Journals of Expeditions of Disc

haracter, manners, and customs of the Aborigines of Australia, an

their behalf. I would sincerely hope, that the accounts which I have given, may not be altogether useless; but that a certain knowledge of the real position of the natives, of the just claims they have upon us, and of the little prospect that exists

decay, and avert the destruction which at present threatens the aboriginal races of our Australian colonies; and to try at least to bring within the pale of christianity and civilization, a people

ons, in the system of instruction and policy adopted to

increased expenditure on behalf of the natives would be necessary, be

hands, some compensation for the injuries our presence unavoidably inflicts

of this unfortunate people, we are bound to make our measures sufficiently comprehensive to

e system adopted towards them, its working, defects, and inaptitude to overcome opposing difficulties, who would conscientiously

ective districts, their wandering habits would be partially restrained, and a degree of influence and authority acquired over the whole aboriginal population, in contact with Europeans, which would counteract their natural propensities. The flocks and herds of the settlers, and the lives of his family and servants, would be as unmolested and uninjured as among our own people. There would no longer occur those irritating ag

at Moorunde, dr

ed. The case I allude to, is that of the establishment of the Government post at Moorunde, upon the Murray, in October 1841, by His Excellency Governor Grey. The circumstances which led to the formation of this post, arose from the disturbed and dangerous state the river route

besides drays and stores); on the other hand the sacrifice of native life had been very great, and was admitted in one case, to have amounted to thirty individuals, exclusive of many who were perhaps mortally wounded. Four different parties had been sent up the river during this short period, to punish aggressi

uring native offenders, and how very frequently it has occurred, that in their attempts to do so, either through mistake, or from mismanagement, they have very often been guilty of most serious and lamentable acts of injury and aggression upon the innocent and the unoffending. As a mere matter of policy, or financial arrangement, I believe i

the Europeans, and it was evident for the future, that if the European party was weak, the natives would rob and murder them, and if otherwise, that they would commit wholesale butchery upon the natives. It was to

iation and kindness. I made it my duty to go personally amongst the most distant and hostile tribes, to explain to them that the white m

hether from near or more distant tribes, and to give to each a sufficiency of flour to last for about two days, and once in the

, is simply and solely to try to benefit the Aborigines, and by contrasting the effects of different systems, that have been adopted towards them, to endeavou

occupied by stock, where, in 1841, there was not a single European, a herd of cattle, or a flock of sheep; nay, the very natives who were so much feared then, are looked upon now as an additional inducement to locate, since the services of the boys or young me

e and precaution, temptation was thrown in the way of the natives, but even then, it was only some few of the young men who were guilty of the offence; none of the elder or more influential members of the tribe, having had any thing to do with it. Neither did the tribe belong to the Murray river, although they occasionally came down there upon visits. There was no evidence to prove that the natives had stolen the sheep at all; the only fact which could be borne witness to, was that so many sheep were missing, and it was

ds Adelaide, or to any of the more northern stations. Another case occurred about the same time, and at the same station, where an intelligent and well-conducted native, belonging to Moorunde, was sent by a gentleman at the Murray to a surgeon, living about sixty miles off, with a letter, and for medicines. The native upon reaching this station, which he had to pass, was ASSAULTED AND OPPOSED BY A M

hostile tribes, where so short a time before even large and well-armed bodies of Europeans could not pass uninterrupted or in safety. Many of those very natives, who had been conce

own feelings and wishes were in opposition to the particular object for which this influence might be exercised, that the latter would almost invariably prevail. Thus, upon one occasion in Adelaide, where a very large body of the Murray natives were collected to fight those from Encounter Bay, I was directed by the Government to use my influence to prevent the affray. Upon going to their encampment late at night, I explained the object of my visit to them, and requested them to leave town in the morning, and return to their own district, (90 miles away.) In the morning I again went to the native camp, and found them all ready, and an hour afterwards there was not one in Adelaide. Another strong instance of the power that may be acquired over the natives occurred at Moorunde, in 1844:--Several tribes were assembled in the neighbourhood, and were, as I was told, going to fight. I walked down towards their huts to see if this was the case, but upon arriving at the native camps I found them deserted, and all the natives about a quarter of a mile away, on the opposi

