The bone was now produced which had been_An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1 With Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners, Etc. of The Native Inhabitants of That Country. to Which Are Added, Some Particulars of New Zealand; Compiled, By Permission, From The Mss. of Lieutenant-Governor King.

stomach of the native the preceding evening; this, being made very sharp

and fine at one end, was used for lancing the gum, and but for some such

precaution it would have been impossible to have got out the tooth

without breaking the jaw-bone. A throwing-stick was now to be cut about

eight or ten inches from the end; and to effect this, much ceremony was

used. The stick was laid upon a tree, and three attempts to hit it were

made before it was struck. The wood being very hard, and the instrument a

bad tomahawk, it took several blows to divide it; but three feints were

constantly made before each stroke. When the gum was properly prepared,

the operation began; the smallest end of the stick was applied as high up

on the tooth as the gum would admit of, while the operator stood ready

with a large stone apparently to drive the tooth down the throat of his

patient. Here their attention to the number three was again manifest; no

stroke was actually made until the operator had thrice attempted to hit

the throwing-stick. They were full ten minutes about this first

operation, the tooth being, unfortunately for the boy, fixed very firm in

the gum. It was at last forced out, and the sufferer was taken away to a

little distance, where the gum was closed by his friends, who now

equipped him in the style he was to appear in for some days. A girdle was

tied round his waist, in which was stuck a wooden sword; a ligature was

put round his head, in which were stuck slips of the grass-gum tree,

which, being white, had a curious and not unpleasing effect. The left

hand was to be placed over the mouth, which was to be kept shut; he was

on no account to speak; and for that day he was not to eat.

In like manner were all the others treated, except one, a pretty boy

about eight or nine years of age, who, after suffering his gum to be

lanced, could not endure the pain of more than one blow with the stone,

and breaking from them made his escape.

During the whole of the operation the assistants made the most hideous

noise in the ears of the patients*, sufficient to distract their

attention, and to drown any cries they could possibly have uttered; but

they made it a point of honour to bear the pain without a murmur.

[* Crying e-wah e-wah, ga-ga ga-ga, repeatedly.]

Some other peculiarities, however, were observed. The blood that issued

from the lacerated gum was not wiped away, but suffered to run down the

breast, and fall upon the head of the man on whose shoulders the patient

sat, and whose name was added to his. I saw them several days afterwards,

with the blood dried upon the breast. They were also termed Ke-bar-ra, a

name which has reference in its construction to the singular instrument

used on this occasion, Ke-bah in their language signifying a rock or

stone. I heard them several months after address each other by this

significant name.

No. 8 This Plate represents the young men arranged and sitting upon the

trunk of a tree, as they appeared in the evening after the operation was

over. The man is Cole-be, who is applying a broiled fish to his relation

Nan-bar-ray's gum, which had suffered from the stroke more than any of

the others.

Suddenly, on a signal being given, they all started up, and rushed into

the town, driving before them men, women, and children, who were glad to

get out of their way. They were now received into the class of men; were

privileged to wield the spear and the club, and to oppose their persons

in combat. They might now also seize such females as they chose for wives.

All this, however, must be understood to import, that by having submitted

to the operation, having endured the pain of it without a murmur, and

having lost a front tooth, they received a qualification which they were

to exercise whenever their years and their strength should be equal to it.

Bennillong's sister, and Da-ring-ha, Cole-be's wife, hearing me express a

great desire to be possessed of some of these teeth, procured three of

them for me, one of which was that of Nan-bar-ray, Cole-be's relation.

I found that they had fastened them to pieces of small line, and were

wearing them round their necks. They were given to me with much secrecy

and great dread of being observed, and with an injunction that I should

never let it be known that they had made me such a present, as the

Cam-mer-ray tribe, to whom they were to be given, would not fail to

punish them for it; and they added that they should tell them the teeth

were lost. Nan-bar-ray's tooth Da-ring-ha wished me to give to Mr. White,

the principal surgeon of the settlement, with whom the boy had lived from

his being brought into it, in the year 1789, to Mr. White's departure;

thus with gratitude remembering, after the lapse of some years, the

attention which that gentleman had shown to her relative.

Having remained with them while the operation was performed on three or

four of the boys, I went into town, and returned after sun-set, when I

found the whole equipped and seated on the trunk of the tree, as

described in the Plate. It was then that I received the three teeth, and

was conjured by the women to leave the place, as they did not know what

might ensue. In fact, I observed the natives arming themselves; much

confusion and hurry was visible among them; the savage appeared to be

predominating; perhaps the blood they had drawn, and which was still wet

on the heads and breasts of many of them, began to make them fierce; and,

when I was on the point of retiring, the signal was given, which animated

the boys to the first exercise of the spirit which the business of the

day had infused into them, (for I have no doubt that their young bosoms

were warmed by the different ceremonies which they had witnessed, of

which they had indeed been something more than mere spectators, and which

they knew had been exhibited wholly on their account,) and they rushed

into the town in the manner before described, every where as they passed

along setting the grass on fire.

On showing the teeth to our medical gentleman there, and to others since

my return to England, they all declared that they could not have been

better extracted, had the proper instrument been used, instead of the

stone and piece of wood.

On a view of all these circumstances, I certainly should not consider

this ceremony in any other light than as a tribute, were I not obliged to

hesitate, by observing that all the people of Cam-mer-ray, which were

those who exacted the tooth, were themselves proofs that they had

submitted to the operation. I never saw one among them who had not lost

the front tooth. I well recollect Bennillong, in the early period of our

acquaintance with him and his language, telling us, as we then thought,

that a man of the name of Cam-mer-ra-gal wore all the teeth about his

neck. But we afterwards found that this term was only the distinguishing

title of the tribe which performed the ceremonies incident to the

operation. Bennillong at other times told us, that his own tooth was

bour-bil-liey pe-mul, buried in the earth, and that others were thrown

into the sea. It is certain, however, that my female friends, who gave me

the teeth, were very anxious that the gift should not come to the

knowledge of the men of Cam-mer-ray, and repeatedly said that they were

intended for them.

In alluding to this ceremony, whether by pointing to the vacancy

occasioned by the lost tooth, or by adverting to any of the curious

scenes exhibited on the occasion, the words Yoo-lahng erah-ba-diahng were

always used; but to denote the loss of any other tooth the word

bool-bag-ga was applied. The term Yoo-lahng erah-ba-diahng must therefore

be considered as applying solely to this extraordinary occasion; it

appears to be compounded of the name given to the spot where the

principal scenes take place, and of the most material qualification that

is derived from the whole ceremony, that of throwing the spear. I

conceive this to be the import of the word erah-ba-diahng, erah being a

part of the verb to throw, erah, throw you, erailley, throwing.

Being thus entered on 'the valued file,' they quickly assume the

consequence due to the distinction, and as soon as possible bring their

faculties into action. The procuring of food really seems to be but a

secondary business with them; the management of the spear and the shield,

dexterity in throwing the various clubs they have in use among them,

agility in either attacking or defending, and a display of the constancy

with which they endure pain, appearing to rank first among their concerns

in life. The females too are accustomed to bear on their heads the traces

of the superiority of the males, with which they dignify them almost as

soon as they find strength in the arm to imprint the mark. We have seen

some of these unfortunate beings with more scars upon their shorn heads,

cut in every direction, than could be well distinguished or counted. The

condition of these women is so wretched, that I have often, on seeing a

female child borne on its mother's shoulders, anticipated the miseries to

which it was born, and thought it would be a mercy to destroy it.

Notwithstanding, however, that they are the mere slaves of the men, I

have generally found, in tracing the causes of their quarrels, that the

women were at the head of them, though in some cases remotely. They

mingled in all the contests of the men; and one of these, that was in the

beginning attended with some ceremony, was opened by a woman:

We had been told for some days of their making great preparations for a

fight, and gladly heard that they had chosen a clear spot near the town

for the purpose. The contending parties consisted of most of our Sydney

acquaintance, and some natives from the south shore of Botany Bay, among

whom was Gome-boak, already mentioned in Chapter XXVIII ["About the

latter end of the month . . ."]. We repaired to the spot an hour

before sun-set, and found them seated opposite each other on a

level piece of ground between two hills. As a prelude to the business,

we observed our friends, after having waited some time, stand up, and

each man stooping down, take water in the hollow of his hand (the place

just before them being wet) which he drank. An elderly woman with a cloak

on her shoulders (made of opossum skins very neatly sewn together) and

provided with a club, then advanced from the opposite side, and, uttering

much abusive language at the time, ran up to Cole-be, who was on the

right, and gave him what I should have considered a severe blow on the

head, which with seeming contempt he held out to her for the purpose. She

went through the same ceremony with the rest, who made no resistance,

until she came up to Ye-ra-ni-be, a very fine boy, who stood on the left.

