. 
 lie chanted a glowing song by way of reproach. 
 
 Oh ! wherefore would you eat the mussels ? 
 Now the boyl-yas storm and thunder make ; 
 Oh ! wherefore would you cat the mussels ? 
 
 If boys eat i)roscribcd food they believe they will have sore legs, or turn grey, or suffer under some 
 other infliction. 
 
 Tiic Ngia-Ngiampe, a chief, carries on trade between the tribes in the exchange of baskets, rugs, 
 clubs, &c. 
 
 The umbilical cord is preserved, and this is supposed to confer some peculiar virtue on the Ngia- 
 Ngiampe. Those possessing these charms never speak to each other, and employ a third person to carry 
 on the traffic, so that there is no danger of collusion in their dealings. 
 
 Sorcery is practised extensively, as in the Pacific Islands. Through fear of disease they collect and 
 destroy all the refuse in their vicinity ; but should the disease-maker find a bone of some bird or animal 
 he proceeds with this to inflict disease. 
 
 So with the Tahitians — the disease-maker picks up the parings of nails, hair, saliva, and other 
 secretions of the body as vehicles which tlie Demon introduces into lu"s victim, or they often exchange 
 their ngadiiungi and each destroys it. 
 
 When the ngaitye of a tribe is killed, if a hostile kuklukkc of another tribe gets a bone, he ties it in 
 the corner of a wallaby's skin and ilings at the people, and they are made sick. They state that they 
 could or did kill a magpie by sorcery. One day two children were at i)lay — one chopped off the joint of 
 the other child's finger ; the father swallowed it with the view that no sorcery man should get it. 
 
 Next is the .avenger. The man seeking revenge disguises himself, marking his face over with streaks, 
 .and then with a heavy club prowls about the hunting ground. If he sees his victim alone, he rushes on 
 him and kills him, breaking his bones. 
 
 The perpetrator is called malpiiri (murderer), and is subject to be put to death by the relatives of 
 the victim, as the avenger of blood. 
 
 This belief in sorcery makes them careless of illness. From a belief in its cur.ative properties, 
 some of the tribes t.ake the kidney fat from the enemies they sl.ay. 
 C
 
 18 THE ABOEIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 They have no idea of poisonous plants, and consider all deaths as the results of sorcery. 
 
 The diseases they suffer from are chiefly of a scrofulous nature, dysentery, and brain fever. They 
 have likewise skin diseases, fistulas, itch, &c. Sulphur is one of their specifics ; the wattle-bark and gum 
 are also much used. They likewise sufter from influenza. There is no doubt that they were visited with 
 suiall-pos before the Europeans arrived, of which numbers died, and many more bore the marks. 
 
 Their doctora use incantations and apply pressure to the affected parts. They also employ the 
 vapour bath, obtained by putting wet water-weeds on heated stones and covering the patient with 
 rugs. 
 
 The poison revenge is a dreadful visitation. A spear-head is plunged into a putrid corpse, and 
 with feathers so dipped in the fat a wound is inflicted on an enemy, who dies in dreadful agony, similar 
 in effect to blood-poisoning from dead animals amongst ourselves. To possess this poison is the old 
 natives' object ; they therefore often oppose the burial of the dead. 
 
 They appear to have a talent for extempore productions. When Sir Or. Grey's party was in a 
 hopeless condition for want of water and food, the native Kaiber sat shouting to himself native songs. 
 
 Thither, mother. Oh ! I return again. 
 Thither, Oh ! 1 return again. • 
 Whither does tliat lone sliip wander ? 
 ily young sou I shall never see again. 
 Wliither does that lone ship wander ? 
 
 Very pathetic. Their feelings are very strong, as may be seen by Warru2)'s account of the discovery 
 of Smith's remains, oue of Sir George Grey's companions, which were found stretched on a high rock, 
 where he lay down and died. 
 
 Away, away, we go — 
 
 I, Mr. Roe, and Kinchcla — 
 
 Along the shoi'e, away ! Along the shore, away ! 
 
 We see a paper, the paper of Morliuier and Spofforth. 
 
 Away we go, we see no fresh water. 
 
 Along the shore. 
 
 Away, away, away, we go along the shSre ! 
 
 Away, away, away, a long distance we go ! 
 
 I see Mr. Smith's footsteps ascending a sand-hill. 
 
 Onward I go, regarding his footsteps. 
 
 I see Mr. Smith dead, we connncuce digging the earth ; 
 
 Two sleeps had he been dead ; 
 
 tireatly did I weep, and much I grieved. 
 
 In his blanket folding him, 
 
 We scrape away the earth. 
 
 We scrape the earth into the gi-ave, 
 
 AVe scrape the earth into the grave, 
 
 A little wood we place in it, much earth we heap upon it. 
 
 Much earth we throw upon it, no dogs can dig there. 
 
 The sun had just inclined to the westward, 
 
 As we laid him in the ground. — Orey. 
 
 The following is a specimen of their extempore comi)osition on sight of a railway train: — 
 
 " You sec the smoke in Kapund:i, 
 Tlie ftcnm puft's regularly, 
 Sho\ving (piickl\ it looks like frost. 
 It runs like running water. 
 It blows like a spouting whale." 
 
 A settler wlio frequently employed aboriginal labour, having heard some complaint of their 
 illtrcating a white man, ordered the tribe iiiistantly lu dcc;imp. He was somewhat surprised at one of 
 their number Mp])earing before him quite naked, ornamented with i)ipcclay, and carrying two nullas. The 
 black asked tlie gentleman to fii,'lit, oiTcring one of flic null.'is. The gentleman, however, determined to 
 choose his own weapon, and produted his gun, which he loaded with ball in ]ircseuce of the champion, and, 
 pointing to the dial of his watcli, said, "If you are not out of this stockyard in ten minutes, Iwill 
 shoot you." 'I'he black champion watched the hands of the watch, and when the time had nearly expired, 
 he grficefully said, " Good evening, massa," and disappeared. 
 
 As an instance of their fidelity, a squatter in the north, whose house was surrounded by blacks 
 threatening assault, had a domesticated native, wlio had got mi.xcil up with the savage tribe. lie watclied 
 his opportunity aud seized a horse, aud, with a piece of stringy-bark for a bridle, galloped several miles to
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 19 
 
 a police station, giving the alarm. The police immediately mounted horse, galloped furiously to the 
 station, took a circuit round the house, and then followed on the trail o£ the blacks, whom they overtook 
 encamped ; they fired into them, and killed find wounded several. The sergeant, a white, however remained 
 at the station, leaving these desperadoes to do their bloody deeds of carnage; probably he felt he could 
 not restrain them. The fidelity of the black, however, saved the lives of the station-holders. 
 
 A black in Port Macquarie stole on Mr. , while lying on the grass. He had pipeclayed him- 
 self, and theu stealing along, made a noise like the burring of a quail. Mr. , in fright, leaped on his 
 
 horse and fled ; this amused the black very much. 
 
 Mr. James E had a lad as coachman, who drove well, was a perfect dandy, kept his horses in 
 
 fine order, used much oil for his hair, and prided himself on his coach and appearance, but withal went 
 back to the bush. A gentleman at Molcsmane had a lad for several years. He could read and write, 
 cast up accounts, and do anything on a farm. At the age for the ceremony of knocking out teeth he 
 went back to the wild state. 
 
 An aboriginal and woman had a dairy station at Monaro, were married at church, and conducted 
 their station like any Europeans. 
 
 Their power of ridicule is very great. Sir George Grey's party having reached a friendly tribe, 
 who supplied them with frogs and turtles, one of them, named Imbat, enjoyed himself at the expense of 
 Sir George Grey. 
 
 " What for do you, who have plenty to eat and much money, walk so far away in the bush ? Tou 
 are thin, your shanks are long, your belly small, you had plenty to eat at home, why did you not stop 
 there ?" 
 
 Sir G. Grey replied, being somewhat mortified, " You comprehend nothing ; you know nothing." 
 
 " I know nothing ? I know how to keep myself fat. The young women look at me and say, ' Imbat 
 is very handsome, he is fat.' They look at you, and say, ' He is not good, long legs :' AVhat do you know, where 
 is your fat, what for do you know so much, if you can't keep fat ? I know how to keep at home, and not 
 walk too far in the bush ; where is your fat?" " You know how to talk ; — lonf,' tongue," was my reply, 
 upon which, forgetting his anger, ho burst into a roar of laughter, and saying, " 1 know how to make you 
 fat," began stuffing me with frogs and by-yu nuts. 
 
 There was something more practical here than irony. The value of religion under the trying cir- 
 cumstances of a forlorn hope in this expedition is acknowledged by Sir G. Grey : — " I feel assured that 
 but for the support I derived from prayer and frequent perusals and meditation of the Scriptures, I should 
 never have been able to have borne myself in such a manner as to have maintained discipline and confi- 
 dence among the rest of the party, nor in my sufferings did I ever lose the consolation derived from the 
 firm reliance upon the goodness of Providence. It is only those who go forth into perils and dangers, 
 where human foresight and strength can little avail, find tliemselves day after day protected by an unseen 
 influence, and ever and anon snatched from the jaws of destruction by a power which is not of this world, who 
 can at all estimate the knowledge of one's weakness and littleness, and the firm reliance and trust upon the 
 goodness of the Creator which the human heart is capable of feeling." 
 
 When seeking to determine what they were to do to extricate tliemselves from their difficulties, he 
 says, "He then strengthened his mind by reading a few chapters in the Bible, and walked on." 
 
 Those who have read of Sir J. Franklin's early explorations down the Gopper-mine lliver, and his 
 return with his party, will see how this party, in the midst of ice and snow and starvation, were supported 
 by religion, the JJiblc being the staff of their strength, and that they were the objects of God's care, 
 buoyed them up under unheard-of difficulties appalling to human nature. " Wliat is man alone in 
 creation without God ?" 
 
 They are very expert in throwing tlie spear, at wliich they constantly practise. They have a game 
 at ball, which gives occasion for much wrestling and activity ; besides this, they have wrestling matches for 
 bunches of feathers. 
 
 There are many kinds of eorroborces. All have the song and the dance; both arc at times vei-y 
 libidinous, especially the dance of the women. The war dances are conducted by some hundreds of men 
 in a measured tramp, and in a very excited state of mind. They make up their song out of some incident or 
 circumstance they may liave seen. Tlie eft'cct is very imposing : the men in a state of nudity ; their bodies 
 striped in white, and their heads fancifully adorned ; the fires lighting up the night and easting their glare 
 around the forest ; the stately trees spreading their shadows ; the women seated and drumming rudo 
 music from tight-rolled skins. The activity of the dancers and the strange noises, sounds, and 
 imitating calls altogether present a wild, unearthly, and apparently demoniacal scene. A resident on
 
 20 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 the Macleay liiver gives the following sketch of this ceremony : — " From the repugnance which the blacks 
 at the Macleay displayed on my looking at their performance, and their angry refusal to allow mo to see 
 the main part of tlie ceremony, I am unable to give a reguhir account of it, having only been able to obtain 
 occasional glimpses. After many preliininary grotesque mummeries had been performed, the doctors or 
 priests of the tribe took each a boy, and held him for some time with his head downwards near the fire. 
 Afterwards, with great solemnity, they were invested witli tlie opossum belt ; and .at considerable intervals, 
 between each presentation, tliey were given the iinlla-nulla, the boomerang, the spear, &c. Whilst these 
 arms were being conferred upon them the other natives performed a sham tight, and pretended to hunt tlio 
 pademelon, spear fish, and imitate various other occupations, in wliich tlie weapons, lately presented to the 
 youth, would be of service. As their ceremonies occupied a fortnight or more before they were concluded, 
 m.any other ridiculous scenes were undoubtedly euiicted, and during .ill this time the women did not daro 
 to approach the performers. Each man was also provided witli a singular instrument, formed with a piece 
 of hollowed wood fastened to a long piece of flax string ; by whirling this rapidly round their heads a loud 
 shrill noise was produced, and the blacks seemed to attach a great degree of mystic importance to the 
 sound of this instrument, for they told me that if a woman heard it she would die. The conclusion of 
 this ceremony was a grand dance of a peculiar character, in which the boys join, .and which the women are 
 allowed to see. This dance is performed with much more solemnity than the ordinary corroborees. The 
 Tarra-hapiuni tribe, which I saw execute this dance uear the Clybucca Creek, were so elabor.ately painted 
 with white for the occasion that even their very toes and lingers were carefully .and regularly coloured 
 with concentric rings, whilst their hair was drawn up in a close knot, .and stuck all over with the snowy 
 down of the white cockatoo, which gave them tlie appearance of being decorated with white wings. In 
 this dance the performers arr.anged themselves in the form of a semicircle, .and grasping the ends of their 
 boomer.augs, which are also painted with great minuteness and regul.arity, they sw.ayed their bodies rapidly 
 from right to left, displaying a degree of flexibility in their limbs wliich might h.ave created the envy of 
 m.any a pantomimic artist. Each movement of their bodjes to and fro was accomp.anied by a loud hiss, 
 whilst a number of other natives, similarly paiuted, beat time with sticks, and kept up an incessant and 
 obstreperous song. Every now and then the d.ancers would stop and rush, crowding together into a circle, 
 raising their weapons with outstretched arms, and joining with frantic energy in the song. They would 
 then be more composed, and walk backwards and forwards in couples, holding eacli other by the hand, 
 until again roused by an elderly uativc to resume the dance. It was not until midnight that the noise 
 ceased, which, every evening whilst the ceremonies lasted, might be heard at a distance of two or three miles." 
 
 The spear is the chief weapon, and is thrown by help of a throwing-stick (woomar.nh), by which .an 
 increased leverage is obt.ained. Some of them are barbed, and deadly in their effect. The shafts of some 
 are of heavy wood, others of reed. 
 
 The shields with which they defend themselves are of either bark or wood, and the dexterity with 
 which they ward off the spears is astonishing. I have seen in a case of punishment, when the crimin.al 
 had to stand .all .alone .and to defend himself from tiie shower of spears cast at him, that he stood perfectly 
 self-possessed. On these occasions perhaps a hundred or more natives .are assembled. The criminal stands 
 at a certain distance until a given number of spears have been cast .at him. 
 
 The boomerang is anotlicr weapon of very singul.ar formation. It is a crooked bl.ade, very like 
 the blade of a steamer's screw, aud much on that ])rinciplc. It is cast by the hand, and gyrates through 
 the air, and can be so thrown as to return to the feet of the thrower ; or in a longer flight, dancing along 
 the ground. It is particularly hard to guard against, from the curvature of its motion. It is used for killing 
 birds ou the wing, and can be thrown to a distance of 150 yards. The late Sir Thomas Mitchell fashioned 
 a propeller for a steam-bo.at on this principle. 
 
 Their manufactures .arc few. Their canoes are miserable vessels, made out of a sheet of b.ark lied 
 up at the ends. But having no great lakes to cross, like in America, nor any very dangerous rivers, they 
 answer tiie purpose of ferrying two or three persons over at a time, if gre.at care be exercised. 
 
 The late Admiral King describes the natives as h.aving canoes 18 feet long, cap.able of containing 
 eight persons in some instances, made out of trees ; wliile the natives on the coast capture dugong, from 
 which the celebrated oil is procured. Some of tliese llsh weigh from 12 lbs. to 11 lbs. ; they live on 
 marine plants. 
 
 There is certainly some indication here of a higher order of natives tlian those gcucr.ally dispersed 
 to the south. Probably they were at one time higher in civili/.atiou tlum at present. 
 
 They make baskets and mats from the bark of the malice tree, and tlie Latter also from sea-weed, 
 whicli sometimes serves the jnirpose of a bed. IBut their cloaks, made of opossum skins, prepared and 
 sewn together with sinews, form comfortable, and w.arm garments. They likewise dress other skins — o£ 
 tiie kangaroo aud native cat, sewing tlieni together witli tlic sinews of llie kangaroo's tail. Their stono
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 21 
 
 axes are merely stones ground down to an edge and fastened to a handle by gum and thread, and require 
 the exercise of mucli patience in cutting through wood, &c. 
 
 The name given to the river Began is probably a corruption of Bungan. One of the early explorers 
 maintains that the name of the Bogan was Bungan-Gallo. The course of the river is less circuitous than 
 that of the Macquarie, and the rate of the current averages about -i miles per hour. 
 
 Of the many aboriginal tribes mentioned in the narratives of the old explorers, not one can be said 
 to exist, and the numerous wandering remnants are dying off. The few gins and blackfellows that I saw 
 at the stations are very useful to the settlers, but in most cases the blacks come and go when they please. 
 Sir Thomas Mitchell mentions three great tribes : 1. The Bultje, composed of many intelligent natives. 
 This tribe numbered about 120 in 1835. Their hunting grounds were around the head waters of the 
 Bogan. Tiie local peculiarity of this tribe was that one, or in some cases two, of the front teeth of the 
 males were extracted on their arriving at the age of fourteen. 2. The Myall tribe, who inhabited the 
 central parts about Cudduldry, at tho great bend of the Bogan to the northward. These natives had 
 many curious customs. Some of the young men were gaily dressed with feathers, and were apparently 
 formed into some sort of society or association, as they were all called by one name, " Talambe," and great 
 interest was taken in them by the other members of the tribe. What their chief or leader's name was, or 
 what were their purposes, were never mentioned, nor by any accident did any solution of the secret 
 transpire. These natives did not extract the front teeth. 3. The Bungan tribe, inhabiting the Bogan 
 between Cambelego and Mount Hopeless. They were less subtle aud dissimulating than the Myalls. 
 4 and 5. Two tribes lower down the Bogan, the haunts of one being eastward of New Year's Eange, and 
 those of the other to the north of the Pink Hills. Both these tribes were described as being inoffensive, 
 and of a friendly disposition. They were terrified at the sight of cattle, and still more afraid of sheep. 
 The principal food of these various tribes consisted of opossum, kangaroo, and emu. Fishing, which was 
 left entirely to the gins, was effectually yet simply performed by a moveable dam of long, twisted dry 
 grass, through which water only could pass. This being pushed from one end of the pond or water-hole 
 to the other, all the fish were necessarily driven before it and captured. The gins further used to gather 
 fresh-water mussels (which abound in the mud of these holes), by lifting the shells out of the mud with 
 their toes. A small plant with a yellow flower, called Tao by tho natives, was pointed out to me. It 
 grows in the grassy places near the river, and on its root the young children used cliietly to subsist. 
 About as soon as they could walk, they were taught to pick about tho ground for these roots, and to dig 
 out the larvic of ant-hills. Wild honey would appear to have been also plentiful. 
 
 Adding a few notices from IMr. Eyre's journal, and Captain Sturt's also, and Sir Thomas Mitchell's 
 exploration : — Mr. Eyre describes the food of the natives to be often the wild fruits of the forest. 
 Although there is in New Holland very little of what can be called fruit, yet Mr. Eyre speaks of a kind of 
 plum or gooseberry which grows in the sand near Spencer's Gulf, which is acid aud pleasant to eat, and on 
 which the natives live for some time. Also, a description of wild grape has been found by the explorers. 
 Sir Thomas Mitchell used to say all these fruits wanted was to be " fattened." 
 
 Their powers as mimics arc described by Sturt — in one instance equal to if not outrivalling 
 Liston in his best days. 
 
 I have already shown the superstition of the natives, which is proved by another remarkable case 
 mentioned by Eobert Austin : — The party shot a rod kangaroo. The native ranger became much excited, and 
 begged he might not be asked to eat of it, " For look," said he, " its head is truly that of a dog with the ears 
 of a cow. Saw you ever a kangaroo so fat, or meat that smelt so strange. No, sir, this creature is not 
 natural ; it must be a magician of evil. Glad I am that one of my tribe has killed one of this odious 
 race. My father aud mother never ate one. Let the northern women cat if they like, but I must be a 
 great fool to put a strange devil down my throat, to give me the stomach-ache." 
 
 Sir George Grey describes their huts in the rain, which gave not only some idea of shelter, but even 
 of comfort. They afforded a very favorable specimen of the taste of the gins, whoso business it is generally 
 to construct the huts. The village of bowers also occupied more space than the encampments of the 
 natives in general. The choice of a shady spot seemed to have been an object, and to have been selected 
 with care. Here then we have, at considerable distances, natives erecting huts and living in something like 
 communities. Can these bo of the same origin as the general population, or has the circumstance that 
 fruits and food may be found sufficient for support in these localities induced the aborigines to lead a 
 more settled life? 
 
 Mitchell says they found a tree with a fruit resembling a small russet apple, skin rough, the pulp a 
 rich crimson, and covering a large stone ; an agreeable acid. So in Grey's case, the natives seem to have 
 stored certain nuts. These grow in some ])art of tlie northern territory, affording food for the natives for 
 several months. They seem to have some idea of measuring time, for they pointed out to IMilchell's party 
 that white man (evidently Sturt's party) had passed there, pointing to the sun, sis annual revolutions.
 
 22 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 First seUlcment of the Colony — Claims of the Aborigines — Extracts from CoUins'a Works — Eonnillong and Colo-bc — 
 Dangerous proceedings of the Aborigines — Frightful massacre by the Blacks — Notes by a University man — Mr. 
 TioUope's remarks — Aboriginal Police — Doom of the Queensland Savage — Massacre on Liverpool Plains — Soutli 
 Australian Aboriginals. 
 
 The project of deporting criminals to this distant, almost unknown, portion of the world — a country 
 whose resources were unknown, and distant IG,000 miles — was a bold measure, arising partly from 
 necessity, and much discus.sed in the public Press, but the expedient has been iiltmatcly crowned witli 
 success. Homes have been made for multitudes, British liberty and law established, and, above all, 
 Christianity extended to a portion of the world that for ages had remained in the darkness of heathenism, 
 shut out from commerce and the intercourse of intelligence. 
 
 Strange to say, in this expatriation no provision had been made by the Grovernment for that which 
 
 IS the foundation of national success — religion, and it was not until Mr. Wilbcrforce, with his Cliristian 
 zeal, pressed the Government, that a single minister of religion, Mr. Johnston, was provided, wliile a 
 reckless and degraded class of men was about to be cast into the midst of a savage people, not at all 
 calculated to raise or elevate them, but rather to depress and vitiate, and ultimately to destroy them. 
 
 AVhatcver benefit the civilized world has acquired in opening up a new territory for their over- 
 peopled state, the poor unfortunate aborigines have had to suffer increased misery, wretchedness, and 
 gradual extinction. 
 
 The Bishop of Perth has well put the question : " The darkness they were in in their original con- 
 dition was the darkness of ignorance — dark indeed, but far darker is their state when to the darkness ot 
 ignorance is added the degradation of the acquired vices of civilization." 
 
 Little or no missionary zeal prevailed in the churches. At this period vital Christianity was lost 
 sight of under mere moral teaching, yet a few names, as in Sardis, were found for the truth, but the heathen 
 world was but little thought of. 
 
 The first mission to the Pacific was that of the London Missionary Society to Tahiti, so unscrupu- 
 
 Idusly desecrated by the French. 
 
 No doubt the natives v.ere surprised at their visitors, and were loo soon convinceil of their unscru- 
 pulous invasion of the land, but right had to submit to might. 
 
 Various conflicts took place between the races ; a kind of guerilla warfare was carried on, and lives 
 were sacriliced, although strict orders were given against violence or the prisoners going without bounds, and 
 the severe punishment of 700 la.shes was administered, and even hanging resorted to, for disobedience 
 and robbery, yet temptations wore too strong lo check these evils. 
 
 The Governor exercised the kindest feelings toward the aborigines, so as to win their confidence, 
 as may be seen by the following extracts from our earliest liistorian, Collins. 
 
 Many affrays took place between the natives and the Europeans, in which life was lost on both sides, 
 but at k'lmlh the natives became more familiar, and often danced and fought in the settlement, to the amuse- 
 ment of the people; when wounded they submitted to the surgeon's opei'ations. 
 
 In these affrays the natives exhibited much bravery and became formidable to the settler, so that 
 frecjucnt conflicts took place, in which much life was lost on both sides. They carried away considerable 
 plunder, and even made piratical attacks on vessels conveying corn, and killed the crews. It is thought
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 23 
 
 that the runaway convicts gave them assistance. They had attacked a farm near Kissing Point, murdered 
 a man and woman, and liaving been pursued, an encounter took place near Parramatta, headed by their chief, 
 Pemulwy, who threw spears at one of the soldiers. They were iired on, iive natives were killed, and their 
 chief, Pemulwy, received five buck-shot wounds in his head and parts of his body ; he was captured and 
 taken to the hospital. 
 
 The chief cause of warfare was the blacks plundering the maize crops, the whites having thinned 
 out their game, and the blacks, driven by hunger, retaliated. 
 
 The animosity increased to such a degree that wauton acts of violence were resorted to. In one 
 instance, the natives murdered two men who had farms. The settlers, in retaliation, seized three boys 
 residing with the settlers, and having obtained through them the muskets of the murdered men, they 1 'ed 
 their hands, and beat the boys to death in a barn ; the others escaped. The Governor, on hearing of this 
 cruelty, had the perpetrators tried, but from some interposing evidence, although convicted of being guilty of 
 killing, they were not executed, but released on bail ; they asserted that several whites had been murdered. 
 
 The natives however were not altogether idle ; they robbed, burnt down houses, and assembled in 
 large bodies, it is supposed instigated by runaway convicts. 
 
 Their government is domestic. They highly respect fathers. When they saw respect paid to the 
 Governor, they entitled him Be-anna, Father. On the death of a father, the nearest of kin assumes 
 the office, under the title of Be-anna. 
 
 Each family had a particular residence and name to distinguish it. Those on the south side of 
 Botany Bay were called Gweagal, and those on the north side were Cam-mer-ray-gal. To this tribe belonged 
 the privilege of extracting the tooth for the tribes inhabiting the sea-coast. 
 
 As to religion, there appears an idea of a future state. They neither worship sun, moon, nor stars. 
 Bennillong, who had been in England, said after death they went to the clouds ; they ascended like little 
 children, first having perched on trees, living on fish. 
 
 The young men often attended worship in the settlement, imitating the clergyman with his book, 
 being great mimics. 
 
 They knew the distinction between good and bad. The sting-ray was bad ; the kangaroo good ; 
 cannibalism they condemned as Wee-re (bad) ; also murder, for which they required satisfaction. 
 
 Both sexes wear ornaments, both being adorned with scars over the body, using a profusion of 
 fat on their persons. The women ornament themselves with strings of teeth and bones of some of the 
 fishes. Women have the two first joints of the little finger of the left hand cut oft'. Some in colour 
 are as black as negroes ; others copper-coloured like Malays. Their huts are miserable sheets of bark, 
 under which they sleep, huddled together. Their mode of living is not over cleanly. The food is mostly 
 fish ; the men spear and the women catch with hooks made out of the oyster-shell, and the fishing-lines 
 from the bark of a tree. 
 
 Marriage is rather rude ; the woman is dragged away by force, but there are many particulars 
 about marriage as to relationship, &c., &c. 
 