a severe attack of illness compelled me to return. My journey up the Darling had, however, this good effect, that it opened a friendly communication with natives who had never before come in contact with the white man, except in enmity or in contest, and paved the way for a passage upo

sit me in the winter, and go again with me up the Darling, if I wished it. At Laidley's Ponds I found the natives very friendly and well conducted, and one of them, a young man named Topar, was of such an open intelligent disposition that although my own acquaintance with him was of very short duration, I did not hesitate to recommend him strongly to my friend Captain Sturt, as likely to be a willing and useful assistant. The following report from Captain

the Darling was founded in fact or not; but having been obliged to cross over from the ana-branch of the Darling to that river itself for water,--and its unlooked-for course having taken me greatly to the eastward, I had no opportunity by which to send to Moorunde, although I was most anxious to allay any apprehensions my former letter might have r

essed you, I have the honour to state that I had advanced a considerable way up the Darling before I ascertained satisfactorily the

ave we seen a weapon in the hands of a native since we touched upon the river. THEY HAVE CONSTANTLY SLEPT AT OUR FIRES, AND SHEWN BY THEIR MANNER THAT THEY HAD EVERY CONFIDENCE IN US, BRINGING THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN TO THE CAMP, NOR AT ANY TIME GIVING US THE LEAST ANNOYANCE, BUT ALWAYS SHEWING A WILLINGNESS TO SAVE US TROUBLE, AND TO DO WHATEVER WE DESIRED THEM TO DO. NOTHING INDEED COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SATISFACTORY TO US THAN OUR INTERCOURSE WITH THESE POOR PEOPLE, OR MORE AMUSING THAN THE SPIRITS AND FEELINGS TO WHICH THEY HAVE GIVEN WAY BEFORE US, WHEN UNCONTROLLED BY FEAR. MANY INDEED HAVE CONTINUED WITH US FOR SOME TIME, AND HAVE EVINCED SINCERE AND MARKED SORROW AT LEAVING US. I have made it a rule to give blankets to the old and infirm, and tomahawks and knives to the young men, and they perfectly understand the reason of this distinction. Finding too, that they consider kangaroos as their own property, we have almost invariably given them all the animals the dogs have killed, and have endeavoured to convince them that we wish to be just, and have the kindest feelings toward them. In this humane duty I have been most cordially assisted both by Mr. Poole and Mr. Browne, and I must add, by the conduct of my men towards the natives, which reflects very great credit

pt assistance he would have afforded us; but I am sure it will be

rous tracks of wild cattle leading from the brush across the plains to the river, and at night our camp was surrounded by them. I hoped, therefore, that if I sent out a party in the morning. I should secure two or three working bullocks, and I accordingly detached Mr. Poole and Mr. Browne, with Flood, my stockman, and Mack, to run them in; but the brush

ture of the interior: many a rich and valuable farm might be established upon it. Its seasons appear to be particularly favourable, for we have had gentle rains ever since we came upon it. Its periodical flooding is also at a most favourable period of the year, and its waters are so muddy that the deposit must be rich, and would facilitate the growth of many of the inter-tropical productions, as cotton, indigo--the native indigo growing to the height of three feet--maize, or flax; whilst, if an available country is found in the interior, the Darling must be the great channel of communication to it. The country behind the flats is sandy and barren, but it would in many places support a certain number of stock, and might be found to be of more value than appearances would justify me in stating, and I would beg to be understood, in speaking of the Darling, that I only speak of it as I have seen it. The summer sun probably parches up the vegetation and unclothes the soil; but such is the effect of summer heat in all similar latitudes, and that spot should be considered the most valuable where the effect of solar heat can be best counteracted by natural or artificial means. I had hoped, as I have stated, that the Darling was receiving its accession of waters from the Williorara (Laidley's Ponds); but on arriving on its banks we were sadly disappoint

