SKETCHES OF NATIVE CHARACTER.
BENNILLONG.--The first native who could be persuaded to live upon
friendly terms of confidence with the British settlers in New South
Wales was called Bennillong, and it was after no very long period,
(within two years after the commencement of the colony,) that this
intercourse with them began in the following manner:--In the spring of
the second year the bodies of many of the natives were found in a
lifeless or dying state upon different parts of the coast near Sydney,
in consequence of the small-pox, which had been raging among them; and
some of these having been brought up to the settlement, from motives of
pity, the disease was taken by a native who had been captured shortly
before, in hopes of opening through him a means of communication with
the others. The intended interpreter died, but the governor, Captain
Philip, still retained in his care two native children, whose lives had
been saved from the small-pox, and succeeded, within a few months, in
securing two other natives, both of them well known to the children,
through whom they were assured of perfect safety. However, instead of
remaining until they could become familiar with the English manners and
language, so as to carry on an intercourse between the colonists and
their own countrymen, these natives both made their escape, one of them
very soon after he had been taken; the other, Bennillong, in about six
months afterwards, when he had been treated with every kindness and
indulgence, and had grown somewhat accustomed to the society of the
English settlers. Bennillong made his escape in May 1790, and in the
September following he saw some of the colonists, by whom he sent a
present to the governor, namely, a piece of the whale which was then
lying on the beach, and around which the natives were assembled at a
feast. Wishing to see him again, the governor went immediately to the
spot, where he found a number of natives, and both Bennillong, and the
other one, Cole-be, who had first escaped. All went on amicably at
first, and some wearing apparel, belonging to the men in the boat, was
given to the savages, while Bennillong obtained a promise from his
excellency that more should be brought in two days, and likewise some
hatchets. The governor and his friends were retiring by degrees to their
boat, having imprudently allowed the natives very nearly to surround
them, when Bennillong, after presenting several of his friends by name,
pointed out one, whom Captain Philip stepped forward to meet, holding
out both his hands to him. The savage, not understanding this civility,
and possibly thinking that he was going to seize him, threw his spear,
and wounded the governor rather badly, but not mortally. Several other
spears were thrown, and one musket fired, but no injury was done on
either side. A few days after the accident Bennillong came with his wife
and some companions very near to the settlement, and an interview
between these and the British officers took place, in which it was
agreed that the governor, as soon as he was able, should visit the
same spot; Bennillong, meanwhile, assuring them that the man who had
inflicted the wound had been severely beaten. On the tenth day his
Excellency was so far recovered as to go to the place of the whale
feast, together with several officers, all armed. Bennillong here
repeated his assurances to the governor in person, that the offending
party had been well beaten by him and Cole-be, and added that his
throwing the spear was entirely the effect of his fears, and arose from
an impulse of self-preservation. The day before this visit nearly 4000
fish had been taken by the colonists, and between 30 and 40 of these,
weighing on an average about 5 lbs. each, were sent to Bennillong and
his party on the north shore of Port Jackson. After this, tolerably
friendly feelings continued, with some few interruptions, between the
two nations, and Bennillong himself became very much attached to the
governor, insomuch that he and another native resolved to accompany
Captain Philip to England, when, towards the close of 1792, that
excellent officer resigned his appointment, and embarked on board of
the Atlantic transport-ship. The two Australians, fully bent upon
the voyage, which they knew would be a very distant one, withstood
resolutely, at the moment of their departure, the united distress of
their wives and the dismal lamentations of their friends. No more was
heard respecting these absentees until March 1794, when a message was
brought from them in England, requesting that their wives might be told
to expect them in the course of that year, since, though well, they had
not so completely lost their love of liberty and of their native
country, to prefer London, with its pleasures and abundance, to the
woods of New South Wales. It was not, however, until August, 1795, that
Bennillong reached his native shores, having become accustomed to the
manners of civilized life, by his long sojourn among the English people.
He declared to his old acquaintance, with an air and tone that seemed to
expect compliance, that he should no longer suffer them to fight and cut
each other's throats, but should introduce peace among them, and make
them love one another. When they visited him at Government House, he
wished they would contrive to be somewhat more cleanly in their persons
and less coarse in their manners; and he was quite offended at his
sister, who came in such haste to see him, that she positively forgot to
bring anything else upon her back, except a little nephew! Bennillong
had been an attentive observer of manners, which he was not unsuccessful
in copying; his dress was an object of no small concern to him, and
every one was of opinion that he had cast off all love for savage life.
Upon his arrival, Bennillong made inquiries after his wife,[75] but
having heard no very good account of her conduct, he at length tempted
her by some rose-coloured clothes and a gipsy bonnet to leave her new
lover and return to her former husband. Bennillong's presents, however
pretty, were of very little practical use, and he was soon afterwards
missing, having gone into the Bush to give his rival a good beating with
_fists_ after the English method. However, all his valour was lost upon
his wife, who deserted him,--an event which did not appear to give him
great uneasiness, nor was it much to be wondered at, since she had been
stolen by him. His absence from the governor's house became now
frequent, and when he went out, his clothes were usually left behind
him, although he carefully resumed them on his return before he made his
visit to the governor.
[75] Like most of his countrymen, Bennillong had two wives, but one of
them, Barangaroo, had died, as it appears, before his departure for
England. See page 154.
Within a year of his arrival from England this poor creature had a
quarrel with his bosom-friend Cole-be, whose wife he had coveted, and
from whom he received some severe wounds, together with the cutting
inquiry, "Whether he meant that kind of conduct to be a specimen of
English manners?" Thus Bennillong by degrees returned again to all the
habits of savage life,--habits rendered rather worse than better by the
experience he had gained respecting those of civilized men. He could
not, however, keep on terms with his countrymen, and in 1796 he was
obliged to call in the help of the governor's soldiers to protect him
from his own people. In the following year he was accused of having been
the cause of a woman's death, who had dreamed, when dying, that he had
killed her; and by some it was said, that he actually had wounded her,
so that it was demanded of him that he should undergo the ordeal of
having some spears thrown at him. Although he denied the charge, yet it
was not thought unlikely to be true, for he was now become so fond of
drinking that he lost no opportunity of being intoxicated, and in that
state was savage and violent enough to be capable of any mischief. On
these occasions he amused himself with annoying and insulting all his
acquaintance, who were afraid to punish him lest they should offend his
white friends. But, however, his interest with the latter was fast
declining, for in an affray between the natives, Bennillong chose to
throw a spear among the soldiers, who interfered to prevent further
mischief; and one of these was dreadfully wounded by him. He was,
notwithstanding, set at liberty, but being offended at the blame his
behaviour had brought down upon him he would sometimes walk about armed,
and declare that he did so for the purpose of spearing the governor
whenever he might see him! After repeated affrays and quarrels with his
wife's lover and other natives, Bennillong, who had almost entirely
quitted the comforts and quiet of civilized life, was dangerously
wounded twice within two or three months. And although no more is
related concerning him, and it is true that he had recently recovered of
several very severe wounds, yet the probability is, that this weak and
violent savage was not long afterwards cut off in the midst of life by
an untimely and cruel death.