He, not admiring the blows that his companions received, which were

followed by blood, struggled with her, and had he not been very active, I

believe she would have stabbed him with his own spear, which she wrested

from him. The men now advanced, and gave us many opportunities of

witnessing the strength and dexterity with which they threw their spears,

and the quickness of sight which was requisite to guard against them. The

contest lasted until dark, when throwing the spear could no longer be

accounted fair, and they beat each other with clubs, until they left off

by mutual consent. In this part of the contest many severe wounds were

given, and much blood was drawn from the heads of each party; but nothing

material happened while they had light enough to guard against the spear.

In the exercise of this weapon they are very expert. I have seen them

strike with certainty at the distance of seventy measured yards. They are

thrown with great force, and where they are barbed are very formidable

instruments. The wo-mer-ra, or throwing-stick, is always made use of on

such occasions. This is a stick about three feet long, with a hook at one

end (and a shell at the other, secured by gum), to receive which there is

a small hole at the head of the spear. Both are held in the right hand.

the fingers of which are placed, two above the throwing-stick, and two

between it and the spear, at about the distance of two feet from the

hook. After poising it for some time, and measuring with the eye the

distance from the object to be thrown at, the spear is discharged, the

throwing-stick remaining in the hand. Of these instruments there are two

kinds; the one, named Wo-mer-ra, is armed with the shell of a clam, which

they term Kah-dien, and which they use for the same purposes that we

employ a knife. The other, which they name Wig-goon, has a hook, but no

shell, and is rounded at the end. With this they dig the fern-root and

yam out of the earth, and it is formed of heavy wood, while the wo-mer-ra

is only part of a wattle split. They have several varieties of spears,

every difference in them being distinguished by a name. Some are only

pointed; others have one or more barbs, either shaped from the solid

piece of wood of which the spear is made, or fastened on with gum; and

some are armed with pieces of broken oyster-shell for four or five inches

from the point, and secured by gum. All these barbed spears are

dangerous, from the difficulty of extracting them. Of shields they have

but two sorts. One, named E-lee-mong, is cut from the bark of the gum

tree, and is not so capable of resisting the spear as the Ar-rah-gong,

which is formed of solid wood, and hardened by fire. This shield is not

so much in use as the e-lee-mong, as I imagine from its greater weight,

and perhaps also from the superior difficulty they meet with in procuring

it. Of clubs they use several sorts, some of which are of very large

dimensions. They have one, the head of which is flat, with a sharp point

in the centre. The flat part is painted with red and white stripes from

the centre, and does not look unlike what they term it, Gnal-lung-ul-la,

the name given by them to a mushroom. They have yet another instrument,

which they call Ta-war-rang. It is about three feet long, is narrow, but

has three sides, in one of which is the handle, hollowed by fire. The

other sides are rudely carved with curved and waved lines, and it is made

use of in dancing, being struck upon for this purpose with a club. An

instrument very common among them must not be omitted in this account of

their weapons of hostility, for such, I fear, some of our miserable

straggling convicts have found it to their cost, though it generally is

applied to more peaceful purposes. This is the Mo-go*, or stone-hatchet.

The stone is found in the shallows at the upper part of the Hawkesbury,

and a handle being fixed round the head of it with gum, the under part is

brought by friction to an edge fine enough to divide the bark of such

trees as they take their canoes or hunters huts from, and even the

shields which are cut from the body of the tree itself. There is no doubt

of their readily applying this as a weapon, when no other offers to their

necessities.

[* A representation of this and other instruments is given in plate 11.]

It must be observed, that the principal tribes have their peculiar

weapons. Most of us had made collections of their spears, throwing-sticks,

etc. as opportunities occurred; and on showing them to our Sydney

friends, they have told us that such a one was used by the people who

lived to the southward of Botany Bay; that another belonged to the tribe

of Cam-mer-ray. The spear of the wood tribes, Be-dia-gal, Tu-ga-gal, and

Boo-roo-bir-rong-gal, were known from being armed with bits of stone,

instead of broken oyster-shells. The lines worn round the waist by the

men belonged to a peculiar tribe, and came into the hands of others

either by gift or plunder. The nets used by the people of the coast for

carrying their fish, lines, etc differed in the mesh from those used by

the wood natives; and they extend this peculiarity even to their dances,

their songs, and their dialect.

Among other customs which these people invariably practise, is one that

is highly deserving of notice, as it carries with it some idea of

retributive justice.

The shedding of blood is always followed by punishment, the party

offending being compelled to expose his person to the spears of all who

choose to throw at him; for in these punishments the ties of

consanguinity or friendship are of no avail. On the death of a person,

whether male or female, old or young, the friends of the deceased must be

punished, as if the death were occasioned by their neglect. This is

sometimes carried farther than there seems occasion for, or than can be

reconcilable with humanity.

After the murder of Yel-lo-way by Wat-te-wall his widow Noo-roo-ing being

obliged, according to the custom of her country, to avenge her husband's

death on some of the relations of the murderer, meeting with a little

girl named Go-nang-goo-lie, who was some way related to Wat-te-wal,

walked with her and two other girls to a retired place, where with a club

and a pointed stone they beat her so cruelly, that she was brought into

the town almost dead. In the head were six or seven deep incisions, and

one ear was divided to the bone, which, from the nature of the instrument

with which they beat her, was much injured. This poor child was in a very

dangerous way, and died in a few days afterwards. The natives to whom

this circumstance was mentioned expressed little or no concern at it, but

seemed to think it right, necessary, and inevitable; and we understood

that whenever women have occasion for this sanguinary revenge, they never

exercise it but on their own sex, not daring to strike a male.

Noo-roo-ing, perceiving that her treatment of Go-nang-goo-lie did not

meet our approbation, denied having beaten her, and said it was the other

girls; but such men as we conversed with on the subject assured us it was

Noo-roo-ing, and added, that she had done no more than what custom

obliged her to. The little victim of her revenge was, from her quiet

tractable manners, much beloved in the town; and what is a singular trait

of the inhumanity of this proceeding, she had every day since Yel-loway's

death requested that Noo-roo-ing might be fed at the officer's hut, where

she herself resided. Savage indeed must be the custom and the feelings

which could arm the hand against this child's life! Her death was not

avenged, perhaps because they considered it as an expiatory sacrifice.

Wat-te-wal, who committed the crime for which this little girl suffered

so cruelly, escaped unhurt from the spears of Bennillong, Cole-be, and

several other natives, and was afterwards received by them as usual, and

actually lived with this very woman for some time, till he was killed in

the night by Cole-be, as before related.

This Wat-te-wal was in great union with Bennillong, who twice denied his

having committed offences which he knew would forfeit our favour. In this

last instance Bennillong betrayed more duplicity than we had given him

credit for. On asking him with some earnestness if Wat-te-wal had killed

Yel-loway, he assured us with much confidence that it was not Wat-te-wal

who had killed him, but We-re-mur-rah. Little did we suspect that our

friend had availed himself of a circumstance which he knew we were

unacquainted with, that Wat-te-wal had more than one name. By giving us

the second, he saved his friend, and knew that he could at all times

boldly maintain that he had not concealed his name from us, We-re-murrah

being as much his name as Wat-te-wal, though we had never known him by

it. On apprising him some time afterwards, that we had discovered his

artifice, and that it was a meanness we did not expect from him, he only

laughed and went away.

The violent death of Yel-lo-way we have seen followed by a cruel

proceeding, which terminated in the death of the murderer's relation,

Go-nang-goolie. I shall now show what followed where the person died a

natural death.

Bone-da, a very fine youth, who lived at my house for several months,

died of a cold, which, settling in his face, terminated in a

mortification of his upper and lower jaws, and carried him off. We were

told that some blood must be spilt on this occasion; but six weeks

elapsed before we heard of any thing having happened in consequence of

his decease. About that time having passed, however, we heard that a

large party of natives belonging to different tribes, being assembled at

Pan-ner-rong* (or, as it is named with us, Rose Bay), the spot which they

had often chosen for shedding blood, after dancing and feasting

over-night, early in the morning, Mo-roo-ber-ra, the brother, and

Cole-be, another relation of Bone-da, seized upon a lad named

Tar-ra-bil-long, and with a club each gave him a wound in his head, which

laid the skull bare. Dar-ring-ha, the sister of Bone-da, had her share in

the bloody rite, and pushed at the unoffending boy with a doo-ull or

short spear. He was brought into the town and placed at the hospital,

and, though the surgeon pronounced from the nature of his wounds that his

recovery was rather doubtful, he was seen walking about the day

following. On being spoke to about the business, he said he did not weep

or cry out like a boy, but like a man cried Ki-yah when they struck him;

that the persons who treated him in this unfriendly manner were no longer

his enemies, but would eat or drink or sit with him as friends

[* Pan-ner-rong in the language of the country signifies Blood.]

Three or four days after this, Go-roo-bine, a grey-headed man, apparently

upwards of sixty years of age, who was related to Bone-da, came in with a

severe wound on the back part of his head, given him on account of the

boy's decease; neither youth nor old age appearing to be exempted from

those sanguinary customs.