wing on their arrival here, that the lands from which they come are not very remote from us. So soon as I shall have verified my position in a satisfactory manner,--which a clouded sky has hitherto prevented my doing,--we shall move to the ranges, and leaving my drays in a safe place, shall proceed with the horse teams to a closer examination of the country, and, if I should find an open sea to north-west, shall embark upon it with an ample supply of provisions and water, and coast it round. The reports of the fine

ar and cautious issue of the stores and provisions; and Mr. Stewart extremely useful as draftsman. Amongst my men, I have to particularise Robert Flood, my stockman, whose attention to the

d manner in which this letter is wr

most obedie

LES S

ld to them by signs or by the aid of such few words of English as the boy might have learnt at Moorunde. They had naturally fallen into some error, and had imagined the natives to be describing the recent murder of a European party coming down the Darling with stock, instead of their narrating, as was in reality the case, an old story of the affray with Major Mitchell some years before. As Captain Sturt was still at the Rufus (150 miles from Moorunde) when he received the account, as he imagined, of so sanguinary an affray, he

the Rufus, delivered over to other natives there, and by them carried onwards to Captain Sturt, reaching that

nger and other privations in prosecuting them, the messengers are but ill requited; the good feeling they displayed, or the fatigues they went through, being recompensed only by the present of a SMALL BLANKET AND A FEW POUNDS OF FLOUR. With these facts before us can we say that these natives are a ferocious, irreclaimable set of savages, and destitute of all the better attributes of humanity? yet are they often so maligned. The very natives, who have

ther words, that a native should never have any thing given to him until he does some work for it. I still maintain that the native has a right to expect, and that we are IN JUSTICE BOUND to supply him with food in any of those parts of the country that we occupy, and to do this, too, WITHOUT demanding or requiring any other consideration from him than we have ALREADY received when we TO

time, give to us a controlling influence over them; such as may not only restrain them from doing what is wrong, but may eventually lead them to do what is right--an influence which I feel assured would be but the stronger and more lasting from its being founded upon acts of justice and humanity. It is upon these principles that I have based the few suggestions I am going to offer for the improvement of our policy towards the natives. I know that by many they will be looked upon as chimerical or impracticable, and I fear that more will begrudge the means necessary to carry them into effect; but unless so

THE IMPROVEMENT

n influence or authority over the Aborigines as may be sufficient to enable us to induce them to adopt, or submit to any regul

e a tendency to restrain their wandering habits, and thus

a nature as to become more binding in its influence i

s to the parents, willingly to allow their

ate, in some degree, in weaning the na

n upon their leaving school, and its tendency should be of such a characte

ction of the settlers, and thereby induce their assistance and co-operation, instead, as has too often been

ed, in a great degree, by distributing food regularl

he colony of New South Wales, to be reported upon by the authorities. I quote the following extract from Mr. La Trobe's Remarks on Mr. Wedge's letter, as shewing an opinion differing from my own (Parliamentary Papers, p. 130). "With reference to the supply of food and clothing, it has not been hitherto deemed advisable t

I have given instances of the extent to which the evils resulting from the anomalous state of our relations with them are aggravated by the kind of feeling which circumstances engender on the part of the Colonists towards them. I have pointed out the tendency of their own habits and customs, to prevent them from rising in the scale of improvement, until we can acquire an influence sufficient to counteract these practices; and I have shewn that thus situated, oppressed, helpless, and starving, we cannot expect t

rity would be; that when they no longer required their children to assist them in the chase or in war, they would willingly allow them to remain at our schools; that by only supplying food to natives in their own districts they would, in some measure, be weaned from the towns; that by restraining the wandering habits of the parents in this way, there would be fewer charms and less temptation

neral character it could not, perhaps, be carried out every where at once, but if such arrangements were ma