 In child-birth one female is cmplo3'ed in pouring cold water over the abdomen ; another ties a piece 
 of line to the sufferer's neck, and takes the end in her mouth, rubbing her lips until they bleed ; no further 
 assistance is given. The mother walks about collecting wood a few hours after delivery. The cliild at 
 six weeks receives a name from some object, either bird, fish, or animal. From the earliest age the boys 
 practise at throwing the spear and other weapons. At the ages of eight to sixtec^n the children undergo 
 the operation termed Gnah-noong, that is, of ]norcing the septcm of the nose so as to receive a bone or 
 reed ; and the lads, at a later period, of having the tooth knocked out. This is a very imposing ceremony. 
 Numbers collect on these occasions, mostly males ; they dance and arc armed ; the boys are seized and 
 put in a sitting posture all night, and some mystic rites are performed over them ; the earrahdis 
 pretend great agony, and roll on tiic groinul, until at length they are delivered of a bone ; the people 
 crawl on their hands and knees to where the boys are sitting, when they throw sand and dirt upon 
 them ; one man carries a kangaroo skin stuffed with straw, another carries brush-wood, otlurs sing, 
 while otiiers again make artiticial tails of grass, and then leap like kangaroos, scratching and jumping 
 emblematic of a future chase ; each then casts off the artificial tail, seizes a boy, and places him on his 
 shoulder until they reach where they are to bo deposited, while the men lie down upon the ground and 
 the boys walk over them, the former making various gestures and grimaces. The bone is then rubbed down 
 like a chisel, so as to scarify the gums. The small end of a slick is then applied to the tooth and struck 
 with a stone ; the tooth being dislodged ami tlie gum closed, the devotee is then encompassed with a girdle, 
 wooden sword, and a ligature bound roinid the head, in wiiich is stuck slips of grass-ti-ee. The bi>y is not
 
 24 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 allowed to speak or eat during the operation ; the people make most hideous noises in the ears of the 
 sufferers to drown tlicir cries ; the patient sits on the shoulders of the man, who receives the blood which 
 flows down from the mouth. 
 
 The youths are now admissible to the classes of men, and are privileged to use the spear and 
 club, &c. 
 
 The shedding of blood is always followed by punishment, the oflendcr being obliged to stand the 
 ceremony of spears being thrown at him ; a native murdered must be avenged. 
 
 They have many superstitions, as may bo expected. They believe in spirits. If they sleep at a 
 grave, they believe the deceased visits them, seizes them and disembowels them, but that tlie bowels are 
 replaced. A shooting star is very important, and of thunder they are very much afraid, but think that, 
 by repeating certain words and breathing hard, they are safe. 
 
 Of diseases the itch is common, and there is no doubt but that they h.ave been visited by the small- 
 pox, which they call gal-gal-la, of which numbers died, and their remains were found in the caves of the 
 rocks around Sydney. Some of them were admitted into the Hospital, where some died, and otherB 
 recovered. 
 
 Property consists of shields, spears, clubs, lines, and certain localities. In disposition they are 
 revengeful, jealous, courageous, cunning, capable of strong attachment, susceptible of joy and sorrow. 
 They have some idea of the heavenly bodies, sun, moon, and stars. 
 
 Funeral ceremonies : — In some instances the body is burnt, but mostly the legs are tied up to the 
 head so as to occupy little room ; the Carrahdi distorts his body and applies his mouth to difl'erent parts 
 of the deceased. They bury with the men their spears and throwing-sticks ; they wear tufts of grass, and as 
 they proceed to bury, they throw their spears and often do injuries. The body is placed so that the sun 
 shall shine on it, and all trees that may intercept the sun's rays are cut down. They do not mention the 
 name of the deceased. 
 
 They have some poetic talent and they compose impromptu, and have some taste for music. 
 
 They are quite capable of receiving instruction. 
 
 They cannot pronounce the letters S and Y. 
 
 Amongst the public heroes of those days (about 1700) were Bcnnillong and Colc-be— the former had 
 visited England. Both were frequent inmates of the Governor's house, but were fond of roving. On the 
 occasion of a whale being stranded at Broken Bay, Bennillong sent a present of a piece of fish to the 
 Grovernor. Ou this His Excellency visited the place, and found there his friends, to whom he gave several 
 articles of clothing. The Governor, |)ercciviiig that the natives were surrounding him, was retiring 
 gradually to the boat, but on lifting up his arms on meeting a particular native, as evidence of his recog- 
 nition, the native took alarm and threw a spear at him, which struck him in the neck, above the collar- 
 bone, and being barbed, was difficult of extraction. Several other spears were thrown, but fortunately 
 without effect. The boat's crew rushed on shore, but their muskets proved useless. The shaft of the 
 spear was broken off, and the remainder was extracted by the surgeon. 
 
 A few days after this affray, Bennillong came to a cove on the North Shore, with his wife and 
 companions, and stated that it was a man of the name of Willemcring who threw the spear at the 
 Governor, and that Cole-be and he had beaten him severely; and on the visit to the Governor subsequently, 
 Bennillong repeated the statement, observing that it was owing to surprise that the man had connnitted 
 the act. 
 
 A few days afterwards, Bcnnillong wailed on the Governor, with a request that a liut near the 
 core should be built f(n- him, which w.as assented to. 
 
 Some months afterwards Bennillong took to the bush again, sending a message to the Governor that 
 he had had a dispute with his friend Cole-be and had been wounded, and could not appear at the Governor's 
 table, reciuesting at the same time his clothes, together witli victuals, of wliich he was much in want. 
 On his re-appearance at the settlement some time afterwards, he had a wound in the mouth and some teeth 
 broken. The (|uarrel appears to have been occasioned by his over-attention to his friend's favourite wife, 
 Boo-rce-a, and this led to a severe castigation. Cole-be, meeting him sliortly afterwards, askeil liim 
 sarcastically " if ho meant that kind of conduct to be a specimen of English manners." As Bennillong had 
 visited England, the sarcasm was the more pmigcnl;. 
 
 Bennillong, after his return from England, was asked where blackfcllow came from — did he come 
 from an islaTid. lie said he did not know, but that after death they returned to the clouds, ascending in 
 the shape of little children, first resting on the tops of trees ; their favourite food was little fishes.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 25 
 
 Speaking of the habit of knocking out tlio tooth, he said that a man of the name of Cam-mer-ra-gal 
 wore them round his neck, the tribe having performed the ceremony, but as to his own teeth they were 
 buried in the earth. 
 
 When Bennillong's wife died, many spears were thrown and persons wounded. He had a serious 
 contest with Wil-le-me-ring, and wounded liim in the thigh. He had sent for him to attend his wife, and 
 he had refused, and at the death of his infant many spears were thrown, and he said lie would not be 
 satisfied until ho had revenge. 
 
 Bennilloug burnt the body of his wife Ba-rang-a-roo. 
 
 The ashes of the wife were the next day scraped together and covered over with great solemnity. 
 The most affecting part of the ceremony was that Bennillong threw his infant child into the mother's grave, 
 casting a large stone on it, saying no woman could bo found to nurse the child. 
 
 On the death of the boy, Ba-loo-der-ry, whom he had watched and sung over with Cole-be, he 
 requested that the body might be interred iu the garden. The burial was attended with much ceremony, 
 while the burial of Bennillong's wife was attended by the Governor, the Judge-Advocate, and the 
 surgeon. 
 
 The natives had determined to kill Bennillong, it being supposed he had killed a man, of which he 
 was innocent ; he therefore appealed to the Governor to protect him. He had now given way to drink, 
 and becanie more brutal and iusultiug, and therefore got into troubles. On the occasion of a fight he 
 threw a spear amongst the soldiers and wounded one, and would have been killed, had it not been for 
 the Provost-Marshal. Walking about armed, he declared he would kill the (Jovcruor. Xow Bennillong 
 associated with troublesome characters, and was ouce or twice wounded. In one of these battles. three natives 
 were killed and several wounded. Amongst these Beunillong was dangerously wounded, and ])robabl)' 
 died. Thus perished Bennillong, as a drunken savage, after all the advantages he had had of visiting Eng- 
 land, and living at the Governor's House. Nor is this a solitary instance of these savages who have enjoyed 
 like advantages. 
 
 We have here the failure of mere civilization, which produces only outward eft'ects. Eeligion alone 
 can reach the heart. The gospel is tlie power of (rod to the salvation of all who believe in and know it. 
 
 Bennillong has been immortalized in name, a point on the North Shore being called Bennillong 
 Point. His history is a sad one. There is a street iu Parramatta called, I suppose, after tliis chief. 
 
 The accompanying rough sketches, copied from CoUins's work, will give some idea of the natives iu 
 person, and their numerous ceremonies, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 It is only fair to show what dangerous and treacherous neighbours the aborigines are, and how the 
 squatters and inhabitants were often placed at their mercy. 
 
 A numerously signed petition was presented to the Governor from the settlers on the road to Port 
 Phillip praying for protection, as they had suffered much from the incursions and assaults of these people, 
 and stating that, if they could not obtain protection, they must take the law into theii' own hands. 
 
 The Governor immediately despatched a police force to be stationed along the road for protection. 
 
 As for their raids on stations, they actually drove away the sheep and cattle from two or three 
 stations, and in some instances violated women and committed robberies. 
 
 Wo must however consider that their laws strictly limited the tribes to cert.iin districts, and to 
 intrude upon these was criminal ; and this was so strictly carried out that, on my approaching the Shoal- 
 haven Eiver, my guide would on no account cross over with me. ]}ut whites, as foreigners, would bo 
 regarded with even more hostility. 
 
 The following account, from the RocMamplon BuUclin, 2G C)ctober, ISGl, will show one of these 
 murderous assaults, and at the same time tlie brutal character of the aboriginal |)olice force, who thought 
 it pleasant work to sliout down tlieir couutryaicu : — 
 
 " A man arrived in Eockhampton last evening (Tuesday) with intelligence of thoumrder of a number 
 of persons on Mr. Wills's station, Nogoa, including Mr. Wills himself Tlie messenger brings a written 
 deposition of the facts, so far as thoy are known, which was made on Friday last, to Mr. Grcgson, 
 Bainworth station, by a she])lierd liclongiug to the late Mr. Wills. The .shejihcrd's name is Edward 
 Kenny. Wo are informed tiiat Mr. Wills had only arrived on the station about a fortnight previous to 
 the time when the murders were committed, and Kenny states that during that time the blaclis came upon 
 the station in considerable numbers, but they were quiet and appeared friendly, and no notice was taken 
 of them. Mr. Wills used to carry a revolver hiuiseli', but altliough iie jjad plenty of firearms on the statiou, 
 the men were not supplii'd with llieiii. 
 D
 
 26 THE ABOIUGIXES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 " Ou tlio evening of TluirsJay, the 17tli October, Kcuny was returning to tlic station with liis sheep, 
 when he met Padd}*, who had been shepherding tlie rams. Paddy said to him, ' There has been shuighter 
 here to-day.' Kenny then went up to the station, and saw the corpse of his late master (Mr. AVills), 
 the overseer's wife (Mrs. Baker), with grown-up daughter and two children, Mrs. Mauyon, and three 
 chikiren, and a man named Jemmy Scotty — in all ten bodies — having evidently been killed by the blacks, 
 lie then took a horse and rode over to Bainworth (Mr. Grcgson's station), where he arrived about 
 1 p.m., on Friday last. lie does not know what became of Paddy after he left him. There were at the 
 time twenty -two Europeans on the station, and it is feared that others have shared a similar fate to that of 
 the ton above-mentioned. The remaining eleven ou the station were, the overseer (Mr. Baker), Patrick 
 Manyon, George Ling, Paddy, George Elliott, Harry, Tom, Davey Baker, Charlie, Ned, and John Moon. 
 Mr. Thomas Wills (son of the deceased) and two men had left the station the previous Sunday morning, 
 with drays, on their way to Albinia Downs, for loading. 
 
 " "We are informed that the remnant of the Native Police Force, at the camp Eockhampton, con- 
 sisting of Cadet Johnson, two sergeants, and one trooper only, will start to-morrow for Peak Downs, an 
 officer named Genat.is with ten men being stationed there, and from thence they will proceed to Nogoa. 
 There is also a small comp.?.ny of troopers under Lieutenant Patrick stationed at the Comet Eiver. 
 
 " Preparations are being made by Mr. P. F. Macdonald, of Yaamby, for the equipment of a private 
 party to accompany him to the scene of the recent massacre, to assist in succouring the men left on the 
 station, and preserve the property from injury. A subscription, headed by Mr. P. F. Macdonald, £100, 
 which already amounts to £23G, has been opened to defray its expenses, and will be found at the 
 Banks. 
 
 " Later intelligence. — News was received on Thursday evening that Lieutenant Cave, with eleven 
 troopers, arrived at the scene of the late tragedy two days after its occurrence. Lieutenant Cave was on 
 patrol with the troopers at Living's station, ou the Dawson, when he heard of the murders. He hastened 
 off in the middle of the night, taking with him fresh horses. Mr. Living and the settlers in the vicinity 
 formed a separate party, and started at once to render assistance. No further particulars have as yet 
 transpired." 
 
 In a work published in 1S71 — " Colonial Adventures ; by a University man," — we have a chapter 
 devoted to the Aborigines of Queensland, in which the writer gives the general opinion as to the destruc- 
 tion of the black race, " That God never intended them to live long on the laud in which he had placed 
 them, therefore away with them until there be none remaining, and wo will go in and possess the land." 
 The writer draws a distinction not creditable between the tame blacks and wild ones : — " The former picked 
 lip all the worst characteristics of the white man, and lost some of their own. They learned to driuk, 
 smoke, and become lazy, living on the white man's scrajis. They do not hesitate to commit murders 
 and robberies — doing as they are done by. In short, instead of improving their condition, we have made 
 them more wretched and base than ever, not over comjjlimentary to Christianity or civilization. In new 
 districts taken np by the whites, almost invariably by way of retaliation, cither from the whites destroying 
 their camps or jidssibly firing on them, the black meditates revenge, and spears or kills the first defenceless 
 shepherd or traveller. Then the Europeans turn out to disjierse them — to shoot them down — men, women, 
 and children. The native police, being blacks trained to arms, delight in shooting their fellow-men. For 
 every white man murdered, six blacks are made to bite the dust." 
 
 The writer gives a description of a shipwrecked sailor who lived with tlic blacks twenty years, and 
 experienced continual kindness, and of their kindness to his fellow-seamen who escaped from the wreck, 
 but died of fever. These very men having boarded a cutter near the coast, and one of them having stolen a 
 tomahawk, leaped overboard with his prize, the rest following. The crew fired upon them while swimming, 
 and killed two of them. 
 
 The writer, in describing the massacre of the natives by the black police, says : — " I have seen two 
 large pits, covered with branches and brush, secured by a few stones ; the ])its filled with dead bodies of 
 blacks, of all ages and both sexes." Again, he says, " Whilst travelling along th(; road, for more than a 
 (|uartcr of a mile the air was tainted with the putrefaction of corpses, which lay all along the ridges, just as 
 they had fallen. This was in retaliation for the murder of live shepherds. p]ach detachment of four or 
 five troopers is ollicered by a European, domiciled in barracks or camps. They sometimes show some 
 compunction in shooting women, but they are usually encouraged in this work, as the women are often 
 the abettors and agents in most Kii' the murders, and as the blacks must be exterminated, the more shot 
 the better." 
 
 The celebrated tourist, Mr. Trollope, in his work ou "Queensland ; allying Visit," devotes some 
 pages to this people. He describes them as sapient as monkeys and great mimics of white dandies. He
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 27 
 
 then refers to the opposition Cook, Dampier, and Phillips met with on their landing, as if they had no 
 right to defend their country. What is a virtue with all other people is a crime in them. Comfortably 
 accommodated in a squatter's residence, he says there were more settlers killed b}' the blacks than blacks 
 killed, and thus balances the account. 
 
 Some murders have been brought before the public in Queensland which called for immediate 
 Government interference. Camps of aboriginals have been attacked, the wretched beings fii'ed upon, and 
 on escaping to the water, were then deliberately shot. On one occasion, one of their number eluded the 
 aboriginal police ; at length they saw a bundle of grass floating, into which they fired and shot the unfor- 
 tunate being, who held the grass in his mouth to conceal his head, but the stratagem failed. In another 
 instance, where the aboriginal police attacked the camp, one of the women was seized and violated, and ber 
 brains dashed out. 
 
 In 1S80, the Si/dnei/ Mail wrote : — " The doom of the Queensland savage is not merely to perish 
 before the advance, but to actually receive his death-blow at the hands of the British colonist. In 
 another page, we reprint an article from our senior morning contemporary, which puts this fact beyond 
 dispute. A competent and impartial special reporter declares the condition of things as it is, and his 
 melancholy narrative must re-awaken regret for the fate of the race which enjoyed an uuinvaded possession 
 of this continent for centuries, and is now rapidly melting away in the presence of civilization. 
 Stripped of all exaggeration, the story of what is happening in the remote districts of the neighbouring 
 Colony has a horrible sound to Southerners who have no environment of savagery, and to whom peace 
 and plenty have become monotonous and undervalued privileges. Yet the far north of Queensland is not 
 being stained more terribly with aboriginal blood than has been our fair New South AVales. The black 
 was improved off the face of the lands wo occupy, as pitilessly as he is now being dismissed from his 
 haunts on the banks of the tropical rivers. We cannot thank God that the pioneer settlers here were 
 more merciful than those who are appropriating the cedar forests and auriferous deposits in Northern 
 Queensland. From first to last the line of contact between the two races has been a red one. From 
 first to last the strong Caucasian has trodden the naked nomad like mire into his own sod. 
 
 " It is easy to voice regret and condemnation in general terms ; but could this extermination h.iye 
 been altogether avoided ? We think not. AVhat should have been done with the aboriginal? Did his 
 possession of the territory for centuries give him a right to possess it for ever? Did mere possession 
 confer a title so absolute that British colonization must be ranked as a national crime ? Surely no 
 rational man can defend such a view as that. The blaekfcUow's title to the country was destroyed by his 
 savagery. Nature gives everybody a chance of some kind, and the blackfellow had his chance. He had 
 given to him a magnificent continent, rich in manifold resources ; but ho was lord only over snakes and 
 kangaroos — a king of brutes, but little more than a brute among brutes. Back of the brute there was, no 
 doubt, the germ of manhood ; but a creature with only an undeveloped germ of manhood cannot live 
 among men. The blackfellow shrank from men, preferring to dwell with marsupials. lie did not nnder- 
 stand, ho did not like man — using the word in its large sense. He fought against him as a wild brute 
 would fight — treacherously, savagely. In the far north, to this day, he is not averse to eating the 
 colonist. He has had two chances : Nature, as before remarked, has given him a splendid country, and 
 lie has been brought into contact with a highly civilized race ; but ho has proved unworthy of both. His 
 blood is therefore upon his own head. 
 
 " In saying this we do not, it need hardly be insisted, endorse all that has been meted out to the 
 black by his white con(iueror. The Briton was a savage once, and he is not an angel now. lieneath his 
 civilization, there are the passions which may be developed into savagery; and there have been too many 
 white savages in Australia. The line of contact between the two races is the line where Government, 
 representing in this matter the conscience as well as the physical force of the whole community, should 
 be strong, but where it has too frequently been weak. The Queensland Government should be strong in 
 the administration of justice, tem])ered abundantly with mercy, along the line where white and black are 
 •struggling for supremacy, and not merely able to grapple with questions of tariffs and mail contracts in 
 Brisbane. It is a disgrace to a civilized people to be represented by many of the 'boys' who aro em- 
 ployed to hasten the extinction of their countrymen in the far north. The braining of children, the 
 violation of women, the slaughter of the wounded and the aged, the callous disregard of all tender consi- 
 derations which, when observed, shed lustre on the strong — these arc reproaches which it is humiliating 
 to have recorded in any part of the British Empire. They make an Englishman's blood boil with shame 
 and indignation. War, whether of the oiien sort or of that unrecognized kind wliich ' disperses ' black- 
 fellows, is apt to demoralize those who are engaged in it, and what has been transpiring for years in tho 
 ' unsettled ' districts of Australia has had that eftect in too many cases. The business of ' dispersing ' 
 blackfellows has had the result of ' dispersing ' tho couscienco of whitcfellows. Troopers may have
 
 28 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 received the letter of their orders from Brisbane ; but the spirit of their atrocious deeds has been inspired 
 
 by the passion-blindi'd pionoors, to whom the taking of an aboriginal life is rather meritorious. But we 
 repeat that whore, aa in the far north, the conspicnco of iiulividuals is weak, the conscience of the Colony 
 should be all-potent. Blnod-sheddiiig would not coaso, for the savagery of the blacks will inevitably bring 
 about their extinolion; but tlio stain would not bo the indelible one of guilt." 
 
 The facts of the dreadful massacre on Liverpool Plains may be gathered from the charge delivered 
 by Judge Burton on passing sentence of death upon the criminals, and exhibit barbarity homble to think 
 of:— 
 
 " Prisoners at the bar, you have been found guilty of the murders of the aborigines at Liverpool 
 Plains — men, women, and children. The circumstances of these murders arc so atrocious that you must 
 be prepared for what the result must be. This is not a case where death has ensue^l from drunkenness, 
 nor the murder of tnie individual, but probably of thirty poor defenceless beings. 
 
 " The blacks round their fires at night were suddenly surrounded by an armed body of you prisoners 
 at the bar. The blacks ilod to one of your huts for safety. In that hut, amidst the tears, sobs, and groans 
 of these unhappy victims, you bound them — father, mother, and children — together, and then led them to 
 common destruction. 
 
 " Nothing else but the grace of God could reach men's hearts so hardened as to slay father, mother, 
 and children. To conceal the aftair you burnt the bodies, swept the place, and removed the remains, but 
 hundreds of birds of prey floating in the air awakened the attention of the neighbourhood, and 
 notwithstanding every precaution a jaw-bone with teeth was found, while, as it rained the day before the 
 deed, the traces of horsemen, of men, &c., with naked feet, being blacks, were left visible to the place, 
 while there was no trace of the blacks returning. This ofienee was not without premeditation, as it is 
 certain the wliites were mustered from down the river to help, and on Sunday you closed that day with 
 the murder of these blacks. 
 
 "I cannot but look upon you with commiseration. You were placed in a dangerous situation, 
 entirely removed from religious instruction, 150 miles from any police station, by which you could have 
 been controlled, &c., &c." The Judge then jjassed sentence of death in the usual manner. 
 
 Certainly the case was one of great criminality and diabolical in the execution ; but tlicso unfortunate 
 men were left in the solitude by their employers, without any correcting good, and were taught by influen- 
 tial persons to look upon the blacks as not human beings. Religion after all is the great panacea to heal 
 nations, for it is righteousness that exalteth them. 
 
 The influence of crime on the virtuous portions of society, either as to its costliness or insecurity 
 of life and property, is very serious, and demands much statesmanship ; the solution of the problem lies 
 in conservatism. 
 
 In 1875, the South Australian Register i)ub]ished the following notes on the aborigines met with oa 
 the trip of Mr. Lewis's exploring party to Lake Eyre, by Mr. F. W. Andrews, collecting naturalist 
 to the expedition : — • 
 
 " The first natives we met witli after leaving Mount Margaret were on the Macumba Creek, whcro 
 a small number visited our camp in a very quiet and friendly manner. They were young men and a boy 
 or two. They could not speak any Euglish, except one or two very commonjdace words, as ' whitcfcllow,' 
 &c. Their food ajipcarcd to consist of snakes (morelia) of the boa tribe, lizards, rats, &c., but the principal 
 food at this season of the year (December) ap])ears to be tlie dried fruit of the pigs'-faccs (mesembryau- 
 theminn), which they gather in largo quantities and store by until wanted, or as long as it will keep. The 
 quantity they consume at a time is something enormous, and it appears to be very nutritious and fattening 
 food, no doubt from the large amount of saccharine matter it alfords. They wear no covering for the 
 body, except the men, some of whom wear a small fringed curtain in front of their persons. This is some- 
 times made of the tail of the pouched hare {Fcrar/alia laf/olis'), the white tips of which are worked into a 
 very neat and oriiameutal covering. Tliis is called 'Thi]ipa.' They also wear a similar fringe, only 
 larger, made of wallaby or rat's hair, which they call ' Unpa.' The ends of the tails of the native rabbit 
 or pouched hare are carefully saved up until about forty or fifty in number are fastened in rows, forming 
 a very attractive adornment; they liave, however, often as many as from 150 to 200 in one bunch. The 
 weapons they carry with them when visiting are few and sim])le, consisting of a yam-stick for digging out 
 rats, &e., and an awkwardly-made boomerang. I found that they had plenty of spears, and largo 
 two-handed boomerangs like immense wooden scimitars. These they kept out of sight on most occa- 
 sions. They had some very neatly-con.structed trough-like water-vessels, which they called ' Pirras.' The 
 men were lijiely-fornu'd young (ellows, with ])lc.asing and regular features, and one, in particular, had 
 bcautifidly-formcd olive eyes ; he was a very handsome young fellow, and wo all admired liim very much.
 
 THE ABOEiaiNES OF AUSTRALIA. 29 
 
 Through our native interpreter, ' Coppertop,' who joined us at Strangwaya, we were enabled to converse 
 with them. They were very anxious for rain, as they could not travel far away from the waterholes ou 
 tlie creeks. Travelling further on towards Lake Eyre, we met wrtli several wild-looking lots — plenty of 
 men, women, and children — all looking very hearty and contented. The old men were about having a 
 meeting to ' make rain,' and as it looked likely for rain, they would no doubt before long be able to again 
 astonish their tribe by their power as ' rain-makers. ' 
 
 " We were now keeping a strict night-watch, as (if they meant no mischief ' leading to human gore') 
 they were diligently intent on what they called ' tealing.' It was evident, by the cut timber about the 
 creeks, that they had axes or tomahawks, and on inquiry ' where blackfcllow got um tomahawk,' the 
 answer received was, 'him teal um along a whitefellow.' There is no doubt they had stolen several 
 during the construction of the overland telegraph. They, however, always kept these tomahawks out of 
 our sight. Knives, tomahawks, &c., are their principal weaknesses ; but they will steal anything they can 
 lay their hands (or toeis) on. Our interpreter, ' Coppertop,' having arrived in his own country, the 
 l\Iucumba, made tracks, leaving his clothes, which were transferred to another young man who joined us. 
 Tommy was his name, and he had a good smattering of English, from having been with the telegraph con- 
 struction parties for some time, and was very useful as a guide and interpreter. One day, when travelling, 
 we met with natives — ' outsiders,' whose patois Tommy was unacquainted with, and he cried out in despair, 
 ' Me cant hear um.' Tommy was of a very inquiring turn of mind, and thinking sugar was " dug up" at 
 some ' berry good ])lace,' he one day asked the question, ' When we catch um that big one sandhill 
 all same where whitefellow get um sugar ?' 
 
 " On Willis's or the Salt Creek we saw, in a large mob of natives, one old man who had evidently been 
 in the wars ; his arm had been broken in two places, and had set crooked at each fracture, giving the poor 
 old man a very battered appearance. The old fellow walked up and down the camel train from one per- 
 son to another, talking and gesticulating, evidently wishing us to go on ; and on our starting, he looked 
 very pleased, and pointed in the direction we were going, saying, ' Appa, appa ' (water, water), as 
 much as to say, ' Go on ; there is plenty of water over there for you.' At starting, much to our amuse- 
 ment and surprise, the old man said, ' Grood morning, good morning.' This was towards evening, but 
 although the old man seemed to wish us away from his own camp, he was at our camp the next morning to 
 see us start, and wish us good morning again. Several women at the old man's camp were smeared all over 
 with burnt gypsum (plaster of Paris), making them quite white, and giving them a horrid-looking appear- 
 ance. They were in mourning for deceased relatives. All the natives we saw looked very healthy and fat, 
 the children looked as clean in the skin as could be desired, and, altogether, their appearance and physique 
 showed them the pictures of health and contentment. We saw one fine young man who was blind from 
 cataract, and the poor old man with the broken arm was leading him about and attending to his wants. We 
 afterwards saw, at Kopperamana, a young hearty-looking woman, who was suffering from the same 
 affliction. 
 