When Ba-rang-a-roo, Bennillong's wife, died, several spears were thrown

by the men at each other, by which many were wounded; and Bennillong had

a severe contest with Wil-le-mer-ring, whom he wounded in the thigh. He

had sent for him as a car-rah-dy to attend her when she was ill; but he

either could not or would not obey the summons. Bennillong had chosen the

time for celebrating these funeral games in honour of his deceased wife

when a whale feast had assembled a large number of natives together,

among whom were several people from the northward, who spoke a dialect

very different to that with which we were acquainted.

Some officers happening once to be present in the lower part of the

harbour when a child died, perceived the men immediately retire, and

throw their spears at one another with much apparent anger, while the

females began their usual lamentations.

When Dil-boong, Bennillong's infant child, died, several spears were

thrown, and Bennillong, at the decease of her mother, said repeatedly,

that he should not be satisfied until he had sacrificed some one to her

_manes_.

Ye-ra-ni-be Go-ru-ey having beaten a young woman, the wife of another

man, and she having some time after exchanged a perilous and troublesome

life for the repose and quiet of the grave, a contest ensued some days

after, on account of her decease, between Bennillong and Go-ru-ey, and

between the husband and Go-ru-ey, by both of whom he was wounded.

Bennillong drove a spear into his knee, and the husband another into his

left buttock. This wound he must have received by failing to catch the

spear on his shield, and turning his body to let it pass beside him;

other spears were thrown, but he alone appeared to be the victim of the

day. Signifying a wish to have his wounds dressed by the surgeon, he was

in the evening actually brought up to the hospital by the very man who

had wounded him.

The bay named Pan-ner-rong was the scene of this extraordinary transaction.

Not a long time before I left the country, I witnessed another contest

among them, which was attended with some degree of ceremony. The

circumstance was this. A native of the Botany Bay district, named

Collindiun, having taken off by force Go-roo-boo-roo-bal-lo, the former

wife of Bennillong, but now the wife of Car-ru-ey, and carried her up the

harbour, Car-ru-ey with his relation Cole-be, in revenge, stole upon this

Collindiun one night while he lay asleep, and each fixed a spear in him.

The wounds, though deep and severe, yet did not prove mortal, and on his

recovery he demanded satisfaction. He came accompanied by a large party

of natives from the south shore of Botany Bay, and rather reluctantly,

for he had wished the business to be decided there, rather than among

Car-ru-ey's friends, as many of his associates in arms were entire

strangers to us. Thirsting after revenge, however, he was prevailed with

to meet him on his own ground, and the Yoo-lahng formerly used for a

different purpose was the place of rendezvous.

At night they all danced, that is to say, both parties, but not mixed

together; one side waiting until the other had concluded their dance. In

the manner of dancing, of announcing themselves as ready to begin, and

also in their song, there was an evident difference.

Our friends appeared to have some apprehension of the event not proving

favourable to them; for perceiving an officer there with a gun, Car-ru-ey

strenuously urged him, if any thing should happen to him, to shoot the

Botany Bay black fellows. The women, to induce us to comply with his

request, told us that some of the opposite party had said they would kill

Car-ru-ey. Some other guns making their appearance, the strangers were

alarmed and uneasy, until assured that they were intended merely for our

own security.

The time for this business was just after ten in the forenoon. We found

Car-ru-ey and Cole-be seated at one end of the Yoo-lahng, each armed with

a spear and throwing-stick, and provided with a shield. Here they were

obliged to sit until some one of their opponents got up; they also then

arose and put themselves _en garde_. Some of the spears which were thrown

at them they picked up and threw back; and others they returned with

extraordinary violence.

The affair was over before two o'clock; and, what was remarkable, we did

not hear of any person being wounded. We understood, however, that this

circumstance was to produce another meeting.

In this as in all the contests I ever witnessed among them, the point of

honour was rigidly observed. But spears were not the only instruments of

warfare on these occasions. They had also to combat with words, in which

the women sometimes bore a part. During this latter engagement I have

seen them, when any very offensive word met their ears, suddenly place

themselves in the attitude of throwing the spear, and at times let it

drop on the ground without discharging; and others threw it with all

their strength; but always scrupulously observing the situation of the

person opposed, and never throwing at him until he covered himself with

his shield. The most unaccountable trait in this business was, the party

thrown at providing his enemy with weapons; for they have been repeatedly

seen, when a spear has flown harmless beyond them, to pick it up and

fling it carelessly back to their adversary. This might proceed from

contempt, or from there being a scarcity of spears; and I have thought

that when, instead of flinging it carelessly back, they have thrown it

with much violence, it was because it had been thrown at them with a

greater visible degree of malevolence than the others.

This rigid attention to the point of honour, when fairly opposed to each

other, is difficult to reconcile with their treacherous and midnight

murders.

Their mode of retaliating an insult or injury was extraordinary.

Children, if when at play they received a blow or a push, resented it by

a blow or a push of equal force to that which they felt. This retaliating

spirit appeared also among the men, of a remarkable instance of which

several of us were witnesses. A native of the name of Bur-ro-wan-nie had

some time before been beaten by two natives of the tribe of Gwe-a, at the

head of Botany Bay. One of these being fixed on, he was in return to be

beaten by Bur-ro-wan-nie. For this purpose a large party attended

over-night at the head of the stream near the settlement to dance; at

which exercise they continued from nine till past twelve o'clock. The man

who was to be beaten danced with the rest until they ceased, and then

laid himself down among them to sleep. Early in the morning, while he was

yet on the ground, and apparently asleep at the foot of a tree, Cole-be

and Bur-ro-wan-me, armed each with a spear and a club, rushed upon him

from among some trees. Cole-be made a push at him with his spear, but did

not touch him, while the other, Bur-ro-wan-me, struck him with his club

two severe blows on the hinder part of the head. The noise they made, if

he was alseep, awaked him; and when he was struck, he was on his legs. He

was perfectly unarmed, and hung his head in silence while Cole-be and his

companion talked to him. No more blows were given, and Bennillong, who

was present, wiped the blood from the wounds with some grass. As a proof

that Bur-ro-wan-nie was satisfied with the redress he had taken, we saw

him afterwards walking in the town with the object of his resentment,

who, on being asked, said Bur-ro-ween-nie was good; and during the whole

of the day, wheresoever he was seen, there also was this poor wretch with

his breast and back covered with dried blood; for, according to the

constant practice of his countrymen, he had not washed it off. In the

evening I saw him with a ligature fastened very tight round his head,

which certainly required something to alleviate the pain it must have

endured.

In some of these contests they have been seen on the field of battle

attended by a person who appeared to be the friend of both parties. In a

single combat which Mo-roo-ber-ra had with Bennillong, they were attended

by Cole-be, who took a position on one side about half-way between them,

armed with a spear and throwing-stick, but unprovided with a shield. This

I saw he frequently shook, and talked a great deal, but never threw it.

While in this situation he was styled Ca-bah-my.

I had long wished to be a witness of a family party, in which I hoped and

expected to see them divested of that restraint which perhaps they might

put on in our houses. I was one day gratified in this wish when I little

expected it. Having strolled down to the Point named Too-bow-gu-lie, I

saw the sister and the young wife of Bennillong coming round the Point in

the new canoe which the husband had cut in his last excursion to

Parramatta. They had been out to procure fish, and were keeping time with

their paddles, responsive to the words of a song, in which they joined

with much good humour and harmony. They were almost immediately joined by

Bennillong, who had his sister's child on his shoulders. The canoe was

hauled on shore, and what fish they had caught the women brought up. I

observed that the women seated themselves at some little distance from

Bennillong, and then the group was thus disposed of--the husband was

seated on a rock, preparing to dress and eat the fish he had just

received. On the same rock lay his pretty sister War-re-weer asleep in

the sun, with a new born infant in her arms; and at some little distance

were seated, rather below him, his other sister and his wife, the wife

opening and eating some rock-oysters, and the sister suckling her child,

Kah-dier-rang, whom she had taken from Bennillong. I cannot omit

mentioning the unaffected simplicity of the wife: immediately on her

stepping out of her canoe, she gave way to the pressure of a certain

necessity, without betraying any of that reserve which would have led

another at least behind the adjoining bush. She blushed not, for the

cheek of Go-roo-bar-roo-bool-lo was the cheek of rude nature, and not

made for blushes. I remained with them till the whole party fell asleep.

They have great difficulty in procuring fire, and are therefore seldom

seen without it. Bennillong, or some other native, once showed me the

process of procuring it. It is attended with infinite labour, and is

performed by fixing the pointed end of a cylindrical piece of wood into a

hollow made in a plane: the operator twirling the round piece swiftly

between both his hands, sliding them up and down until fatigued, at which

time he is relieved by another of his companions, who are all seated for

this purpose in a circle, and each one takes his turn until fire is

procured.