_Barangaroo's Funeral._--When Barangaroo Daringha, Bennillong's elder
wife, who was above fifty at the time of her death, was to have the
funeral rites performed over her body, it was resolved by her husband
that she should be burned, and the governor, the judge-advocate, and the
surgeon of the colony were invited to the ceremony, besides whom there
were present Bennillong's relatives and a few others, mostly females.
The spot for the pile was prepared by digging out the ground with a
stick, to the depth of a few inches, and in this a heap of wood was
raised to the height of about three feet, the ends and sides being
formed of dry pieces, and the middle of it consisting of small twigs and
branches, broken off for the purpose, and thrown together. Some grass
was then spread over the pile, and the corpse covered with an old
blanket was placed upon it, with the head towards the north. A basket
with sundry articles belonging to the deceased was placed by her side,
and some large logs being laid over the body by Bennillong, the pile
was lighted by one of the party, and was quickly all in a flame.
Bennillong himself pointed out to his friends that the fire had reached
the corpse, and the spot was left long before the pile was consumed,
while the husband seemed more cheerful than had been expected, and
spoke about finding a nurse among the white women for his infant and
motherless child, Dil-boong.[76] The next day he invited the same party
of Europeans to see him rake the ashes together, and none of his own
people were present at this ceremony. He went before his companions in a
sort of solemn silence, speaking to no one until he had paid the last
duties to Barangaroo. In his hand was the spear, with which he meant to
punish the _car-rah-dy_, or conjurer, for whom he had sent to attend her
in her illness, but who either could not or would not obey the summons;
and with the end of this spear he collected the funereal ashes into a
heap. Over these he made, with a piece of bark, which served for a
spade, a small mound of earth, on each side of which was placed a log of
wood, and on the top the bark with which he had constructed it. All was
done with the utmost care and neatness, and he seemed pleased, when, in
reply to his inquiries, he was told by his friends that it was "good."
His behaviour throughout was solemn and manly, and he was perfectly
silent during the whole of the ceremony, from which nothing was suffered
to withdraw his attention. Nor did he seem desirous to get quickly
through it, but paid these last rites of affection with a care that
did honour to his feelings towards one, for whom, notwithstanding his
barbarism, he appeared to feel a sincere and strong attachment. When his
melancholy task was ended, he stood for a few moments, with his hands
folded over his bosom, and his eye fixed upon his labours, in the
attitude of a man in profound thought. What were his thoughts then it is
impossible certainly to declare, but they may have been more nearly akin
to those of the mere civilized worldling than we might at first imagine.
Death brings all men to an equality, and throws down every distinction
but one. That distinction, indeed, so far from overthrowing, death
renders more marked and conspicuous than before, clearly making manifest
the difference between the believer and the unbeliever, "between him
that serveth God, and him that serveth him not."
[76] On a similar occasion, Cole-be placed the living child in the grave
with its mother, and having laid the child down, he threw upon it a
large stone, after which the grave was instantly filled up by the other
natives. Upon remonstrating with Cole-be, he, so far from thinking it
inhuman, justified this extraordinary act by saying, that, as no woman
could be found to nurse the child, it must have died a worse death than
that to which he put it.--COLLINS' _Account of the Colony of New South
Wales_, p. 393.
_The Spitting Tribe._--This was the name given by Major Mitchell to one
of the most troublesome and ferocious of the native tribes, the place of
whose habitation is on the lonely banks of the Darling, in the interior
of Eastern Australia. When these disagreeable people were first met
with, the man who was taking care of the sheep belonging to the
exploring party held out a green bough; but the savage, who had before
pointed a spear at the Englishman, replied to his emblem of peace by
taking a bough, spitting upon it, and then thrusting it into the fire.
Upon Major Mitchell hastening to the spot, similar expressions of ill
will were manifested, evidently with the purpose of telling the
strangers that they must go back. The native and a boy who was with him
then threw up dust at their enemies, in a clever way, _with their toes_.
Their feelings of hostility and defiance were too plainly expressed to
be mistaken. Every effort at conciliation was useless, until, at length,
the enraged native of the Bush retired slowly along the river bank,
singing a war-song as he went, and showing by his actions that he was
going for his tribe. This happened in the morning; and during the
afternoon of the same day, a party of the tribe made their appearance,
holding out boughs indeed, but with a very different ceremonial from
what had hitherto been observed.[77] Their violent and expressive
gestures evidently were intended to drive back the intruders; and
as these last could not but feel that they were not upon their own
ground, they used every endeavour to conciliate the opposing party. The
blacksmith belonging to the expedition was at work with his bellows and
anvil near the river bank, and his labours seemed to awaken very much
the curiosity of the natives, who, however, still refused to sit down,
and continued to wave their branches in the faces of the white people,
and to spit at them repeatedly, all which conduct was patiently endured
in the hope of establishing afterwards a more agreeable and friendly
intercourse. As a peace-offering, a tomahawk was presented to the
leader, who, guessing immediately its use, turned round to a log, and
chopped it. Two other stout fellows then rudely demanded the British
officer's pistols from his belt, whereupon he drew one, and, curious to
see the effect, fired it at a tree. Immediately, as though they had
previously suspected the intruders to be evil demons, and had at length
a clear proof of it, they repeated their actions of defiance with
tenfold fury, accompanying these with demoniac looks, hideous shouts,
and a war-song,--crouching, jumping, spitting, springing with the spear,
and throwing dust at them, as they slowly retired. In short, their
hideous crouching postures, measured gestures, and low jumps, to the
tune of a wild song, with the fiendish glare of their countenances, at
times all black, but now all eyes and teeth, seemed a fitter spectacle
for Pandemonium than for the light of the bounteous sun. Thus they
retired, dancing in a circle, and leaving the strangers in expectation
of their return, and perhaps an attack in the morning. Whatever was the
cause of their hostility, any further attempt to quiet them appeared out
of the question, and it was too likely that ere long the English party
would be forced to prove their superiority by arms.[78]
[77] The custom of holding out green boughs, which is usually a sign of
friendship among the Australians and other savage tribes, formed part of
the ceremony of suppliants among the ancient Greeks. See Potter's
Antiquities of Greece, b. ii. c. 5.
[78] The difference in disposition between tribes not very remote from
each other was often striking. Only three days' journey behind, the
travellers had left natives as kind and civil as any whom they had seen,
and hitherto all the people on the Darling had met them with the branch
of peace.