 " They told us that the weather last year in the winter was very cold, but that no rain fell. Tliey make 
 the best wurleys I have seen anywhere, all covered in securely, and having a hole for the exit of the smoke, 
 iis well as the entrance hole, which is, however, small. They are covered all over with grass, rushes, roots, 
 earth, &c., and are quite dry. In the summer they have only a shade constructed of boughs. During the 
 hot weatlier they were catcliing large quantities of fish with nets, which they constructed very ably from 
 rushes. These nets are mostly fixed stationary across a favourable spot in the creek, and the fish caught by 
 endeavouring to pass through the meshes, when thej' get fixed in the net by the mesh passing over their 
 gills. When the supply of fish fails, or wanting a change of food, they have roots, seeds, herbs, cater- 
 pillars (iu bushels), lizards, snakes, and numerous odds and ends, to procure all of whicli iu quantity 
 requires at times much labour, and this food-labour mostly falls to the lot of the lubras, wiio have generally 
 plenty to do, for after they have got the food to their wurleys, there is much to do grinding or pounding 
 seeds of acacia, nardoo, &c. 
 
 " Some of the large waterholes on the Salt Creek have superstitious terrors attached to them. One 
 blackfcllow, after killing a pelican with a boomerang, would not attempt to recover his weapon, as he said 
 tliere was a largo snake in the hole always on the lookout for blaekiellow. 
 
 " At Kopperamana, the Tjuthcran Mission Station, only a small number, about a dozen or so, were 
 camped. They appeared to easily obtain plenty of (ish in the lake, but had not such a fat, hearty-looking 
 appearance as the natives on Salt Creek. tSomo were employed on the station shepherding goats, otlicrs 
 lamb-minding. Sec, and all appeared to be well-treated. Of their scholastic attainments I cannot say very 
 mucli, as I was informed that as they got taught any learning they went away. One young fellow appeared 
 to have a good idea of figures, and counted twenty-five very fairl)-. Only a few natives were seen at Lake 
 Hope ; these talk pidgin-English with fiuency, well interlarded with strong adjectives. They have plenty
 
 30 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 of fish in the lake, and the rats, snakes, roots, &c., according to the season. Perrigundi Lake has long 
 been known as a so-called dangerous place for whites to camp at, unless well armed and in pretty good 
 force. It was at this place where a party of stockmen from Lake Hope were attacked some years ago, 
 while they were asleep, and, only for the bravery and promptitude of one of the party, the whole of them 
 would have beeu killed. One young man, named Newman, died of the spear wounds he received in this 
 fatal affr.ay. We camped here two nights and one day — Saturday night .and Sunday. Seven or eight 
 finely-made, strong young fellows paid us .a visit, and were very peaceably disposed, and fetched us some 
 fine fish in exchange for a little tobacco. Some of the weapons they had with them were of the most 
 formidable dimensions, and well adapted for knocking down a bullock. They did not make any ofler to 
 molest us ; but the sight of our revolvers, rifles, .and guns, no doubt everywhere acted as a good warning 
 to them, as to what they might expect if they commenced hostilities. 
 
 " They did not appear to pay much respect to old age, after decease, as one of them was noticed by 
 one of our party taking some dead wood from an old grave to make a fire, and on being remonstrated with, 
 he replied, ' All right; only old woman been tumble down.' Proceeding on to Lake M'Kinlay, there is a 
 pretty numerous tribe there, but only eight or nine visited our camp, as most of them were aw.ay hunting 
 in the s.andhills, where they .always go after the rains have left water enough in the claypans for their 
 subsistence while hunting. Some of them were much frightened at the camels. They looiied in excellent 
 health. We camped here close to the tree which M'Kiul.ay marked on his journey. The tree had been 
 partly destroyed by the bl.acks, but some fine young saplings are springing up, straight and tall .again, and 
 the old tree promises to be soon as good as ever. I think it is only an act of justice to these poor creatures 
 to record their peaceable and friendly behaviour to us all the way we tr.avelled, .and we hope that as soon as 
 the Salt Creek country is occupied, which from its fine grazing capabilities it immediately will be, a 
 thoughtful and liberal Government will send a supply of useful things to them — as blankets, tomjihawks, 
 <S;c. 
 
 " The S.alt Creek tribe is numerous .and powerful, and I feel convinced that kind but firm treatment 
 at the outset will bring about the most desirable results. Police protection ought to be at once given to 
 the first settlers on this .and the neighbouring creeks. It would act as a wholesome check on the bad 
 propensities and cupidity of the u.atives, and at the same time ])rocure their proper treatment."
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 31 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Efforts made to civilize the Aborigines — Rer. L. E. ThroIkeUl — Results of Missions — Government support of Missions — 
 Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts —Population in the Port Phillip District — Examination before tho 
 Legislative Council on the Aboriginal Question — Lieut. SatUeir's evidence — Rev. L. E. Threlkeld's evidence — Captain 
 Grey's opinion. 
 
 The following may be considered as a brief summary of the several attempts to christianize and 
 civilize the aborigines. Several portions of the Bible have been translated, but as the natives are fast 
 acquiring Englisli, this need not be continued. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Threlkeld was a translator into the aboriginal language, as appears from the following, 
 but the tribes in question are now extinct : — 
 
 "Atjstealian Aboeiginal Language. 
 
 " To the Editor of the Herald. 
 
 " Sir, — In your issue of the 2nd instant appears a short review (from the Sydney Mail) on the recently 
 published work, entitled ' Kamilaroi and other Australian Languages,' by the Kev. W. Ridley, lately 
 issued by the New South Wales Government Printing Office. In your remarks on the work I notice the 
 following : — 
 
 ' If we mistake not, the Rev. L. E. Threlkeld was the first to produce any publication on the sub- 
 ject of the aboriginal language, his little work, containing ' Specimens of the Dialect of the Aborigines 
 of New South Wales,' having been given to the world in 1827. In the same year he issued auother essay, 
 in which he endeavoured to throw the language into grammatical shape ; and in 1856 appeared his 'Key 
 to the Structure of the Aboriginal Language.' 
 
 " As the above gives but a very brief outline of the work rendered by my father (carried on for 
 sixteen years under great privation and through many trying circumstances) in the interests of the 
 aborigines of this Colony during his mission, commencing in January, 1825, and terminating December, 
 1841, I trust you will not consider that I am needlessly trespassing upon your columns in placing before 
 you a few of the more prominent results emanating from those labours,' especially as it would appear, 
 from the recent publication, that our Goverumcnt is more alive to the importance of preserving reliable 
 works on the dialect of the aboriginal language that it was at the time of their publication. 
 
 " The Rev. L. E. Threlkeld's first production was ' Specimens of the Aboriginal Language,' printed 
 and issued for publication (as mentioned by you) in 1827. 
 
 "In 1829, under tho auspices of tho Venerable Archdeacon Broughton (subsequently Bishop of 
 Australia), he completed the translation of the Gospel of St. Luke, which was revised in 1831, and the 
 MSS. forwarded to tho Archdeacon. 
 
 " In 1832 a selection of prayers from the Ritual of the Church of England was translated. 
 
 " In 1835 his ' Australian Grammar, being a Dialect of the Languages of the Aborigines,' was com- 
 pleted, a copy of which was presented to His late Majesty King AVilliam IV, and placed in the Royal Library. 
 
 "In 183G the ' Australian Spelling Book' was completed and printed for the use of the aborigines. 
 Two of tho youths then attending the Mission School could read and write in their native tongue. In 
 the same year ' Selections from the Old Testament' were also translated to form reading lessons for the 
 native youth.
 
 32 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 " In 1837 the first translation of the Gospel of St. Mark was finished. 
 
 " At the close of the yearly report ending 1838 the following subjects arc alluded to as having 
 occupied his attention — 
 
 " ]. Specimens of the Language | j^ ^^.^^ ^j^^ ^^^,.^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ expended. 
 
 " 2. An Australian Grammar J 
 
 " 3. The Gospel of St. Luke. 
 
 " 4. The Gospel of St. Mark. 
 
 " 5. The Gospel of St. Matthew to the 5th chapter. 
 
 " G. A Selectiou of Prayers for Morning and Evouiug Service. 
 
 " 7. A Selection of Eeadiug Lessons from the Old Testament. 
 
 " 8. The Australian Spelling Book. 
 
 " In 1856 (some fifteen years after the close of the Mission) he completed and published his last 
 work — ' The Key to the Structure of the Aboriginal Language' — and at the time of his death, in 1859, 
 he had nearly completed the final revision of the Four Gospels, \Yith a view to their publication. At the 
 request of Sir George Grey, who has always taken a lively interest in aboriginal languages, I forwarded 
 the manuscript to him, under the impression that he would have it printed and forward mc a copy. 
 
 " In the annual report of 1839 allusion is made to the similarity of the aboriginal language with the 
 Cherokee Indian, where specimens of the dual are given ; the Cherokee habitual form of the verb agreeing 
 with the modificatiou in the Australian Grammar, page 29. A comparison of dialects is also made of tlio 
 aborigines at Lake Macquarie, Manila Eiver, Swan Eiver, and King George's Sound. 
 
 "Burwood House, March 16. L. E. THRELKELD." 
 
 The first institution, at Parramatta, was instituted by Governor Macquarie. Next, we may regard 
 the Rev. Mr. Cartwright's attempt at the Male Orphan School, wliich was only limited to a few children. 
 One of the girls, under the care of Mrs. Cartwright, made great progress in learning, aspired to music, and 
 was afterwards married to a stockman on Manaro Plains. Some of the boys turned out well. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Threlkeld's mission at Lake Macquarie (see his evidence and brief notice attached) ; 
 the Church Missionary Society, Wellington A'alley ; Mr. Watson's Mission of the remnant down the 
 Macquarie ; the Moravia^i Mis.sions and Roman Catholic Missions, Queensland ; Sir Richard Bourke'.-^ 
 Mission, Melbourne ; also the Weslcyan and the Lake Mission there ; Missions in Western Australia aud 
 Adelaide ; Mission by the Rev. Mr. Ridley, Barwon and Namoi ; two Missions under Mr. Matthews and 
 the Rev. J. B. Gribble ; Tasmanian Aborigiues. 
 
 " Rev. L. E. Threlkeld, who had been associated with Rev. John Williams, ' the martyr of Erro- 
 manga,' in the South Sea mission, commenced a mission among the aborigines at Lake Macquarie, near 
 Newastle, and continued for eleven years to labour among them. Mr. Threlkeld published a grammar of 
 the language spoken by the aborigines of the Lower Hunter, which constitutes a valualile philological 
 record. A large number of the natives received the elements of education from Mr. Threlkeld, and some 
 of his old catechumens are still to be met with in dilTerent parts of the Colony ; but no decided and per- 
 mauent moral cliauge appears to have resulted from his long-continued labours there. Like other tribes 
 in the neighbourhood of colonial settlements, that in the midst of which Mr. Threlkeld cai-ried on his 
 labours ra])idly decayed, and left no material for benevolent agencies to work upon. Tlie Revs. Messrs. 
 VVatson and Gunfher, of the Church of England, for several years conducted a mission for the aborigines 
 in Wellington A' ale, tlie results of which arc very similar to those of I\Ir. Threlkeld's mission. Among 
 the aboriginal sliepherds and stockmen scattered over a wide district Mv. A\'atson's old scholars may be 
 occasionally met with, and their training under his care has at least had tlie effect of making theni more 
 intelligent and useful servants. Mr. Watson accomplished a work of mercy for numerous half-caste 
 children scattered among the tribes in the western and nortli-western districts. Many of these unhajipy 
 children, disowned by their fathers, and liable to be destroyed by their mothers' tribe, liaving no prospect 
 but an early death or a savage life, were rescued from such a fate by Mr. A\^atson, aud instructed in 
 Christian knnwledgo and useful art." (See Bishop Broughlon's visit and report of thi.s mission ; also 
 Bishop Barker's tour.) 
 
 Between 1S37 and 18-Ms the Rev. Benjamin Hurst and the Rev. Francis Tuckfield, undci* the 
 auspices of the WcNleyan Society, started on a mission at liuntingdale, or Colac, near Geclong. Tliey con- 
 ducted a school at whfcli 100 aboriginal children attended, and trained the adults to farm labour ; but the
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 33 
 
 spiritual good which was their chief aim was not manifest in a decided manner. Hostile attacks by other 
 tribes put a stop to the work, and convinced the missionaries of the necessity of simultaneous and enlarged 
 efforts among all the neighbouring tribes. Eev. William Walker, another Wesleyan Minister, laboured 
 with grca.t zeal for the conversion of the aborigines in the neighbourhood of Bathurst, and some of those 
 brought up under his instructions made an open profession of Christianity and adopted the habits of 
 civilized life. One of them was for years a preacher of the Gospel. 
 
 In 1837 a party of nine missionaries, who had been enlisted in the work by Pastor Gossner, of 
 Berlin, were directed, through the exertions of Kev. Dr. Lang, to Australia, and came with their families to 
 Moreton Bay. These missionaries taught t^lie children of the aborigines the English language, the use of 
 the hoc, and othei'~uicSrarts. Their attempfs "to instil Christianity into tlieir minds do not appear to 
 have been successful. The lives of the missionaries were repeatedly endangered by the plots of the 
 aborigines to fob and murder them. After some years, having been compelled by the absence of external 
 suppoi-t to devote their attention to the cultivation of the ground for the support of their families, they 
 gradually abandoned the attempt to evangelize the natives. Two of them, Eev. G. Ilansmann and Eev. 
 W. Eiquet, have been since labouring successfully for the good of their own countrymen in Victoria. 
 Between 1853 and 1856 the Eev. W. Eidlcy made several missionary tours to the aborigines on the Namoi, 
 Barwou, and Balonne Eivers, and Moreton Bay ; in the course of which be collected and made public 
 information relative to the language and traditional customs of the ti-ibcs in those districts. Mr. Eidley 
 addressed to the aborigines, in their native language, elemeutai-y iustiniction in revealed truth ; and especi- 
 ally among the Kamilaroi-speaking tribes on the Namoi and Barwon — these instructions were received with 
 attention and thankfulness ; no evidence, however, appeared of any permanent good being elTected by this 
 brief attempt. In the Colonies of Western Australia, South Australia, and A'ictoria more successful 
 efforts have been made. In Western Australia the Eev. George King carried on a mission for seven years, 
 1842 to 18i8, the results of which continue to this day. Mr. King devoted his attention chiefly to the 
 children ; and during the whole course of the seven years from thirteen to fifteen children were frequently 
 under instruction. Mr. King was obliged to discontinue the mission on account of failing health. 
 
 Some of these denizens of the bush have become quite industrious, and not only have_ they adopted 
 the Christian nauTe and a few outward forms of religion, but by active benevolence, by consistent honesty 
 aud industry, by patient resignation and suffering, and calm hope in the hour of death, many of them 
 havCj^as may be seen by the yearly reports of Mr. Hammond, proved the reality of the change which tliey 
 proTeaged to have undergone. There has also been a mission carried on up to this time, or till very 
 recently, in the Wimmera District, in the AVestern Province of Victoria, by Mr. Spieseke and other 
 missionaries connected with the (Jcrman Moravians, from whom accounts have been received of hopeful 
 success in this work, followed by sad tidings of a fatal epidemic among the tribe. For further infor- 
 mation concerning this and the Port Lincoln mission we may refer to the Eev. E. L. C, of Melbourne, 
 who has taken a lively and active interest in the work, and who himself educated and took with 
 him to England an aboriginal boy, Willie Wimmera. A school, opened as a trial establishment, was 
 also managed during several years by the Government at Port Franklin, in Victoria, where the Eey. Mr. 
 Ilobarton Carvosso laboured with very great assiduity aud some success in the teaching of black childreur" 
 But there are many thousands of aborigines still, on and beyond the borders of the Colony, and there is 
 yet time for a more enlarged, skilful, and persevering etfort to raise their condition by Christian missions ; 
 while, in reference to the ])ast, the painful fact cannot be forgotten that many of the white men who first 
 came into contact with the aborigines were far more willing to instruct them in evil than in good — a fact 
 which explains to some extent the indisposition so commonly exhibited to learn anything good. In looking 
 to the future relation of Australian Christianity to the aboriginal race, it cannot bo reasonably doubted 
 that if the religion of the colonists should become in them a vital power, regulating and inspiring all their 
 actions, it will speedily overcome all the diiliculties which have hitherto obstructed the endeavours made 
 to raise the physical and spiritual condition of the Australian aborigines. 
 
 It would occupy too much space to enter into a detailed history of all these attempts to civilize 
 and christianize these people. Both the Rev. Mr. J ohnson and the Eev. Mr. Marsdeu and othci-s had 
 attempted to domesticate some of the children, but after a residence of some time, they returned into the 
 bush but little benefited. 
 
 Governor Macquarie established a school in Parramatta, in which several children — twenty-seven girls 
 and thirty-seven boys — were partially educated. This school was removed to Blaektown, where land was 
 set apart for the natives, and inducements held out to both blacks aud whites to mass tliem here. Several 
 were educated so that they ciuild read, write, sing hymns, and do nec<llcwnrk ; but the white population 
 pressed around, and after some years of labour it had to be abandoned, the Eev. Mr. Walker removing 
 E
 
 34 THK AHOHUilNES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 to Bathurst to re-establish the school there. The Rev. Mr. Cartwright mixed the boys with the white 
 boys in the school. They worked well together, but a foolish apprehension that the black children com- 
 municated disease to the whites caused its discontinuance. 
 
 The Ecv. Mr. Threlkeld laboured in Lake Macquario, a beautiful sheet of water and large grant of 
 land having been set apart for them, but its proximity to Newcastle, and gradual dying out of the blacks, 
 extinguished the mission. 
 
 The Church Missionary Society, at the instigation of the Ituv. Samuel ]Marsdcn, established the 
 Wellington mission. Tlie situation was especially suited, and the labourer diligent and ellicient, but 
 after a few years the pressure of the white population put an end to the mission there. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Watson gathered up the remnant, and recommenced the mission on his own station 
 down the Macquarie. Bishop Broughton visited that establishment, and was highly gratified witli the 
 success and management, but it also died nut, I suspect, with the death of Mr. Watson. 
 
 The Moravian Mission in Queensland was established by the Rev. Dr. Lang there, settled at 
 Brisbane, but afterwards removed to the Bunya Bunya country, where natives congregate for the fruit of 
 the pine. The salary promised by the Government was withdrawn, and that, with the inllux of tho 
 squatters and their threats to the natives, caused the breaking up of the mission. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Mission was commenced at Stradbroke Island by Archbishop Polding, in 1812, 
 who brought out two Italian priests to establish it, but they soon became tired of the occupation, and 
 retired from the charge. 
 
 The mission of Sir R. Bourke to Melbourne, after some trial, had to be given up, o-\\ ing to rapid 
 pressure of the white population. 
 
 The Wesleyan Mission there, after much labour, had likewise to be given up, for a similar reason. 
 
 The mission of the Rev. Mr. Ridley, who acquired the language, and itinerated and preached to 
 them, had likewise to be given up. Mr. Ridley has left a valuable work on their language. 
 
 Two or three missions were established — one in A\''estern Australia, another near Adelaide ; and 
 two others, under Mr. Matthews and the Rev. Mr. Gribble, are now under tho consideration of the 
 Government, which has appointed the Honorable G. Thornton, M.L.C., Commissioner, and tlic Board of 
 Missions, under the Church Synod, so that gome hope remains that many, especially children, may bo 
 rescued from gradual destruction, hitherto the result of civilized Christianity with them. It may naturally 
 be asked what is the reason of these failures in the attempts which have been made in various portions 
 of New South Wales, Victoria, Ac. The answer is in the constant encroachment and pressure of the 
 whites and their rapid settlement in an open country, coupled with the helplessness of tho natives 
 when brought within their influences, dependent as they are on gratuitous support, and the vices and 
 diseases of the white population which are so fatal to them. 
 
 Tho Government support of missions to 1838 appears to be — 
 
 Wellington Valley ... 
 Lake Macquarie 
 
 Moreton Bay ... 
 
 Port Phillip . 
 
 Provisions and clothing 
 We.sleyan — Port Philli]) 
 
 £.jO0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ISO 
 
 
 
 besides 
 
 lant 
 
 f 450 
 ( 310 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 
 534 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 440 
 
 17 
 
 11 
 
 
 GOO 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 General support £2,G91 10 11 
 
 In April, 1844, the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts proposed to Lord Stanley 
 to combine with the Colonial Goverimient for supporting missions and schools for the European and 
 aboriginal population of New South Wales, the Society offering to defray a certain portion of tho 
 expense. ]''our clergymen were to be maintained by tlie Church Societies on a salary of £250 per annum, 
 and £.50 for horse .allowance, eacli ; total, £1,200. Kxpenscs to bo borne by (Tovernmcnt of four additional 
 clergymen as before, £1,200. Two missionaries— one for the whites, aiid Ihe other for the aboriginal 
 ])opulation— were 1o bo jilaccd at each station: at Western Port, two ; at (roullium, two ; at Mount 
 Rouse, two; at River Ijoddon, two. At each .station, four .schoolmasters. Tlie missionaries at each 
 station were to devote themselves to the wliitc and black j)o|nilatiou within a reasonable distance.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 35 
 
 From the report of the Port Phillip DiHti-ict Committee of the Society for promoting Christian 
 KnowlodKe, the following tables represent the numbers and localities of the white and aboriginal popula- 
 tion in and about the Port Phillip District in 1844: : — 
 
 White Population in the Bush. 
 
 Mount Kousc. The LocWeii. The Goulbuiii. 
 
 Within Circuits 1,046 1,102 750 
 
 Beyona Circuits 270 270 250 
 
 Moving population ,.... 250 250 250 
 
 Dantlenony. 
 
 Total. 
 
 290 
 
 3,18S 
 
 167 
 
 957 
 
 250 
 
 1,000 
 
 Totals 1,566 1,622 1,250 707 
 
 Total British popuhitioii entirely destitute of religious ordinances 5,145 
 
 On purchased lands 1,000 
 
 In villages and farms near town 2,000 
 
 3,000 
 
 Total British population 8,145 
 
 Aboriginal or Black Popolation. 
 
 Mount Rouse. The Lodden. The Ooulburn. Dandenonf- Total. 
 
 At stations 400 300 400 200 1,300 
 
 Accessible beyond the limits of occupation 800 800 1,000 2,600 
 
 Totals 1,200 1,100 1,400 200 
 
 Total black population 3,900 
 
 White population 8,145 
 
 12,045 
 
 These proposals were communicated to His Excellency Sir George Gippa, together with a letter 
 from the Immigration tTffice with the views of the Land Commissioner on the project ; but the result of this 
 truly liberal and Christian proposal seems to have met with no response. 
 
 I may here venture to add my own testimony to that of the Eev. Mr. Threlkehl and Mr. llobinson 
 upon this subject, as given in evidence before a Committee of the Legislative Council, in the year 183S ; 
 also Captain Grey's opinion. I fear Mr. Eobinsou's evidence is not obtainable ; but the wonderful 
 achievement of that gentleman in accomplishing single-handed what the whole power of the Van Diemen's 
 Land Government could not succeed in with a large military force, backed by the settlers, and at a 
 heavy cost, is one of the noblest triumphs of moral over physical power probably ever accomplished. I 
 have described this in the " Eemini.scences of Tasmania." 
 
 Examination before the Commiilee of the Leijislalive Council, 1838. — Extracts from the Minutes of Evidence 
 
 on tlia Aborigines Question. 
 
 Lieutenant Richard Sadleir, E.N., Liverpool, examined : — 
 
 WiiKN I llrst arrived here, in 1S!2(), I was employed on a tour of inquiry as to the state of the alwrigines, 
 by order of the Home Government, and under the immediate direction of Mr. Archdeacon Scott. 
 
 I proceeded first into Argyle, and examined into the numbers of the tribes, and as to their inter- 
 course with the whites, and the cause of the disputes with them. 
 
 From the Murrumbidgee, I struck off to Hathurst, pursuing the same inquiries, and from thence, 
 I went SO miles below Wellington Valley, on the Macquarie River; afterwards to the head of Hunter's 
 River, which 1 traced down to Newcastle. 
 
 I had with mc only one man, two horses, and a cart. 
 
 I sometimes ventured from 30 to CO miles beyond the stations of the whites, and on one occasion 
 reached a tribe consisting of about 100 persons, at the Cataract, on the Macquarie, who had never sceu 
 white people. I made them presents, and was received in a friendly manner, and remained with them for 
 the night. 
 
 I had intended to have proceeded further, but was apprehensive of danger in doing so, and there- 
 fore returned, accom])anicd for some distance by the tribe, who, however, would not go to the establish- 
 ment at Wellington Valley, but took alarm about i) miles from thence, and left me. 
 
 I think it would be dangerous for a single individual to go amongst the native tribes beyond the 
 white settlements. It would be a perilous undertaking, but one which I have already ventured upon
 
 36 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 myself, and it is a well-known fact that whites have lived amongst them for years, as in the case of 
 Buckley, and some bushrangers. There would be a difficulty in commuuicaliug with any but the tribe 
 whose language had been previously acquired, from the difference of dialect, nor can I conceive that an 
 individual could eifect any extensive good by so exposing himself. The only instance I have ever heard 
 of was that of Mr. Robinson, of Van Diemen's Land. It is, however, certain that a small body of 
 Europeans may travel amongst them well armed and maintaining a conciliatory spirit, as in the case of 
 Mr. Eyre and others, in their journeys to South Australia, and also Captain Sturt and Mr. Cunningham. 
 Indeed we see stock stations extended amongst them, whore there have been but a very few white 
 persons, and those persons having shown a spirit of conciliation, have not been molested ; whereas in 
 other instances, where, iu all probability a different spirit had been exhibited, aggression has followed. 
 Impressed, therefore, with this opinion, I wrote to the Moravians to say that I thought their system of 
 missions would bo well suited to this people, inviting them to send out a missionary, conceiving that if 
 small bodies of stockmen (men of depraved habits) could venture to reside amongst them, a small 
 community of virtuous people, such as the Moravians, would not only be secure, but likely to cfl'cct much 
 good. 
 
 Eespecting the office of Protectors, if they are persons qualified to fill the otSce, and Magistrates, 
 I conceive that they may be of great benefit both to the whites and the aborigines, as at present both 
 parties have much reason to complain of the impossibility of obtaining justice ; the natives have to endure 
 a variety of wrongs, without any means of redress but by retaliation ; and the whites are placed in much 
 the same situation ; the consequence is that there ever has been, and must continue to be, a system of 
 reprisal, often leading to the most atrocious acts of violence on both sides ; but more especially inexcusable 
 on the part of tlio whites, who have in several instances practised barbarities on these people, revolting to 
 human natui'e, which have been overlooked, in consequence of there being no public officer to apprehend 
 and prosecute the parties. 
 
 I have known cases of this kind, but not being iu the Commission of the Peace, I could not act, but 
 could only content myself with making them known to the Government, who could not adopt nicasuroa 
 promptly enough to bring the parties to justice. My opinion is that a Protector (supposing !iim to bo a 
 man of influence and energy), residing on tlie outskirts of the white population, would prevent a number 
 of the feuds and violences daily taking ])laco between the white and aboriginal population — would preserve 
 order and law amongst the whites themselves — would imi)ross the aborigines with a proper opinion of our 
 character as a people (the very opposite of which is the case now, the aborigines being brought first in 
 contact with the most unprincipled of our countrymen), and would, from their opportunities of observa- 
 tion, bo enabled to suggest to G-overnment, from time to time, such measures as would not only prevent 
 that too general feeling of Lynch law, but serve to ameliorate the condition of the aboriginal population, 
 and afford security to the whites themselves. 
 
 My own experience convinces me that much of the evil which at present exists may be prevented 
 by the residence of oflleers on the frontiers, whose peculiar province it would be to ascertain the sources 
 of these evils, and then suggest the means of preventing them. 
 
 But I must further add, that I conceive the duties laid down in Lord Glenelg's despatch arc in 
 many instances unsuitable to the office of Protectors, being of a missionary character, and that they are 
 likewise too onerous for any one individual to perform. I likewise think the salary for Assistant Pro- 
 tectors too small to ensure men of the proper qualifications, the office lacing one not only requiring 
 moral character, but likewise men of address and standing in society. 
 