Most of their instruments are ornamented with rude carved-work, effected

with a piece of broken shell, and on the rocks I have seen various

figures of fish, clubs, swords, animals, and even branches of trees, not

contemptibly represented.

APPENDIX VII--SUPERSTITION

Like all other children of ignorance, these people are the slaves of

superstition.

I think I may term the car-rah-dy their high priest of superstition. The

share they had in the tooth-drawing scenes was not the only instance,

that induced me to suppose this. When Cole-be accompanied Governor

Phillip to the banks of the Hawkesbury, he met with a car-rah-dy,

Yel-lo-mun-dy, who, with much gesticulation and mummery, pretended to

extract the barbs of two spears from his side, which never had been left

there, or, if they had, required rather the aid of the knife than the

incantations of Yel-lo-mun-dy to extract them; but his patient was

satisfied with the car-rah-dy's efforts to serve him, and thought himself

perfectly relieved.

During the time that Boo-roong lived at the clergyman's house she paid

occasional visits to the lower part of the harbour. From one of these she

returned extremely ill. On questioning her as to the cause, for none was

apparent, she told us that the women of Cam-mer-ray had made water in a

path which they knew she was to cross, and it had made her ill. These

women were inimical to her, as she belonged to the Botany Bay district.

On her intimating to them that she found herself ill, they told her

triumphantly what they had done. Not recovering, though bled in the arm

by Mr. White, she underwent an extraordinary and superstitious operation,

where the operator suffers more than the patient. She was seated on the

ground, with one of the lines worn by the men passed round her head once,

taking care to fix the knot in the centre of her forehead; the remainder

of the line was taken by another girl, who sat at a small distance from

her, and with the end of it fretted her lips until they bled very

copiously; Boo-roong imagining all the time that the blood came from her

head, and passed along the line until it ran into the girl's mouth,

whence it was spit into a small vessel which she had beside her, half

filled with water, and into which she occasionally dipped the end of the

line. This operation they term be-an-ny, and is the peculiar province of

the women.

Another curious instance of their superstition occurred among some of our

people belonging to a boat that was lying wind-bound in the lower part of

the harbour. They had procured some shell-fish, and during the night were

preparing to roast them, when they were observed by one of the natives,

who shook his head and exclaimed, that the wind for which they were

waiting would not rise if they roasted the fish. His argument not

preventing the sailors from enjoying their treat, and the wind actually

proving foul, they, in their turn, gave an instance of superstition by

abusing the native, and attributing to him the foul wind which detained

them. On questioning Ye-ra-ni-be respecting this circumstance, he assured

me that the natives never broil fish by night.

In a reach of the Hawkesbury, about midway up some high land, stands a

rock which in its form is not unlike a sentry-box. Respecting this rock,

they have a superstitious tradition, that while some natives were one day

feasting under it, some of the company whistling, it happened to fall

from a great height, and crushed the whole party under its weight. For

this reason they make it an invariable rule never to whistle under a rock.

Among their other superstitions was one which might be naturally expected

from their ignorance, a belief in spirits.

Of this belief we had at different times several accounts. Bennillong,

during his first acquaintance with us, described an apparition as

advancing to a person with an uncommon noise, and seizing hold of him by

the throat. It came slowly along with its body bent, and the hands held

together in a line with the face, moving on till it seized the party it

meant to visit. We were told by him and others, and that after we

understood each other, that by sleeping at the grave of a deceased

person, they would, from what happened to them there, be freed from all

future apprehensions respecting apparitions; for during that awful sleep

the spirit of the deceased would visit them, seize them by the throat,

and, opening them, take out their bowels, which they would replace and

close up the wound. We understood that very few chose to encounter the

darkness of the night, the solemnity of the grave, and the visitation of

the spirit of the deceased; but that such as were so hardy became

immediately car-rah-dys, and that all those who exercised that profession

had gone through this ceremony.

It is very certain, that even in the day-time they were strangely

unwilling to pass a grave; but I believe that their tale of being seized

by the throat by a ghost was nothing more than their having felt the

effects of what we term the night-mare during an uneasy sleep.

To the shooting of a star they attach a degree of importance; and I once,

on an occasion of this kind, saw the girl Boo-roong greatly agitated, and

prophesying much evil to befal all the white men and their habitations.

Of thunder and lightning they are also much afraid; but have an ideal

that by chanting some particular words, and breathing hard, they can

dispel it. Instances of this have been seen.

APPENDIX VIII--DISEASES

Their living chiefly on fish (I speak of those whom we found on the sea

coast) produces a disorder which greatly resembles the itch; they term it

Djee-ball djee-ball; and at one time, about the year 1791, there was not

one of the natives, man, woman, nor child, that came near us, but was

covered with it. It raged violently among them, and some became very

loathsome objects.

The venereal disease also had got among them; but I fear our people have

to answer for that; for though I believe none of our women had connection

with then, yet there is no doubt but that several of the black women had

not scrupled to connect themselves with the white men. Of the certainty

of this an extraordinary instance occurred. A native woman had a child by

one of our people. On its coming into the world she perceived a

difference in its colour; for which not knowing how to account, she

endeavoured to supply by art what she found deficient in nature, and

actually held the poor babe, repeatedly, over the smoke of her fire, and

rubbed its little body with ashes and dirt, to restore it to the hue with

which her other children had been born. Her husband appeared as fond of

it as if it had borne the undoubted sign of being his own, at least so

far as complexion could ascertain to whom it belonged. Whether the mother

had made use of any address on the occasion, I never learned.

It was by no means ascertained whether the lues venerea had been among

them before they knew us, or whether our people had to answer for having

introduced that devouring plague. Thus far is certain, however, that they

gave it a name, Goo-bah-rong; a circumstance that seems rather to imply a

pre-knowledge of its dreadful effects.

In the year 1789 they were visited by a disorder which raged among them

with all the appearance and virulence of the small-pox. The number that

it swept off, by their own accounts, was incredible. At that time a

native was living with us; and on our taking him down to the harbour to

look for his former companions, those who witnessed his expression and

agony can never forget either. He looked anxiously around him in the

different coves we visited; not a vestige on the sand was to be found of

human foot; the excavations in the rocks were filled with the putrid

bodies of those who had fallen victims to the disorder; not a living

person was any where to be met with. It seemed as if, flying from the

contagion, they had left the dead to bury the dead. He lifted up his

hands and eyes in silent agony for some time; at last he exclaimed, 'All

dead! all dead!' and then hung his head in mournful silence, which he

preserved during the remainder of our excursion. Some days after he

learned that the few of his companions who survived had fled up the

harbour to avoid the pestilence that so dreadfully raged. His fate has

been already mentioned. He fell a victim to his own humanity when

Boo-roong, Nan-bar-ray, and others were brought into the town covered

with the eruptions of the disorder. On visiting Broken Bay, we found that

it had not confined its effects to Port Jackson, for in many places our

path was covered with skeletons, and the same spectacles were to be met

with in the hollows of most of the rocks of that harbour.

Notwithstanding the town of Sydney was at this time filled with children,

many of whom visited the natives that were ill of this disorder, not one

of them caught it, though a North-American Indian, a sailor belonging to

Captain Ball's vessel, the _Supply_, sickened of it and died.

To this disorder they also gave a name, Gal-gal-la; and that it was the

small-pox there was scarcely a doubt; for the person seized with it was

affected exactly as Europeans are who have that disorder; and on many

that had recovered from it we saw the traces, in some the ravages of it

on the face.

As a proof of the numbers of those miserable people who were carried off

by this disorder, Bennillong told us, that his friend Cole-be's tribe

being reduced by its effects to three persons, Cole-be, the boy

Nan-bar-ray, and some one else, they found themselves compelled to unite

with some other tribe, not only for their personal protection, but to

prevent the extinction of their tribe. Whether this incorporation ever

took place I cannot say; I only know that the natives themselves, when

distinguishing between this man and another of the same name at Botany

Bay, always styled him Cad-i Cole-be; Cad-i being the name of his

district; and Cole-be, when he came into the field some time after,

appeared to be attended by several very fine boys who kept close by his

side, and were of his party.

Whenever they feel a pain, they fasten a tight ligature round the part,

thereby stopping the circulation, and easing the part immediately

affected. I have before mentioned the quickness with which they recovered

from wounds; but I have even known them get the better in a short time of

a fractured skull. That their skulls should be fractured will be no

wonder, when it is recollected that the club seems to be applied alone to

the head. The women who are struck with this weapon always fall to the

ground; but this seldom happens to the men though the blows are generally

more severe.

APPENDIX IX--PROPERTY

Their spears and shields, their clubs and lines, etc are their own

property; they are manufactured by themselves, and are the whole of their

personal estate. But, strange as it may appear, they have also their real

estates. Bennillong, both before he went to England and since his return,

often assured me, that the island Me-mel (called by us Goat Island) close

by Sydney Cove was his own property; that it was his father's, and that

he should give it to By-gone, his particular friend and companion. To

this little spot he appeared much attached; and we have often seen him

and his wife Ba-rang-a-roo feasting and enjoying themselves on it. He

told us of other people who possessed this kind of hereditary property,

which they retained undisturbed.