These troublesome visitors did not, however, make their appearance again
before the following afternoon, when their curiosity and desire to get
more presents brought them forth from their hiding-places in the woods.
By degrees, they seemed to gain a little more confidence; but signs of
defiance were still made; and as their fears diminished, their love of
pilfering appeared to increase. The blacksmith was at work this day
also; and they moved towards him, commencing at the same time a kind of
chant, and slowly waving their green boughs. There was evidently some
superstition in the ceremony, and one of the parties concerned in it
was a _coradje_, or priest, who occasionally turned his back upon the
Europeans, and touched his eye-brows, nose, and breast; then pointing
his arm to the sky, and with his hand afterwards laid upon his breast,
pouring forth a most solemn chant. The blacksmith, with whose honest
occupation all this formed a strange contrast, had been ordered not
to laugh nor stop working, which orders he obeyed as long as it was
practicable. But, gradually, the black visitors gathered round the
forge, and began to pilfer whatever they could lay hand or foot upon,
until the persecuted smith could no longer proceed with his work. The
best part of this scene was, that they did not mind being observed by
any one, except the blacksmith, supposing that they were robbing him
only. His patience, however, being severely tried, he was at last
tempted to give one of them a push, when a scene of chanting, spitting,
and throwing dust commenced on the part of the thief, who was a stout
fellow and carried a spear, which he seemed inclined to use. One or two
articles were lost in spite of all efforts, but the explorers were glad
to feel at peace with these people upon any terms, and both parties
separated that night in a tolerably civil way.
On the following day, the travellers began to move onwards, but they did
not leave behind (as they had hoped) their troublesome neighbours. The
natives rushed forth from the woods in greater numbers than ever, _being
painted white_, and many of them carrying spears, and shouting. A horse
belonging to one of the party was so startled at this, that he galloped
away, and was with some little difficulty recovered. The threats and
defiance of the savages were again repeated; and when the party of
explorers began to proceed onwards, the whole of the woods appeared to
be in flames. Various annoyances and hindrances were experienced from
these disagreeable inhabitants of the Bush, during the next ten or
twelve days; after which an event happened, which, though sad and
unfortunate in itself, was yet calculated to fill the minds of these
impudent savages with some respect and awe for the power of the
Europeans. Joseph Jones,--the man who attended the flock of sheep, which
accompanied Major Mitchell's party in their wanderings in the interior
of New Holland,--had been sent for some water; and the tea-kettle he
carried with him was the sole cause of the quarrel that ensued. As he
was getting up the river bank with the water, another man being
stationed (as usual) at the top to protect him with his pistol, one of
the natives, with others in his company, met him half way up, and with
a smile took hold of the pot which he was carrying, together with the
kettle. This was done under pretence of helping Jones, but, on reaching
the top of the bank, the savage, in the same jocose way, held it fast,
until a woman said something to him; and then, letting the pot go, he
seized the kettle with his left hand, and at the same time struck Jones
senseless to the ground by a violent blow on the forehead, inflicted
with a club which he held in his right. On seeing this the other man,
who was stationed by way of protection, fired, and wounded the savage,
who swam across the river, and made off as well as he could; but the
rest of the tribe were now advancing. The Englishman fired twice at
them, and the second time, unfortunately, he shot the woman already
mentioned, who, with her child fastened to her back, slid down the bank,
and lay, apparently dying, in the water. At this moment three other
Englishmen arrived, who had been sent off from the camp when the noise
of fire-arms was heard, and one man among the natives was shot in the
breast, but little more mischief was done, for the tribe speedily
dispersed, having dragged away the dead body of the woman; while Joseph
Jones returned, wounded and bleeding, to the camp of the explorers. When
night arrived, "a death-like silence," says Major Mitchell, "prevailed
along the banks of the river; no far-heard voices of natives at their
fires broke, as before, the stillness of the night, while a painful
sympathy for the child bereft of its parent, and anticipations of the
probable consequences to us, cast a melancholy gloom over the scene. The
waning moon at length arose, and I was anxiously occupied with the
observations, which were most important at this point of my journey,
when a mournful song, strongly expressive of the wailing of women, came
from beyond the Darling, on the fitful breeze which still blew from the
north-west." The feelings of a brave but humane British officer,
surrounded by difficulties, with very few except convicts under his
command, annoyed by natives, yet anxious not to injure them, and just
about to turn back from the journey of discovery which he had hitherto
successfully pursued; the feelings of Major Mitchell under the
circumstances so touchingly described by him can scarcely be imagined.
The thoughts of a veteran who had served his country during many long
years of war and strife, must have wandered back to past scenes and
by-gone days, while he stood in that solitary wilderness; and when the
wild shrill cry of savage grief came floating upon his ears, he must
have felt most deeply those strange sensations which we experience
"When, musing o'er companions gone,
We doubly feel ourselves alone."
These savages of the Darling have the power of doing with their toes
many things most surprising to men who wear shoes, and have never been
accustomed from infancy to climb trees after the Australian fashion.
With their toes they gather the fresh-water muscles from the muddy
bottoms of rivers or lakes, and these are one of their principal
articles of food in the neighbourhood of the Darling. In the attempts of
the Spitting Tribe to steal from the English party, their feet were much
employed, and they would tread softly on any article, seize it with the
toes, pass it up the back, or between the arm and side, and so conceal
it in the arm-pit, or between the beard and throat. The hoary old priest
of the Spitting Tribe, while intent upon tricks of this kind, chanted
an extraordinary hymn to some deity or devil; the act was evidently
superstitious and connected with no good principle. Arrangements were
probably being made, and some of these strange ceremonies observed by
them, for the purpose of destroying the strangers, _intruders_ they
might be called. "And no man," observes Major Mitchell, "can witness the
quickness and intelligence of the aborigines, as displayed in their
instant comprehension of our numerous appliances, without feelings of
sympathy. They cannot be so obtuse, as not to anticipate in the advance
of such a powerful race as ours, the extirpation of their own, in a
country which barely affords to them the means of subsistence." Yet,
melancholy though the reflection may appear, it is but too true, that
scarcely any hope of improving and civilizing these barbarous people can
be at present reasonably indulged. What a picture does the same humane
traveller already quoted draw of the tribes about the lower part of the
Darling, of whose character the Spitting Tribe may serve for a specimen.