 Other expenses besides mere salary will be requisite for the Protectors. They must have cither an 
 European or aboriginal police ; also, have funds for presents, &c., so that the expense cannot be estimated 
 at less than £500 per annum for each Protector. 
 
 I further conceive that a summary of our laws should be translated into the dialects of the 
 aborigines and frequently promulgatoil amongst tliem ; for as they are subject to our laws, without any 
 voice in framing them, it is but justice that tiiey should be made ac(iuainted witli them. 
 
 Eespecting the removal of the Flin<lcrs Island blacks, this appears to be a matter of necessity, as 
 they are dying away rapidly, and must shortly become extinct; therefore justice and liumanity require 
 their removal, if tlie cause or causes of the prevailing fatality cannot be overruled. Wearing English 
 clothing, want of their usual allowance of animal food, situation, nostalgia, or mnl dii pni/s, may all 
 contribute to tiiis end ; some of these cau.ses therefore can be removed, but others are beyond the power 
 of control. 
 
 If the necessity for thair removal be however admitted, the (jnestion whether they ought to bo 
 located in Van Diemen's Land or removed here, becomes the next subject of consideration. It appears
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 37 
 
 from the inquiries I liavc beea able to make, that locating them in Van Diomeu's Land would revive the 
 old feelings of hostility and awaken recollections of past violences, and that therefore it would be an 
 impolitic act. The bringing them to this Colony consequently appears to be the only resource left. 
 What their influence would be upon the uncivilized tribes appears to me to be very problematical ; and 
 how far it would be possible to preserve them when introduced within the pale of our white population, 
 from the destroying influence of that population, as well as with what feelings of jealousy a foreign tribe 
 may be viewed by the aboriginal natives here, are questions which our present experience would lead us 
 to hesitate coming to any conclusion on. 
 
 I concieive, in both these instances, we must depend upon the ability and experience of Mr. 
 Eobinson, whose extraordinary success should certainly establish confidence in his plans, and who appears 
 to consider the assistance of some of these natives essential to his success in the wider field of action 
 which this Colony throws open to him. 
 
 The expense of the maintenance of these n.atives should most certainly be borne entirely by the 
 Van Diemen's Land Government, for the benefit of their removal is theirs, and not ours. 
 
 In viewing the question of the aborigines, I conceive that justice, mercy, self-interest, and religion 
 all demand of us that expense and exertion should not be spared in attempting something for their 
 amelioration. 
 
 In the first place wo claim them as our subjects, and bring them under the administration of our 
 laws ; therefore, as our subjects, they ought to have protection. AVhile, secondly, as we deprive them of 
 their lands and means of subsistence, in justice we ought to remunerate them. "While, thirdly, as a 
 question of humanity, nothing can be more dre.adf ul to contemplate, or more disgraceful to a Christian and 
 civilized nation, than the wholesale destruction which lias been going on for the last fifty years, and must 
 continue, unless some plan be devised to prevent it, for the next hundred years. While, fourthly, as a 
 matter of self-interest, it is a strange contradiction of things to be destroying, on the one hand, thousands 
 of our fellow-creatures, who may be made useful members of society ; and, on the other hand, in such great 
 want of population as to be pressed to introduce, at considerable expense, races of Pagans but little 
 superior to them, in either their moral or physical powers. Besides which, policy should lead us to adopt 
 measures calculated to encourage the peaceable extension of our territory. 
 
 On the score of religion it is not necessary to enlarge, for the command is, " Go ye into all the 
 world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." 
 
 A knowledge of their language is essential to preaching the Gospel, and we know that our Divine 
 Master bestowed the gift of tongues on his Apostles. This, therefore, is one of the first things which 
 should occupy the teacher's attention. 
 
 In following these views of the question, two things present themselves to our notice :^ 
 
 1. The measures to be pursued to those aborigines witJiin the pale of white population. 
 
 2. The measures to be pursued to those without the pale of white population. 
 
 Those within the pale of white population must, within a very few years, be utterly destroyed, if 
 tlie most prompt measures be not taken, so much so that I conceive that there is scarce an alternative 
 between coercion and destruction. I would therefore beg to recommend a clause to be introduced into 
 the Vagrant Act, empowering their transportation, under peculiar circumstances, to distant parts of the 
 Colony — say Moretou Bay, Port Phillip, &c. ; it being a well-known fact that, when sent to a distance, 
 they can be made to work, and, from their great apprehension of strange tribes, their erratic habits can 
 be restrained. 
 
 I have no hesitation in saying, that tlicy would thus bo made useful servants ; their children would 
 bo brought under the full and favourable iulluence of education ; that they may be taught trades, to 
 tend cattle, sheep, &c. The measure should be entered upon cautiously at first, removing the tribes in the 
 vicinity of towns, and then extending its operation in a manner so as not to provoke open hostility on 
 their parts. The numbers of each tribe should be ascertained, and, if possible, the whole tribe should be 
 removed at once. 
 
 The children unprovided for, may be placed in the orphan schools, where there have been already 
 several brought up, some of the boys having made good sailors, and some bullock-drivers, &c. 
 
 Much may lijjewise probably be done in removing them by conciliation, insomuch that I am inclined 
 to think the enforcement of the Vagrant Act may be limited to the most vicious characters and those in 
 the neighbourhood of towns ; but 1 look upon it that the removal of those living within the precincts of 
 ■white population can alone rescue them from destruction, as vice, disease, and want of food are making 
 fearful inroads upon them.
 
 38 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Of those without tlie palo of white popuhitiou, moasures should bo taken to prepare and preserve 
 them from the encroachments of the whites, and I know of none so well calculated to ofEect this as 
 missionary colonization, alluded to by Mr. Roberts. 
 
 These missionary colonies should be placed at 100 miles in advance of the white population, in 
 suitable situations, and large blocks of country should be reserved for the natives, forming territories of 
 refuge for them. The white population pressing upon tliem would help to force the natives into these 
 reserves ; and those portions of land would also prove places for those within the pale of civilization to 
 be either translated or transported to. 
 
 These missionary establishments, like those of the Moravians, should embrace within themselves 
 all the means of protection, as well as the means of colonization, and would no doubt be supported to a 
 great extent by the religious community at Home. They may have sheep, cattle, husbandry, trades, <fcc. 
 
 In America and Canada such a principle has been acknowledged as that of reserving portions of 
 land. The Indians have their own places of worship, schools, saw-mills, farms, &c. ; also in Tipper Canada 
 the Indians on the Grand River are settled on a block of land, and in a state of civilization ; and in South 
 America, we are aware that the Jesuits pursued a somewhat similar system of colonization, with marked 
 success. 
 
 That much can be done by moral and religious influence alone on savages, we have the evidence of 
 William Penn, of the Missionary Societies, amongst the Esquimaux, Hottentots, &c. ; and though hitherto, 
 the progress of civilization has proved the destruction of savage nations, yt't this is no proof that such is 
 the decree of Providence, but rather, that the system of colonization has hitherto been unjust, selfish, 
 and unchristian. 
 
 The expense of all this machinery is a matter of importance, though in comparison with the des- 
 truction of life, the demoralizing influence of the present state of things, it scarcely deserves attention ; 
 yet, to provide for this, I would venture to propose what I conceive would not be felt as a very heavy 
 tax : that the rent of lands be doubled, from £1 per section to £2 ; that the minimum price of land 
 sold be advanced 6d. or Is. per acre ; that town allotments in the interior be raised £1 each ; that the 
 penalty on drunkards be increased from 5s. to 10s. or £1, according to the circumstances of the individuals. 
 
 The natives ought to be compensated out of the laud fund, the laud being their property until 
 usurped by us ; likewise, those crimes most destructive to them, such as drunkenness, etc., should bo 
 heavily taxed, with the hope to check them. Persons selling them spirits may be likewise fined. 
 
 The whole amount required would not in all probability exceed £10,000, with aid from Home, and 
 if we deduct from thence, the destruction and insecurity of life and property, the expense which from 
 time to time has been incurred by the hostility of the natives, the necessity of a police force on the out- 
 skirts, which has been computed at the increased expense of £15,000 this year, the actual increase of 
 expense would be but very small. 
 
 As many prejudices prevail to the injury of this people, and many arguments have been advanced 
 against their moral and intellectual qualifications, it may be well briefly to remark, that the trials to 
 civilize and christianize them have hitherto been made, without exception, under cither mistaken 
 principles or great disadvantages. The idea entertained in establishing the Blacktown School, that the 
 females, being civilized, would be the means of civilizing the male population, still savage, went upon a 
 principle directly opposed to what our knowledge of the savage character teaches, namely, that the female 
 has scarcely any influence over man in his uncivilized state, and the result proved the absurdity of the 
 theory; for after all the i)ains, and the proof that the natives arc susceptible of at least intellectual if 
 not moral improvement (many having been taught to read, work, dr.aw, and sing, Ac), the .act of uniting 
 or marrying them to the unreclaimed natives defeated the objects of the institution, for they were carried 
 into the bush, and there speedily rel.apsed back again into their savage habits ; while, on the other h.and,all 
 the establishments (even that recently formed at Port Philli])) have been, by some strange fatality, placed 
 either close to towns or in the very heart of a dense white iJOjiulation, — an oversight most fatal to their 
 success. 
 
 Th.at little good has resulted from such attemjits, is therefore not to bo wondered at, but that those 
 several attem])ts have not been without their benefit, is a fact too often overlooked ; they have proved be- 
 yond the possibility of contradiction, that the natives, however despicable they may bo in the estimation 
 of phrenologists and others, are capable of intellectual improvement. Sir Cr. JI'Kenzio, a celebr.ated 
 phrenologist, having received a skull from Patrick Hill, Esq., speaks of their intellectual abiliticH as 
 by no means despicable. The insurmountable diilicuUy hitherto has been, not that of teaching them, but 
 that of locating them— their propensity to wander breaking through all restraint ; wherefore the necessity 
 of removing them to a distance from their native place.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 39 
 
 The charge of laziness, likewise so often preferred, is no more peculiarly applicable to them than to 
 other savages, all of whom are given to extreme indolence, but whose energies are more or less drawn out 
 by climate, ])hysical peculiarity of country, and other circumstances calculated to develop character, 
 which do not exist in this Colony ; while the opinion too generally received, that they possess no religious 
 notions or belief, and therefore are not susceptible of moral impressions, is also, I conceive, most un- 
 founded. Their ceremonies, superstitions, and belief of a future state, exclusion of women from many 
 of their rites, and their belief in evil spirits, all tend to show the unreasonableness of such a conclusion. 
 
 That the question under consideration involves the destiny of perhaps 100,000 or 200,000 of our 
 fellow-beings, is a serious consideration, and one which should cause us to pause before we venture to 
 abandon them to what must inevitably take place — destruction. 
 
 The numbers now within the influence of the white population, embracing Port Phillip and Moreton 
 Bay, cannot be less, I conceive, than from eight to ten thousand souls, for I found within a given space 
 near "Wellington Valley, in 1826, nine tribes, consisting of l,Go8 souls. 
 
 That a dreadful destruction of life has taken place since, there is no doubt ; but that still in the 
 interior, within the reach of the white population, a considerable body of natives is to be found, I feel 
 myself borne cmt by the various inquiries I have made. 
 
 The Eeverend Lancelot Edward Threlkeld examined : — 
 
 I reside at Lake Macquarie, and have done so nearly fourteen years, during which I have been 
 engaged in .acquiring a knowledge of the language of the aboriginal natives, and instructing them ; for 
 six years of that period, my undertaking was carried on under the auspices of the London Missionary 
 Society ; but owing to the heavy expense of the mission, amounting to about £.500 per annum for my o\\'u 
 support, and that of such natives as I could persuade to remain with me, for the double purpose of 
 obtaining from them a knowledge of their language, and to give me an opportunity of endeavouring to 
 civilize and instruct them, the Society being disappointed in the amount of aid expected from other 
 quarters, and regarding the expense as encroaching too much upon their funds, relinquished the mission ; 
 and for nearly two years I was left to my own resources and the assistance of some friends, without other 
 aid, when General Darling obtained the authority of the Secretary of State for an allowance of £150 a 
 year, and £36 in lieu of rations for four convict servants, which has been granted to me during the last 
 eight years. 
 
 The mission has thus occasioned an expense to the London Society, for the first six years, of about 
 £3,000 ; and for the eight following years, to the Colonial Government (at the rate of £186 per annum), 
 of about £1,188, or about £4,488 for the fourteen years, exclusive of my own outlay. 
 
 For the probable result of the mission, if pecuniary aid sufficient to carry out my plans had been 
 continued, I beg leave to refer to the opinion of Messrs. Backhouse and "Walker, who visited my station, 
 as given in their letter to the Society, dated 21 May, 1836. 
 
 The native languages thronghout New South "Wales are, I feel persuaded, based upon the same 
 origin ; but I have found the dialects of various tribes differ from that of those which occupv the country 
 around Lake Macquarie, that is to say, of those tribes occupying the limits bounded by the North Head 
 of Port Jackson, on the south, and Hunter's River on the north, and extending inland about 60 miles, 
 all of which speak the same dialect. 
 
 The natives of Port Stephens use a dialect a little difiereut, but not so much as to prevent our 
 understanding each other ; but at Patrick's Plains the ditference is so great, that we cannot communicate 
 with each other ; there are blacks who speak both dialects. 
 
 The dialect of the Sydney and Botany Bay natives varies in a slight degree, and in that of those 
 further distant, the difference is such that no communication can be held between them and the blacks 
 inhabiting the district in which I i-cside. 
 
 From information obtained from Mr. "Watson, of "Wellington "Valley, I learn that the language of 
 the tribes of that district is also derived from the same general origin, but their various dialects also 
 differ very much, ancl the use of any one dialect is very limited. 
 
 During flic period of my coimcctioii with the London i\rist;ionary Society, I gcncrallv had about 
 three or four triiics resident around me upon 10,e)00 acres of land, granted in'trust for the use of the 
 aborigines ; and 1 have occasionally einpK)yed I'rom ten to sixty blacks in burning off timber and clearing 
 the land, at which work they would continue for a fortnight together, being the einployuicut they appeared 
 to like best. Since that period, 1 have not been able to employ more than half a dozen at a time, having 
 no fund.s at my disnosal for their support.
 
 40 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 I have generally found that they would continue at their work for eight or ten days at a time, 
 when some other object called them away, aud they remained absent for as many weeks. Two Lads whom 
 I wais teaching to read and write, in which they had made some progress, remained with me for six months, 
 when they went away, and after an .absence of nearly a year returned, and they are now .at work .at my 
 residence, where they will prob.ably st.ay until some u.ative custom or report of hostile intention from a 
 neighbouring tribe or tribes will again call them awaj'. 
 
 In respect to the office of Protectors, I think too much is expected in the duties which arc to 
 devolve on them. I consider a Protector as a leg.al .advocate, to w.atch over the rights .and interests of the 
 natives, .and to protect them from .aggression, which I think would bo sufficient occup.ation for any 
 individual. 
 
 The object contemplated respecting the mor.al and religious improvement of the natives by instruc- 
 tion, would be more properly the duty of persons appointed specially for that purpose, and would fully 
 occupy their time. 
 
 To illustrate the subject, and show the neeessitj'- of leg.al protectors, I state the following circum- 
 stance : — I w.as directed by the G-overnment to send a man of mine to P.atrick's Pl.ains, to give evidence 
 resjKJcting the .alleged murder of three black women by their own countrymen. I had to attend myself, .and 
 the dist.ance I had to travel was 200 miles, which det.ained mo a week. I was informed on the road of a 
 murder at Liverpool Plains, which took place a year before, when, after some depredations committed by 
 the blacks in spearing cattle, a p.arty of stockmen went out, took a black prisoner, tied his arms behind 
 him, and then fastened him to the stirrup of a stockmiin on horseback ; when tho party arrived ne.ar their 
 respective stations, they sep.ar.ated, leaving the stockm.an to conduct his prisoner to his hut. The black, 
 when he found they were .alone, was reluctant to proceed, aud the stockm.an took his knife from his 
 pocket, stuck the black through the thro.at, and left him for dead. The black crawled to the st.aliou of a 
 geutlem.an at the Plains, told his tale, .and expired. Another instance was mentioned to mc, of a stockman 
 who boasted to his master of having killed six or eight bl.acks with his own hands, when in jjursiiit of them 
 with his companions ; for which his master dischjirgcd him. These cases alone, if I had authority to act, 
 would have taken mc some months from home, merely to investigate the matter .at th,at distant place. 
 
 Thus T .am firmly of opinion th.at a Protector of Aborigines will be fully employed in investigating 
 cases, which are so numerous and shocking to humanity, aud in maintaining their civil rights. I am certain 
 th.at the duties attached to the office of Protector of the Aborigines are more th.an any single individual 
 can perform. 
 
 Mr. Threlkcld advocated the removal of the n.atives from Flinders Island, and s.ays " I have no 
 hcsit.ation in s.aying that I think tho establishment itself may be beneficial, as an example to the other 
 bl.acks, who will in .all prob.ability visit it." 
 
 Captain Grey's opinion. 
 
 He st.ates, in Jiis recommendations to Lord John Eussell for the treatment of the aboriginal popu- 
 lation, that the people .are c.ap.ablc of being civilized, but that all the systems hitherto pursued have been 
 erroneous, and th.at the error lay in treating them as British subjects, in as far as British property was ' 
 concerned, but in all that related to themselves they have been left to tlie exercise of tlieir own customs 
 and Laws ; but as their traditions and laws arc peculiar, and such as cannot raise them from a slate of 
 barbarity, however it m.ay be intended, .and the plea of tlicir being a conquered jicople ni.ay appear plausible, 
 this st.atc of things is inadmissible, and the n.atives from the moment they become British subjects should 
 be taught, as far as possible, th.at British law is to supersede their own, for he s.ays, until this is enforced, 
 the natives will ever have at disposal tho means within themselves of effectually preventing the civilization 
 of .any individual of their tribes, even those who m.ay be disposed to adopt Europe.aii habits, &c. C'apt. 
 Grey then refers, in support of this view, to instances of persons, especially girls betrothed in their 
 infancy, who after adopting European customs have been compelled to relin(|uish them aud to roturu to 
 a state of barbarism. He likewise shows the effect on the mind of these pcoi)le when they are punished 
 fur offences such as theft, murder, &c., committed upon Europeans, while tlicy are freely jjermitled to be 
 guilty of those very acts u])on themselves. 
 
 For the enforcement of Law and protection of both races, Capt. Grey reconnnends the establishment 
 of a mounted police ; also, that native evidence, under peculiar restrictions, should be admissible in o\ir 
 Courts of justice. Capt. Grey states some instances of injustice under which n.atives have laboured iu 
 consequence of their evidence not being admissible ; also, of their being puzzled as to our forms of law — 
 that when they pleaded gt\ilty they were punished, and when some were induced from the couscqueuces
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 41 
 
 tliey saw resulting from this line of conduct to plead not guilty were punished likewise, they became per- 
 fectly confounded ; further, the natives not being tried by their own people, but by those likely to be 
 prejudiced against them, and relying chiefly upon an ignorant interpreter, he recommends counsel to be 
 provided for them. 
 
 The preventives to their civilization Captain G-rey sums up as follows : — The irregular demand for 
 their labour, the inadequate payment they often receive for it, not being able to comprehend the variable 
 value of labour regulated by the skill required. 
 
 He then proceeds to point out the difliculty of instructing the aboriginal population, showing that it 
 can scarce be expected that individuals would undertake the task ; aud even if they did, the natives would 
 only be employed in the most menial offices, and that in forming native institutions, aud these could be 
 only local and partial ; ho therefore proposes a scale of remuneratiou to all who may undertake to instruct 
 these people, arguing that as the expense of introducing labour is already provided for, this plan would 
 occasion but little additional expense in obtaining labour, while a fresh good would arise out of it in 
 converting those who would be otherwise hostile and useless into good subjects. 
 
 The disposal of these remunerations to be subject to the following restrictions : — 
 
 A deposition before a Magistrate, a certificate from the Government of the District, and a further 
 certificate from the Protector of the Aborigines, as to the residence and attainments of the natives employed, 
 and on whose behalf remuneration has been applied for ; thus civilization would proceed (Capt. Grey 
 observes) ujjon an extensive scale, not being confined to mere institutions or isolated attempts. In densely 
 peopled districts the natives may be collected together, but in the more thinly inhabited districts, as this 
 may be attended with danger, the employment should be of a description not to congregate. Capt. Grey 
 concludes by observing that some of these plans have been already brought into operation in AVestem 
 Australia ; and further, that in the selection of work for these people it must be of a description suitable to 
 their unsettled habits, possessing variety, such as opening out new roads and clearing old ones, some of 
 the partj"^ being engaged hunting and fishing so as to provide food for the others ; aud as remuneration to 
 the natives for these labours, &c., he proposes that any native being con.stantly employed for three years 
 at the house of a settler should receive a grant of land in the district of which he may be a resident, also a 
 sum of money to be laid out in the stocking of the same ; that rewards should be given to those natives 
 who may be content to live with one wife, and who would register the birth of their children ; and that 
 some competent person should be employed to instruct some of the native youths so as to fit them for 
 interpreters in Courts of law. 
 
 Many of these observations of Capt. Grey are deserving of attention, and, as Lord John Eussell in 
 a despatch to Sir George Gipps suggests, appear fit for adoption, subject to such modifications as the 
 varying circumstances of the Colony may suggest ; but they have never been acted upon : expense over- 
 rules every other consideration.
 
 42 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Aborigines of Victoria — Mr. WestgarUi'ji remarks — Mr. Lloyd's remarks — Buckley's resilience among the Aboriginals. 
 
 De. Leichuaedt visited the IM'oravian Mission in lSi3, and said no better persons could be found than 
 the seven families and twenty-one children to establish a colony ; a little land surely might be granted them. 
 The Bev. Dr. Lang describes these missionaries as travelling about, and preaching to the settlers ; but this 
 mission broke up also. Dr. Leichhardt describes the nortliern natives as a fine race of men, and the 
 mode of preparing their food as remarkable, especially one poisonous plant. 
 
 Sir Eichard Bonrke had established in Melbourne an Aboriginal Institution, of which the 
 Bishop says, " Some of the boys appear to be acquiring some knowledge already, and of the most elemen- 
 tary truths of religion, which it may be hoped will lead to their future improvement ; but there are no 
 apparent signs as yet of any impression having been made upon the adult natives, many of whom are 
 attached to the place, and derive advantage from the stores of provisions which are distributed amongst 
 them ; but they have in no respect broken off their savage usages." The time was too short to have 
 expected any such changes. INIissions amongst barbarians have generally been slow in effecting results, 
 but this institution, as I told Sir Richard Bourke, in an interview with him, was placed under most dis- 
 advantageous circumstances, being too near the white population, who would counteract all religious 
 instruction and vitiate all these unhajipy people. 
 
 That Sir Kichard Bourke felt a great interest in these people is certain. He made a trial of what may 
 be hoped on their behalf, by confining some adult aborigines, who had committed some serious offences, 
 on an island in the Sydney Harbour, placing them under the care of Mr. Langhan, who by this means 
 acquired their language and became acquainted with their h.abits, and was thus trained to the oDTiee of 
 Superintendent of the Port Phillip Institution. But my prognostic became, unfortunately, too true. Had 
 the Institution been more judiciously ])laccd it might have had better results, but it had to be abandoned 
 — the fate of almost all attempts hitherto made on behalf of this unfortunate race. 
 
 The rapid increase of white population alone must in a very few years have crushed such an infant 
 Institution, when it increased in 1S3G from Batman with a following of 2-11 persons to, in 1S73, 700,-i72 per- 
 sons. A Board for the Protection of the Aborigines having been appointed, the following is the report to Par- 
 liament : — " The Aborigines of Victoria. — The Board for the Protection of Aborigines in Victoria has sub- 
 mitted a report to Parliament, of which the following are extracts: — 'It ia a matter for congratulation 
 that the condition of the aborigines in all parts of the Colony is as satisfactory as could be expected, 
 having regard to the habits of this people, and the great diiliculty experienced by the local guardians and 
 superintendents of stations in keeping them under control when they are induced by old associations or 
 superstitions, or tempted by the lower class of whites, to wander from the spots where in health they are 
 supplied with good food and suitable clothing, and in sickness tended with the same caro as is bestowed 
 on Europeans. For many years the Board h.as conducted experiments at the several stations, with the 
 object of producing crops that v/ould necessitate neither heavy nor sustained labours — labours that the 
 aborigines as a rule are not fitted to inidcrtake — and which would yield a return sullicient at least to pay 
 for the support of the natives. At Coranderrk a great many different crops have been grown. At one 
 time it was expected that tobacco would yield largely ; grain has been grown, fruits of various sorts have 
 been cultivated, and at some expense an attemj)t was made to establisli a dairy. All these, however, failed 
 to give such results as were satisfactory to tlie Board. It was not until the assistance of Mr. Frederick 
 Search was obtained that any fair prospects presented themselves. lie examined the lands at Coranderrk, 
 and recommended that a h()|) plantation should be cstabli.-ihcd under the care of a competent hop-grower. 
 Owing to his skill and knowledge, and with the assistance of Mr. Burgess — who has i)rovcd liimsclf 
 thoroughly competent to manage hop grounds and prepare the produce for market — success has at last
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 43 
 
 been achieved. The crop sent to market JuriuE; the season jast passed, 15,2J^4 lbs. in weight, has realized 
 good prices. The first lot was sold at auction for Is. lOid- per lb., and the condition in which it was 
 presented to buyers elicited the highest praise from experts. The gross sum derived from the season's 
 crop was £1,140 Gs. 3d. From this has to be deducted commission, discount, &c., and the wages of the 
 hop-pickers, leaving a net sum of £983 5s. lOd. The cost of the experiment has been small. Kext year 
 the results will, it is anticipated, be far more satisfactory. The plantation has been extended, and 
 arrangements will be made for drying the hops rapidly, and for sending them earlier to market. The 
 condition of the aborigines, from the foundation of the Colony, was never as prosperous as at the present 
 time. Useful employments have been found for the adults of both sexes ; the children are educated and 
 trained by competent teachers ; and the material interests of both the aged and the young are carefully 
 guarded. The wise liberality of the Parliament of Victoria may perhaps induce the Governments of the 
 neighbouring Colonies to enact laws similar to those under which the natives of Victoria are now 
 prosperous, and to provide means for the support of the aboriginal population and for the education of 
 the children.' " I have not been able to learn the result of this experiment so full of promise, but the 
 project was discontinued. 
 
 Mr. Westgarth does not appear to be over-attached to these unfortunate people, and considers, 
 with many others, it is the decree of Heaven that they should perish before the civilized population. But 
 this is merely an excuse for the demoralizing influence of civilization, with its multiplied evils, for we 
 have the fact before us in the Sandwich Islands, Tahiti, and where there has been a native society_ under 
 missionary enterprise, that this was not the case, but that life and morality would be fostered with the 
 advance of civilization under the power of Christianity. 
 
 Let us not cast upon Heaven a destruction which is our own, and say they are doomed by Divine 
 decree, where the guilt lies with ourselves. 
 
 The native population in ISGO was about 2,000, but in 1859 was computed at from G,000 to 7,000. 
 The Select Committee assigns the cause of diminution to be drunkenness, and the exposure and con- 
 sequent disease too often resulting from this vice. 
 
 Mr. "Westgarth says that in 18G1 only thirteen natives were residents within municipal towns; and 
 in the gold districts, in the same year, there were but 147. We may ask who slew the others ? — the 
 pestilential vices of the European Christians. 
 
 Several efforts have been put forward on behalf of these people, but with little success. The 
 Government in 1838 instituted a protectorate ; three years afterwards, they formed a native police force, 
 and in 184G, a native school. During thirteen years, £G0,000 was expended without any important 
 results. 
 