APPENDIX X--DISPOSITIONS

From the different circumstances that have been related of these people

in the foregoing account, a general idea of their character and

disposition may be gathered. They are revengeful, jealous, courageous,

and cunning. I have never considered their stealing on each other in the

night for the purposes of murder as a want of bravery, but have looked on

it rather as the effect of the diabolical spirit of revenge, which thus

sought to make surer of its object than it could have done if only

opposed man to man in the field. Their conduct when thus opposed, the

constancy with which they endured pain, and the alacrity with which they

accepted a summons to the fight, are surely proofs of their not wanting

courage. They disclaim all idea of any superiority that is not personal;

and I remember when Bennillong had a shield, made of tin and covered with

leather, presented to him by Governor Phillip, he took it with him down

the harbour, whence he returned without it, telling us that he had lost

it; but in fact it had been taken from him by the people of the north

shore district and destroyed; it being deemed unfair to cover himself

with such a guard.

They might have been honest before we came among them, not having much to

covet from one another; but from us they often stole such things as we

would not give them. While they pilfered what could gratify their

appetites, it was not to be wondered at; but I have seen them steal

articles of which they could not possibly know the use. Mr. White once

being in the midst of a crowd of natives in the lower part of the

harbour, one of them saw a small case of instruments in his pocket,

which, watching an opportunity, he slyly stole, and ran away with; but,

being observed, he was pursued and made to restore his prize. We were

very little acquainted with them at this time, and therefore the native

could not have known the contents of the case. Could he have been watched

to his retreat, I have no doubt but he would have been seen to lay the

case on his head, as an ornament, the place to which at first every thing

we gave them was usually consigned.

That they are not strangers to the occasional practice of falsehood, is

apparent from the words truth and falsehood being found in their

language; but, independent of this, we had many proofs of their being

adepts in the arts of evasion and lying; and I have seen them, when we

have expressed doubts of some of their tales, assure us with much

earnestness of the truth of their assertions; and when speaking to us of

other natives they have as anxiously wished us to believe that they had

told us lies.

Their talent for mimicry is very great. It was a favourite diversion with

the children to imitate the peculiarities in any one's gait, and they

would go through it with the happiest success.

They are susceptible of friendship, and capable of feeling sorrow; but

this latter sensation they are not in the habit of encouraging long. When

Ba-loo-der-ry, a very fine lad who died among us, was buried, I saw the

tears streaming silently down the sable cheek of his father Mau-go-ran;

but in a little time they were dried, and the old man's countenance

indicated nothing but the lapse of many years which had passed over his

head.

With attention and kind treatment, they certainly might be made a very

serviceable people. I have seen them employed in a boat as usefully as

any white person; and the settlers have found some among them, who would

go out with their stock, and carefully bring home the right numbers,

though they have not any knowledge of numeration beyond three or four.

Their acquaintance with astronomy is limited to the names of the sun and

moon, some few stars, the Magellanic clouds, and the milky way. Of the

circular form of the earth they have not the smallest idea, but imagine

that the sun returns over their heads during the night to the quarter

whence he begins his course in the morning.

As they never make provision for the morrow, except at a whale-feast,

they always eat as long as they have any thing left to eat, and when

satisfied, stretch themselves out in the sun to sleep, where they remain

until hunger or some other cause calls them again into action. I have at

times observed a great degree of indolence in their dispositions, which I

have frequently seen the men indulge at the expence of the weaker vessel

the women, who have been forced to sit in their canoe, exposed to the

fervour of the mid-day sun, hour after hour, chanting their little song,

and inviting the fish beneath them to take their bait; for without a

sufficient quantity to make a meal for their tyrants, who were lying

asleep at their ease, they would meet but a rude reception on their

landing.

APPENDIX XI--FUNERAL CEREMONIES

The first peculiarity noticeable in their funeral ceremonies is the

disposal of their dead; their young people they consign to the grave;

those who have passed the middle age are burnt. Bennillong burnt the body

of his first wife Ba-rang-a-roo, who, I suppose, was at the time of her

decease turned fifty. I have attended them on both occasions. The

interment of Ba-loo-der-ry was accompanied with many curious ceremonies.

From being one day in apparent perfect health, he was brought in the next

extremely ill, and attended by Bennillong, whom we found singing over

him, and making use of those means which ignorance and superstition

pointed out to him to recover his health. Ba-loo-der-ry lay extended on

the ground, appearing to be in much pain. Bennillong applied his mouth to

those parts of his patient's body which he thought were affected,

breathing strongly on them, and singing: at times he waved over him some

boughs dipped in water, holding one in each hand, and seemed to treat him

with much attention and friendship. On the following morning he was

visited by a car-rah-dy, who came express from the north shore. This man

threw himself into various distortions, applied his mouth to different

parts of his patient's body, and at length, after appearing to labour

much, and to be in great pain, spit out a piece of a bone about an inch

and a half long (which he had previously procured). Here the farce ended,

and Ba-loo-der-ry's friends took the car-rah-dy with them and entertained

him with such fare as they had to give him. He was at this time at our

hospital; during the night his fever increased, and his friends, thinking

he would be better with them, put him into a canoe, intending to take him

to the north shore; but he died as they were carrying him over. This was

immediately notified to us by a violent clamour among the women and

children; and Bennillong soon after coming into the town, it was agreed

upon between him and the governor that the body should be buried in the

governor's garden.

In the afternoon it was brought over in a canoe, and deposited in a hut

at the bottom of the garden, several natives attending, and the women and

children lamenting and howling most dismally. The body was wrapped up in

the jacket which he usually wore, and some pieces of blanketting tied

round it with bines. The men were all armed, and, without any

provocation, two of them had a contest with clubs; at the same time a few

blows passed between some of the women. Boo-roong had her head cut by

Go-roo-ber-ra, the mother of the deceased. Spears were also thrown, but

evidently as part of a ceremony, and not with an intention of doing

injury to any one. At the request of Bennillong, a blanket was laid over

the corpse, and Cole-be his friend sat by the body all night, nor could

he be prevailed on to quit it.

They remained rather silent till about one in the morning, when the women

began to cry, and continued for some time. At daylight Bennillong brought

his canoe to the place, and cutting it to a proper length, the body was

placed in it, with a spear, a fiz-gig, a throwing-stick, and a line which

Ba-loo-derry had worn round his waist. Some time was taken up in

adjusting all this business, during which the men were silent, but the

women, boys, and children uttered the most dismal lamentations. The

father stood alone and unemployed, a silent observer of all that was

doing about his deceased son, and a perfect picture of deep and

unaffected sorrow. Every thing being ready, the men and boys all assisted

in lifting the canoe with the body from the ground, and placing it on the

heads of two natives, Collins and Yow-war-re. Some of the assistants had

tufts of grass in their hands, which they waved backwards and forwards

under the canoe, while it was lifting from the ground, as if they were

exorcising some evil spirit. As soon as it was fixed on the heads of the

bearers, they set off, preceded by Bennillong and another man,

Wat-te-wal, both walking with a quick step towards the point of the cove

where Bennillong's hut stood. Mau-go-ran, the father, attended them armed

with his spear and throwing-stick, while Bennillong and Wat-te-wal had

nothing in their hands but tufts of grass, which as they went they waved

about, sometimes turning and facing the corpse, at others waving their

tufts of grass among the bushes. When they fronted the corpse, the head

of which was carried foremost, the bearers made a motion with their heads

from side to side, as if endeavouring to avoid the people who fronted

them. After proceeding thus to some little distance, Wat-te-wal turned

aside from the path, and went up to a bush, into which he seemed to look

very narrowly, as if searching for something that he could not find, and

waving about the tufts of grass which he had in either hand. After this

fruitless search, they all turned back, and went on in a somewhat quicker

pace than before. On their drawing near the spot where the women and

children were sitting with the other men, the father threw two spears

towards, but (evidently intentionally) short of them. Here Bennillong

took his infant child, Dil-boong in his arms, and held it up to the

corpse, the bearers endeavouring to avoid it as before described. Be-dia

Be-dia, the reputed brother of the deceased, a very fine boy of about

five years of age, was then called for, but came forward very

reluctantly, and was presented in the same manner as the other child.

