CHAPTER XIV._Fern Vale; or, the Queensland Squatter. Volume 1

"Nature, indeed, denies them sense,

But gives them legs and impudence,

That beats all understanding."

WILLIAMS.

When the black boy, whom John Ferguson had named Billy, was released by

his captors, after the castigation we have seen him subjected to by

Rainsfield and Smithers, he made the best of his way to Fern Vale; and

there, with his bleeding back substantiating his statement, told his

tale of woe. John and his friend Tom Rainsfield could hardly credit

their sight; the latter especially, who could not think but that if his

brother had any hand in the barbarity it must have been as a passive

instrument at the disposal of Smithers. The young men felt for the poor

aboriginal, and in their sympathy tended his wounds and gave him what

assistance they could. With the black the injury sank deep into his

heart; savage as he was he felt the ignominy of his treatment; and he

cherished that feeling of deep revenge which is innate in the natures of

all God's creatures, but especially in those, who like the savage, have

never had an ethic inculcation to restrain their passions. He gave vent

to his agony, as he lay prostrate on his pallet, in wails of anguish and

vituperative mutterings; uttered in the unintelligibleness of his own

language.

After the subsiding of the first surprise and indignation the agitation

of his own thoughts too much occupied John's mind to admit of his being

much diverted by the sorrows of his black boy; and Tom was too much

affected by the dejectedness of his friend to entertain any lasting

concern for the sable sufferer. As he sat ruminating on the incidents

of the day, until he fell into a reverie almost as deep as one of those

indulged in by his companion, he roused himself by uttering the

following exordium: "Cheer up, John, my dear fellow; don't permit

yourself to feel disappointed, for I am sure from the glimpse Eleanor

has had to-day of Smithers' real nature she cannot entertain any respect

for him; and, as for her ridiculous persistence in binding herself to a

foolish engagement, I have no doubt she will now see the necessity of

abandoning it."

"My dear Tom," replied the other, "I cannot consent to oppose the claims

of Bob Smithers so long as Eleanor herself holds them sacred. She

admitted her engagement to him in his and my presence, and at the same

time abstained from giving me any direct answer to my proposal; I

imagine, as she thought, to avoid paining my feelings; so I must not

dare to hope."

"That's all moonshine," cried Tom, "banish the idea of Bob Smithers from

your head altogether. You say Eleanor gave you no direct answer to your

entreaties; I don't profess to be a judge in such matters, but it

appears to me her hesitation was not disadvantageous to you. If that

ruffian had not appeared I am sure you would have overcome all her

scruples. Persevere John! you know the adage, 'faint heart never won

fair lady;' rouse yourself, and act upon it, and I will stake my

existence on the result."

"I cannot, Tom," replied his friend. "I assure you, I cannot; I have a

higher opinion of Eleanor's integrity than to think she would be

influenced by my entreaties to reject Smithers merely from our little

fracas yesterday. She distinctly informed me she was engaged to him, and

I am bound in honour to respect her judgment. If I ever had reason to

believe her determination would alter I might hope; but no, I see no

prospect."

"You are too nice," exclaimed Tom, "upon the point of honour, as you

call it. Her engagement I look upon as a mere phantasy, which she will

be convinced of ere long. All you have to consider is, whether or not

she will accept you. You have had no answer from her you say; then take

an early opportunity of seeing her, and pressing for a reply. If you

will not plead for yourself I will for you; and shall point out to her

the absurdity and absolute sinfulness of discarding you for that object

of conceited inanition, Bob Smithers."

"Much as I would desire the reversion of the decree that forbids me hope

that Eleanor will be mine," replied John, "I would much rather that you

did not agitate her by adverting to the subject in her hearing, as it

cannot fail to renew unpleasant reminiscences."

"Well, perhaps it would be better," said Tom, "to let it remain as it is

for a short time; and if you promise me to keep up your spirits, and

hope for a better state of things, I will engage not to disturb her

unnecessarily. Why, I'll stake anything you like on it, she is thinking

of you at this very moment; and will no more marry Bob Smithers than I

will the ghostly Meg Merillies."

With a sickly smile from the forlorn lover the conversation ceased for

the time; and the friends shortly afterwards retired to seek the rest

they respectively stood in need of. On the following morning Tom

returned to Strawberry Hill; while John, upon busying himself on the

station, learnt that the black boy Billy had disappeared in the night;

and that Jemmy, his companion, professed to know nothing about him.