 The Wesleyans formed a mission at Buntingdale in 1838, where they were partially successful ; 
 but, in spite of cottages and gardens, daily employment, and daily food, the blacks returned with renewed 
 relish to their native wilds. 
 
 There was also an Anglical Episcopal Mission in 1853, but all alike unsuccessful, with the excep- 
 tion of the Moravians, commenced in 1851, at Lake Boga, near the Murray, removed since to the 
 "Wimmera. This district contains about one-third of the population of the Colony. At Cooper's Creek 
 there were about 300, and about 120 more within the neighbourhood, all speaking the same language. Mr. 
 Westgarth winds up his summary by asking what is the destiny of these unfortunate savages, and there 
 can be but little doubt but that the aboriginal race will entirely disappear before civilization at a galop. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd describes the rapid destruction of these people. In 1837, the Barrabool Hill tribe 
 mustered upwards of 300 sleek healthy blacks. In 1853, his second visit, he met only nine gins and one sickly 
 infant. On iniiuiring what had become of them, the answer was, " All dead, all dead," and they chanted the 
 following sorrowful dirge : " The stranger white man come in his great swimming corong and landed with 
 his dcdabul-bonlganas (large animals), and his anaki boulgauas (little animals). He came with his boom- 
 booms (double guns), his miam-miams (tents), blankets, and tomahawks ; and the dedabul ummageet 
 (great white stranger) took away the long-inherited hunting-grounds of the poor Barrabool coolies and 
 their children, &c., &c." Then liaving worked themselves into a frenzy, they, in wild tones, shaking their 
 heads and liolding up their hands in bitter sorrow, exclaimed, " Coolie ! coolie ! coolie ! Now where are 
 your fatliers, molhers, brothers, sisters? Dead, all gone! dead!" In broken Engli.sli they then said, 
 "Never mind Mitter Looyed, tir, by-'n'-by all dcm blackfella come back whitefclla like it you." They 
 seemed to think that they had discovered the reality of their belief in a resurrection or transmigration. 
 Only nine women, seven men, and one child out of 300 remained. How fearfid the account ! The 
 sheep-farmers destroyed their game and their support. The law of the man-slayer prevailed liere. Mr. 
 Lloyd gives a painful history of one black who had been speared. One dark night, the dog barked the
 
 44 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 alarm, tlie avenger had tnicod out his victim aud drove a spear through him and killed him. l\Ir. Lloyd 
 gives anotlier of llie jioelic laments : — 
 
 The lanil's rightful ownei-a, now wretchuil and poor, 
 
 Beg their morsels of food at tlicir wiiite l)rother"s door; 
 
 Those hunters who carolled so blytliely at morn, 
 
 Now wander dejeeted, rejected, forlorn. 
 
 To their fathers the best and the bravest have gone, 
 
 And dark-eyed Zitella sits weeping alone — • 
 
 And dark-eyed Zitella sits weeping alone ! 
 
 Thus the aboriginal uatives melted away like snow before the sun ; from no congenial heat, but from the 
 practices of inhuman selfishness. 
 
 What a contrast the European settlement in 1858 ! Scarce a black in existence for 3 miles, whilo 
 the white population numbered -188,709 souls, with 4,000,000 sheep, 400,000 head of cattle, 181,000 
 horses, with imports aud exports of £14,000,000 and £13,000,000 respectively, ou the graveyard of the 
 aborigines. 
 
 The earth was never intended to be kept waste, but the evil is as to the way of settling it — this is 
 the perplexing question. 
 
 One of the singular circumstances of a European of the name of Buckley living with these 
 aboriginals for a long period is worthy of mention here. Buckley enlisted as a soldier, but was trans- 
 ported for having in his possession a parcel of stolen clothes, which a female had asked him to take 
 charge of. He was sent to AV^estport, and with two others effected his escape from the ship, and after 
 wandering about the bush nearly starved, he fell in with a family of the aborigines, with whom he lived 
 a month or two, but being desirous of reaching Sydney, he left them and wandered to the Tan Yean, 
 where Melbourne now stands ; from thence he wandered to Geelong, where ho met a tribe of blacks, who 
 were much astonished to see him, but treated him with kindness, and took him with them to the Barwon 
 Eiver, Avhcre they, 200 blacks, viewed him with much astonishment. Tiie blacks supposed he had been 
 a black, changed to white — a supposition very general. They treated him kindly and gave him a wdfe, but 
 fearing jealou.sy, he transferred her to another man. Shortly afterwards, he and one of his companions, 
 long separated, met, but this man behaved so badly towards the women, that Buckley insisted on his 
 leaving the tribe, which he did, and he heard afterwards that he was dead. Buckley lived some years with 
 the Geelong tribe, and acquired theii' language, always impressing on them that he had been a blackfellow, 
 so as to secure his safety. He says, " Having the best hut, and a good tire, the children congregated about 
 me, and I told them of English ships, tools, and wars, &c., to which both adults aud childreu listened with 
 wonder, but they did not like the idea that I should leave them. On their missing mo once, when I went 
 to wash, they made great search, and when they i'ouud me, an old man burst into tears, and rejoiced at 
 the discovery. Tlieir numbers had greatly decreased, owing to their wars and cruelties. Tlieir expeditions 
 are generally in the night ; men, women, and children are then murdered wholesale. I often reflected on 
 the goodness of Pi'ovidence in preserving me, but I did not venture to instruct them, fearing that they 
 would injure mc ; they do not think of a superintending Providence." 
 
 They believe, lie says, in two spirits, whom they treat with great respect. One of these they believe 
 resides in a certain marsh, and is the author of all their songs ; ho communicates by his songs, and 
 these songs are circulated through the tribes, and they have them new every year. The other spirit they 
 believe has charge of the pole that props up the sky, and they stand in dread lest the sky should fall 
 down and destroy them. Just before the Europeans came to Port Phillip, in 1836, there was much con- 
 versation about this spirit — that he had sent a message to the effect that in order to repair the sky-props, 
 he needed immediately some tomahawks, which were lo be made out of the carts used by the sealers at 
 Western Port. On this report, the natives went down to Western Port aud stole a cart, such as the 
 sealers used, and made tomahawk handles out of the spokes of the wheels. 
 
 Although Buckley had heard that the whalers now visited Western Port, he had become so reconciled 
 to his way of living, that he lost all desire to return to civilization, and feared meeting with any of the 
 white people. 
 
 Ho became such an adept at fishing, that he su])plied not only his own tribes but otiiers with food. 
 The tribe he lived with were cannibals. Tliey ate the llcsh of enemies tlicy had slain, not to satisfy hunger, 
 but from a belief that they obtained some particular virtue thereby ; but some were content with rubbing 
 the fat into their bodies. 
 
 Promiscuous intercourse was common, and the husband often consented to it, aud then beat hia 
 wife for submitting to it.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 45 
 
 They warned their children from going where the dead were buried ; and when an infant they loved 
 died, they placed the body in a hollow tree until it had shrunk up so that they could carry it about. The 
 same practice exists in the north. 
 
 Their principal food is the wombat, an animal that burrows, which they kill by thrusting a boy feet 
 foremost into the hole, who, when reaching the animal, pushes it to the end of the hole, and then makes a 
 noise so that the men above may mark the spot, and make an entrance for the purpose of seizing the 
 animal. The porcupine is another dainty, roasted on the fire ; the flesh is excellent. 
 
 About eight years before the settlement at Port Phillip, some Europeans had goje up the river in 
 a boat, landed, and left a tomahawk behind them. Buckley was much agitated at the news. 
 
 When the European settlers with Mr. Batman arrived, Buckley did not discover himself for some 
 time, as he had no desire to leave the blacks. He, however, suddenly appearing to some horsemen with 
 his spears and oi)ossum cloak, and being a very large man, astonished the whites by his visit. For 
 some time he could not eudure European clothing. He was appointed by the Governor as overseer of 
 the blacks at the mission institution, at a salary of £G0 per annum, having received liis freedom, but never 
 appeared happy. He afterwards was appointed as constable at Hobart Town, where ho died. It appears 
 ho had lived nearly thirty years in that savage condition.
 
 46 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 CHArTER YI. 
 
 Aboriginal Friends' Association — Mission to Lake Alexandrina — Eov. Mr. Binncy's remarks — Extract from Mr. Foster — The 
 Bishop of Adelaide's visit to the NatiTC Institution — Report of the Committee of the Legislature — Evidence of the 
 Bishop— The Chief Protector — The Right Rev. Dr. Hale's Mission — The I'oonindee Mission — Tlic Queensland Mission — 
 The Maloga and Warangesda Missions — The Government appointments — The Church of England Board of Missions — 
 The Queen's Instructions — The assistance rendered to the Aborigines by the Government. 
 
 Ik 1859, the Aboriginal Friends' Association of Adelaide determined to establish an institution for the 
 instruction and evangelization of the lake tribes, and having engaged the Rev. G. Tapliu as their missionary, 
 he selected a peninsula formed by Lake Alcxaudrina, Lake Alljcrt, and the Coorons, a spot isolated and 
 separated from European settlements by 15 miles of water. This was a favourite resort of the 
 natives. 
 
 Mr. Taplin encamped amongst the natives for some time while his house was building, and observed 
 there was a mixture of two tribes. The one tribe was tall, with small features and straight hair ; while 
 tlie other had coarse features, clumsy limbs, and curly hair. The former proved more intelligent than the 
 other. One of tlie natives having killed another in a fray, a shepherd's opinion was that he ought to bo 
 hanged, although the death was occasioned by the law of revenge, and the man considered that the 
 heathenish practice should be put down, and they be made Christians. " Surely," said he, " it is our duty to 
 make Christians of them. I say hang them." 
 
 Mr. Taplin commenced divine worship amongst them. They believed in a G^od called Nurunderc, 
 who was a deihed blackfellow of gigantic vices. Tlie natives however attended wliilo the missionary went 
 through the " Peep o' Day," and " Lino upon Line," and such productions as met tlicir capacity. 
 
 They had not mixed with Europeans, and when the clock struck, they were alarmed and ran away. 
 
 At first Mr. Taplin visited their camp and talked to them, and then provided employment for them 
 at fencing, and found a market for their fish, but the old men at first opposed these measures, jealous lest 
 they should lose their influence. The Government granted supplies of flour and stores, while, to check 
 infanticide, tea and sugar were given to the mother, until the int'aut was twelve months old. 
 
 The first death that occurred, the corpse was placed upriglit iu the hut, filling the air with pestilence, 
 while the women were smeared with filtli and ashes, and set up a wailing, and the old men basted the 
 corpse with bunches of feathers, dipped in grease. 
 
 On parties from a distance visiting the place, loud wailing took place, tlic women throwing them- 
 selves on the ground, crying out, " Tour friend is gone ; he will speak to you no more." 
 
 They were told the dead would rise again. They started, were troubled, and cried " No." 
 
 On the Sabbath, they crowded to attend worship, and paid much attention. One of them asked, 
 " How do we know that tlie Bible is God's book ? Wliitcfellow tell us plenty of lies." 
 
 The first indication of any religious impression was, a woman dving sent for the missionary to read 
 to her " out of the very good book." This was the first glimmering of light. 
 
 Tlie missionary, in his attendance on the sick and dying, saw all stages of darkness of mind, from 
 horror to some cases of calm Christian composure, while the prayers were listened to with solemnity and 
 thanks. On liis telling one tliat she must die, the response of anotlicr old woman was, " Well, let us eat 
 plenty of flour ; let us eat, drink, for to-morrow we may die." Quite an epicurean trait of reasoning. 
 
 One young m:in, who first embraced the Gospel, declared lie would not grease himself or paint hira- 
 Belf with red ochre, and that he would cat with the women. This gave great ofleacc, and they threatened
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 47 
 
 to kill him, but he remained firm, aud became a useful man, but early died of consumption. The congre- 
 gations were at first strangely dressed — some with blankets, others with skins, some again with vests, and 
 sometimes they wore long coats. 
 
 In 18G0 the school-house was built aud teaching commenced. The children were naked, and wild 
 like monkeys, climbing the rafters and over the walls, but good-tempered. They, however, were washed and 
 had their hair cut, which met with much opposition. 
 
 After a time the children listened to the Scriptures, and much impression was made upon their 
 mind. Order was now secured as to school hours and working hours. On Sunday there was service twice 
 a day and Sabbath school, which consisted of 63 boys and 65 girls. There were 23 boys and 20 girls 
 boarders. 
 
 As the young men embraced religion and cast off heathenism, the old men became incensed, and 
 resorted to assassination to uphold their power. Captain Jack is described as a prominent character — 
 courageous and fearless, but rapacious. He, however, attached himself to the mission, and was very useful 
 in subduing conflicts. His objection to Christianity was, that he had two wives — one lame and helpless, the 
 other the mother of two children — and did not know which to divorce. " Which of them must I give up ?" 
 No doubt this was a great difficulty. 
 
 Several instances of Christians' deaths are mentioned ; in fact, these people felt the rescue 
 Christianity afforded from the misery of the life they led, and thus were convinced of its value. 
 
 One of the great difficulties was the fights. There were ceremonial and funeral fights, and casual 
 fights. The routine of the school would be going on as usual when the news of a fight would be brought. 
 Off would go all the children, servants, and labourers to the battle-field. Perhaps they would be going to 
 bed, when there was a shout and yell and a blaze, and then a general scrimmage would commence. One 
 battle lasted for sis days. 
 
 Very few were killed in these fights, but many wore badly wounded. Fighting, however, gradually 
 passed away, and religion took its place. A Bible class was formed. Some adults were baptised — forty- 
 one natives ; of these, three relapsed into heathenism. 
 
 2nd January, 1866. — The Lord's Supper was administered. Seven formed the first communion, 
 but the Church had increased to fifty-three members ; there were thirty-three natives and twenty whites. 
 
 The next advance was that of marriage solemnized with Christian rites. The missionary not being 
 legally empowered to marry, and his church and congregation being of a mixed character, the native 
 marriages were not recognized by law, so that when a Christian native had his wife forced away from him by 
 the heathen blacks, he had no redress ; but this was afterwards arranged by the missionaries being appointed 
 registrars. The heathen blacks tried to counteract this. An instance of thi.^ kind soon arose : Laeliuj-cri 
 had been legally married to Charlotte. On this, a party of blacks came down the Murray Eiver to the 
 station, and encamped, pretending a friendly visit, especially to the newly-married couple. Suddenly they 
 seized Charlotte by force in the absence of her husband, and carried her off rapidly to an island on the 
 lower lake, about 10 miles from the station. There they defied the husband, and "declared they would 
 give her away to another man. The missionary, with the husband and others, crossed in a boat, and 
 found Charlotte sitting under a bush, having escaped. On landing, the missionary was confronted by 
 some sixty blacks drawn up, armed with spears, and looking fierce. lie sent for his gun, and the other 
 two men. He told Charlotte to follow him, v,'hich she did; and just as they were embarking, Jack the 
 Fisherman jumjied out of the ranks, swearing and jumping, and calling on the other blacks to come to the 
 rescue, but not a man moved. Having sent Charlotte on board the cutter, the missionary walked up to 
 the blacks and had a friendly chat witli them, and, after staying half an hour, they sailed for home. This 
 bold attempt put an end to any further interference, except in another case, when a young man married 
 a young woman in defiance of the native custom. His father and mother declared they would murder 
 them both, but all ended in threats, and they ultimately became reconciled to the young couple. 
 
 The missionaries now entered upon cultivation and sheep-farming, civilization going hand-in-hand 
 with the Gospel. The sales of produce were soon increased. In ISGG, £19S 17s. Id. ; 1807, .£73 10s. Id. ; 
 1S68, £98 12.S. 9d. ; ISC.O, £31 !• 17s. 6d. ; 1870, £501 9s. Sd. ; 1871, £332 17s. Id. ; 1872, £276 13s. lOd. ; 
 1873, £841 3s. Id. The produce account was very fluctuating, owing to the seasons. 
 
 In 1865, the South Au.stralian Government gave a lease of 730 acres to the Institution. The 
 Christian natives now began to build cottages for themselves. Two stone cottages were first built and 
 thatched, out of their savings. Mrs. Smith, of Diincsk, a friend of the late missionary, Mr. Keid, who 
 was drowned, sent out £10, to be divided between the two converts, the first of Mr. Eeid's labours.
 
 48 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 The project of building a place of worship was now set on foot by the natives. £30 was raised, 
 while Mrs. Smith sent out £50, and £100 for cottages ; and, with the help of friends from Adelaide, tlio 
 chapel was built, at a cost of £1-18. More cottages were built. The town was called Eeid Town, in 
 commemoration of the missionary. They had a native stonemason, but the demand for houses exceeded 
 the means of construction. 
 
 Their Christianity led to Christian marriages. Christian worship, Christian homes, and Christian 
 burial. Those who commenced as children, grew up to men and women, and became heads of families. 
 " Some," says the missionary, " passed away to rest, who came to them painted savages. Many death-beds 
 could be described, where natives died in a sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 The contrast between savage life and a Christian life was here exhibited in the strongest light. 
 The night corroboree, with the songs and chants and beating time, with rolling eyes and gleaming teeth, 
 the stamping, beating, brandishing of weapons, and wild excitement, like demons, compared with the 
 souud of the hymn and song in the native deacon's cottage. The parties gathered for Saturday evening 
 prayer-meeting ; even the school children in their sleeping-room singing Lyte's beautiful hymn — 
 
 " Abide with me ; fast falls the even-tide" — 
 
 surely displays most fully the power of the Gospel over the minds of the hitherto hopeless beings ; that 
 they are redeemable from savage life ; that those who labour for them, labour not in vain in the Lord. A 
 few extracts here, from visitors, are confirmatory of these statements, preceded by the observations of tlio 
 Eev. Mr. Binuey, a visitor to the colonies. 
 
 It is satisfactory to record any sympathy for this ill-used race, and to find, however only partial 
 have been the efforts made for their reclamation, yet that something has been done, and that the early 
 prejudice against them has been considerably abated ; in fact, from intercourse with them and with the 
 Indians of North America, I consider, although they are inferior, yet they possess much talent, great 
 affection, uncommon quickness of perception, and capacity for improvement. 
 
 On the writer's arrival in New South Wales in 1826, at a public meeting it was declared by men of 
 position that the blackfcllow was not a Imman being, and that there was no more guilt in shooting him 
 than in shooting a native dog. Many cruelties were consequently perpetrated on them, although they 
 were shielded by the Government. 
 
 A public breakfast was given to the Eev. Mr. Binuey, at Adelaide, previous to his departure, and, 
 in his address of thanks, he stated that he, in his simplicity, coming from England, prayed for the 
 aborigines, prayed for the persecuted natives of the land wliich we had come to take. It twice happened 
 that a minister said, " I was surprised yet pleased to hear prayer for the aborigines ; I have never heard 
 it before ; we seem to have got into a state of apathy about them, and given them up as hopeless. 
 So that even the Christian Church had forgotten them before God, and considered them to be a doomed 
 people like the Canaanites of old." 
 
 Mr. B. then drew a vivid picture of the great change which had been effected since the introduc- 
 tion of Europeans to the displacement of the aboriginal population. 
 
 " In travelling about the thought struck me, looking at this magnificent country, all this was, 
 little.more than twenty years ago, the run of the savage, his trail and his lair. Here, amongst these hills 
 and these plains, amidst these woods, the savage ran and caught his game, erected his wurleys, lay down 
 for the night, passed on without a hand to grasp, or auy eye to see, or an understanding to develop, or 
 intelligent faculty to conjecture the meaniug of the mystic character, written everywhere upon God's 
 earth and sky around hini. Here he had been living for ages on this magnificent property as it were, but 
 unable to see it, without a hand to touch it, or an under.standing to modify it, or to work it into form of 
 utility and enjoyment. He had been so for ages, and he would have remained so, for I do not believe that 
 degraded man himself ever rose to even the first step of civilization. 
 
 " Although I could not but feci a pang for the di.sappearancc of the natives, I thought it right that 
 you should take possession of the property, and witli your hearts and hands directed by your intelligence. 
 use the rich materials of the earth which God has given you." 
 
 This lucid and poetical passage in the speech suggests much reflection. That the land should be 
 occupied and turned to account there is no question, but as the savage is helpless to raise himself, we ask, 
 is the Church guiltless in leaving him for ages in this condition ? 
 
 Mr. Foster, from whose work I quote, says it was a special instruction of tho Home Oovornmont, 
 on the eatablisiiment of South Australia, that the aborigines should be properly cared for, and for that
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA 49 
 
 purpose a Chief Inspector was appoiutod at Adelaide, aud a Sub-Inspector in the country districts. 
 Aboriginal reserves were made at various places for the natives, aud supplies of flour and blankets, &c., 
 were distributed periodically, schools were established and missionary efforts were entered upon, and have 
 been continued up to the present time with, in some cases, gratifying results. The Government did their 
 duty so far, but all these efforts failed as to a general effect, antl were only partial, owing to their nomadic 
 habits, undomestic life, aud pulmonary complaints, to which must be added European vices and diseases. 
 
 Missionary enterprise was dead in the Church, and she failed to discharge her obligation. Any 
 change effected was not by her missions, but by civilization, which carried with it the seeds of death and 
 destruction. New diseases, as lately at the l''ijis, where 3.5,000 have perished by measles, but still worse, 
 the avarice of men in introducing intoxicating drinks, and the lust of men in violating the law of chastity, 
 and the destruction of native food, have been a fearful consequence. Verily, say what we may, as a 
 Cliristian people, instead of benefiting the race we have destroyed them, as a man told Mr. Binnie — he 
 had lived amongst them many years — " that the last man of the tribe died the week before last." 
 
 Four missionaries from Dresden arrived in the Colony in 1838 and 1812, Messrs. Teechelmanu, 
 Klose, Meyer, and Schiirmann, so that missions were commenced at Adelaide and 12 miles south of 
 Adelaide, at Port Lincoln, aud Encounter Bay ; and at Walker's Villa was established a Sunday-school, 
 numerously attended by native children, in whicli Governor Grey took a great interest. 
 
 At Mr. Klose's school, fourteen children could read polysyllables, fourteen more were in addition, 
 three in subtraction, niue in multiplication, and two in division. Most of the children coidd repeat the 
 Lord's Prayer and Ten Commandments, and narrate the history of the Creation, the fall of our first parents, 
 and other portions of the Old and New Testament. A few could write by dictation, many knew geography, 
 the boundaries and divisions of the earth, proving their ability, and that they are not such demented 
 beings as has been too generally represented. But this progress was discouraged, and that by a portion 
 of the Press, who ridiculed these efforts as worthless for all practical purposes, and as the jargon of the 
 mi.ssionaries, aud that, if the report of the Protectors were true, they were more deeply versed in the holy 
 mysteries than the Bench of Bishops, by a long chalk. 
 
 However, they were not forsaken. The native institutions at Poonindee, at Port Lincoln, under the 
 Church of England, and the native institution at Lake Alexandrina, under the auspices of the Aboriginal 
 l^Viends' Association, still exist. Of these I will have to make some further mention. 
 
 The Poonindee Mission was founded in 1830 by Archdeacon Hale, now Bishop of Brisbane, who 
 invested largely his private me.ans, and isolated himself to carry out this undertaking, lie purchased a 
 number of sheep and cattle, and ultimately made the station self-supporting, the Government setting aside 
 21,000 acres of land, as a reserve. 
 
 After six years' labour, ho was succeeded in 1850 by Dr. Hammond. The Government at first 
 rendered pecuniary assistance, but afterwards withdrew it, as the enterprise was rather of a private nature, 
 and no returns had been furnished to justify its conliauance. 
 
 In 1858, there were under liis tuition eleven married couples, nine unmarried boys, and two 
 unmarried girls, making a total of fifty persons. They had 0,000 sheep, 250 head of cattle, aud 35 horses ; 
 but the finances of the mission were in au unsatisfactory condition. 
 
 The Bishop of Adelaide, on his visit in 1858, was much pleased with the missimi. There was a 
 village of aborigines, living happily together, cultivating and providing for their own supfjort, not 
 neglecting their spiritual interests, but worshipjiing God, cheerful and content. There was a good 
 woolslied, a carpenter's shop, with tools, and grinding-mill, brick-kiln, stockyard, and dairy. 
 
 Tho Bishop says, " God has indeed blessed the labours of that good, self-denying man, the Bishop 
 of Perth. What difficulties he must have had to contend with, freaks of temper, &c." 
 
 Tho Point M'Cleary Institution was under the care of IMr. Tapliu, a devoted missionary. In 1862, 
 there was a Sabbath service performed there, attended by forty-three worshippers. The boys looked very 
 smart in their new jumpers of blue serge, and clean moleskin trousers, and sei'ge green caps. The service 
 was conducted in tho aboriginal language. Praise, prayer, and reading the Scriptures, and a short address 
 finished the worship. Tho singing was good, and joined in by the whole congregation. At that time 
 there were 150 natives at the station — 17 males and 58 females. The number of children at ecliool was 
 25. According to Dr. Walker's report, there were 125 persons. 
 
 Mr. Tapliu expressed himself greatly encouraged by the feeling for spiritual things, so much so, 
 that he was warranted in baptizing some of them and their household. 
 
 Tliis cheering statement Jiad its counterpoise — that the mortality amongst the blacks was 
 considerable. More children had died amongst them within the last twelve months, thau tor tho three 
 previous years. A largo number were infants, and out of tiiirty-six children who left the school in 1856,
 
 50 THE ABORiaiNES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 sis had died. Many adults had died also — twenty-one during the year, of those who had come to the 
 station for medicine and comforts. Numbers died from influenza. It is well to be able to relate that 
 these unfortunate beings had been cared for in their distress. 
 
 The report of a Committee of the Legislature in 1800 stated, amongst other things of interest, tliat 
 the following were amongst the causes of their decrease: — 1st. Infantiiride to a limited extent ; 2nd. 
 Introduction of European diseases, especially aggravated by syphilis ; 3rd. Introduction of intoxicating 
 liquors, in despite of existing law ; 4th. Promiscuous intercourse of the sexes between themselves and 
 Europeans ; oth. Disproportion of the sexes. 
 
 It is singular that some of these reasons arc found to operate in the same way to diminish the 
 population of the Sandwich Islands. 
 
 The Chief Protector was armed with additional powers to try and chock these evils, to pay 
 periodical visits, and to hold Courts for dispensing justice summarily. 
 
 The Bishop of Adelaide, having been examined before the Committee, stated his belief in their 
 capacity to understand Christianity, but not the metaphysical dilUcultics ; that the natives had never been 
 known to be drunk at the Poonindee Station, during the whole time of Mr. Hale being in charge, although 
 they went with tlie drays, and ran into the township. He further stated that ho had faith in the 
 conversion of the natives ; he had attended them in their dying moments, and believed, in many instances, 
 that they were converted. 
 
 Mr. Moorhouse, who had been seventeen years Chief Protector, stated his doubts of their attaining 
 knowledge beyond a certain point, although in two cases he witnessed evidences of their conversion, when 
 dying. Several natives were examined, and gave very sensible answers to questions. " AVe like Port 
 Lincoln because wo are away from the old blacks. Tell why ? Because we don't like to bo wicked. 
 Are they wicked ? Tes, fighting and doing anything, robbing, swearing, and drinking." Several questions 
 they would not answer, especially those relating to the dead. 
 
 Some severe affrays took place in the n(n'thcrn district through destitution, the long-continued 
 drought having deprived them of means of support. They committed depredations on the settlers' sheep 
 and cattle. 
 
 The estimated population within 60 miles was as follows : — 
 
 In the year 1841 ... 
 
 1842 
 
 „ 1843 
 
 1844 
 
 1845 
 
 1854 
 
 „ 1855 
 
 1856 
 
 From all the centres of population they disappeared, forcing on us the melancholy reflection tliat in a 
 few years the very existence of the original possessors of the laud will be amongst the traditions of the past. 
 