After this they proceeded to the grave which had been prepared in the

governor's garden. Twice they changed the bearer who walked the foremost,

but his friend Collins carried him the whole of the way. At the grave

some delay took place, for unfortunately it was found not to be long

enough; but after some time, it being completed according to their

wishes, Yel-lo-way levelled the bottom with his hands and feet, and then

strewed some grass in it, after which he stretched himself at his length

in it, first on his back, and then on his right side. Bennillong had

earnestly requested that some drums might be ordered to attend, which was

granted, and two or three marches were beat while the grave was

preparing; Bennillong highly approving, and pointing at the time first to

the deceased and then to the skies, as if there was some connexion

between them at that moment. When the grave was ready, the men to the

number of five or six got in with the body, but being still somewhat too

short, the ends of the canoe were cut, in doing which the bines were

loosened and the corpse exposed to view. It appeared to be in a very

putrid state. Every thing was however adjusted, and the grave was filled

in by the natives and some of our people.

On laying the body in the grave, great care was taken so to place it,

that the sun might look at it as he passed, Bennillong and Cole-be taking

their observations for that purpose, and cutting down every shrub that

could at all obstruct the view. He was placed on his right side with his

head to the NW.

The native Yow-war-re appeared to have much to do in this ceremony. When

the grave was covered in, and laid up round, he collected several

branches of shrubs, and placed them in a half circle on the south side of

the grave, extending them from the foot to the head of it. He also laid

grass and boughs on the top of it, and crowned the whole with a large log

of wood. This log appeared to be placed there for some particular

purpose; for having fixed it he strewed some grass over it, and then laid

himself on it at his length for some minutes, with his face towards the

sky. Every rite being performed, the party retired, some of the men first

speaking in a menacing tone to the women, and telling Boo-roong not to

eat any fish nor meat that day. We understood that at night two of the

men were to sleep at the grave, but I have reason to think that they did

not. Cole-be and Wat-te-wal were painted red and white over the breast

and shoulders, and on this occasion were distinguished by the title of

Moo-by; and we learned from them that while so distinguished they were to

be very sparing in their meals.

They enjoined us on no account to mention the name of the deceased, a

custom they rigidly attended to themselves whenever any one died; and in

pursuance of this custom, Nan-bar-ray, one of whose names was

Ba-loo-der-ry, had actually relinquished that, and obtained another name.

The ceremony of sleeping at the grave of the deceased, we knew, was

observed by Bennillong after the death of his little child Dil-boong, he

and two or three other natives passing the night in the governor's

garden, not very far from the spot where it was buried.

Such were the ceremonies attendant on the interment of Ba-loo-derry. When

Ba-rang-a-roo Da-ring-ha, Bennillong's wife, died, he determined at once

to burn her, and requested Governor Phillip, Mr. White, and myself, to

attend him. He was accompanied by his own sister Car-rang-ar-rang,

Collins, Ca-ru-ey, Yem-mer-ra-wan-nie, and one or two other women.

Collins prepared the spot whereon the pile was to be constructed, by

excavating the ground with a stick, to the depth of three or four inches,

and on this part so turned up were first placed small sticks and light

brushwood; larger pieces were then laid on each side of these; and so on

till the pile might be about three feet in height, the ends and sides of

which were thus formed of large dry wood, while the middle of it

consisted of small twigs and branches, broken for the purpose and thrown

together. When wood enough had been procured, some grass was spread over

the pile, and the corpse, covered with an old blanket, was borne to it by

the men, and placed on it with the head to the northward. A basket with

the fishing apparatus and other small furniture of the deceased was

placed by her side; and, Bennillong having laid some large logs of wood

over the body, the pile was lighted by one of the party. Being

constructed of dry wood, it was quickly all in a flame, and Bennillong

himself pointed out to us a black smoke, which proceeded from the centre

of the pile where the body lay, and signified that the fire had reached it.

We left the spot long before the last billet was consumed, and Bennillong

appeared during the day more cheerful than we had expected, and spoke

about finding a nurse from among the white women to suckle his child.

The following day he invited us to see him rake the ashes of his wife

together, and we accompanied him to the spot, unattended by any of his

own people. He preceded us in a sort of solemn silence, speaking to no

one until he had paid Ba-rang-a-roo the last duties of a husband. In his

hand he had the spear with which he meant to punish the car-rah-dy

Wil-le-me-ring for non-attendance on his wife when she was ill, with the

end of which he raked the calcined bones and ashes together in a heap.

Then, laying the spear upon the ground, he formed with a piece of bark a

tumulus that would have done credit to a well-practised grave-digger,

carefully laying the earth round, smoothing every little unevenness, and

paying a scrupulous attention to the exact proportion of its form. On

each side the tumulus he placed a log of wood, and on the top of it

deposited the piece of bark with which he had so carefully effected its

construction. When all was done he asked us 'if it was good,' and

appeared pleased when we assured him that it was.

His deportment on this occasion was solemn and manly; an expressive

silence marked his conduct throughout the scene; in fact we attended him

as silently, and with close observation. He did not suffer any thing to

divert him from the business he had in hand, nor did he seem to be in the

least desirous to have it quickly dispatched, but paid this last rite

with an attention that did honour to his feelings as a man, as it seemed

the result of an heartfelt affection for the object of it, of whose

person nothing now remained but a piece or two of calcined bone. When his

melancholy work was ended, he stood for a few minutes with his hands

folded over his bosom, and his eye fixed upon his labours in the attitude

of a man in profound thought. Perhaps in that small interval of time many

ideas presented themselves to his imagination. His hands had just

completed the last service he could render to a woman who, no doubt, had

been useful to him; one to whom he was certainly attached (of many

instances of which we had at different times been witness) and one who

had left him a living pledge of some moments at least of endearment.

Perhaps under the heap which his hands had raised, and on which his eyes

were fixed, his imagination traced the form of her whom he might formerly

have fought for, and whom he now was never to behold again. Perhaps when

turning from the grave of his deceased companion, he directed all his

thoughts to the preservation of the little one she had left him; and when

he quitted the spot his anxiety might be directed to the child, in the

idea that he might one day see his Ba-rang-aroo revive in his little

motherless Dil-boong.

Cole-be's wife, who bore the same names as the deceased, lost them both

on this occasion, and was called by every one Bo-rahng-al-le-on. This

peculiarity was also observed by them with respect to a little girl of

ours, of whom Ba-rang-a-roo was so fond as to call her always by her own

name. On her decease she too was styled Bo-rahng-al-le-on.

Cole-be's wife, the namesake of the Ba-rang-a-roo I have just mentioned,

did not survive her many months. She died of a consumption, brought on by

suckling a little girl who was at her breast when she died. This

circumstance led to the knowledge of a curious but horrid custom which

obtains among these people. The mother died in the town, and when she was

taken to the grave her corpse was carried to the door of every hut and

house she had been accustomed to enter during the latter days of her

illness, the bearers presenting her with the same ceremonies as were used

at the funeral of Ba-loo-der-ry, when the little girl Dil-boong and the

boy Be-dia were placed before his corpse.

When the body was placed in the grave, the bye-standers were amazed to

see the father himself place the living child in it with the mother.

Having laid the child down, he threw upon it a large stone, and the grave

was instantly filled in by the other natives. The whole business was so

momentary, that our people had not time or presence of mind sufficient to

prevent it; and on speaking about it to Cole-be, be, so far from thinking

it inhuman, justified the extraordinary act by assuring us that as no

woman could be found to nurse the child it must die a much worse death

than that to which he had put it. As a similar circumstance occurred a

short time after, we have every reason to suppose the custom always

prevails among them; and this may in some degree account for the thinness

of population which has been observed among the natives of the country.*

[* Cole-be's child was about four or five months old, and seemed to have

partaken of its mother's illness. I think it could not have lived.]

I have said that these women were namesakes. Bennillong's wife was called

Ba-rang-a-roo Daring-ha; Cole-be's, Daring-ha Ba-rang-a-roo. A

peculiarity in their language occurs to me in this place. The males of

the same name call each other Da-me-li, the women call each other

Da-me-li-ghen.

I have mentioned their taking particular names on certain occasions. The

mutual friend who attends them to the field is styled Ca-bah-my; the

persons who at their funerals are painted red and white, are named Moo-by;

the namesake of a deceased person, if a male, is styled Bo-rahng; if a

woman, Bo-rahn-gal-le-on. When Nor-roo-ing came into the town to acquaint

us with the death of Yel-lo-way, she was perfectly a dismal sorrowing

figure. She had covered herself entirely with ashes, was named while she

continued so Go-lahng, and refused all kinds of sustenance.

The annexed Plate represents the burning of the corpse of a native who

was killed by a limb of a tree falling on him. He was brought to the spot

with all the preceding ceremonies. His head was laid to the northward,

and in his hands were deposited his spear and his throwing-stick. His

ashes were afterwards raked together, and a tumulus erected over them,

similar to that which Bennillong had raised over his wife.

APPENDIX XII--LANGUAGE

In giving an account of an unwritten language many difficulties occur.

For things cognizable by the external senses, names may be easily

procured; but not so for those which depend on action, or address

themselves only to the mind: for instance, a spear was an object both

visible and tangible, and a name for it was easily obtained; but the use

of it went through a number of variations and inflexions, which it was

extremely difficult to ascertain; indeed I never could, with any degree

of certainty fix the infinitive mood of any one of their verbs. The

following sketch is therefore very limited, though, as far as it does

proceed, the reader may be assured of its accuracy.