ground for his day's subsistence, and where large tribes cannot remain long congregated at the same place. In these it would therefore be necessary to make the issues of food much more frequently, and I would proportion this frequency to the state of each district with regard to the number of Europeans, and stock in it; and the facility there might be for procuring native food. On the borders of the colony, where the natives are less hemmed in, the issue might take place once every fortnight, gradually increasing the number of the issues in approaching towards Ade

viz. that of endeavouring to adapt the means employed to the acquisition of a strong controlling influence over them, and having shewn how I think this m

situated with regard to the tribes intended to assemble there, but always having reference to their favourite places of resort, or to such as would afford the greatest facilities for procuring their natural food. I do not apprehend that these stations need be very numerous at first: for the whole colony of South Australia nine or ten would probably b

th Europeans and their customs, it would be essential that each station should be supported by two or more

so long must great barbarities necessarily be committed, and the only way to prevent great crimes on the part of the natives, and massacres of these poor creatures, as the punishment of such crimes, is to check and punish t

think on the whole, many more policemen would be required than there are at out-sta

the most desirable to have these establishments under missionaries. In other cases they might be confided to the protectors of the Aborigines, and to the resident o

o comprehensive a scheme, but as these belong more to the detail of the s

ations, containing lists of the natives frequenting t

ther large towns, unless under passes from their respective protectors, and if foun

and to threaten, and intimidate women and children living in isolated houses near the town. There is no doubt but that they have sometimes driven away the natives properly belonging to Adelaide, and have been the means, by their presence, of a g

gistered, and a gratuity given on every such occ

blanket for instance), to such parents as allowed their

ering up offenders, or for rendering

, and rewards, as clothing, or the like, should be paid in proportion to

sented to give up the performance of any of their

settlers, as shepherds or stockkeepers, and the masters should be indu

ative industry for sale, as baskets, mats, weapons, implements, nets, etc

r to be advantageous, and might be adopted or altere

ld be derived from having them as far separated as possible from other natives, and t

ement, as to admit of all the scholars being lodged as well as b

other natives than the scholars should be admitted within those precincts, except in the presence of the master, when relativ

se outside their boundaries, where they are likely to come under the influence of the other natives. This is particularly

ded for those children who have behaved well, and all innocent amusement be encouraged, and as often as might be convenient, the master should accom

tinguishing themselves at certain stages of their progress, such as a superior article of dr

draw the children, contrary to their wishes, after

a certain age, should be bound out as apprentices for a limited term of years, to such as were willing to re

or them and assistance given them in establishing themselves in life. At first perhaps it might be advisable to have these settlements in the form of a village and adjoining the school

h language and on Sundays should always attend divine service

the parents by the system of supplying them with food, which I have recommended to induce a cheerful consent, but it would be only prudent to have a legislative enactment on the subject, that by placing the s

es themselves. The children should be taught early; the boys to dig and plough, and the trades of shoemakers, tailors, carpenters and masons; the girls to sew and cook and wash linen, and keep clean the rooms and furniture. The more promising of these children might be placed, by a law to be framed for this purpose, under the gua

ur relations with this people, whilst upon it depends entirely our power of enforcing any laws or regulations we may make with resp

in that act there occurs a clause which completely neutralizes the boon it was intended to grant, and which is as follows, "Provided that no person, whether an A

ttempt to maltreat the native, the European should be wounded or injured by him, and that the European has the native brought up and tried for a murderous attack upon him, how would it fare with the poo