"It seldom happened," he says, "that I was particularly engaged with a
map, a drawing, or a calculation, but I was interrupted by them or
respecting them. Our gifts seemed only to awaken on their part a desire
to destroy us, and to take all we had. While sitting in the dust with
them, according to their custom, often have they examined my cap,
evidently with no other view than to ascertain whether it would
resist the blow of a _waddy_, or short stick. Then they would feel the
thickness of my dress, and whisper together, their eyes occasionally
glancing at their spears and clubs. The expression of their countenances
was sometimes so hideous, that, after such interviews, I have found
comfort in contemplating the honest faces of the horses and sheep; and
even in the scowl of 'the patient ox,' I have imagined an expression of
dignity, when he may have pricked up his ears, and turned his horns
towards these wild specimens of the 'lords of the creation.' Travellers
in Australian deserts will find that such savages cannot remain at rest
when near, but are ever anxious to strip them by all means in their
power of every thing. It was not until we proceeded as conquerors, that
we knew any thing like tranquillity on the Darling; and I am now of
opinion, that to discourage at once the approach of such natives, would
tend more to the safety of an exploring party than presenting them with
gifts."
_Mulligo's Death._--The following curious account of the death of a
certain native of Western Australia is given by Captain Grey. Mulligo,
for such was the name of the unfortunate man, had severely hurt his
spine by a fall from a tree, and having lost the use of his lower limbs,
he gradually wasted away, until, in about two months' time, he became a
perfect skeleton, and was evidently dying. Soon after day-break, Captain
Grey came to the hut of Mulligo, and found him alive indeed, but
breathing so slightly that it was scarcely to be perceived. His head
rested on his aged mother's knees, who leaned over him in tears, while
other women were seated around, their heads all verging to a common
centre, over the wasted frame of the dying man; they were crying
bitterly, and scratching their cheeks, foreheads, and noses, with
their nails, until the blood trickled slowly from the wounds. The men,
meanwhile, were preparing their spears for the fight, which was expected
to take place respecting the two wives of Mulligo, the title of his heir
being disputed. Other native females soon began to arrive in small
parties, each one carrying her long stick in her hand, and each party
marching slowly after the eldest woman belonging to it. When they came
within about thirty or forty yards of the hut of the dying man, they
raised the most piteous cries, and hurrying their pace, moved rapidly to
the place where the other women were seated, recalling to the mind of
one acquainted with the Bible, that custom alluded to by Jeremiah (chap.
ix. 17, 18). As they came up to the bark hut, many of them struck it
violently with their sticks, producing by the blow a dull hollow sound,
and then, after joining the assembled circle, chanting mournfully the
usual songs on these occasions. Then, suddenly, one of the women in a
frenzy would start up, and standing in front of the hut, while she waved
her stick violently in the air, would chant forth curses against the
sorcerers, who, as she believed, had been the cause of Mulligo's
sufferings. It was strange to watch the effect of these wild chants upon
the savage countenances of the men; one while they sat in mournful
silence; again they grasped firmly and quivered their spears; and by and
by a general "Ee-Ee," pronounced in their throat, with the lips closed,
burst forth in token of approbation at some affecting part of the
speech.
Time wore on; each withered beldame by turns addressed the party,
while the poor creature, whose dying moments were thus disturbed, was
gradually sinking. At last he ceased to live, and at that moment an old
woman started up, and with grief and rage, poured forth her curses upon
the _Boyl-yas_, and tore the hut in which Mulligo had been lying to
pieces, saying, "This is now no good." Her proceedings excited the
feelings of the men, and at last Moon-dee, the most violent of them, was
on the point of spearing one of the wives of the deceased, but he was
withheld by some of the women. The cause of Moon-dee's anger was
afterwards thus explained. About two or three months before this time,
a cloak belonging to Mulligo's brother had been stolen, and, it was
supposed, given to one of the sorcerers, who gained thereby some
mysterious power over either of the two brothers, which he had exercised
on Mulligo, when he caused him to fall and injure his back. Another
sorcerer was called in, who applied fire to the injured part, but
without any success; and since the poor fellow was daily wasting away,
it was imagined that the unfriendly sorcerers came every night to feast
upon the invalid during his hours of sleep. But Moon-dee chose to fancy
that if his wife had been more watchful, the _Boyl-yas_ might have been
detected, and therefore he intended to spear her in the leg, in order to
punish her supposed neglect. This outrage was, however, prevented; and
the two trembling partners of the deceased, neither of whom was above
fifteen years old, fled into Perth, to find among Europeans a refuge
from the violence of their own countrymen. After vowing vengeance
against a great many of the sorcerers, though they had no proof whatever
against any of these in particular, the men followed the widows to
Perth, to see that no one stole them away; and a few only were left with
the women to superintend the funeral.
In about an hour's time, the body was removed to a distance of nearly
half a mile from the spot where the death had taken place, and the women
were still leaning over it, uttering the words, _yang, yang, yang_, and
occasionally chanting a few sentences. The grave was then dug, as usual,
due east and west, with no better instruments than sticks and hands; but
afterwards, when many Europeans had assembled at the spot, to the great
annoyance of the natives, these last occasionally employed a spade,
although, from the extreme narrowness of the grave, it was no easy
matter to make use of this implement. During the digging an insect had
been thrown up, whose motions were watched with the deepest interest,
and since the animal crawled off in the direction of Guildford, this was
thought an additional proof of the guilt of the sorcerers of that place,
who had before been suspected, because the cloak had been stolen by a
man living near this settlement.
When the grave was completed, they set fire to some dried leaves and
twigs which they threw in, and old Weeban, the friendly sorcerer, knelt
at the foot of the grave, with his back to the east, and his head bowed
down to the earth in a posture of the deepest attention; his office
being a very important one, namely, to discover in what direction the
hostile _Boyl-yas_ would take their flight, when drawn out of the earth
by the heat. The fire roared for some time in the grave; and the hollow
sound of the flames arising from the narrow opening evidently aroused
the superstitious fears of the bystanders, until the old conjuror
signified by his actions that the authors of the mischief were gone off
in the direction of Guildford. The relatives of the deceased appeared
satisfied at knowing upon whom to avenge the foul witchcraft, and at
being assured of the cause of their friend's death. The body of Mulligo
was then taken from the females, his mother having, for the last time,
fervently kissed its cold lips; and the corpse was lowered into the
grave, and placed upon a bed of leaves, which had been laid there
directly the fire was extinguished; the face being, according to custom,
turned towards the east. The women continued their mournful songs, and
the grave was filled up with small green boughs and earth, until the
tomb was completed, presenting the appearance, owing to the heaps placed
at the head and foot, of three graves nearly alike in size and form,
lying in a due east and west direction. On the same evening, the old
mother was found sitting at the place where her son's remains were
interred, and crying bitterly. She had caught the _Boyl-yas_, she said,
in the very act of sitting round Mulligo's grave, for the purpose of
preying upon his miserable body, and she pointed out their tracks at the
spot from which they sprung into the air, in the direction of Guildford,
but European eyes were not keen enough to detect these mysterious traces
of mischief.