Their language is extremely grateful to the ear, being in many instances

expressive and sonorous. It certainly has no analogy with any other known

language (at least so far as my knowledge of any other language extends),

one or two instances excepted, which will be noticed in the specimen. The

dialect spoken by the natives at Sydney not only differs entirely from

that left us by Captain Cook of the people with whom he had intercourse

to the northward (about Endeavour river) but also from that spoken by

those natives who lived at Port Stephens, and to the southward of Botany

Bay (about Adventure Bay), as well as on the banks of the Hawkesbury. We

often heard, that people from the northward had been met with, who could

not be exactly understood by our friends; but this is not so wonderful as

that people living at the distance of only fifty or sixty miles should

call the sun and moon by different names; such, however, was the fact.

In an excursion to the banks of the Hawkesbury, accompanied by two Sydney

natives, we first discovered this difference; but our companions

conversed with the river natives without any apparent difficulty, each

understanding or comprehending the other.

We have often remarked a sensible difference on hearing the same word

sounded by two people; and, in fact, they have been observed sometimes to

differ from themselves, substituting often the letter _b_ for _p_, and

_g_ for _c_, and _vice versa_. In their alphabet they have neither _s_

nor _v_; and some of their letters would require a new character to

ascertain them precisely.

What follows is offered only as a specimen, not as a perfect vocabulary

of their language.

NEW SOUTH WALES ENGLISH

--------------- -------

NAMES CHIEFLY OF OBJECTS OF SENSE

Co-ing The sun

Yen-na-dah The moon

Bir-rong A star

Mo-loo-mo-long The Pleiades

War-re-wull The Milky Way

Ca-ra-go-ro A cloud

Boo-do-en-ong

general name

Cal-gal-le-on The Magellanic

the greater clouds

Gnar-rang-al-le-on

the lesser

Tu-ru-p A star falling

Co-ing bi-bo-ba Sun-rising

Bour-ra The sky

Co-ing bur-re-goo-lah Sun-setting

Gnoo-wing Night

Carn-mar-roo

Tar-re-ber-re Day

Gwe-yong Fire

Cad-jee Smoke

Gil-le A spark

Per-mul Earth

Ta-go-ra Cold

Yoo-roo-ga Heat

Men-nie-no-long Dew

Pan-na, and Wal-lan Rain

Ba-do Water

Chi-a-ra Name

Car-rig-er-rang The sea

Go-nie A hut

Now-ey A canoe

Beng-al-le A basket

Car-rah-jun A fishing-line

Gnam-mul A sinker [A small stone to sink the line]

Bur-ra A hook

Ke-ba A stone or rock

Bwo-mar A grave

Bow-wan A shadow

Ma-hn A ghost

Wir-roong Scars on the back

Cong-ar-ray Scars on the breast

jee-run A coward

Can-ning A cave

Me-diong A sore [On noticing a hole in any part of

our dress they term it Me-diong]

Ya-goo-na To-day

Bo-ra-ne Yesterday

Par-ry-boo-go To-morrow

Mul-lin-ow-ool In the morning

Jen-ni-be Laughter

Boo-roo-wang An island [This word they applied

to our ships]

Gno-rang A place

E-ring A valley

Boo-do A torch made of reeds

Mi-yal A stranger [This word has reference to sight;

Mi, the eye.]

Ar-rung-a A calm

Moo-roo-bin Woman's milk

Ew-ing Truth

Ca-bahn An egg

Yab-bun Instrumental music

Yoo-long or Cleared ground for public ceremonies

Yoo-lahng

ADJECTIVES

Bood-jer-re Good

Wee-re Bad

Mur-ray Great

Gnar-rang Small

Coo-rar-re Long

Too-mur-ro Short

Go-jy Rotten

Go-jay-by

Bin-nice Pregnant

Par-rat-ber-ri Empty

Bo-ruck Full

Pe-mul-gine Dirty

Bar-gat Afraid

Frightened

Ba-diel Ill

Moo-la Sick

Boo-row-a Above or upward

Cad-i Below or under

Bar-bug-gi Lost

War-rang-i Right

Doo-room-i Left

Goo-lar-ra Angry

Yu-ro-ra Passionate

Wo-gul, and Wo-cul One

Yoo-blow-re, and Boo-la Two

Brew-y Three

Mur-ray-too-lo A great many

Gnal-le-a Both

Moo-jel Red

Ta-bo-a White

Gna-na Black

Bool-gi-ga Green

Moo-ton-ore Lame

Yu-roo, and

Yu-roo-gur-ra Hungry

Mo-rem-me Yes

Beall No

Mar-rey Wet

PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY

Ca-ber-ra Head

Gnul-lo Forehead

Mi Eye

Yin-ner-ry Eye-brow

No-gro, or No-gur-ro Nose

Kar-ga Mouth

Wil-ling Lips

Da-ra Teeth

Tal-lang Tongue

Wal-lo Chin

Go-ray Ear

Cad-le-ar Neck

Cad-le-ang Na-bung Breast or Nipple

Yar-rin Beard [This they often singe, and describe it

as a painful operation]

De-war-ra Hair [This is commonly full of vermin, which

I have seen them eat, and change from

one soil (sic) to another.]

Bar-rong Belly

Go-rook Knee

Dar-ra Leg

Ma-no-e Foot

Tam-mir-ra Hand

Ber-rll-le Fingers

Car-rung-un Nail

Bib-be Ribs

Ba-rongle Vein

Pa-di-el Flesh or lean

Bog-gay, or Pog-gay Fat

Tar-rang Arm

0-nur Elbow

Wy-o-man-no Thumb

Dar-ra-gal-lic Fore-finger

Ba-roo-gal-lie Middle or ring'd

Wel-leng-al-lie Little finger

CONSANGUINITY

Eo-ra The name common for the natives

Mu-la A man

Din A woman

Din-al-le-ong Women [One of the few instances I could ever

discover of a plural or dual number]

Gin-al-le-ong

Be-an-na; this they

shorten to

Be-an and

Be-a, and

when in pain,

they exclaim

Be-a-ri A father

Wy-an-na, and Mother

Wy-ang

Go-mang Grandfather

Ba-bun-na Brother

Ma-mun-na Sister

Go-roong A child

We-row-ey A female child

Wong-er-ra A male ditto

Na-bung-ay wui-dal-liez Infant at the breast

[Compounded of Na-bung its breast, and Wai-dal-liez relating to drinking]

Bore-goo-roo Child eight months old

Guy-a-nay-yong An old man

Mau-gohn A wife

Mau-gohn-nal-ly A temporary ditto

Go-rah-gal-long A handsome man

Go-rah-gal-long-

al-le-ong A handsome woman

Ma-lin, Nurkine,

Mud-gin

Gnar-ra-mat-ta A relation [To these I never could affix

precise meanings]

Cow-ul Male of animals

We ring Female of ditto

Do-roon A son

Do-roon-e-nang A daughter

Go-mul A term of friendship

Cam-mar-rade, Terms of affection used by girls

and Ca-mong-al-lay

SPEARS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS

Goong-un A spear with four barbs cut in the wood,

which they do not throw, but strike with

hand to hand

Noo-ro Ca-my A spear with one barb, fastened on

Ca-my A spear with two barbs--This word is

used for spear in general

Bil-larr A spear with one barb, cut from the wood

Wal-lang-al-le-ong A spear armed with pieces of shell

Can-na-diul A spear armed with stones

Ghe-rub-bine A spear without a barb

Doci-ull A short spear

No-roo-gal Ca-my Holes made by a shield

E-lec-mong A shield made of bark

Ar-ra-gong A shield cut out from the solid wood

Moo-ting

Cal-larr Fizgigs

Car-rab-ba Prong of the moo-ting

Dam-moo-ne Prong of the cal-larr.

Woo-dah, Names of clubs.

Can-na-tal-ling,

Doo-win-null,

Can-ni-cull,

Car-ru-wang,

Wo-mur-rang.

Gnal-lung-ul-la,

Tar-ril-ber-re,

Mo-go, Stone hatchet.

We-bat, Handle of ditto.

Wo-mer-ra, Throwing-stick

PRONOUNS, ADVERBS, AND MODE OF ADDRESS

Gni-a, I, or myself

Gnee-ne, You.

Gnee-ne-de, Yours.

Dan-nai, Mine.

Dar-ring-al, His.

Gna-ni, Whose.

Wan, Where.

De, There.

Diam, Here.

Diam o waw? Where are you?

Diam o diam o, Here I am.

Gnalm Chiara, gnahn? What is your name?

Bir-rong, Appertaining.

WINDS

Bow-wan, North.

Bal-gay-al-lang, South.

Boo-roo-wee, East.

Bain-mar-ray, West.

Doo-loo-gal, North-west.