N evidence is, in a moral point of view, more to be depended upon than the unsworn parole of the native. I would ask too, how often it occurs that injuries upon the Aborigines are committed by Europeans in the presence of those competent to give a CONVICTING TESTIM

d with a white man. His case, whether as prosecutor or defendant, is tried before a jury of anothe

placed, more forcibly, than by quoting Captain G

eir peers, but by a jury having interests directly opposed to their own, and w

from the following extract, from an address to a native of

accountable, and yet he is shut out from the advantage of its protection when brought to the test of responsibility. As a British subject, he is entitled to be tried by his PEERS. Who are the peers of the black man? Are those, of whose laws, customs, language, and religion, he is wholly ignorant--nay, whose very complexion is at variance with his own--HIS peers? He is tried in his native land by a race new to him, and by laws of which he knows nothing. Had you, unhappy man! had the good fortune to be born a Frenchman, or had been a native of any other country but your own, the law of England would have allowed you to demand a trial by half foreigners and half Englishmen. But, by your lot being the lowest, as is assumed, in the scale of humanity, you are inevitably placed on a footing of fearful odds, when brought into the sacred temple of British justice. Without a jury of your own countrymen--without the power of making adequate defence, by speech or witness--you are to stand the pressure of every thing that can be alleged against you, and your only chance of escape is, not the strength of your own, but the weak

380, Captain

unished, from the circumstance of the natives, who were the only persons who could

testimony of a single witness, will be quite sufficient to convict even unto death, as has lately been the case in two instances connected with Port Lincoln, where the natives have been tried at different times for murder, convicted, and two of them hung, upon the testimony of one old man, who was the only survivor left among the Europeans, but who, from the natural state of alarm and confusion in which he must have been upon being attacked, and from the severe wounds he received, coul

er Majesty's subjects, who are DEBARRED A TRUE AND FAIR TRIAL BY JURY, whose evidence is inadmissible in a court of justice, and who consequently may be the victims of any of the most outrageous cruelty and v

criminal, cannot either in their habits or sympathies be regarded as such, and his cou

e, but if it is consistent and probable, I see no reason why it should not be as strong a safeguard to the black man from injury and oppression, as the white man's oath is to him. There are many occasions on which the testimony of natives may be implicitly believed, a

former, when endeavouring to throw off the trammels of custom and prejudice, and by embracing our habits and pursuits, making an effort to rise in the scale of moral and physical improvement. Whatever alteration therefore we may make in our system for the better, or however anxious we may be for the welfare and the improvement of the Aborigines, we may rest well assured that our efforts are but thrown away, as long as the nativ

hes, and grievances have been faithfully represented to the Government of the colony,' and this, under the circumstances, was all that could possibly be effected. There is, however, reason to fear that the destruction of the aboriginal natives has been accelerated from the known fact of their being incapacitated to give evidence in our courts of law. I have frequently had to deplore, when applied to by the Aborigines for justice in cases of aggression committed on them by white men, or by those of their own race, my inability to do so in consequence of their legal incapacity to give evidence. It were unreasonable, therefore, under such circumstances, to

st remarks are from Captain Grey's

ish laws are to supersede their own, so that any native who is suffering under their own customs, may have the power of an appeal to those of Great Britain; or to put this in its true

any individuals of their own tribe, and those among them who may be inclined to adapt themselves to the European habits and mode

they remain hopelessly immersed in their present state of barbarism: and however unjust such a proceeding might at first sight appear, I believe that the course pointed out by true humanity would be, to make them from the very commencement amenable to the British

other natives to return to the bush; more particularly girls, who have been betrothed in their infan

hilst by always punishing them when guilty of a crime, without reference to the length of period that had elapsed between its perpetration and their apprehension, at the same time fully explaining to them the measure of punishment that would await t

like, when it only regards themselves; for this latter course teaches them, not that certain actions, such, for instance, as murder, etc. are generally criminal, but only that they are criminal when exercised towards the white people, and the impre