_The Corrobory._--The natives have a dance, called corrobory, of a very
original character, and almost universally prevalent on the shores of
Australia. The dance always takes place at night; and not only in this
respect, but likewise in the preparation and excitement occasioned by
it, a resemblance may be traced between the _corrobory_ and the dances
of more civilized nations. The curious evolutions and figures performed
in these assemblies of savages, are regulated by time beaten upon
stretched skins or drums,--the only musical instrument that is commonly
seen among them; and while the light of blazing boughs is thrown upon
the scene of festivity, the rude music is accompanied by a song.
Darkness seems essential to the effect of the whole; and the painted
figures coming forward from the obscurity of the background, while the
singers and beaters of time are invisible, have a highly theatrical
effect. Each dance appears most tastefully progressive; the movement
being first slow, and introduced by two persons, displaying graceful
motions, both of arms and legs; others, one by one, join in, each
gradually warming into the truly savage attitude of the "_corrobory_"
jump; the legs then stride to the utmost, the head is turned over one
shoulder, the eyes glare, and are fixed with savage energy all in one
direction; the arms also are raised, and inclined towards the head, the
hands usually grasping some warlike weapons. The jump now keeps time
with each beat; the dancers at every movement taking six inches to one
side, all being in a connected line, led by the first, which line,
however, is sometimes _doubled_ or _tripled_, according to numbers; and
thus great effect is added; for when the front line jumps to the left,
the second jumps to the right; the third to the left again, and so on,
until the action gains due intensity, when all suddenly stop at the same
moment. The excitement which this dance produces in the savage is very
remarkable. However listless the individual may be, lying perhaps, as
usual, half asleep, set him to this, and he is fired with sudden energy,
every nerve is strung to such a degree, that he is hardly to be known as
the same person, while the _corrobory_ continues.
_Peerat and his Wives._--A garden belonging to a soldier at King
George's Sound had been robbed by the natives of nearly a hundred weight
of potatoes. This was the first act of theft that had been committed
during the five months of Governor Grey's residence there, although
there had often been as many as two hundred natives in the settlement,
who had no means of subsistence beyond the natural productions of the
country, and what little they derived from being occasionally employed
by the colonists. And even in this theft of the potatoes, they had
purposely left the large roots, and had taken away only the smaller
ones, in the hope that by so doing they would lessen the crime. However,
the governor resolved to act promptly and vigorously upon this first
offence, and to avoid the common fault of Europeans, in confounding the
guilty and the innocent together. By the help of an intelligent native,
the tracks of three persons were found in the garden that had been
robbed, and the footsteps were pronounced to be those of Peerat's two
wives, and his son Dal-bean. These had all walked off into the Bush,
meaning, probably, to avoid suspicion, and to wait till the affair had
passed quietly over. The governor determined to pursue them, but this
required great secrecy, for Australians are no easy creatures to catch
hold of; and it was not meant to adopt the popular system of shooting
them when they ran away. Accompanied by four natives only, the governor
pressed forward, following Peerat's tracks for about nine miles in a
direction where the Bush had been set on fire by the natives, until he
met with some of these, who were solemnly informed of the theft and of
the names of the criminals, whom he had come to take prisoners; if these
were given up, it was promised that they should undergo only the regular
punishment for petty robbery; otherwise, the usual allowance of flour,
which was issued to all the natives every two months, was to be stopped;
and it was threatened that a party of soldiers should be brought out to
fire upon Peerat and his party wherever they might be found. These
threats, uttered in a very decided tone, gave occasion to a consultation
among the natives, by whom it was unanimously agreed:--
Imprimis. That stealing potatoes was a very heinous offence, more
particularly in women.
Secondly. That women were notorious thieves, and altogether worse
characters than men.
Thirdly. That beating women was an every day occurrence.
Fourthly. That losing flour was a great bore; and,
Fifthly. Upon these considerations, Peerat, his wives, and son, were to
be given up.
These resolutions having been passed, the whole assembly came to the
governor to inquire whether he told the truth, when he said that he was
not personally angry with Peerat's family, and that they should not be
killed; and being satisfied upon this point, they all proceeded together
in search of the offending parties.
Peerat waited quietly to receive them, indeed, he was not aware of the
cause of his being honoured by a visit from the governor; when, however,
he heard of this, he abused his wives, and promised to thrash them
soundly, but absolutely refused to give either them or his son up as
prisoners. The first man who might lay a finger upon him was threatened
with a spear through the heart, and the governor was obliged to proclaim
the sacredness of his own person, and to cock both barrels of his gun,
with an assurance that he would shoot poor Peerat in case of resistance.
All savage strife is noisy in the extreme; even the strife of
_civilized_ men in their _public meetings_ and _vestries_ is often
tolerably boisterous,--and a great deal of running and leaping about,
and quivering of spears accompanies the former kind of altercation.
While things were in this confusion the governor went alone to Peerat's
fire, and seized his little boy, Dal-bean, but could see nothing of the
wives, who were, most likely, busy digging roots for the family. The boy
was told that if he moved he would be shot, a threat which kept him very
quiet; but Peerat soon found out what had happened, and came running
after them. These natives are always greatly attached to their children,
and strong proofs of this were now given by the father, who first
declared that the boy had been with him, and that it was the mother only
that had stolen, producing about a dozen witnesses to prove this to be
the truth. However, the reply to this was by asking the question, How
came the child's footmarks in the garden? It was answered that Peerat's
second wife had, indeed, been there, and that she was just the size of
the boy; but that plea would not hold good, since her footsteps had been
observed likewise.
The father now urged the tender years of the lad, and that he was under
the influence of his mother; and then fairly wept upon his child's neck,
who was calling upon his parent and the other natives by name to save
him. The governor's own feelings and those of his followers urged him
to let the little fellow go, but he wisely resolved to act with
determination, and held fast by the prisoner. Spears were now given to
Peerat--a sign of his quarrel being espoused by those who gave them, and
that he was expected to use them; and, matters having taken a serious
turn, the governor hastened away with his prisoner and two of his native
companions, but not before he had explained to the others the advantage
of an impartial inquiry and proper punishment of offenders, in
preference to their being exposed to the indiscriminating fire of
Europeans. Peerat was then threatened with a shot if he did not take
himself off, and bring his wives into the settlement to be punished; and
the matter ended, for the present, in the lodgment of the youthful
Dal-bean safe in the British gaol. In a day or two afterwards, during
which no tidings had been heard of Peerat and his wives, the little
Dal-bean made an attempt to break out of his place of confinement, by
taking up a loose stone from the floor, with which he had battered a
hole in the door. This, however, he stoutly denied, asserting that,
whilst he was asleep, sorcerers from the north, having a spite against
him, had entered through some air-holes in the wall and done this; and,
on his persisting in the story, he was told that, in future, he would
be well whipped for neglect, if he did not give the alarm when these
strange visitors came. Meanwhile, the governor was half inclined to whip
him for telling a story, but he satisfied himself with giving him a
lecture upon the crime of lying, to which the cunning little rogue
replied, by arguing upon the general usefulness and prevalence of that
vice in the world, entirely setting aside its evil nature and
sinfulness.