Yare-ba-lahng, South-west.

Go-me-mah, North-east.

Gwar-ra, A high wind

INFLEXIONS OF THE VERBS.

Gnia-na, Sighing.

Bwo-me, Breathing.

Dere-rign-ang, Sneezing.

Car-re-nar-re-bil-le, Coughing.

Yen-no-ra, Walking.

Yen-mow, I will walk or go.

Yenn, Go or walk.

Yen-ma-nia, We will walk or go.

Yen-wor-ro, He is gone.

Yen-nim-me, You are going.

Yen-nool, Relating to walking.

Yen-noong,

Yen-nore-yen,

Yen-nang-allea, Let us both walk.

AI-locy, Stay.

Wo-roo-wo-roo, Go away.

War-re-war-re,

Pat-ta-diow, I have eaten.

Pat-td-die-mi, You have eaten.

Pat-ty, He has eaten.

Pat-ta-bow, I will eat.

Pat-td-baw-me, You will eat, or will you eat?

Pat-ta-ne, They eat.

Wul-da-diow, I have drank.

Wul-da-dic-mi, You have drank.

Nwya jee-ming-a, Give me.

Py-yay, Killed.

Jung-ara py-yay, Killed by dogs.

Par-rat-ben-ni-diow I have emptied.

Py-ya-bow, I will strike or beat.

Py-yee, He did beat.

E-ra-bow, I will throw.

E-ra, Throw you.

E-rail-leiz, Throwing.

Mahn-me-diow. I have taken it.

Mahn-iow, Shall I, or I shall take.

Goo-ra, Sunk.

Ton-ga-bil-lie, Did cry.

Wau-me, Scolding or abusing.

Wau-me-bow I will scold or abuse

Wau-me-diow I have scolded or abused

Wau-me-diang-ha They have scolded or abused

Nang-er-ra He sleeps

Nang-a

Nang-a-bow I will sleep

Nang-a-diow I have slept

Nang-a-diem-me You have slept

Nang-a-bau-me? Will you sleep?

Go-ro-da He snores

Gna-na le-ma She or he breathes

Al-lo-wan He lives or remains

Al-lo-wah Stay here, or sit down

Wal-loo-me-yen-wal-loo? Where are you going?

War-re-me-war-re Where have you been?

Gna-diow You have seen

Gna-diem-me I have seen

Gna-bow I will see

Gna See

Era-mad-jow-in-nia Forced from him

Car-rah-ma Stealing

Wor-ga-wee-na He whistles, or whistling

Goo-lar-ra py-yel-la Snarling with anger

Man-nie mong-alla Surprised

Yare-ba Tired

Pe-to-e Sought for

Man-nie mal-lee He was startled

Nwya-bow-in-nia I will give you

Wan-ye-wan-yi He lies

Ma-row-e He creeps

Bang-a-ja-bun He did paddle

Noy-ga Howling as a dog

Toll Biting

Co-e, Cow-e Cwoi,

Cow-ana Come here

Wad-be Swimming

Bo-gay Diving

Ta-yo-ra, Me-diang-a Severely cold. Me-diang-a is compounded of

Me-diong, a sore

Mul-la-ra Married. Compounded of Mulla, a man

BEASTS

Jung-o Common name

Pat-a-go-rang A large grey kang-oo-roo

Bag-gar-ray Small red ditto

Wal-li-bah Black ditto

Tein-go

Din-go

Wor-re-gal Dog

Boo-roo-min Grey vulpine opossum

Go-ra-go-ro Red ditto

Wob-bin Flying squirrel

Ga-ni-mong Kang-oo-roo rat

Wee-ree-a-min Large fox rat

Wee-ree-am-by

Bo-gul Rat or mouse

Me-rea-gine Spotted rat

BIRDS

Ma-ray-ong Emu

Go-ree-all A parrot

Mul-go A black swan

Car-rang-a bo mur-ray A pelican. When they see this bird over their

heads, they sing the following words:

Yoo-rong-i A ivild duck.

Goad-gang, A wild pigeon

Wir-gan Bird named by us the Friar

Gnoo-roo-me

ta-twa-natwa na-twa--Gno-roo me ta-twa na-twa,

na-twa, tar-ra wow, tar-ra wow*

[* On seeing a shoal of porpoises, they sing while the fish

is above water, Note-le-bre la-la, No-te-le-bre la-la, until

it goes down, when they sing the words No-tee, No-tee, until

it rises again]

Go-gan-ne-gine the Laughing jack-Ass

Po-book Musquito hawk

Wau-gan Crow

Jam-mul jam-mul Common hawk

Gare-a-way White cockatoo

Ca-rate Black ditto

Ur-win-ner-ri-wing Curlew

INSECTS, REPTILES

Mar-rae-gong A spider

Mi-a-nong A fly

Go-ma-go-ma A beetle

Gil-be-nong A grasshopper

Bur-roo-die-ra A butterfly

Go-na-long Caterpillar

Can-nar-ray Centipede

Calm Snake

Po-boo-nang A black ant

* * * * *

PECULIARITIES OF LANGUAGE

To the men when fishing they apply the word Mah-ni; to the women, Mahn.

They make some distinction in another instance when speaking of crying,

they say the men Tong-i; the women Tong-e.

The following difference of dialect was observed between the natives at

the Hawkesbury and at Sydney.

COAST INLAND ENGLISH

Ca-ber-ra Co-co Head

De-war-ra Ke-war-ra Hair

Gnul-lo Nar-ran Forehead

Mi Me Eye

Go-ray Ben-ne Ear

Cad-lian Gang-a Neck

Ba-rong Ben-di Belly

Moo-nur-ro Boom-boong Navel

Boong Bay-ley Buttocks

Yen-na-dah Dil-luck Moon

Co-ing Con-do-in Sun

Go-ra Go-ri-ba Hail

Go-gen-ne-gine Go-con-de Laughing jack-ass

* * * * *

WORDS OF A SONG

Mdng-en-ny-wau-yen-go-nah, bar-ri-boo-lah, bar-re-mah. This they begin at

the top of their voices, and continue as long as they can in one breath,

sinking to the lowest note, and then rising again to the highest. The

words are the names of deceased persons.

E-i-ah wan-ge-wah, chian-go, wan-de-go. The words of another song, sung

in the same manner as the preceding, and of the same meaning.

I met with only two or three words which bore a resemblance to any other

language.

The middle head of Port Jackson is named Ca-ba Ca-ba--in Portuguese Caba

signifies a head. Cam-ma-rade, a term of affection used among girls, has

a strong resemblance to the French word Cammerade; and may not some

similitude be traced between the word E-lee-mong, a shield, and the word

Telamon, the name given to the greater Ajax, on account of his being lord

of the seven-fold shield? How these words came into their language must

be a mystery till we have a more intimate knowledge of it than I can

pretend to.

* * * * *

I could have enlarged very much the foregoing account of the natives of

New South Wales; but, both in describing their customs and in detailing

their language, I have chosen to mention only those facts about which,

after much attention and inquiry, I could satisfy my own mind. That they

are ignorant savages cannot be disputed; but I hope they do not in the

foregoing pages appear to be wholly incapable of becoming one day

civilized and useful members of society.

* * * * *

POSTSCRIPT

Since the preceding account was printed, letters have been received from

New South Wales of as late date as the 20th of August 1797. By these it

appears, that his Majesty's ship _Reliance_, in her passage from the Cape

of Good Hope to Port Jackson, met with uncommon bad weather, which kept

her out eleven weeks and one day. About the latitude of 41 degrees S and

77 degrees E longitude, the sea suddenly became violently agitated, and

at last broke on board the ship, staving a boat which was over the stern,

and doing considerable damage to the ship. Captain Waterhouse, however,

landed safely thirty-nine head of black cattle, three mares, and near

sixty sheep.

Information was also received through the same channel, that a ship

called the _Sydney Cove_ had been fitted out for Port Jackson from

Bengal; but springing a leak at sea, she was run ashore on the

southernmost part of the coast of New Holland: seventeen of the crew

attempted to get to Port Jackson in their long-boat, but were driven on

shore, and lost their boat. They then attempted to reach it by land, in

which hazardous undertaking only three of them succeeded, the other either

dying on the route or being killed by the natives. They were eighty days

in performing this journey, and reported that in their way they had found

great quantities of coal. This was afterwards confirmed by the surgeon of

the _Reliance_, who went down to the wreck, and brought specimens of it

back with him, having found immense strata of this useful article. Some

part of the cargo was got on shore and housed where the ship was stranded.

When these letters left the colony, it continued in as flourishing a

state as when the _Britannia_ sailed. May it continue to prosper!

THE END

An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1 With Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners, Etc. of The Native Inhabitants of That Country. to Which Are Added, Some Particulars of New Zealand; Compiled, By Permission, From The Mss. of Lieutenant-Governor King. · 第 34 / 34 章

The bone was now produced which had been pretended to be taken from the