 It will bo seen by the accompanying sketch of Port Lincoln, and the extract attached, that the South 
 Australian Oovernment has taken up the cause of tiie aborigines with much zeal, granting money and land 
 for this object. It is to be hoped that some of these unfortunate beings will be rescued from the doom of 
 total extinction, which many have long consigned them to. 
 
 In February, 1870, the mission to Lake Condah was commenced. The report of this mission, under 
 the care of the Rev. II. Stable, is very encouraging. The men having returned from shearing, a new branch 
 of labour, they, together with the women and children, attended church, morning and evening, and service 
 on Sabbath regularly. There were some under religious feelings, but the general want of feeling towards 
 the 0-ospel was very evident. The children attended school, and had made progress, and tlie neighbouring 
 free-selectors attended Divine worship. 
 
 There were thirty-two men, twenty women, seventeen boys, and twenty-three girls, in all ninety-two 
 natives on the station. Tho mei\ had been engaged in cleaning, growing hops and arrowroot, and stripping 
 biirk. Tlierc were 255 head of cattle attached to tlie mission, by whicli milk and butter were supplied. Tho 
 next testimony is from the oilicial visitors, 1870. " My wife and self dropped down upon tho mission station 
 to breakfast. No liuman beings appeared. There were eighteen dogs of various sizes, colours, and 
 ages to greet us. Tho chapel service had just closed, and the congregation streamed out from the place 
 of worship. 
 
 650 natives 
 
 030 
 
 
 560 
 
 
 550 
 
 
 520 
 
 
 230 
 
 
 210 
 
 
 180 

 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 51 
 
 "The ouly idle persons were one decrepid old man, and a white-haired woman. The men were put- 
 ting up a strong fence of rails and posts, and did sixteen panels a day. Lime-burning had been intro- 
 duced, by which they were enabled to whitewash their houses. 
 
 " The chilflren in the choir were sixteen girls and eleven boys, and they have a brass band in progress. 
 The men enjoy cricket as a pastime, and the school is progressing. To some of these poor creatures the 
 mission is like a paradise." 
 
 The subjoined brief account of Poonindee mission, originated by the Eight Rev. Dr. Hale, who for 
 years devoted himself to the aborigines' cause, as well as Mrs. Hale, will show how capable these people are 
 of civilization under Christian culture. 
 
 The Eev. R.L.K. thus describes his visit in 1874 : — " After a toilsome ride and wading through 
 much scrub, we reached the station. It was plea&aut, too, to chat with the married women about the age 
 and the number of the teeth, &c., of their babies, and to stroke the little heads. They were as black as 
 you please, but evidently perfectly clean and wholesome. I was also introduced to a little boy, about 
 eleven years of ago, the first boy in the Colony of Victoria who had passed the examination required by the 
 late Government regulations, and whom dear Mr. H. evidently took a pleasure in addressing as ' a man, 
 by Act of Parliament.' 
 
 " The picnic party consisted of about forty-five blacks of different ages. About forty more were 
 enjoying their holiday el.sewhcre. Several were ou the river fishing. One I afterwards met in her own 
 house. On our return to the station, I visited the different buildings — the church, with its harmonium, 
 at which one of the black women (an importation from the institution at Adelaide) presides — the bar- 
 racks, where the unmarried sleep — the school, as well as the common garden, which, unlike some gardens, 
 was wholly free from weeds. But what I think pleased me most was the house of one of the married couples. 
 The only one at home was the wife, a half-caste (such are generally the most diilicult to deal with), who had 
 been very wild when she first came. When I saw her, she was evidently in ' her right mind,' and was 
 also, as her kind instructors said, giving every evidence of genuine piety, ' sitting at the feet of Jesus.' 
 Her house was a model of neatness and order. Tlio garden at the back was in good keeping, a fine crop of 
 arrowroot bearing testimony to careful cultivation. As I returned from the garden through the house, I 
 was attracted by some photographs hanging on the fire-place, and going to examine them, I found a col- 
 lecting card, inviting subscriptions for the Presbyterian mission vessel. (The station is supported by the 
 Presbyterian Church, though the missionaries themselves are Moravians.) The good woman seemed much 
 pleased when my brother, who had now joined me, put down hig name, with mine, for a small contribution. 
 It was to this cottage that Mr. Trollope was taken, when he visited Eaumiac. ' Oh,' said he, 'this is the 
 show cottage. I want to see another.' He went into the next, but the woman there was sick ; so he went 
 on to the third. ' Ah,' he said, ' I see they are all alike. I am quite satisfied.' 
 
 " There are about forty-five blacks constantly resident at Eaumiac, and about forty men not yet regu- 
 larly attached to it. They belong to several different tribes, speaking different dialects ; but they are all 
 taught in English. 
 
 " They are contributing to the maintenance of the station by their herd of cattle and their culti- 
 vation, principally of arrowroot. It is hoped, ere long, the station may become self-supporting. The 
 amusement of an evening is generally chess, at which the blacks are great proficients. 
 
 " I did not see Mr. Hagenauer's assistant. He was away with his family on a fishing excursion, the 
 day being a holiday. 
 
 " Mr. Hagenauer and his wife seem omiucntly qualified for their work. It was really refreshing to 
 hear the terms of Christian affection in which Mrs. H. spoke of her charge. I cannot doubt that love 
 has been a very important instrument in the success which has attended her own and her husband's efforts 
 to rescue some of those wandering sheep, and fit them to sing the praises of our common Eedeemer. 
 To Him shall be all the glory. 
 
 " We returned as we had come — the canoe, the marsh, the thistle, the leaps, Ac, &c. — and reached 
 our hospitable quarters at Clydebank at about S p.m. The next morning, after welcoming the New Tear, 
 in a glass of ' Poor man's wine' (a good old Scotch custom, as I was informed), we started homewards, 
 and reached Nambrok in the afternoon, after a hot, dusty drive, agreeably interrupted by a lunch at Mr. 
 W. Pearson's. 
 
 " February 2G, 1S74. E.L.K."
 
 52 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 The following reports, whicli were laid upon tlie table of the Diocesan Synod of Adelaide at tlio 
 opening of the Session in 1873, -nill, \vc think, prove interesting to our readers, as showing that the 
 despised aborigines of Australia are not altogether beyond the reach of Cliristian care and kindness. 
 
 Annual Report of Mr. Hawkes to his Co-trustees, 1873. 
 
 The year past has been si^^nalized by an event causing great joy to the natives and all persons 
 associated with the institution, being the visit of the reverend founder of the Poonindio Native Institution, 
 the Right Reverend Matthew Hale, Bishop of Perth, Western Australia, who arrived at the scene of his 
 former labours after an absence of sixteen years, accompanied by the Bishop of Adelaide, in November 
 last. On this occasion the natives took the opportunity of presenting a beautiful silver tea-service to 
 Bishop Ilalc, as a token of their love and esteem. 
 
 The result of the inspection by the Bishops was embodied in a pamphlet, entitled " A Visit to 
 Poonindio," written at the Mission House, on 22 November, 1872, giving a short history of the foundation, 
 trials, and final success of the native establishment. Five hundred copies have been published for general 
 distribution. 
 
 On 31st March last there were at the mission station, in residence, eighty-six natives. 
 
 I am thankful to be able to say that we have had no cases of diphtheria at the mission. The general 
 health of the natives has been good ; cases of slight cold or sore throat are promptly and carefully attended 
 to. Mr. Hammond's thorough knowledge of the native habit and constitution enables him to check 
 sickness at an early stage by hio able and judicious treatment. 
 
 The b.ilance-sheet showed a profit for the year of £82G 19s. 3d. 
 
 The stock at the station on 31st March last consists of 9,499 sheep, valued at 5s. each ; 130 head of 
 cattle, at COs. each, including two well-bred bulls, Gaylard and Canowie ; 25 horses, valued at £5 
 each ; 20 pigs, best Berkshire breed, valued at 20s. each ; the total value of which is £2,909 15s. 
 The lambing last season was on an average of 92 per cent. There will be at least 1,500 sheep to sell before 
 next lambing, after making every allowance for rations, &c. All land farmed at Poonindie to present time 
 is 332 acres ; grubbed, cleared, ploughed, and now lying in fallow as virgin soil, GO acres ; being grubbed, 
 cleared- and ploughed this year as fallow for sowing with wheat next year, 00 acres ; land under crop 
 with wheat in January, 1873, 180 acres ; land under crop for hay in January, 1873, 30 acres. We have no 
 land sown with artificial grasses, but we intend to try some kinds next year. There are 215 acres of land 
 under cultivation this year, including hay and lucerne crops. Next year about 75 acre.: of new 
 land will be added to the cultivation, and a part of the land in fallow will be brought into use again. 
 
 I am glad to give my testimony to the zeal and interest shown by Mr. Holden and Mr. AV". Newlaud 
 in their respective positions for the welfare of the natives and the institution ; also, to Mrs. Holden for her 
 kind and ready help, and to Mr. Ilammond for his valuable services as medical officer. 
 
 It is my intention to provide for the natives the means of learning useful trades. Aa ourniunbcrs 
 increase we sliall find the importance of having persons on the station who can supply boots and shoes, and 
 execute blacksmiths' and carpenters' work of the best kind. 
 
 I congratulate my co-trustees on the result of the past year's operations. 
 
 G. W. HAWKES, 
 
 Acting Trustee. 
 
 Dear Sir, Poonindie Native Institution, Port Lincoln, 9 June, 1873. 
 
 I beg, in accordance witli your request, to forward a brief report in reference to the wurley 
 natives of Port Lincoln District, who from time to time seek aid and shelter at this institution. 
 
 I would state in this report I make no reference to those natives who have settled down with us 
 from this district, who get constant employment, rations, and wages from the institution. 
 
 On referring to my books, I find the wurky natives have received cash payments for work done on 
 the station iluring (.say) the last fifteen months, one hundred ])ounds eight shillings and fivepenco 
 (£100 8s. 5(1.), and during the same period they received by rations and clothes one hundred and eighty-two 
 pounds nine shillings and cightpcnce (£182 9s, Sd.), making a total of two hundred and eighty-two pouudsi 
 eighteen shillings and one penny (£282 18s. Id.) 
 
 If you should ask the question — " What do the wuriey natives do with this ready cash?" Thoy 
 spend it in clothes at Port Lincoln, and in each case that has come under my notice they have spent the 
 money judiciously.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 53 
 
 I must not omit to mention the repeated relief the institution has given to the wurley natives in 
 times of sickness, such as oatmeal, sago, arrowroot ; in short, everything that is recommeded by our medical 
 oflBcer. They receive constant medical attendance from Dr. Hammond, at the cost of the institution. 
 
 Many cases I might refer to where the poor sick wurley natives have been brought from a distance 
 for the comforts and attention received at Poonindie. One man is now in the institution who has been ill 
 for over twelve mouths. He is unable to w^ork ; in fact, for weeks he is confined to his bed. 
 
 When a wurley native dies he is placed in a cofEn and buried in our cemetery, which you know is 
 fenced and well cared for. 
 
 I beg to state we at all times hold out every inducement to the wurley natives, so that they may look 
 upon Poonindie Institution as their home. From time to time, first one, and then another of them leaves 
 the camp life and joins the institution permanently. 
 
 In conclusion, I have but to say, whenever the wurley natives are with us they attend the services 
 in our little church. Their conduct is good throughout the disti-ict, so much so that there has not been a 
 single wurley native had to appear at Port Lincoln Court for over five years, either for drunkenness or 
 anything else. R. W. IIOLDEN, 
 
 Superintendent of Poonindie Native Institution. 
 
 The following extract on the Aboriginal Mission Station, at Poonindie, is from the recent work of 
 the Misses Florence and Rosamond Hill — " What we saw in Australia " : — 
 
 " Early in the history of South Australia, a school for the aborigines was established in Adelaide, 
 and continued in operation for some years. The pupils displayed much aptness for elementary knowledge, 
 but it was found that, on quitting school, they did not take to any settled occupation. Most of them 
 returned to their wild life, while the few who hung about the town were shiftless and destitute. The 
 present Bishop of Perth, Dr. Hale, was, at that time, Archdeacon of Adelaide. Taking great interest in 
 the native school, and deeply lamenting its failure to reclaim its pupils from savagery, he cast about for 
 some permanent method of civilizing them. lie resolved to form them into an agricultural community, 
 and to establish them in a district, remote from the evils he feared. The form of government was to be 
 patriarchal, and Christianity its guiding spirit. Beside.s aiding it with his fortune and influence, he resolved, 
 with generous self-devotion, to be himself the pastor of this humble flock. 
 
 " In September, 1850, Dr. Hale, bringing with him eleven aboriginals, five married couples and a 
 single man, who had all been educated at this school in Adelaide, settled on the banks of the Tod, where 
 the present little village gradually arose. 
 
 " Here a run with about 5,000 sheep was purchased by the Archdeacon. Government added an 
 extensive tract of land, forming an aboriginal reserve, and the Colonial Treasury and the S. P. Gr. made 
 important contributions to the funds. Under the direction of skilled white workmen, some of the natives 
 erected the present buildings, while others were being instructed in the various duties of the farm. A 
 nati^e school which had existed for some years in the district, under a Crcrman missionary, being amalga- 
 mated with Poonindie, increased the number of inmates, while individuals were from time to time 
 persuaded to leave their tribes, and join the mission. In spite of numerous deaths during its early 
 existence, the population exceeded si.xty when the Archdeacon left, and had reached almost a hundred at 
 the time of our visit, many infants having been born of late years, while the deaths have much diminished. 
 
 " The ex-scholars from Adelaide formed the nucleus of an educated class, and one of these, Conwiil.an, 
 was able, when the Archdeacon was absent, to conduct service in the mission church with such propriety, 
 that white settlers in the neighbourhood used regularly to attend. A day school for the children was soon 
 established, classes were formed for the women, and the men and older boys who are at work during the day 
 attend a night school. The necessity for amusements was not forgotten ; nuisic was encouraged. Some 
 of the young men lead the singing at church with their flutes, while the tones of the violin and concertina 
 are not unfamiliar in the settlement. Occasionally there is dancing, and harmless indoor games are 
 indulged in. Cricket seems for many years to have occupied as prominent a position as at Harrow or 
 Eton. Drink is strictly forbidden. No drink, of course, can be obtained in the vill.age, but we believe 
 no Poonindie native has been known to hrcak the rule, when sent to the township on errands. 
 
 " Besides the permanent inhabitants of the station, wc heard of ' wurley natives,' who, while 
 retaining their ordinary mode of life, still hang about the mission, sometimes, wo belicre, attending school 
 and church. The Poonindie estate now contains 12,000 acres." 
 
 A Government reserve of 113 acres has been granted for an Institution for the Aborigines near 
 Mackay, Queensland.
 
 54 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 A school-house has been built 30 ft. by 12 ft., and a Protector's quarters also, and furniture 
 provided. The work has been chietly done by the natives. The scholars arc taught to labour — to burn 
 lime, and draw wood and water. 
 
 The adult natives get employment from the settlers around, and they plant the sweet potato and 
 supply fish. 
 
 We hope that this small attempt may increase and rescue many of this race from destruction. Tlie 
 Government has since befriended the mission, and Bishop Halo, who is still their frieud, by resolution of 
 the General Synod, took primary charge of it. 
 
 The Waraugesda mission was commenced by Mr. Gribble, (now ordained), chiefly on his own 
 resources and with the help of his wife. lie erected buildings, and fenced ground for cultivation. The 
 chief object seems to be to rescue the young fcmnlcs from impending ruin, and in this he has been 
 successful, so much so that the numbers were so great as to press upon him, beyond his means of support. 
 The history of some of these young females is full of interest ; how they have accommodated themselves 
 to discipline and domestic life. But Mr. Gribble could not meet the urgent demands, and was obliged 
 therefore to refuse admittance. The school was accepted by the State as a State school, was afforded 
 help, and contributions were made from various sources to the amount of £671 7s. 2d. 
 
 " This mission has become a church mission, but it is doubtful whether the Government can 
 render help under the withdrawal of State aid, it being now a denominational institution. There 
 appears to be more than SO blacks on the books of the mission. GOO acres have been obtained from the 
 Government, and 400 more liave been promised." — Extracted from tlie report of the Board of Missions. 
 
 The Malaga mission is under the management of Mr. Matthews and his wife. Quoting from the 
 report of 1878 : — Last report our numbers were comparatively small, but a considerable increase has been 
 made since. The aborigines at the mission have been principally employed in cutting timber for the 
 purpose of erecting huts for themselves. Some have made fair progress in carpenter's work. They 
 assemble round the fire in winter to hear " Uncle Tom's Cabin" read to them. Mrs. Matthews and 
 Miss Prane attend the Sunday school. A number of blacks from the bush were present at the evening 
 .services. 
 
 A picnic was held on the Queen's Birthday, the children and adults playing rounders, racing, 
 skipping, and indulging in lots of swinging. They lit a bonfire and fired salutes in honor of Her Majesty. 
 
 All the young men are working vigorously, fencing and hut-building. A poor old lubra named 
 Molly is dying in the camp ; we send her medical comforts. Eeceivcd various remittances ; total, £1 Os. Gd. 
 
 Dan and Susannah, the first married couple, were glad to return with us, and a half-caste girl 
 Lizzie. The old blacks were opposed to our taking the children. 
 
 Harriet wrote her first letter to-day to a lady in Melbourne. She was proud of her first literary 
 effort. To-night we sat round the fire, and sang for two hours without intermission. 
 
 Ueached TJlapa home-station. A good number of children desire to go with us. Eleven young 
 people made up their minds to return with us. 
 
 A number of young men left for shearing, although 12 miles away. Most of them walk back to 
 Sunday service. 
 
 Jemmy, half-caste, manifested faith in Christ. He had been very troublesome ; he is now all day 
 singing hymns. A great change of character. Eight of the young men have now experienced a change. 
 They sat down with us at the Lord's table. 
 
 The chOdren are approaching proficiency in spelling, arithmetic, and writing. They also know 
 upwards of forty tunes. 
 
 Our Government grant of £400 is nearly exhausted ; we are therefore obliged to limit our expenses. 
 Several old people left to obtain fish, but shortly afterwards, the last payment of £400 from the Govern- 
 ment came, as well as flour, sugar, and rice, but it seems that will only meet ])resent wants. 
 
 The marriage customs of the blacks caused some altercation when three couples presented them- 
 selves i'or marriage, but the objections were overruled, although they went so far as to threaten to burn 
 down the huts, and filtecu blacks came down the river to interfere about the marriage ; however, they 
 became j'ncificd. There arc ten young and married with us now, and there are tliirty-eight aborigines in 
 the camp. Our income for the mouth has been £4 4s. Gd. Wo have passed through years of trial. 
 
 In perusing the report, it is wonderful how supplies came from yarious quarters, unsolicited, just in 
 time to relieve their wants. They lived by faith.
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 55 
 
 From these extracts we learn that the employinent and the working of the institution is the practical 
 success of the power of religion. The mis.sion is .-^till making its way, and an inlluential committee has 
 been formed in Sydney to promote its interests. 
 
 The other missions in Victoria and South Australia I have already described. "We sec, after all the 
 lailures, that the cause is not hopeless. 
 
 First, we must not be satisfied with civilization. Eeligiou can aloue change the native. The 
 Ethiopian cannot change his skin, but God can change the heart. Civilization will follow religion. Next, 
 the missions must be secluded from towns and white population. Lastly, the land fund is a legitimate 
 Bource of provision. We have possessed their lands, and therefore should compensate from that source. 
 
 Her Majesty, in her Instructions to the Governor, has expressed herself—" That you do by all 
 lawful means prevent and restrain all violence, &c., against them, and take such measures as may appear 
 necessary for the further conversion of them to the Christian faith, and their advancement to civilization." 
 
 The Government has taken up the question and appointed the Honorable G. Thornton, Esq., M.L.C., 
 Aboriginal Protector, while the Church of Enghmd Synod has appointed a Board of Missions, including 
 the Aboriginal IMissiou. May we not hope for some success ? 
 
 There is, besides, the New South Wales Aboriginal Protection Association of which His Excellency 
 Lord Augustus Loftus, G.C.B,, is Patron, the Honorable Sir John Eobertson, K.C.M.G., President, 
 together with tlie Honorable W. J. Foster, M.P., A'ice-President, and an influential Council. 
 
 A penalty is imposed on publicans who sell liquor to them. They are supplied with blankets, at 
 a co.it of £3,300 annually. The coa.st tribes are provided with fishing-boats and tackle to the amount of £51. 
 In Sydney they are supplied with food and clothing from time to time, amounting to £350 ; and through- 
 out the Colony with medical attendance and medicine. They receive passages on railwavs free. Two 
 schools have been established, and assistance has been given to Societies on their behalf. Thus they have 
 not been left utterly uucared for.
 
 56 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The last of the Sovereigns of the Svdnev Tribe "King Bungarec" — His son. 
 
 Mt acquaintance ■witli His Majesty was very short. As was his usual hahit, he visited the ship 
 " Thames" in which I arrived in the Colony. Ilis sable Majesty, in his native barge, a bark canoe, pre- 
 sented himself to make the usual inquiries as to the name of the captain, and to inspect the steward's 
 pantry, receiving tribute of various articles of food and raiment ; and although lie was adorned with a 
 cocked hat and brass plate, I could not help contrasting, to his disadvantage, His Majesty's appearance with 
 that of the North-American chieftains with whom I had been in the habit of mixing ; however, years of 
 drunkenness and some starvation no doubt had had their cflect in emaciating his frame — the blessings which 
 civilization has bestowed \ipon the unfortunate aboriginal population. 
 
 The following spirited sketch is copied from tlio S. M. Ilerahl, being an extract from Dickens' 
 All the Year Bound, evidently the production of an Australian : — 
 
 There are few old Australian colonists to whom the name of Bungarec is not familiar, but I 
 conceive it right that the whole world should know something of this departed monarch, and of ids habits 
 and peculiarities. Honored as I was by liis favour, politely greeted as I always was wlienever I met 
 His Majesty in the streets of Sydney, flattered as I was when he invited nic occasionally to accompany 
 him iu his boat to " go kedge fiss," I consider myself as well qualified to become his biographer, as was 
 Mr. Boswell to write the life of Doctor Johnson, or Lord John llussell that of Thomas Moore. 
 
 King Bungarec and myself were contemporaries ; but there was a vast difference between our ages. 
 AVhcn I first knew liim he was an old man, over sixty, and I a boy of twelve. It would be false to say 
 that I cannot account for the great liking the king always had for me, for the truth is I was in tho 
 habit of lending him .small sums of money, bread and meat, and not unfrequently a gla.-s of rum. Many 
 a time have I slyly visited the larder and the decanters on the sideboard, to minister to the wants of tho 
 monarch. I used the word " lend," because tho king never said " give." It was invariably " len' it half 
 a dump" (7id.), " len' it glass o' grog," " leu' it loaf o' bread," " leu' it ole shirt." It is needless, perhaps, 
 to state that, although in some respects the memory of King Bungarec was as extracn-dinary as that of tlio 
 late King George the Third, he was utterly oblivious of tho extent of his obligations, so far as repayment 
 was concerned. 
 
 In person, King Bungarec was about 5 feet 8 inches high, not very stout and not very thin, except 
 as to his legs, which were mere spindles. His countenance was benignant to the last degree, and there 
 was a kind and humorous sparkle in his eye (especially when it was lighted up by li(pior) which was, to 
 say the least of it, very cheerful to behold. 
 
 King Bnngaree's dres.1 consisted of tho cocked bat and full-dress coat of a general odicer or colonel, 
 an old shirt, and — that was all. I never saw him in ])aiitatoons, or shoes, or stockings. Once, I remember, 
 he wore a woi-ated sock on his left foot, but that was in consequence of having wounded himself by 
 treading on a broken bottle. 
 
 As the king was a person of irregular habits, he generally slept, as well as fished, in his clothes, and !iis 
 tailor's bill would not have been enormous, even if he had had a tailor ; but, as he " borrowed" his uniform, 
 as well as his money, bread, and rum, his finances were in no way embarrassed. Every new Oovernor, 
 from Governor ]Mac(|uarie down to Governor Gipjis (during whose admim'st ration Bungaree died), supplied
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 57 
 
 him with au old cocked-hat aud full-dress coat ; and almost every coloael commanding a regiment instantly 
 complied when his Majesty pronounced these words, " Len' it cock-'at — len' it coat — len' it ole shirt." 
 Around his neck was suspended, by a brass chain, a brass plate. On this plate, which was shaped like a 
 half-moon,^fere engraven in large letters the words, " Bungaree, King of the Blacks." On the plate 
 there was also engraven the arms of tlie Colony of New South Wales — an emu and a kangaroo. 
 
 In point of intelligence and natural ability, King Bungaree was far from deficient. He was, in 
 truth, a clever man, and not only did he understand all that was said to him in English, but he spoke the 
 language so as to be completely understood, except when his articulation was impaired by the too copious 
 use of ardent spirits, or other fermented liquors. 
 
 His Majesty changed his manners every five years ; or rather, they were changed with every Admin- 
 istration. Bungaree, like many of the aborigines of New South Wales, was an amazing mimic. The 
 action, the voice, the bearing, the attitude, the walk of any man, he could personate with astonishing^ 
 minuteness. It mattered not whether it was the Attorney-Cieneral stating a ease to a Jury, the Chief 
 Justice sentencing a culprit to be hanged, a colonel drilling a regiment in the barrack-square, a Jew 
 bargaining for old clothes, a drunken sailor resisting the efforts of the police to quiet him — King Bungaree 
 could, in mere dumb show, act the scene in such a way as to give you a perfect idea of it. Now, as the 
 Governor, for the time-being, was the first and most important person in the Colony, it was from that 
 functionary that King Bungaree took his cue, and, after having seen the Governor several times and 
 talked to liim, Bungaree would adopt His Excellency's manner of speech and bearing to the full extent 
 of his wonderful power. When I first knew Bungaree, General Darling was Governor of New South 
 Wales. Bungaree then walked the streets with his arms folded across his breast, his body erect, his pace 
 slow and measured, with something of a military swagger in it, and the only salute he vouchsafed was a 
 dignified, but very slight, inclination of his head. Even when His Majesty was so intoxicated that he 
 could not walk straight, it was impossible not to recognize the faithfulness of the copy to the original. 
 His mode of speech, too, was curt, and somewhat abrupt. Even the words " Len it glass o' grog" came 
 forth rather in the tone of a command than of a request. But when General Darling left, and General 
 Bourke became his successor, how very difl^erent was the demeanour and the deportment of King Bungaree ! 
 He walked briskly up George-street, with his left hand on his hip and his right arm moving to and fro, 
 took off his cocked-hat periodically in recognition of salutes (most of them imaginary), and when he 
 neared the guard-house at the bottom of Church Hill, lie would raise his right hand in the air aud shake 
 it, as a signal to the sentry not to turn out the guard to present arms to him. 
 
 The reader will have gleaned that King Bungaree was not temperate in his habits. Candour com- 
 l)ols me to say that ho was by no means particular as to the nature of his beverage. The only liquid to 
 which he had seemingly any aversion was pure water. Eum, gin, brandy, wine , beer, cliili vinegar, 
 mushroom catsup, or " bull," he would take in any quantity from any person who could be prevailed 
 upon to "lend" it to him ; and, unfortunately, in oVder to get rid of His Majesty, the supply, in many 
 instances, immediately followed the demand, 'and the king was too often to be seen stretched at full 
 length on a dust-heap near the wharves, fast asleep and covered by myriads of flies, his cocked-hat doing 
 the duty of a pillow, except when some little boy tore out the crown, and then pulled it over the king's 
 ankles, putting him, in fact, in felt stocks. So strong was this monarch's passion for drink, that I am 
 perfectly satisfied that he would, at any moment, have abdicated his sovereignty for an old sugar-mat, 
 wherewith to make " bull," althou;;h he would never have renounced his right to the title of " King of the 
 Blacks," or that brass plato, which he regarded as his "patent." 
 