The very same day Peerat made his appearance with a very pitiful
tale. He had two wives, and to govern them both was no easy task, but,
although they had been soundly beaten, they could not be induced to come
into the settlement, until he had threatened to spear them. This threat
had, at last, succeeded, and in recompense for his sufferings from the
loss of his son, and from the obstinacy and bad temper of his wives, he
begged to be allowed to beat the latter himself. They were ordered to
the spot where the robbery was committed, and there the native women
soon appeared, dreadfully cut and mangled from the beating they had
already received. One was a nice looking girl, about fourteen, but an
incorrigible thief. Peerat was going to hit her a tremendous blow upon
the head, which must have laid it open. She stood with her back to her
husband, trembling and crying bitterly. The governor caught Peerat's
arm, picked up a little switch from the ground, and told him to beat her
on the shoulders with that, instead of with his _meero_. Two slight
blows, or rather taps, were given her, in order to know where it was
that the governor meant her to be struck, but the poor girl cried so
bitterly from fear, that she was pardoned, and so likewise was the other
woman, who had already been severely beaten, and had at that moment a
little child sitting upon her shoulder, and crying piteously at the
sight of its mother's tears. Before the crowd dispersed a lecture was
given them, and they were warned not to presume upon the governor's
clemency in the present instance.
In the afternoon, the governor, attended by Peerat, his wives, and a
crowd of natives, walked up to the gaol to release little Dal-bean. The
father and the governor alone entered the prison, and when the gaoler
was told to hand Peerat the whip, the latter took it, and said, "Yes,
yes, I will strike him; let not another beat him." The door of the cell
was then opened, and the little boy was led out: his father ran up to
him, caught him in his arms, and began kissing him; having done this, he
told him he was going to beat him. The little fellow did not answer a
word, but standing as firm and erect as possible, presented his back
to him. The father gave him one blow, and it was ended--justice was
satisfied. The criminals had surrendered to salutary laws, of which they
had but a vague and undefined knowledge; it was their first offence; the
nature of the laws they had broken was explained to them; they were
warned to be careful in their future conduct, and they were set free.
Little Dal-bean, directly they got outside the gaol, walked up to the
governor, took his hand, and squeezed it; then turning to his mother,
he just looked at her; she cried, but did not dare to kiss him, or to
show any other mark of emotion. The whole party then moved off, after
showering many thanks upon the governor, and saying, "What a good
fellow, what a good fellow," or, to give a literal translation, "one
good man, one good man!"
_Woga's Captivity._--In Caledon Bay, upon the northern coast of New
Holland, the natives had behaved very well to the party under Captain
Flinders, which had landed on their shores, until one of those who had
been most kindly treated ran away with an axe, and from the thickness of
the forest could not be overtaken. It was indeed here, as in other parts
of Australia, no easy matter to hinder the people from stealing whatever
came within their reach; and in order to check this, two men were seized
by command of Captain Flinders, and after a little time one of these was
set free, upon his promising by signs to restore the axe, and being
made to understand that the other would be kept as a pledge of this
engagement being fulfilled. Much confusion was noticed among the
natives, and preparations were made for firing upon them in case of
necessity, but after one of the prisoners had been released, they
appeared to have less anxiety, and still no axe was forthcoming. The
prisoner, a youth of about fourteen, whose name was Woga, was taken in a
boat to a place much frequented by the savages, many of whom were seen
behind the bushes, endeavouring to entice a native who accompanied
the expedition on shore, no doubt intending to seize him by way of
retaliation. The restoration of the axe was demanded, and the prisoner
seemed to use all his powers to enforce it, but the constant answer was
that the thief, Ye-han-ge-ree, had been beaten and was gone away; and
since no axe was likely to be brought, Woga was carried on board the
ship, after a great deal of crying, entreating, threatening, and
struggling on his part. He there ate heartily, laughed, sometimes cried,
and noticed every thing; frequently expressing admiration at what he
saw, and especially at the sheep, hogs, and cats. The next morning he
was taken ashore, and attempted to make a spring out of the boat, so
that it was needful to bind him, notwithstanding his struggles; but
after a while he became quiet, and enjoyed his meal of rice and fish,
although he was made fast to a tree. A sort of attack was then made by
the other natives upon a party of gentlemen who had landed to botanize,
and who had been almost surrounded by the savages; but, however, a
couple of shots dispersed their enemies, and two of the Australians were
supposed to have been wounded. Since the prisoner was thus a cause of
mischief to his fellow-countrymen, and his being carried off would be an
act of injustice, as well as injurious to future visitors of that coast,
at length Captain Flinders, who would otherwise willingly have taken
Woga with him, resolved to release him. On that day, the third of his
captivity, Woga appeared to be a little melancholy in his bondage, but
upon the whole had not fared amiss, having been eating the greater part
of the morning and afternoon. He begged hard to be released; promising,
with tears in his eyes, to bring back the axe; and after having received
some clothing and presents he was suffered to depart. As far as two
hundred yards he walked away leisurely; but then, looking first behind
him, took to his heels with all his might, leaving his British friends
very reasonably doubtful of the fulfilment of his pathetic promises!
_Bal-loo-der-ry and the Convicts._--In 1791, when the town of Paramatta,
about fifteen miles from Sydney, was first settled, the natives soon
began to bring in their fish and barter it for bread or salted meat; and
this proving a great convenience to the settlers, the traffic was very
much encouraged by them. There were, however, some among the convicts so
unthinking or so depraved, as wantonly to destroy a canoe belonging to a
fine young man, a native, who had left it at a little distance from the
settlement, as he thought, out of the way of observation, while he went
with some fish he had to sell. His rage at finding his canoe destroyed
was very great: he threatened to take his revenge, and in his own way,
upon all white people. Three of the offenders, however, having been seen
and described, were taken and punished, and so were the remainder of
them not very long afterwards. The instant effect of this outrage
was, that the natives discontinued the bringing up of fish; and
Bal-loo-der-ry, whose canoe had been destroyed, although he had been
taught to believe[79] that one of the six convicts had been hanged for
the offence, meeting a few days afterwards with an European who had
strayed to some distance from Paramatta, he wounded him in two places
with a spear. This act of Bal-loo-der-ry was followed by the governor's
strictly forbidding him to appear again in any of the settlements; and
the other natives, his friends, being alarmed, Paramatta was seldom
visited by any of them, and all commerce with them was (for the time)
at an end. However, in about two months afterwards, before the person
wounded by him had recovered, Bal-loo-der-ry ventured into the town with
some of his friends, and one or two armed parties were sent to seize
him. A spear having been thrown, it was said, by him, two muskets were
fired, by which one of his companions was wounded in the leg, but
Bal-loo-der-ry was not taken. On the following day it was ordered that
he was to be seized whenever an opportunity should offer, and that any
native attempting to throw a spear in his defence, (since they well knew
why he was denounced,) was, if possible, to be prevented from escaping.