Calling in the aid of Joey he was enabled to trace the track of the

fugitive to the river; from which circumstance he conjectured that Billy

had waited for the dawn of morning; when he had taken his departure with

the intention of joining his tribe. Upon making this discovery he felt

considerable annoyance, as the black had began to be useful, and would

in all probability be followed by his companion. He could not help

feeling disgusted at the treatment the poor fellow had received; and so

far as he was personally concerned, he felt himself justified in

resenting the conduct of his neighbour; which he determined to take the

earliest opportunity of stigmatizing, and condemning in the strongest

possible terms. As he had anticipated, the other black soon followed his

fellow, and he was consequently put to considerable inconvenience by the

deprivation of their labour.

Nearly a week had elapsed after this, and Tom Rainsfield had ridden over

to Fern Vale to spend a little spare time with his friend, and cheer him

in his solitude. "My brother," said he, "has been again annoyed by the

blacks. They have paid him another visit, and seem determined to

cultivate his acquaintance more closely than hitherto. I expect that

fellow of yours has given his relatives a feeling account of his

reception at our place, and also as to the exact position of the store.

In their late visit, they were in considerable numbers (I presume to

protect themselves against a general flogging), and they have vented

their displeasure in a manner most conducive to their happiness, by

appropriating what of our stores they could conveniently remove. I

believe my brother meditates some desperate onslaught; for he is

swearing to exterminate the whole tribe if they continue their

depredations much longer."

"I think," replied John Ferguson, "that he is suicidal to his own

interests by perpetuating his quarrel with the blacks. An unceasing

warfare with them will only be conducive of misfortune, loss, and

uneasiness to both himself and his neighbours; for the blacks will not

have the sense to discriminate between those that are friendly disposed

towards them, and those that are the reverse. All whites to them will be

the same, and will become objects of their hatred."

"I agree with you to a certain extent," replied Tom; "and I believe the

aborigines can not only be conciliated, but be made certainly useful, if

not industrious. I don't like the idea of driving the poor wretches

away from the country: at the same time you must admit our property must

not be despoiled without an effort on our part to protect it."

"Certainly," replied John; "but I believe the very violation of which

you speak is merely the result of the harsh treatment persevered in by

your brother. Their visits to you are only their retribution for

injuries received at his hands. You see they respect my property, simply

because I treat them with some degree of lenity; at the same time I give

them to understand that I would not permit any appropriation on their

part; and I have no doubt if your brother would adopt the same course he

would experience a similar result."

"Very likely," said Tom; "but he does not seem to think so, and I

imagine it would be hard to convince him. The hostility which he now

experiences from the blacks, I believe, as you say, is the result of his

austerity; but he imagines it arises from their own natural

predilection for stealing, while his severity is his only safeguard. I

am quite of opinion that the blackguards are naturally disposed to

pilfer; but at the same time I have no doubt our property could be

preserved by the exercise of a moral firmness, without any of that

unnecessary harshness and cruelty which my brother displays. But see,

here they are, paying you a visit apparently, and in open day too; see

now, if they don't upset your theory."

The appearance that caused this expression of Tom's was of a party of

blacks who were approaching the station in a slow though by no means

silent manner; for, in fact, the incessant din of their jabber heralded

them before they were actually visible. The party consisted of about

thirty men, who were armed with their usual weapons of spears,

boomerangs and waddies; and clad in nature's own habiliments. They were

headed by two fellows of commanding stature and appearance; though

little differing from the others, except that one wore a necklace of

small bones; and the other, suspended from his neck by a cord and

resting on his breast, a small brass-plate of a crescent shape, on which

his name was engraved. This individual, who was the chief of the tribe,

was named Dugingi; while his companion enjoyed the more euphonious

sobriquet of Jemmy Davis. The latter had undertaken to introduce himself

and his friend to the whites with much form; and during the ceremony we

will take the opportunity of giving the reader a slight outline of his

and his comrade's history.

Dugingi was a semi-civilized black of about the middle age, powerfully

made, and decidedly unprepossessing in his appearance. He had been at

one time a trooper in the native police force of the colony; in which

corps he had been discreet enough to acquire all the vices and

depravities of the whites, while their virtues remained to him that

arcana of life which held out no allurements for emulation. When this

effective force was greatly reduced, and in some parts entirely

disbanded, by the sapient government of the time, Dugingi, with numerous

others of his countrymen similarly instructed, were let loose to join

their tribes, to contaminate the hitherto inoffensive blacks with their

vile inoculations. We will not stop to review the evils that have arisen

from the system of imbuing the natures of the blacks with a taste for

sin, acquired in scenes of crime and iniquity, and then sending them

back to their former haunts to spread amongst their fraternity the virus

of civilized corruption. Such itself might be made the subject of

especial exposition, and would require more space than we in this tome

can afford it.