 With the cares of State, Bungaree never troubleil himself. His sovereignty, to all intents aud 
 purposes, was a matter of sound and of mere form. His subjects never treated iiini with respect or 
 obedience. His tyranny, in the strictly classical acceptation of the term, was confined simply to hie 
 queens, five in number. These ladies were all much younger than the king, and were named, respectively, 
 "Onion," "Boatman," "Broomstick," " Askabout," and " Pincher." These names, of course, were not 
 given to them in their baptism (whatever may have been the aboriginal character of that rite), but were 
 dictated, most probably, by the caprice of some of King Bungaree's European advisers, on the various 
 occasions of his consulting them on the point, and " borrowing" something of which he fancied ho stood in 
 need. Whether the queens were much attaclied to the monarch or the monarch to them, I cannot venture 
 to say, nor can I form an opinion whcttur they bore the king company in his inebriation out of courtesy, 
 or from a natural desire to drink ; but tliis I can state, with the positivcnc^s of a biograplicr who derives 
 his sources of information from personal knowlcd'^e, that I never saw their Majesties (the queens) sober, 
 when His Majesty iving Bungaree was drunk. The dress of those royal ladies was exceedingly grotesque. 
 AVith the exception of a faded satiu slip, an old bedgown, or a flannel petticoat, whatever beauty King 
 H
 
 58 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Bungaree's queens possessed was, in every sense of the wonl, in its unadorument "adorned the most." 
 The only "foreign aid of ornament" that cvcu Ouiou, the most fastidious of Lhem, as regarded personal 
 appearance, ever resorted to, was a short clay pipe intertwined with her hair, which, in point of colour 
 and fineness, bore a strong resemblance to the tail or mane of an unbroken, iiuhaudled, bay colt. 
 
 I have mentioned that I sometimes, when a boy, accepted the invitations of Iving Bungaree to go 
 out Avith him in his boat to " kcdge fiss." His was a very old boat, a " loan " from Governor Macquaric, 
 who cultivated Bungaree's acquaintance, if not Bungaree himself ; and upon all these occasions tho 
 queens used to pull the rickety craft, while the king sat in the stern-sheets, and steered. Tho queens, 
 by turns, not only pulled the oars (only two) of the boat, but when tho anchor — a large piece of stone 
 tied to an old rope — was let go, they baited the hooks, threw over tho lines, and caught the bream and 
 yellowtails, with which the harbour abounded in those days. Bungaree, meanwhile, sat still, smoked his 
 pipe, and occasionally gave an approving nod or a kind word to the wife who hooked the fish fastest. 
 NVhen out in his boat, during Sir Richard Bourke's administration. King Bungaree bore a stronger resem- 
 blance to Charles the Second than to any other monarcli of whom I have read in history. He was cheerful, 
 merry, facetious, gallant (except as to pulling and fishing), and amorous, without anything like coarseness, 
 in his outbreaks of afi'ection. I'isli constituted King Bungaree's coin. The harbour of Port Jackson was 
 his treasure-chest. When a sufficient quantity had been caught to purchase a loaf or two, and enough 
 brown sugar to make a bucketful of " bull," the anchor was weighed, and the boat rowed to shore. Fresh 
 fish for tea was always marketable, and the queens had never any dilBculty in disposing of them at tho 
 public or private houses, receiving in return whatever articles they required to supply their own and the 
 king's immediate wants. 
 
 I must here record a little anecdote of King Bungaree. When His Majesty's ships, the " Warepite," 
 
 tho " Success," frigate, and some smaller craft anchored in Sydney, Bungaree went on board all these 
 vessels, to welcome to his dominions the various commanders. The Commodore, Sir James Brisbane, 
 having heard of King Bungaree, and being informed of his approach, g.ave the order that he should be 
 received with all the honors and formality accorded to persons of royal blood, save the firing a salute 
 and manning the yards. The officers, who entered into the joke, were all assembled on the quarter-deck ; 
 the First Lieutenant stood at the gangway, the Commodore, in his full-dress coat and cocked-hat, took 
 his place at tho capstan, the boatswain piped the side in the shrillest ear-piercing tones, and the drums 
 and fifes made music to the air of " God save the King ! " The moment King Bungaree placed his foot on 
 the " Warspite's " well-holystoned planks, the Commodore uncovered his venerable head, and placing his 
 cocked-hat beneath his left arm, with admirably acted humility, advauccd, and offered King Bungaree his 
 right hand. The king, who was then wearing his coat buttoned up to tho neck, a la Sir Ealph Darling, 
 received the homage which was jiaid him by the Commodore, with just the amount of formal einprcsse- 
 wcnt that the Governor himself woidd have exhibited, under the circumstance of being similarly greeted. 
 Having bowed, rather stiffly, to each of the officers on the quarter-deck, and having east an approving 
 though cold glance at the guns, the hammock-nettings, find the rigging. King Bungaree condescended to 
 inquire tho Commodore's name. " My name is Brisbane," said the Commodore, meekly. Bungaree, for at 
 least two minutes, surveyed the Commodore from head to foot, with a contem])tuous cxpl'ession of coun- 
 tenance. He had known one Brisbane (Sir Thomas), who had only lately left the Colony, which he had 
 goverucd for five years. That there could be two Brisbanes — that the world was big enough to hold two — 
 King Bungaree could not believe. At lengtli His Majesty spoke as follows, " What you mean, sa? You 
 Brisbane, sa? AV'hat for you, capping of big ship like this, sa, tell King Bungaree one big lie, sa? I 
 know Brisbane, sa. lie great frien'-o'-minc, sa. He Icn' me this cock-hat, sa, this coat, sa, this shirt, sa. 
 No, sa ; not this shirt, sa. King Bungaree never tell a lie, sa. Capping Crotty, of ;Jrd Buffs, sa, len' 
 me this shirt, sa." Ca])tain Crotty was not a very tall man, and tlie garment to which Bungaree last 
 alluded scarcely reached the monarch's knees. " No, sa ; you are not Governor Brisbane, sa. I show 
 these gennelmen Governor Brisbane, sa." Divesting himself, for the nonce, of tlie airs and manners of 
 Sir Kalph Darling, Bungaree put on those of Sir Thomas Brisbane, walked tlic deck, spoke to several of 
 the oilicers, and, taking a telcscoj)o from the Iiand of the signal-midshipman of tlie day, looked through it 
 into the heavens, and exclaimed, "Ah ! " Sir Thomas Bri.sbane was a great astronomer, and while in Now 
 South Wales had been constantly star-gazing. The Connnodore was so struck with King Bungaree's 
 imitation of his own first cousin, that he stood aghast; while tlie officers, unuhki any longer to presorvo 
 tiieir gravity, indulged in a iiearty peal of laughter. 
 
 " No, sa," resumed Bungaree, addressing the Connnodore, and acting General Darling, "you not 
 Bri.sbane. But you very good man, 1 dcssay. Never mind, I forgive you. 1 now feel very thirsty. Len' 
 it glass o' grog," Several glasses of the ship's rum, well diluted witli water, were " lent " to His Majesty, 
 and several pi[)es of tobacco. After remaining about an liour on l)oard the " Warspile," Bungaree was
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTKALIA. 59 
 
 piped over tlie Hide, taking with liiiii " loans " to the extent of five old shirts, a handkerchief full of 
 biscuit, and a cold log of mutton. A marine officer offered to " lend " him an old coat ; but, after 
 examining the loan, and discovering that it did not belong to an officer entitled to two epaulettes, 
 Bungarec shook his head, and remarked that it " would not do." But, going to the gangway, he threw 
 the garment down into his boat, in which his queens were sitting. Onion picked up th(! old red coat, 
 and, as the day wa,s rather cold, put it on, and wore it in the streets of Sydney habitually. 
 
 [The writer having been sent to England to be civilized and educated, proceeds to give a humorous 
 description of his translation from the wilds of Australia to the wonders of the Old Country; and as his 
 expatriation lasted for seven years, to perfect his education at Oxford, or Cambridge, he lost sight of 
 Bungaree for some considerable time.] 
 
 However, before the expiration of our sentence of seven years, we all became not only reconciled 
 to Old England, its sports, its institutions, and sensible of its manifold advantages over those of any other 
 portion of the earth; but when we had taken our degrees, and had been (in consideration, seemingly, of 
 abjuring the Pope) invested with black gowns and white horsehair wigs, we left her shores and our friends 
 with something like regret. After a passage of one hundred and nine days, I again placed my foot on the 
 laud of my birth. But, oh ! what a change was everywhere observable ! A change, according to my idea, 
 very much for the worse. The ships in the harbour, instead of numbering only ten or eleven, numbered 
 upwards of forty or fifty. The streets were crowded with emigrants of both sexes, and of the lowest order 
 of the people, who, under the " bounty system," had been swept out of the streets of London, Dublin, 
 Edinburgh, Glasgow, and minor cities or towns. Old buildings, many of them weather-boarded houses, 
 which bad been familiar to my sight from childhood, had been pulled down, and on their sites were erected 
 rows of shops or merchants' warehouses. So vast had been the tide of emigration to Australia, so busy 
 had been the population during the term of my exile, that I scarcely recognized my native land. 
 
 I had not been in Sydney more than three days when, to my great joy, I espied at a distance the 
 cocked-hat and old red coat of poor old King Bungaree. He was coming up George-street. His gait was 
 very shaky, but it was still Bungarec's gait. When I met him, I took off my hat and saluted him. He 
 peered into my face a few seconds, and then, recollecting me, oft'ered me his hand, shook mine rather 
 coldly, and said rapidly, " Oh ! well, what can I do for you ? I very busy now ; no time to spare ; talk to 
 you some other day ; yes, yes, good morning." This change in Bungaree, which I coidd not at the 
 moment account for, pained me. I thought that, amidst all the changes, observable in eveiy direction, 
 Bungaree at least would have remained himself. However, notwithstanding His Majesty's remark that he 
 wished to get rid of me, he entered into conversation, and presently, in his old confidential way, said, 
 " Lon' it a sisspencc." I complied, and requesting him to call upon me soon, at my mother's house, bade 
 him " good-day." He was then alone. None of his queens were with him. But I had no time to ask him 
 many questions, for T was on my way to Government House, to pay my respects to Sir George Gipps, and 
 deliver a packet which had been entrusted to my care. Whether His Excellency had not looked at my 
 card, or whether he had mistaken mc for some one else, I don't know ; but I had scarcely made my bow, 
 when I was greeted with, " Oh ! well, what can I do for you ? I am very busy just now, have not a 
 single moment to spare ; talk to you some other day. Yes, yes, I am now off to the Council. Good 
 morning." 
 
 I had never scon Sir George before, but 1 instantly recognized my altered King Bungaree. 
 This anecdote, a few weeks afterwards, reached Sir George's ears through a lady, and he was not a little 
 amused by it. 
 
 On the following day, at 10 a.m., His Majesty, King Bungaree, was announced. 1 received him in 
 the back yard, for my mother would never allow him to come into the house. He was, on this occasion, 
 accompanied by two of his queens, " 15roomstick " and " Pincher." Having " lent " the king and each of 
 the queens a " glass o' rum," I proceeded to interrogate hirii. 
 
 " Well, King Bungaree," T said, " Where's 'Onion,' and the other (pieons, ' Boatman' and ' Ask- 
 about?'" " Onion's dead," ho replied. "Two emigrant mans get drunk, and kill her with brickbat on 
 top o' rocks. Boatman's got leg broke and can't walk, and Ask-about stop aloug with her on North Shore, 
 to Jen' it bread and drink o' water." 
 
 "Who lent you that coat ? " " One colonel up in Barrack-squaro." 
 
 " Has not the Governor lent you a coat ? " " Not yet ; but he Ion' it by-and-by. At present he 
 only len' it, ' Very busy now ; yes, yes ; good morning.' " 
 
 "What do you think of Sir George Gipps? " " When that my frien' Doctor Lang write a book 
 about all the gubberuors, he one day met it in Domain, and len' it half a dump. He then laugh and sny,
 
 60 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 ' King Bungarcc, wliat you think of Gubbernor Bourke ? ' and I say to him, ' Stop a bit. He no yet leave 
 the colney. AV'lieu he go, then I tell you, master.' Gubbernor Gipps only just come. Stop till he go, 
 theu I speak." 
 
 Doctor Lang, in his admirable work, the History of New South Wales, relates this in his preface 
 or concluding chapter, observing that he took King Bungaree's hint, and reserved Sir Kichard Bourke's 
 
 Administration for some future edition. 
 
 King Bungarcc (after swallowing another "loan"), in reply to my questions, said that when the 
 tribe to which he belonged first beheld tlie big ships, some thought they were sea monsters ; others that 
 they were gigantic birds, and the sails were their wings ; while m.any declared that they were a mixture of 
 gigantic fish and gigantic bird, and that the boats which were towed astern were tlieir young ones. He 
 heightened his description by acting the consternation of the tribe on that occasion. He told me they 
 were too much terrified to offer any hostile demonstrations, and that when they first heard the report of 
 a musket, and of a ship's gun, they fancied those weapons were living agents of the white man ; that 
 where the town of Sydney was situated, kangaroos formerly abounded, and that these animals were 
 seldom speared or interfered with ; that fish and oysters and tlie native fruits were their chief articles of 
 food, and that animals — the kangaroo and opossum — were killed only to supply the little amount of 
 clothing then required amongst them ; that the use of the hook and line was unknown until the establish- 
 ment of the Colony ; and that a spear, con.structed for the esjiecial purpose, was tlie only means they had 
 of taking fish in the shallow waters of the bays. The deep-sea fish — the " schnapper," the "king-fish," 
 the "grounder," and the rock cod — were beyond their reach. Mullet, whiting, and mackerel, which came 
 in large shoals within range of tlio spear, were the only species they had tasted. Sometimes a shark, 
 ■which had followed the smaller fish into the shallow water, and swam with his iins above the surfiicc, 
 would fall a victim to the spear. 
 
 Each tribe rarely numbered more than fifty or sixty, and the cliief was, by right, the oldest man in 
 it. When they increased and multiplied beyond that number, fifty or sixty, there was anew tribe formed, 
 and they occupied a distinct tract of land, to which they were required to confine themselves. This tract 
 of land rarely exceeded an area of 40 miles in extent. Strange to say, the tribes beyond Parraniatta 
 did not understand the language of the Sydney ( Woolloomooloo) tribe. The tribes on the north shore 
 had no conmiunication with the tribes on tlie south shore, except when they invaded each other — which 
 was seldom — and did battle. On these occasions they swam the harbour, carrying their spears, waddies 
 (clubs), boomerangs, and shields on their heads. The object of these invasions was to plunder eacli other 
 of women. King Buiigarec denied that they were cannibals ; but admitted that tlicy roasted and tasted 
 the enemies whom tliey slew in battle. The waddies and spears of the difl'creut tribes were not exactly 
 alike in make, but the boomerang was of uniform construction ; and I know, of my own personal experience 
 subsequently acquired, that amongst all the savage tribes of,New Holland, the use of the boomerang is 
 universal. Sir Thomas Mitchell, late Surveyor-General of Australia, and a very able matlicniatician, when 
 he first saw the flight of a boomerang, and examined tlie weapon, exclaimed, "The savage who invented 
 this, in whatever time, was gifted by the Creator with a knowledge which He has witlihcld from civilized 
 man." And, writing of the boomerang propeller. Sir Thomas s.ays, " That rotary motion can be commu- 
 nicated to an instrument, acting as a screw, so as to be sustained in air, without causing tliat fluid to recede, 
 is suggested by the flight of the boomerang, a missile which few in this country can h.ave seen used, or 
 seen at all. This is a thin flat weapon, shaped somewhat like a new moon, but not so i^ointed at the cusps, 
 and more resembling in the middle an elbow than an arc, being about two feet long, two inches broad, 
 seldom so much as a quarter of an inch thick, and made of hard, heavy wood. The natives of Australia 
 throw this to great dist.anccs, and to great heights in the air, imparting to it two sorts of motion, one of 
 which is direct, the other rotary, by which last the missile revolves round its own centre of gravity, liaving 
 a twist into the plane of a very fine screw. The effect of this almost imperceptible screw on air, all who 
 have been witnesses to a boomerang's flight will remember. To these who have not, we can only say that 
 the rotary motion survives tlie direct impetus with which the weapon is made to ascend, so as to make it 
 screw its way liack to the very spot from whence it was thrown, thus enabling mere gravitation to undo 
 all the effect of the tlirower's arm in sending it upwards." 
 
 When 1 was a boy, Bungaree had been a matter of mere amusement to me. Now I was a man, 
 he was au object of interest ; able as lie was to remember the first big ships tliat entered Sydney liarbour, 
 when the penal settlement was founded ; the sensations of the tribe to whicli ho, tlien a boy, belonged 
 when they beheld them ; and the terror which ])revailcd when the savage, for the first time, saw tlio face 
 and clothed form of the white man. He liad often talked to me of tliese and other such matters ; but I 
 was then too young to take any interest in liis discourse, further than what related to the best bays to fish 
 in, or the localities in which " five-corners," " ground berries," and " goUions " (native fruits) were most
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 61 
 
 plentiful. As for fish, even if I had had now any desire to catch them, I could not have done it in any 
 of the bays of Sydney harbour. Like the kangaroo and the emu, they had retreated beyond the bounds 
 of civilized and busy life. They were now only to be caught in the bays outside " the Heads." As to the 
 native fruits I have mentioned, I doubt whether I could liave obtained a quart within five miles of Sydney, 
 had I offered five guineas for it. 
 
 The children, male and female, of the aborigines were taught, or rather made, to swim by being 
 put into deep water soon after they were born. As swimmers and divers, I do not think the blacks of 
 New South Wales were superior to the Arabs at Aden, or the Cingalese at Ceylon, but they were 
 certainly equal to them. A captain of a ship in the harbour of Port Jack.son once lost a case of claret 
 overboard — a six-dozen case. The ship was anchored in eight fathoms of water. Four blacks dived down 
 and brought it up, each man holding a corner of the chest on the palm of his left hand. Incredible as it 
 may seem, they were under tlie surface of the stream for more than three minutes. I can remember one 
 day, when out with King Bungaree in his boat, losing a penknife with which I was cutting bait on the 
 gunwale. Queen Onion cried out, "I get it!" and, dropping from the boat's bow in her bedgown, she 
 lifted her hands and went down like a stone or a shot. After being lost to sight for at least a minute 
 and a half, up she came, like a bundle of old clothes, with the penknife in her mouth. We wore then 
 fishing off Garden Island, where the water is very deep. I doubt if there were less than fifteen fathoms 
 under our keel. 
 
 The power of "tracking" was still left to old King Bungaree and his tribe, but they rarely or 
 never exercised it. Their savage and simple natures had been contaminated and corrupted by their more 
 civilized fellow-creatures, and their whole thoughts seemed to bo centered in how they could mo.>it speedily 
 become intoxicated and sleep off its effects. Bread and rum, Bungaree said, were at fir.st distasteful to 
 his palate ; but after a while " he liked 'em berry much, and did not care for nothing else." King 
 Bungaree was the only old aboriginal I ever saw in the vicinity of Sydney. Drink and its eli'ects destroyed 
 the majority of both sexes long before they attained the prime of life. How the race continued to be 
 propagated within 50 miles of Sydney, even when I last left the Colony, in 1843, was more than I could 
 understand. It was otherwise, however, in the far distant interior. Some of the wild tribes in the 
 squatting districts (where rum and tobacco were too precious to bo given to the blacks, either out of 
 freak or a misplaced generosity) were as fine specimens of the human shape as any sculptor could desire 
 as models. In addition to the elegance of their forms, their eyes were brilliant and piercing, their teeth 
 white as snow, their agility superhuman, and their love of innocent mirth perfectly childlike. 
 
 Of King Bungaree's principles and opinions I scarcely know what to say ; nor even, as his 
 biographer, am I particularly anxious to dilate on the subject. But I may mention that he one day 
 confessed to me that, of all tiie Governors who ever swayed the destinies of "New South Wales, General 
 Macquarie was the greatest man. On probing him for his reason.s, I discovered that the kind-hearted 
 (lid oificcr, whom he held in such respect and veneration, was his greatest creditor. The General, according 
 to Ilis Majesty's account (and I believe him implicitly), had "lent" him more cocked-hats, more coats, 
 more shirts, more loaves of bread, and more glasses of grog, than any other ruler in Australia ; and, 
 further, lie told me it was General Maci|uarie who "lent" him that brass ])late which he wore for so 
 many, many years, and which was no doubt found on Ills IMajesty's breast when he breathed his last. 
 
 Tlie writer does not i;ive any account of the king's death and burial. It seems that he died on 
 Garden Island, that a codin was made for his remains at the dock-yard, and that the interment took 
 place witli his wife Gooseberry in an orchard at Eyde. AVhether any memorial remains I am not aware, 
 but a stone was placed over his place of sepulture. 
 
 We have Bungaree, not as king, but as the humble attendant of Flinders. Flinders represents the 
 scarcity of provisions. The price of fresh meat was so exorbitant tliat he could not purchase it for his 
 crew. He paid £8 for a sheep, ;30 or 10 lbs. weight ; pork, 9d. jicr lb. ; 9d. for pollard ; Indian corn, 5s. a 
 bushel. What a change has taken place. Now we arc exporting meat to England, and at one time 
 boiling down much cattle and sheep, merely for their fat. 
 
 Flinders observes, in preparing for his voyage : — "Bungaree, the intelligent native who had accom- 
 panied mo three years before in my voyage to the north, was selected again, together with a youth named 
 Nambare. ] had before experienced mucii advantage from the presence of a native from Fort Jackson, 
 in bringing about a friendly intercour.se with the natives on the other parts of the coast. ]?ungarce the 
 woi'thy, a brave fellow who sailed with me in the ' Norfolk,' volunteered again ; and the other was 
 Nambare, a good-natured lad, of whom Colonel Collins has made mention in liis account of New South 
 AVales." 1 presume this youth must have been the wcU-kuown Bungaree, of immortal memory.
 
 62 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 The following memoir will supply further particulars of this chieftain's son: — A Mr. Coxon, who 
 had been very kind to Bungarec, adopted his son, whom he called after his father, and sent him to school 
 with liis own sons to tlio Normal Institution, one of the leading schools of the Colony, in Sydney, 
 of which Mr. ffordon was head-master, thereby giving him the same chance as any European, mixing as he 
 did on an equality with other boys, and receiving the same attention to his studies and habits. He was 
 a boarder with some ninety others, and was, in fact, treated as any young gentlemau ought to be. Ho was 
 not clever mentally, for after six years he only reached the rule of three ; could not understand Euclid 
 or foreign languages, but was clover at any manipulations with the pen or pencil, lie wrote a beautiful 
 hand, but his spelling was defective. He was clever at all games requiring physical activity, but strange 
 withal, he was exceedingly lazy. Ho was quick to learn by rote, but did not quite understand all he 
 learned by it. As a specimen of his race he was rather small, and not so quick as many others would 
 have been, had they had the same advantages. He was sent to England to college, but the cold weather 
 and his laziness caused ill health. He returned to the Colonics, and like all his race who have no tribe 
 (having been brought up among white children), he took to stock-riding, occasionally surprising some 
 newly-arrived squatter by exhibiting his writing and knowledge of cyphering. The last heard of him is 
 that he is like any other bushman, making a cheque and knocking it down at the grog shops. It will be 
 easy to guess what will be his end. 
 
 /
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA". 63 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The aboriginal Jackey Jackey. 
 
 This native accompanied the expedition of Mr. Kennedy from Eockiugliam Bay to Cape York, in 1848, one 
 of the most calamitous attempts at discovery on record, except perhaps Leichhardt's. 
 
 The expedition was over-equipped with twenty-eight horses, three carts, 100 sheep, and ample 
 supplies of all sorts — more like an expedition for settlement than a mere exploring party. 
 
 They landed at Rockingham Bay, thirteen in number. Jackey was a native of Patrick's Plains, 
 and proved himself intelligent, faithfid, and trustworthy throughout this very disastrous expedition, in 
 which all but two perished besides Jackey Jackey, who survived after he had faithfully led on the expedition, 
 and, as we shall see by the sequel, watched over Kennedy's dying moments. 
 
 After landing, they pursued their way through swamps and mangiove bush, through which they 
 had to cut their way to make a passage for their sheep, &c. At length they had to abandon their carts 
 and heavy luggage. Jackey Jackey always in the front, the natives pi-oving hostile, they reached a native 
 camp, quite a village, tho gunyahs neatly built, of a conical form, about 5i feet diameter, 6 feet high, 
 substantial, to keep out tho rain, with stone ovens for baking, &c., much superior to the iisual huts, 
 indicating a better class of natives, but not less ferocious. 
 
 The party were now reduced to killing their horses, lean and miserable as they were, seldom meeting 
 acy game or fish, and they were attacked by sickness, and the sheep fell away. Their situation became each 
 day more critical, and it became necessary to appoint an advance party to try and reach Cape York. Thus 
 they parted at Weymouth Bay, Kennedy and his party pushing on, leaving eight of their party there, a 
 few of the horses and other stores to subsist on ; the object being tc reach Cape York, and there to meet 
 a vessel in waiting, and so relieve them. 
 
 Tho party here were left under Mr. Carron, the botanist, to whom we are chiefly indebted for the 
 sequel of this unfortunate expedition. Six of the men died, leaving Carron and another, who had been 
 wounded, to bo mercifully delivered when at the very extremities of existence, yuch was their extremity 
 that, the kangaroo dog being very weak, they killed him, and lived on him two days. The natives, they say, 
 were a much finer race than they had yet seen. 
 
 Three more of the party were left behind at Pudding-pan Hill, they being unable to travel, while 
 Jackey Jackey and Mr. Kennedy pressed foi-ward until they came in sight of Port Albany, Kennedy stating 
 to Jackey Jackey " A ship is there — you see that island there." Thus close to deliverance, it was hero 
 Kennedy met his death. A party of natives surrounded them, and Kennedy was wountled by a spear in 
 tho back. Jackey pulled out the spear and fired at tho blacks, wounding one of them. " Tho blacks 
 speared Kennedy in tho leg and then in the right side ; Jackey cut tlie spear out. Tho horses got 
 speared also, and became unmanageable. " Mr. Kennedy became stupid through his wounds, and 1 carried 
 him into tlio scrub. Ho said ' Don't carry me a good way.' I asked him, 'Are you well now'?' Ho 
 replied, ' I don't care for the spear-wound in my leg, but for the wounds in my side' and back ; 1 am bad 
 inside.' I told him blackfellows always die when they are speared in the back. ' Mr. Kennedy, are you 
 going to leave me ?' Ho said, ' Yes, my boy, 1 am going to leave yon ; you take my books to tho captain, 
 but not the big ones ; tho Governor will give you anything for tiiom.' Then I tied up the papers, and 
 Mr. K. said, ' Give mo paper and I will write,' but he fell back and died. I cried a good deal until I got 
 well, that was about an hour, and then 1 buried liim— covered him over with logs and grass, and my sliirt 
 and trousers. I then wont on. -Sometimes 1 had to walk in the water; then through scrub. "Many 
 spears were thrown at me. At length I reached Port Albany, wliere I was recognized by the captain of the 
 waiting vessel."
 