Those who knew this savage regretted that it had been necessary to treat
him thus harshly, for among his countrymen they had never seen a finer
young man. We cannot finish this melancholy history with a more true
reflection than that of Lieutenant Collins: "How much greater claim to
the appellation of _savages_ had the wretches (the convicts) who were
the cause of this, than the natives who were termed so!"
[79] Such are the words of Lieutenant Collins, from whose account of New
South Wales the narrative is taken. When will Christians learn, in their
intercourse with heathens and savages, to abstain from such falsehood
and deceitful dealing?
_Native Hospitality and Philosophy._--After a most distressing journey
in Western Australia, Captain Grey and his party fell in with a number
of natives, at no great distance from the settlement of Perth. So great
had been the trials of the explorers that a disinclination to move
pervaded the whole party, and their courageous leader had felt much the
same desire to sink into the sleep of death, that one feels to take a
second slumber in the morning after great fatigue. However they had
aroused themselves, and had managed to walk about eight miles at the
slow rate of a mile and a quarter an hour, when they came suddenly upon
the tracks of the natives. Kaiber, their guide, announced that they were
wild natives; and, after a second survey, he declared that they had
"great bush fury" on them, _i.e._ were subject to wild untutored rage.
It was proposed, however, to fire a gun as a signal, for since the
distance from Perth was thought to be very trifling, it was hoped that
these natives would understand its meaning. Kaiber threatened to run
away, but the coward was, in fact, afraid to move five yards from the
party, so, sitting down on his haunches under cover, he kept muttering
to himself various terms of Australian scorn,--"The swan--the
big-head--the stone forehead!"--while the Captain advanced towards the
strangers, who no sooner heard the gun, and saw him approaching, than
they came running to him. Presently, Kaiber accosted one of them by
name, and at the sound of this name, Imbat, the strongest feeling was
awakened; it was well known to the travellers, and they knew that their
lives were safe, and the end of their journey at hand. Captain Grey was
in good favour with most of the natives of those parts, to whom he had
frequently made presents of _flour_, and hence his common appellation
among them was "Wokeley brudder," or Oakley's brother, that being the
name of a _baker_ residing in Perth.
The women were soon called up, bark-baskets of frogs opened for the
exhausted travellers, _by-yu_ nuts roasted, and, for a special delicacy,
the Captain obtained a small fresh-water tortoise. He was bidden to
sleep while Imbat cooked, and though the delay which the willing
native's skill in cookery occasioned was a little trying to the
patience of hungry men, yet it was not very long before they were
all regaling on the welcome feast. In reply to the questions of the
Englishmen, the natives all told them that they would see Perth the next
morning, "while the sun was still small;" and upon finding that there
was a kangaroo hunter with a hut, and a supply of provisions only seven
miles off, Imbat and the Captain went thither together, to prepare for
the comfortable reception of the rest of the party. However, they found
the hut deserted, its owner having returned to Perth. A fire was
lighted, notwithstanding, and the Englishman laid down to rest his weary
limbs, while the Australian again began to cook, and in his chattering
mood to philosophize also. "What for do you, who have plenty to eat, and
much money, walk so far away in the Bush?" was his first inquiry. The
Captain, fatigued and rather out of humour, made no reply. "You are
thin," continued the philosopher, "your shanks are long, your belly is
small,--you had plenty to eat at home, why did you not stop there?"
"Imbat, you comprehend nothing,--you know nothing," was the traveller's
brief reply. "I know nothing!" answered the wise man of the woods, "I
know how to keep myself fat; the young women look at me and say, Imbat
is very handsome, he is fat;--they will look at you and say, He not
good,--long legs;--what do you know? where is your fat? what for do you
know so much, if you can't keep fat? I know how to stay at home, and not
walk too far in the Bush: where is your fat?" "You know how to talk,
long tongue," answered the Captain;--"And I know how to make you fat!"
rejoined Imbat, forgetting his anger, and bursting into a roar of
laughter, as he began stuffing his guest with frogs, _by-yu_ nuts, &c.
The rest of the party arrived just before nightfall, and, searching the
hut, they found a paper of tea, and an old tin pot, in which they
prepared the welcome beverage, after which, having had a good supper,
they all laid down to sleep; and in the silence of the night, fervent
thanks went up from that lonely hut in the wilderness to the Maker of
all things, whose merciful guidance had again brought them so near "the
haven where they would be."
_The Widow and her Child._--During the journey of Major Mitchell's
party, exploring the course of the river Lachlan down to its junction
with the Murray, they had to cross several branches of the former
stream, which gave them some trouble from the steepness of their banks,
until they at length reached the main channel of the Lachlan, which
stream, together with all its tributaries, was at that time perfectly
dry. The welcome news was then heard that some ponds of water were near,
but at the same time it was reported that natives were there; so the
party approached cautiously, and having found two pools encamped beside
them. The black people had all fled, except one child, about seven or
eight years old, quite blind, who sat near a fire, and a poor little
girl still younger, who, notwithstanding the strange appearance of the
new visitors, and the terror exhibited in the flight of her own people,
still lingered about the bushes, and at length took her seat beside the
blind boy. A large supply of the _balyan_ root lay near them, and a dog
so lean that he was scarcely able to stand, drew his feeble body close
up beside the two children, as though desirous of defending them.
Afterwards an old man came up to the fire, and he directed the
travellers to some of the water-holes in their proposed route, but could
not be prevailed upon to become their guide. However, he persuaded a
widow, with the little girl just mentioned, who might be about four
years old, to accompany the party and act as guide.
The strangers soon began to learn the value of their new guide,
Turandurey; for within a fortnight they met with a number of the
natives, approaching in a silent and submissive manner, each having a
green bough twined round his waist or in his hand; and a parley was
opened with them by means of the widow, as she was sitting on the
opposite bank of a river to that on which they made their appearance.
Some form or ceremony, it seems, always prevents the male natives,
when strangers to each other, from speaking at first sight; no such
restraint, however, is placed upon their wives or _gins_, as they are
called. These, with the privilege of their sex, are ever ready to speak;
and the strangers as readily replied to Turandurey; so conversation was
thus held across the river. This female guide, who had before scarcely
ventured to look up, now stood boldly forward to address the strange
tribe; and when her countenance was lighted up, displaying fine teeth,
and great earnestness of manner, it was gratifying to the travellers
to see what spirit their guide possessed. Being invited to swim over
the stream, the children of the woods complied but on condition that
the wild animals (the sheep and horses) should be driven away,--a
stipulation at which the widow and other natives in the British party
laughed heartily; nor was their laughter stopped when they watched the
awkward attempts of these heroes to show off before the females, while
they were unable entirely to conceal their fears of the silly sheep!