Upon his juncture with his tribe the effects of Dugingi's education soon

displayed themselves; and having been caught and convicted of theft, and

after a series of successful depredatory exploits, he was sentenced to

two years' penal servitude at the convict establishment in Cockatoo

Island. Here, again, is another instance of the judicial short-sighted

policy against which we might declaim: for, setting aside the absence of

punishment to a black, where confinement is accompanied with ease and

regular dietary; to which he has not hitherto been accustomed (to say

nothing of his incapacity to understand the nature of his crime, or the

cause of his incarceration); the contamination he receives during his

sojourn in those fearful sinks of infamy, complete his immoral training;

and when he again breathes the fresh air of freedom, he is as

accomplished a villain as ever graced the bar of the Old Bailey. So it

was with Dugingi. Cockatoo Island finished what the native police

commenced; and but for his arrant cowardice, and the dread of the

settler's fire-arms, he would have been as great a ruffian as ever

traversed the bush. But though he was at heart a thorough scoundrel, and

pretty generally known to be so, he was kept in check by a wholesome

dread, not of the visitation of the law (which, in the remote parts,

never could be sufficiently powerful to protect the settlers from the

depredations or assaults of the blacks), but of a retribution from the

whites; which they took it upon themselves to inflict, when they

conceived it necessary. Thus, though Dugingi was peaceable, it was only

the quiet of the subdued tiger, which merely required time and

opportunity to develope its real nature. The plate, which he wore round

his neck, was given to him upon the disbandment of the force; and on the

strength of it and his civilized acquirements, he arrogated to himself

the chiefship of his tribe; thus proving, that in his case at least,

"knowledge was power."

Jemmy Davis, on the other hand, was a very different character. He had

been taken from his tribe, when young, by a settler, who called him

after himself, and kept him almost constantly about his person and

premises. He taught him reading and writing, both of which Jemmy

acquired admirably; and he spoke English as fluently, and even more so,

than many Englishmen. Some years after his domestication, and some

little time before the date of our narrative, Mr. Davis visited England,

and took with him his Australian namesake; keeping him constantly by his

side during the whole of a tour through the greater part of Europe. The

effects of this would be imagined to have been the entire eradication of

his aboriginal nature, and a perfect conversion to civilisation. So

thought his master, but he was deceived; and so have been all those who

have attempted to naturalize the blacks to an industrial mode of life.

Jemmy Davis, as soon as he returned with his master to Australia and the

station, took his departure from the comforts of the whites; denuding

himself of his clothes, which he had so long accustomed himself to wear;

and joined his tribe in the state we have seen him.

The case of Jemmy Davis is by no means a singular one in the aborigines

of Australia. The attempt has frequently been made to induce them to

assimilate their ways to those of the whites, but, with very rare

exceptions, with the same result; nor, when we analyze the feelings that

actuate their return to savage life, need we feel surprised. The

endearments of home, wretched as that home may be; the ties of kindred;

the love of country; the force of early training, and old associations;

all imbue the breast of the savage in an equal degree that similar

sentiments do the bosoms of his civilized neighbours.

Let a man of humble birth, and parentage so mean that they have been

considered, by their fellow mortals, as cumberances on the earth; we

say, let him, through his own industry and fortuitous circumstances,

raise himself to a post of eminence and power; and amidst all the

engrossing excitement of his life of pomp and pedantry, the promptings

of his natural affection will cause his heart to yearn after the authors

of his being, and the humble tenement that sheltered his infant head.

If, then, such feelings exist in the mind of a man subject to all the

caprices of the world, and made callous to the feelings of humanity by

the usages of that society that would hold up to scorn and ridicule the

exhibition of affection for anything so mean; how much more would the

child of nature, unencumbered with such conventionalities, and

unfettered by the prejudices of civilized life, yearn after the ties of

kindred and the associations of his early training. Hence all attempts

to draw the savage races into a settled civilisation, and wean them from

their inherent customs, have signally failed. Blacks may have been

partially induced to adopt the customs of the whites, in individual

cases, such as Jemmy Davis; but their continuance is not to be depended

upon, for they soon tire of their new life when they find that labour is

its natural adjunct, and they relapse into their former state,

preferring the indolence it ensures.