 64 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Having related the death of poor Kennedy, the vessel was immediately got under weigh, and 
 proceeded to where the three men had been left, but were unsuccessful in their search. Found .1 canoe 
 with a cloak in it, and other cloaks of the natives ; therefore concluded that the three unfortunate men 
 had been murdered. They therefore sped their way to the relief of Mr. Carron and his party, Weymouth 
 Bay, wliere they rescued Messrs. Carron and Goddard, tlic only survivors of that party. These two men 
 were unable to move without assistance, and had despaired of relief. They had seen a vessel standing 
 into the bay, and made signals, but she altered her course, and so all hope of rescue was given up. The 
 discovery of these two men is well described. Jaekey Jackey led the party. After landing he was very 
 tired. At last he exclaimed, " I see camp." AVcll done, Jacke)'. Suddenly he exclaimed, " I see two 
 whitefellows sit down in camp." AVhen they came up to them they were two of the most pitiable beings 
 possible. They were the only two left of the eight ; six had jjerished. Jackey Jackey said, " You see tho 
 blackfellow there; you leave the tent and go to the vessel as last as you can." The captain went into tho 
 tent to try and remove some things, but Jackey Jackey said, " You leave him tent everything altogether ; 
 get the two whitefellows into the boat quickly." They took, however, some important things, and then 
 started in the boat. Carron's legs were terribly swollen. The vessel then proceeded to Sydney. 
 
 The Government despatched Captain Simpson in the " Freak," with Jackey Jackey as a guide, to 
 recover the journals and papers of j)oor Kennedy. Search was made along the coast for the three men, 
 but unavailingly. The pillaged camp was found, with books and everything scattered about. They found 
 the remains of Walsh and Niblet, who were unburied ; these they buried. They only found in the search 
 along the coast a leather pistol-holster, marked 37. Jackey was confident that these three men had been 
 murdered. The next object was to recover Kennedy's journals and papers. In this Jackey Jackey 
 displayed his usual intelligence. On their track he pointed out the place where he liad left the saddle- 
 bags, but these could not be found ; but a sextant and horizon-glass were found. Jackey told the party 
 to look out for broken spears, and shortly they found the place wliere Kennedy told Jackey not to carry 
 hira any farther ; also the place where Jackey had washed his wounds, and where he had given Jackey 
 his in.structions about his papers. The sextant and some other scientific things were found. The party 
 found the papers and diary, but not Kennedy's grave. Poor Jackey was very quiet, and felt deeply 
 through the day, and tears started from his eyes when searching for the remains, while his feelings 
 against the natives were very bitter. The papers had been pulled out of the tree, probably by a rat, and 
 were somewhat injured. 
 
 "I canrot close my extracts without mentioning the cxemplarj conduct of Jackey Jackey. I have 
 always found him quiet, obliging, and very respectful. When on Khorc he was verj- attentive, and his 
 mincl fixed on one object. The sagacity and knowledge he displayed were astonishing. When he found 
 the place we were in search of he was never Hushed, but quiet and unobtrusive, lie was much concerned 
 at not being able to find the remains of his master, to whom he was sincerely attached. 
 
 J. B. Sisri'soN, 
 
 Master of the ' Freak.' " 
 
 The melancholy condition to which Mr. Carron, the botanist, and Goddard were reduced, and their 
 delivery, is well described by the survivor. "Six weeks," he says, "had expired since Mr. Kennedy left 
 us. Our shot was all but expended. This morning we ate the two pigeons and boiled the tea-leaves. 
 Lap, the sheep-dog, remained our only companion, aud him we determined to kill, however poor ; but a 
 native now advanced and gave me a piece (;f dirty paper. This was a note from Captain Dodsou, then in 
 the bay. Joy filled our minds, and I gave tho native an answer, but he threw it away and joined the 
 other natives, probably to murder us. Just then I saw Captain Dodsou aud Dr. A'allack and Jackey 
 approaching, with a man named Barrett, who had been wounded a few days before. I was reduced 
 almost to a skeleton ; tho elbow-bone of my right arm was through the skin ; the bone of my hip also ; 
 iny legs were swollen cnormouslj' ; 1 was carried to the boat." 
 
 He then describes tiie few things he saved. Here it was he heard of the tragic death of ])Oor 
 Kennedy. It would ill become me to add anything to the artless narrative of t}ic faithful and true- 
 hearted Jackey, who, having tended Kennedy's last momenls and closed his eyes, was jierhaps the most 
 interested bewaiier of his unhappy fate. The character throughout of .lackey J.ackey is one of fidelity, 
 symjiath}', and affectionate endurance, seldom equalled ; while he must bo regarded as not only the guide, 
 but the untiring deliverer of the remnant of the party. 
 
 All I can learn of Jackey Jackey's subsequent history is, that on his arrival in Sydney, the Govern- 
 ment presented In'm with a brass plate and inscription, which 1 midcrstand is now in the Museum. Ho 
 returned to his tribe, Patrick's Plains, where ho died of consumplion. Thus came to an early grave 
 this noble-minded man, whom, fur fidelity and affection under severe trials, few while men could excel. 
 
 >
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 65 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Tasmania — The BlactL— Mr. G-. A. Robinson — Tlic capture and transportation of the Aborigines to Flinders Island — Their 
 
 gradual decay and extinction — Lalla Rookh, the last natiye. 
 
 Tasman had discovered tlie island of Tasmania and given it the name of Van Diemen's Land, after the 
 Governor of Batavia, by whom he had been commissioned to explore the " Great South Land." 
 
 The next visitor was a Frenchman, named Captain Marion du Fresne, who on landing was assailed 
 with showers of stones and spears, and retaliated by volleys of musketry, which killed and wounded several 
 natives. This was the first blood shed, never to be forgotten by the natives. The celebrated discoverer 
 Captain Cook visited the island in 1777. lie and Captain Bligh left jiigs, vines, oranges, apples, plums, 
 onions, and potatoes, to which Captain Furneaux made additions. 
 
 Captain Cook describes the natives — their women naked, their bodies marked with scars, there 
 heads partially shaved ; they lived like beasts. No doubt their condition was very miserable, but it was 
 made more so by European contact. 
 
 Even Flinders' interview with the natives was unfortunate ; while Captaia Do Surville, who 
 anchored in Doubtless Bay, and was received by crowds of natives, who supplied them with food and 
 water, and treated their sick with tenderness, nevertheless, repaid their services with cruelty, under the 
 suspicion that they had stolen a boat. The chief P.aginiii, having been iuvited on board, was placed 
 in irons. They then burnt down the village and carried the chief to sea, who died of a broken heart. Do 
 Surville, afterwards, was drowned in the surf when landing at Callao in 1791. Thus, unfortunately, the 
 very first visit of the European was a visitation of blood, while the introduction of large bodies of criminals 
 added crime and disease to their wretchedness. 
 
 From these causes arose an undying hatred on the part of natives to Europeans ; in fact, nothing 
 short of a guerilla war. 
 
 Government sought to couciliate and benefit these people, and no doubt much was done, but with 
 very unsatisfactory results. 
 
 From the diary of the Eev. Robert Knopwood wc learn that our jieople went to their camp, probably 
 by way of reprisal, and attacked the natives at Burke's house, where a largo body of natives had assembled 
 and were, in pursuit of kangaroo, shooting with spears. Mistaking this for a war attack, an incxpeiicuced 
 officer ordered the soldiers to fire into them, and numbers were wounded and slain. T\n» led to fearful 
 cousequcnces. 
 
 Shortly afterwards two Europeans were put to death by the natives, and the attack was attributed 
 by the Governor in his proclamation, 1S13, to the frequent ill-treatment by the bushrangers. 
 
 Another calamitous event took place. The natives came into town, under the leadership of a 
 prisoner named Campbell, who cohabited witli a native woman ; they were kindly received by the Govern- 
 ment, and many presents were bestowed on them; the children associated and jdayed with the white 
 children, but the conduct of the bushrangers to the native women led to serious consequences. "Bad 
 men," they said, " had stolen their.i)iccauinnie3." 
 
 In 1S16 it is recorded that the natives now manifested much liostility to the up-country settlers, 
 killing and driving away their cattle. Quarrels arose between them and tlie stockmen. Spears were ex- 
 changed for the more deadly fire of nuisketry. Tlie natives now entered on a marauding warfare, stopped 
 drays and travellers, and made regular attacks on (he huts. 
 
 The Lieut. -Governor issued a proclamation iuwliich lie enunnnilcd tlic ill-treatment sometimes 
 received — that they killed the men and pursued the women andcouipolled them to abandon tlicir children; 
 and still more horrible, the editor of a Wcllijiglon pai)cr said, " Wo have ourselves lieard old hands 
 
 I 

 
 66 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 
 
 tlcclarc it \va« not an uncoinmon ijraeliee to slioot tlicm to snp|)ly food for their dogs." Females wcro 
 not only llic object of their luet, but of their barbarity. The lash aud the chaiu were the harsh 
 expedients of their t^avagc love. 
 
 Lemon, one of the leaders of the bushraugerf?, fearing that the natives would disclose tlicir retreats, 
 hound them to trees and used them as targets. These barbarities led to numerous murders of the whites ; 
 but certainly the whites, even tlie soldiers, who cast one of tlieir infants into the flames, and a bushranger 
 wlio cut oft' the head of a woman's husband, strung it round her neck, and made her walk before him, could 
 not be exceeded in atrocious conduct by the barbariaus. 
 
 Mr. Bonwick, in his narrative, sums up the determination of the blaclis to scatter blood, con- 
 flagration, death, and ruin throughout every district of the Colony ; so, for some time afterwards, blood was 
 freely shed, and homesteads were doomed to the flames. Inquests were held daily, and country property 
 had fallen in value to zero. 
 
 A Governmcut proclamatiou was issued in 182G referring to these outrages, and giving instructions 
 how to act, but all these proclamations, however well intended, were no better than waste paper. 
 
 The savage, unrelenting and revengeful, proceeded at once to the great black war. Two natives were 
 captured and executed, wliile some thirty-seven other persons were sentenced to death at tlic same 
 Sessions. It was proposed to give up one district to the blacks, but this could not be accomplished, as 
 they could not be confined to any boundary. 
 
 Black Tom was catechised by the Governor, and replied, " Tour stock-keepers kill plenty of blacks." 
 " But," said the Governor, " you kill men, women, and children." " White men kill plenty of men, women, 
 and piccaninny." "We want to be friendly to you." Tom, laughing, said, "All the same as white man, you 
 catch it and kill it." On hearing the proclamation read, Tom, laughing, said, " You make proclamation, 
 ha, ha, ha ! I never see that foolish. When he see dat he can't read, who tell him ?" " You tell him, Tom." 
 "No, me like see you tell him yourself. He soon spear me." 
 
 Here is a savage not destitute of human intellect. The Governor must have felt that he met more 
 than his match. 
 
 As the blacks could not read, as Tom said, sign-boards were put up exhibiting blacks spearing 
 whites, and then hanging to a tree ; the Governor, with a cocked-hat and uniform, with soldiers superin- 
 tending ; white women nursing black babies. How the blacks must have been convulsed witli fun, and 
 turned all into a corroboree ! 
 
 Then came the Line scheme. Captain Welsh and Mr. G. A. Eohinson succeeded even at this early 
 period in opening friendly intercourse with one tribe, but tliis seems to have been objected to, as not driving 
 the natives far enough auay. 
 
 We must now introduce some noted characters. Mosquito, and Black Jack, his colleague. Tlio 
 former was a native of JN'ew Holland, of great physical powers, vigorous intellect, and of indomitable 
 will. The other. Jack, was able to read and write. AVhea taking to the hush, he exclaimed, " I'il kill all 
 the whites" ; aud Mosquito had associated with convicts in New South Wales, and adopted all their 
 vices of drinldng and swearing. An associate of Mosquito's, known by the settlers as Bidldog, and ho 
 cruelly ill-used aud then murdered a woman ; then ripped up the body of tlie woman to destroy the 
 infant. Tor want of evidence they were siin[)ly transported — Mosquito to Van Diemen's Land in 1SI3. 
 He was there employed to track bushrangers, a kind of blood-hound, but the constables, liis associates, 
 became jealous of his .skill; he was tliereforo- sent away to Hobart Town ; and there became head and 
 leader of the mob, who hung about the town. He lived with several women, whom he employed for 
 various purposes, but one Gooseberry, a superior woman, was his cliief wife. Ho murdered her in a fit 
 of jealousy. The monster cut off the breasts of one of his gins, because she would suckle her infant 
 against his will. He sent his blacks to rob and slaughter. Ho and his pcojjle Itcpt the land in a state of 
 terror. They spared neither .age nor sex, while it was impossible to catch them in the trackless wilderness. 
 He induced a native civilized lad to join his party, but he was soon captured and sentenced to Macquario 
 Harbour, the Tasmanian hell, but escaped, and was afterwards employed by the Oovernment as a black 
 tracker. 
 
 The outrages of these men were terrible, and a party of soldiers and officers was formed to destroy 
 them. In their search they came upon a black ])arty, stole on them at night, fired into them volleys, and 
 killed and winiiiilcd several. A sergeant seized a child, saying, " If you are not mischievous now, you will 
 be," and dashed the child's brains out against a tree. ]5oth jiarties became alike ferocious. IMosciuito was 
 captured at length, being badly wounded, and, with Black Jack, tried at llobart Town. INIosquito waa 
 found guilty, Black Jack not guilty, but the latter was tried on a second charge of murder, and both were 
 
 J
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 67 
 
 sentenced to death. They pleaded to be sent to a penal settlement, but in vam — they were both executed. 
 The chaplain who attended (the Kev. W. Bedford) exhorted them to pray. Black Jack esclaimed, " Pray 
 
 yourself ; I am too b y frightened to pray." After this example of justice, many natives came into 
 
 town to implore pardon. The black war however went on, so that, during the temporary absence of the 
 husbands the quick-eyed natives stole down the chimneys or through the other entrances of the houses, 
 murdered all within, and plundered the places. On the husband's return he found his home a slaughter- 
 house. No one was safe, and at length it was felt that something of a general character must be done. 
 
 Two or three persons — including the celebrated Batman, who first passed over to Port Phillip and 
 settled in that portion of New South Wales — went out with a party for a year, captured several nativei. 
 and shot some ; also the names of Eobertson, Jorgenson, Hopkins, Eldon, Grant, and others, must be 
 mentioned as adventurers in the cause, wlio took the field, but all in vain. Within six years 121 outrages of 
 the blacks were recorded in Oaklands district alone ; twenty-one inquests upon murdered persons were 
 held between 1827 and 1830 ; some women in self-defence took the musket and beat the attacking parties 
 off, although they attempted to fire the houses. 
 
 Another proclamation was issued, offering rewards for the capture of offenders, but, in spite of 3,000 
 armed persons forming a cordon not more than sixty yards apart, the natives escaped. An occa-sional cry 
 was heard from the sentinels, " Look out, look out." Every man seized his gun and rushed forward, while 
 the General galloped up, shouting, "What is the matter?" "Don't know; there has been a breaking 
 of sticks in that scrub." " Eire, fire, fire." A poor frightened cow rushed out, occasioning peals of laughter. 
 The Governor was facetiously called Colonel George Black-string. They captured two natives only ; the 
 rest had escaped in a fog. The army broke up, and the people were in no way relieved from their danger. 
 
 It was at this critical time that Mr. Eobinson, a mechanic, made an application to be permitted to go 
 forth, unarmed, and by peaceful means attempt to induce the natives to surrender. He was of course de- 
 rided, called a madman, a fool ; but, although he had a little family depending on him, he could not abandon 
 his self-imposed duty. The state of the natives was such that they lived worse than dogs, and were 
 deprived of food. Their gins were debauched by the cruel white men. The black visitors to Tasmania had 
 treated the natives with great cruelty. Military and civil had been in the field from the 4th of October to 
 2Gth November, but the attempt entirely failed. The expense was near £50,000 ; some say £70,000. 
 
 Mr. Robinson proposed a plan of conciliation — to make a visit first to Port Davey, and become 
 known to the other tribes. He obtained a long-boat, but this was wrecked. He carried no arms, but took 
 with him two natives, and set off" at 12 o'clock at night with these guides to cross the country, and the 
 next morning the whole tribe joined him. This was in 1830. He placed thirty-four natives on Swan 
 Island, and having been supplied with a cutter, he visited the islands, and rescued many women from the 
 sealers, who used them brutally, flogging them if tliey did not cook projierl}-. 
 
 Next, he removed the Big River tribe and the Oyster Bay tribes to Gun-carriage Island. On 
 approaching these tribes, they ran down the hill with spears, shouting. His party fled, and ho alone 
 confronted these exasperated savages. They had known that he was the black-fellows' friend, and so 
 became pacified. On one occasion only he fled, aud was saved by an old woman, who towed him over the 
 river on a log. 
 
 Mr. J. Bonwick's description of one interview is too lucid to pass over. 
 
 The leader Robinson had ventured under the shadow of the Ercnehman's Gap, 5,000 feet high, in 
 the uninhabited district of the western interior. There he met the last tribe, and the most dangerous of 
 the natives. He had with him his stripling son, M'Geary, Stanfield, and an Hawaiian Islander. 
 
 The stout -looking but handsome chief, IMontpeliata, glared at them and grasped his spear, 18 feet 
 long ; while fifteen powerful men, with their spears and waddics, filled with all the hate and loathing for 
 white men which such a war had excited, were ill restrained by the voice and gesture of their licad. They 
 rattled their spears, shouted their war-cry, and menaced the mission party. The women kept in rear, 
 each carrying a bundle of spears, and L'jO dogs growled at the intruders. 
 
 It was a moment of trial to the stoutest nerves. The whites trembled, and the friendly natives 
 were about to fly. One word from that stern chief and they would have been transfixed with spears. " I 
 think," whispered McGeary, " we shall soon be in the resurrection." " I think we shall," replied Robinson. 
 
 Tlie chief advancing, shouted, " Who arc you ?" " We are gentlemen," was the reply. " Where are 
 your guns ?" " We have none." Still suspicious, although astonished, the chief inquired," Where are your 
 piccaninnies (pistols)?" " We h.ave none." There was then a pause. The chief, seeing some blacks 
 belonging to the white party running away, shouted, " Come back !" This was the first gleam of hope. 
 Meanwhile some of the courageous female guides had glided round and were holding quiet earnest con- 
 
 V
 
 68 THE ABORIGINES OP AUSTRALIA. 
 
 verse with their wilder sisters. The great chief now walked to the rear to confer with tlic old women. 
 The whole party waited with suspense for the result, on which their lives depended. lu a few minutes 
 the women threw up their hands three times, as a token of peace. Down fell the spears, and the 
 impulsive natives rushed forward to embrace relatives and friends, while the chiefs grasped each other's 
 hands in brotherly embrace. It was a jubilee of joy. A feast followed, and a corroboree closed the eventful 
 day. Well may Eobinson say this was the happiest evening of his life. 
 
 Tliese poor people had fought for the soil ; numbers had perished. They had resisted 3,500 men 
 weU armed, but pacific measures had subdued them : a noble victory of moral influence. The tribe had 
 yielded as friends, not captives. They delivered up sixteen stand of arms taken from bushrangers, together 
 with their spears ; the latter were returned to ihem. 
 
 Robinson marched his friends to Bothwell. The inhabitants were terrified, until he assured them 
 that there was nothing to fear. After a night's rest he proceeded to Hobart Town, where he was greeted 
 with shouts of triumph and of welcome. Portraits were taken ; the muse was awakened to commem- 
 orate the bloodless victory ; and then followed an entertainment at Government House. 
 
 In January, 1835, vessels were provided to convey them to Flinders Island. This island is -10 
 miles long by 12 to IS miles wide. Here everythiag possible was done for them. As to religious and 
 other instruction, a Quakers' deputation which vi.sited the island describes the state of society : — " A large 
 party of native women took tea with us at the Commandant's. After tea they washed up the tea thing.-*, 
 and put everything in order. The catechist has translated into one of their dialects a large portion of the 
 first three chapters of Genesis. They are daily instructed by the catechist." Dr. Ross gives a sketch of 
 these people : — Tlie females superintend the domestic matters. Each family has a hut, windows, chairs, 
 and tables manufactured by themselves of the timber of the island, and tliuy send to Launccston skins of 
 kangaroos and birds, and in exchange obtain useful articles. The}^ cultivate one large garden, moving the 
 hoc to one of their melodies, and have cleared a road several miles into the interior. An aboriginal fund 
 has been established, a Police Court to settle dift'erences, and a market formed for sale of articles. Mr. 
 Robinson gives a sermon entirely composed by one of them. 
 
 But, alas, fearful mortality reduced the number down to fifty persons, and they were fast dis- 
 appearing, not from want of attention, but they suifered much from nostalgia, and sighed after their 
 country, which they could sec not very far off. They were consequently removed to Oyster Cove ; twelve 
 men, twenty -two women and ten children. This place is but a few miles from Hobart Town ; it had been a 
 penal settlement. In time, the new settlement seemed to thrive. Mr. Clarke, the catechist, wrote to 
 say — they are now comfortable ; have a full supply of provisions ; are able to till their gardens ; sow beans 
 and potatoes ; and the women can all malce their own clothes, cook their food, and make tho liouses com- 
 fortable, and are contented. But both ]\Ir. and Mrs. Chirke died, and the place became the dark valley of 
 death. In 1S54, there remained only throe men, eleven women, and two boys, at a cost of £2,000 per 
 annum to the Colony ; the place became a ruin; the unfortunate people were supplied with spirits — became 
 drunken and abandoned. The Governor often visited the station, as well as Lady Denison, and brought 
 them up to town in their carriages ; but all in vain, their doom was cast. 
 
 Their condition was pitifully described by Mary Ann, a half-caste, wife of Walter : — "We had souls in 
 Flinders, but we have none here ; there we were looked after, here we are thrown into the scum of society ; 
 they have brought us amongst the scum of the earth (alluding to convicts) ; it would be better if Kome 
 one came and read to us, and ]n"aycd with us ; wo are tempted to drink ; nobody cares lor us." Tlie Bishop 
 had appointed a clergyman, but he was unpopular. 
 
 " Mary Ann's description of poor Clarke's death is very affecting : — " AVith grief for the loss of his 
 wile and the degradation of the people, he took to his lied of death. Then," said the faithful creature, 
 weeping, '' Father Clai-ke died. 1 atten<lcd him, alony; with his daughter, night and day. All the people 
 wanted to do something ; all loved him ; and ho talked and prayed with us, and told me what to read. 11c 
 had the room full of us, and bade us good-bye. lie did love us." The writer had to comfort her. She 
 shook her head mournfully, and with bitterness replied, " No one cares for the native's soul, now Father 
 Clarke is gone." Soon Mary Ann and Walter followed. 
 
 The description of this couple and their fate is truly affecting. Walter was engaged in conveying 
 the mail from il uron to Hobart Town. They lived in a three-roomed cottage. Mary Ann had it very neat, 
 clean, and gave guests a welcome. The floor was covered with a carpet, the walls decorated with pictures, 
 and the Bililo and other books lay on the tabic. Melancholy to think, botli this man and wife became 
 victims to drink ; he was drowned, and she, a nolile woman, was soon cut off by intemperance. One 
 solitary man and one woman remained, King Billy and his wife. 
 
 i
 
 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 69 
 
 The last public appearance of the king was at the Governor's Ball, at Government House, accom- 
 panied by three aboriginal females. 
 
 In 18G8, he accompanied the Duke of Edinburgh to Hobart Town, in a blue suit of clothes, with 
 gold lace round his hat, walking proudly with the Duke, as one possessing royal blood ; but ho was seldom 
 sober. He also perished. He took to the sea and became a celebrated whaler, but on getting his wages, 
 £12 13s., he commenced drinking, and died of cholera. He was followed to the grave by a large concourse 
 of people, mostly sailors. There still remained one woman, Lalla Eookh. 
 
 Truganina, or Lalla Eookh, as she was sometimes called, the last of the aborigines of Tasmania, died 
 on the 8th instant (says the Hohart Town Mercurt/, of May, 187G) of paralysis, at the residence of her 
 protectress, Mrs. Dandridge, in Macquaric-street. The death of this last scion of a once numerous race is 
 an event in the history of Tasmania of no common interest, and it may well serve to " point a moral and 
 adorn a tale " on the question of the gradual but certain extinction of the aboriginal races of these 
 southern lands. Of Truganina we shall no doubt hear many interesting narratives, now that she has 
 departed this world, but at present we must content ourselves with a few brief facta concerning her life 
 and death, leaving it to others, who have leisure and opportunity, to favour the public with more extended 
 notices respecting her. That she was a queen is an admitted fact, and that she had five husbands, all 
 kings, is generally known. The last of these partners of her joys and sorrows was the celebrated King 
 Billy, who died in March, 18G9, and was the sole remaining male representative of the Tasmanian 
 aboriginals. It is a singular fact that Truganina assisted " Black Eobinson " in his efforts to induce the 
 few natives, then alive, to jdace themselves under the care of the Government. She accompanied " Black 
 Eobinson " on a visit to the natives, distributing presents of various kinds ; and when they paid a second 
 visit they were warmly received, and the natives eventually consented to be taken care of by the State. 
 Truganina has seen them all die. She could tell many very exciting stories of her life, and used to amuse 
 those friends who visited her with relating them. At one time, with other natives, she was in Victoria, 
 then known as Port Phillip. A murder was committed, and though she always said she was innocent, she 
 and another woman and some males were sentenced to be hanged. Fortunately for her, she had saved a 
 lady and two children from the fury of the blacks on one occasion, and this coming to the ears of the 
 authorities, her life was spared. Twenty jears ago, when Mr. Dandridge, who succeeded Dr. Milligan, 
 took charge of the Oyster Cove Aboriginal Station, there were sixteen survivors of the race, including 
 Truganina, who belonged to the Bruni Island tribe. Fifteen of them died during the life of Mr. 
 Dandridge. Nearly three years ago he, with his wife and family, removed to Hobart Town, bringing 
 Truganina vai\\ them, and the citizens soon became familiar with the form of Her Majesty. She appeared 
 at public gatherings on several occasions, and frequently went out for walks, always in charge of some 
 member of the family with which she lived. Her short, stout figure, red turban, and dusky features 
 were known far and wide, and always attracted great attention. She was partial to conversation, and was 
 always willing to give such information as was within her knowledge. The death of Mr. Dandridge, two 
 years ago, was the occasion of great sorrow to her, and she never ceased to mourn his loss. Since then 
 she has been under the care of Mrs. Dandridge, the Government having for many years granted .£G0 per 
 annum for her maintenance. She suft'ered a good deal from bad health of late. Though sometimes very 
 weak, she always rallied, and promised to live many years. Within the last ten days, however, she had a 
 presentiment that she was going to die, but it did not seem to give her great concern. She passed away as 
 peacefully as a child, and though she was about seventy-three years old, she did not look half that age 
 after her death. 
 
 One of the aborigines pathetically describes the destruction of the people: — "All blackfellow gone. 
 All this my country. A very pretty place ; many piccaninnies run about ; plenty of blackfellow there ; 
 corroboree ; great light ; all cause about only me tell now. Poor them, tumble down all ; bury her like 
 a lady. Put her in coflin like English. I feel a lump in my throat when I talk of her, but bury her like 
 a lady, master." 
 
 Mr. Howitt says wo actually turned out these inhabitants of Van Diemcn's Land because wc saw 
 it was a goodly heritage ; and our best justification is that if we did not transport them we must burn them 
 out with our liquid fire, and poison them with disease and vice. It is a powerful and, in some respects, 
 a mysterious history. The only hope appears to be when the Gos])el precedes colonization, but even 
 then, if the tide sets in too soon, destruction foUows. Let us look to European Christianity. How many 
 so-called Christians are little better than savages, for with all the appliances by which they are surrounded, 
 the law only restrains them from violence. However many the failures, yet the capacity for advancement 
 of these people renders it no longer a q\iestion of doubt whether they are no better than dogs. 
 
 [Sketches.] 
 
 
 Sydney : Thomfta Ricbuils, Governiueut Priiitcr.— 1833
 
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