It was no very long time afterwards that an unfortunate accident
happened to the little native child, Ballandella, who fell from a cart,
and one of the wheels passing over, broke her thigh. On riding up to the
spot, Major Mitchell found the widow, her mother, in great distress,
lying in the dust, with her head under the limb of her unfortunate
child. The doctor was ordered to set it immediately; but, from its being
broken very near the socket, it was found difficult to bandage the limb
so as to keep the bone in its place. Every possible care was taken of
the child, and she bore the pain with admirable patience, though only
four years old; while she gave a curious proof of her good sense at so
early an age, by calling for "Majy" (the Major), as soon as she had met
with the accident. Little Ballandella did very well, and was, after
about two months' time, fast recovering from her misfortune, when the
widow, having been travelling all that time, and being now far distant
from her own country, felt inclined to return; and was prepared to make
nothing of swimming the broad waters of the Murray, the largest known
river in New Holland, pushing the child before her floating upon a piece
of bark, nor of any other difficulties which might oppose her in her
journey homewards. No objections were offered to the woman's departure,
who appeared extremely attached to her daughter, and half afraid of
being deprived of her. Indeed, it was a tempting opportunity of trying
an experiment of the effect of education upon one of that race; for the
little savage, who at first would prefer a snake or lizard to a piece of
bread, had become so far civilised at length, as to prefer bread; and it
began to cry bitterly on leaving its European friends. However, its
absence from them was not to be a long one; for, on the third day,
the widow returned again, carrying her child on her back, after the
Australian fashion. She had seen, she stated, another tribe on the
opposite side of the river, and they had inquired very angrily, who made
the fires upon her side; after which, receiving no reply, (for she was
afraid and had hid herself,) they danced a _corrobory_ in a furious
style, during which she and the child crept away, and had passed two
nights without fire and in the rain.[80] The mother and her daughter
received a kindly welcome, and were as well treated as before,
notwithstanding the petty jealousy of some other natives, who, it was
thought, had persuaded Turandurey to go, hoping thus to get a greater
share of food for themselves. After this, the widow and Ballandella
continued with the exploring party during almost the whole of the
remainder of their expedition, making themselves serviceable in various
ways. Sometimes they would give notice of the approach of the Major,
upon his return from an excursion, long before he had reached the camp;
their quick ears seemed sensible of the sound of horses' feet at an
astonishing distance, for so only could it be accounted for that the
widow and her infant daughter, seated at the fire, were always the first
to give notice of the Major's approach. Sometimes Turandurey would
employ herself in a less serious, though not less useful manner; for on
such exploring expeditions the amusement of the men is a matter of the
first importance. She would exercise her skill in mimicry or imitation,
powers which the natives of New Holland possess to an amazing degree;
and she thus occasionally amused the men by acting the part of their
leader, taking angles, drawing from nature, and copying other
occupations in which Major Mitchell was frequently engaged.
[80] This generally appears to be rather a suspicious act;--to dance
a _corrobory_ is "a proposal these savage tribes often make, and
which the traveller who knows them well will think it better to
discourage."--MITCHELL'S _Three Expeditions_, vol. ii. p. 269.
On the return of the expedition, it was found needful, from a scarcity
of provisions, to divide into two parties, one of which was to proceed,
under the leader, by forced marches home to Sydney, while the other was
to remain behind until necessary supplies should be forwarded. The
widow was among the party to be left; but on the morning of separation
she was marked with white round the eyes,--the Australian token of
mourning,--and the face of Ballandella was whitened also. This poor
woman, who had cheerfully carried the child upon her back, when it was
offered that both might be carried in the carts, and was as careful and
affectionate as any mother could be, had at length determined to entrust
to the Major the care of her daughter. He was pleased with this proof of
confidence, and less unwilling to take the charge from the knowledge of
the wretched state of slavery to which the native females are doomed.
Besides, the poor child had suffered considerably by the accident that
befel her while with the party of Englishmen, and she seemed to prefer
their mode of living so much, that her mother at length despaired of
being ever able to instruct her thoroughly in the mysteries of killing
and eating snakes, lizards, rats, and similar food. The widow had been
long enough with Europeans to learn how much more her sex was respected
by civilised men than by savages; and it was with feelings of this
nature, probably, that she entrusted her child to them, under the
immediate care, however, of a native woman, the wife of Piper, the
guide who had accompanied them through all the journey. A match was
subsequently made between Turandurey and king Joey, one of the native
chiefs, by which the good woman gained a handsome and comfortable
settlement for an Australian. The child Ballandella was a welcome
stranger to the Major's own children, among whom she remained,
conforming most willingly to the habits of domestic life, and showing a
very promising aptness of understanding, until she was transferred, at
the removal of the family to England, to the care of a friend; and the
last mention made of Ballandella is, that she was able to read as well
as any white child of the same age.
_Miago._--This last sketch of native character may serve to place in a
striking, yet fair light, the perplexing situation of the half-civilised
blacks, the strong inducements for them to relapse into barbarism again,
and, consequently, the difficulty that stands in the way of their being
thoroughly reclaimed. It is impossible to do this better than in the
very words of Captain Grey.[81] "The officers of the _Beagle_ took away
with them a native of the name of Miago, who remained absent with them
for several months. I saw him on the north-west coast, on board the
_Beagle_, apparently perfectly civilised; he waited at the gun-room
mess, was temperate, (never tasting spirits,) attentive, cheerful, and
remarkably clean in his person. The next time I saw him was at Swan
River, where he had been left on the return of the _Beagle_. He was then
again a savage, almost naked, painted all over, and had been concerned
in several murders. Several persons here told me,--'You see the taste
for a savage life was strong in him, and he took to the bush again
directly.' Let us pause for a moment and consider.
[81] Grey's Western Australia, vol. ii. p. 370.
"Miago, when he was landed, had amongst the white people none who would
be truly friends of his;--they would give him scraps from their table,
but the very outcasts of the whites would not have treated him as an
equal,--they had no sympathy with him,--he could not have married a
white woman,--he had no certain means of subsistence open to him,--he
never could have been either a husband or a father, if he had lived
apart from his own people;--where, amongst the whites, was he to find
one who would have filled for him the place of his black mother, whom he
is much attached to? What white man would have been his brother? What
white woman his sister? He had two courses left open to him,--he could
either have renounced all natural ties, and have led a hopeless, joyless
life among the whites, ever a servant, ever an inferior being; or he
could renounce civilisation, and return to the friends of his childhood,
and to the habits of his youth. He chose the latter course, and I think
that I should have done the same."
[Illustration: SYDNEY IN ITS INFANCY--VIEW FROM THE SOUTH.]