The mode of living of the blacks in their wild state is primitive in the

extreme; and the sources of their sustenance equally precarious. Their

diet consists of roots, berries, fish, small animals, and reptiles (such

as snakes and lizards); and as the country never abounds with either,

they are necessarily often perfectly destitute; and the water as

frequently failing, coupled with the entire absence of any degree of

pre-thought or providence on their part, and their imperfect means of

procuration, they are almost constantly in an abject state of

wretchedness. Their weapons are primitive, singular, and even, as savage

specimens, ineffective. Their natural characteristics are cowardice,

indolence, deceit, cunning, and treachery (particularly to and amongst

themselves); prevented only, as we have already said, in their

intercourse with the whites, from exercising the latter by the

predominance of the first. Their physical formation is decidedly of the

inferior order; with very few exceptions, they are by no means muscular

or well formed. Their bodies are covered with long, raised wales, which

are caused by incisions made with a sharp instrument (such as a shell

or a flint), when the patient is young; the wounds are for some time

kept open with earth, and made to assume their embossment in the

operation of healing. In their movements they are sluggish, though agile

when stimulated to action. Their limbs are of surprising tenuity. In

their communications with one another they are volatile; verbose in

conversation, and puerile in manner: continually embroiled in some

quarrel, which either ends in words, or terminates in the act of the

secret assassin; rarely coming to an open rupture while the adversaries

are on their guard.

Their women, or "gins," are even inferior to the men, both physically

and mentally. In appearance they are perfectly hideous, almost to

deformity, and are the drudges of their lords; whom they repay for their

contumely, by keeping in continual broils, during which their feminine

voices are ever heard over the din of their verbal contentions.

We have said Jemmy Davis was the ambassador of his tribe, and that he

had introduced himself and Dugingi to John Ferguson. We will therefore,

now, after our epic digression, resume our narrative, by repeating the

conversation that followed.

"Well, Jemmy," said John Ferguson, "and what may be your pleasure? to

what may we attribute the honour of your visit?"

"We came to tell you, sir," replied the plenipo, "that we have a great

'corroboree' to-night, and we want some rations."

"And what is your corroboree for, Jemmy?" enquired John.

"It's a 'kipper corroboree,' sir," replied Jemmy.

"Well," replied John, "I'll not give you a mouthful of anything until

you send back my black boys. What made them leave me? I treated them

well; gave them plenty of rations, and blankets on cold nights; so why

did they run away? Will you tell me?"

Dugingi replied, "Billy been tell'um me how Misser Rainsfield and

Misser Smithers been beat 'em; and bael budgery (not good) that fellow;

budgery (good) fellow you; bael (not) you beat 'em black fellow; and

black fellow been wooller (say) you corbon budgery (very good); but bael

black fellow sit down (stay) where white fellow beat 'em."

"That's all right, Dugingi," said John. "I never beat the black boys,

and if I knew it, would never allow any one else to do so; but because

Mr. Rainsfield flogged Billy is that any reason why he should run away

from me? Let him and the other boy come back, and I'll give you some

rations for your corroboree; but if they don't come back, I'll not give

you anything."

An altercation then ensued between Dugingi and the fugitives, who

appeared to be of the visiting party; and it was ultimately arranged

that they should return after their feast.

"I suppose we can come and see your corroboree, if we like, Dugingi?"

asked John.

"Yuoi (yes), Masser," said Dugingi, "you come along in three-fellow

hours after sun go down, and me be see 'um you. Misser Tom he come along

too, he budgery fellow to black fellow; but bael budgery fellow brother

belong to him, he corbon (big) ---- rogue."

This defamatory expression of opinion of Dugingi's on the merits of Mr.

Rainsfield was uttered in no tone, and with no expression of amiability;

and Tom attempted to smother his ire as he replied, "You are highly

flattering, Dugingi, not only to me but to my brother; but, never mind,

I'll go and see you. Me be brother belonging to you; you go ask my

brother for rations like it corroboree."

"He been give it," replied Dugingi, "plenty plour (flour), tea, sugar,

bacca; corbon plenty."

"Gammon!" exclaimed Tom, "I know better than that."

"Bael gammon," replied the black; "he been give it I tell you, plenty;"

whereupon Dugingi whispered a few words to his companions in his own

dialect, and the whole sable conclave burst out into a loud laugh, and

commenced an almost deafening jabbering amongst themselves. After which

Dugingi and Jemmy Davis, promising faithfully to send the black boys

over to the station after the corroboree, got their promised provender,

and decamped.

END OF VOL. I.

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