, but where from their evidence being unavailable no redress could be afforded them. Enough has however been now adduced to shew the very se

which the sentiments expressed are as creditable to the judgment and discrimination, as they are honourable to the feelings and humanity of the minister who wrote it, and who, in the absence of personal experience, and amidst all the conflicting testimony or misrepresentation by whic

ord Stanley says (Parliamenta

EET, 20TH DE

S

rting the information which has reached you in respect to the aboriginal tribes of New South Wales, and the result of t

at the efforts which have hitherto been made for the civilization of the Aborigines have been unavailing; that no real progress has yet been effected, and that there is no reasonable ground to expect from them greater suceess in

f despondency, which shews that he has abandoned the hope of success. The opening of his report is indeed a plain admission of despair; I sincerely wish that his facts did not bear out such a feeling. But when he reports, that after a trial of ten years, only one of all who have been attached to the mission 'affords some satisfaction and encouragement;' that of the others only four still remain with them, and that these continually absent themselves, and when at home evince but little desire for

had, at the date of your despatch, ceased to exist, from the extinction or removal of the natives formerly in its vicinity. The Wesleyan Missionaries at Port Phillip, notwithstanding an expenditure in 1841 of nearly 1,300 pounds, acknowledge that th

continuing the missions any longer. I fear that to do so would be to delude ourselves with the mere idea of doing something; which would be injurious to t

that the protectorate system would promise more beneficial results, I postpone

ed to entertain. After the distinct and unequivocal opinion announced by Mr. La Trobe, supported as it is by the expression of your conc

us provision for their subsistence or employment, was a proceeding of singular indiscretion. That these people would commit depredations rather than suffer want, and that thus ill-blood, and probably collisions, would be caused between them and the settlers, must, I should have thought, have occurred to any man of common o

hite settlers generally an ill disposition towards the natives, there is an apparent want of feeling among them, where the natives are concerned, which is much to be lamented. Outrages of the most atrocious description, involving sometimes considerable loss of life, are spoken of, as I observe in these papers, with an indifference and lightness which to those at a distance is very shocking. I cannot but fear that the feeling which dictates this mode of speaking, may also cause the difficulty in discovering and bringing to justice the perpetrators of the outrages which from time to time occur. With a view to the protection of the natives, the most essential step is to correct the temper and tone adopted towards them by the settlers. Whatever may depend on your own personal influence, or on the zealous co-operation of Mr. La Trobe, will I am sure be

admit that nothing can be done; that with respect to them alone the doctrines of Christianity must be inoperative, and the advantages of civilization incommunicable. I cannot acquiesce in the theory that they are incapable of improvement, and that their extinction before the advance of the white settler is a necessity which it i

ave,

ign

ANL

PLATES OF NATIVE

AND WORKS

I.--OR

emu feathers used in the

d in a bunch, with two kangaro

elevated on a spear; similar ones are worn by th

ed to the hair of young males and fema

by females, one is of fur string in thr

und the neck. 8. Tufts of feathers

, with two kangaroo teeth to eac

one worn through

round the neck, one is bl

red, with four kangaroo teeth

f reeds cut in

ehead, feathers

orehead, a coil of str

onfine the hair of you

made of carbonate of lime, mould

age to the beard, which is gather

II.--W

s, of hard wood, 10 1/2 feet

t only barbed on one side

10 1/2 feet, used for punishments, as des

spear, 7 1/2 feet long, us

d for war with the throwing stick--the way of

end, 8 feet long, used with the t

long, used from Port Lincoln to King George's Sound f

6 to 7 feet long, used with the throw

end, barbed with flint, used

of No. 9 on a

of No. 1 on a

he shoulder in the back, and the point reached to the front of the throat, it had to be extracted b

of No. 7 on a

III.--

wing-stick, about 2 f

t hollowed

straight

narrow an

broad in

with feathers and fur

tto p

n, (boomerang) carv

g war Wangn,

attle

Di

Di

Di

hrowing-stick, shewing a f

of solid wood, 2 feet 7 inches lon

de view

heavy wood, roun

s, or stick used for t

ver Bwirri, o

ith a heavy kno

or lever, with quartz kn

ay river

V.--IMP

or noosing wild fowl, 1

le and fish spear, 10

tick, from 3 to 4 feet long,

pointed stick, 3 feet

oe of bark,

t, by being spun round with a long string so as to produce a loud roaring noi

. from the fibulas of kanga

o bone, use

llow in centre fo

one ha

ith string of

ound the neck in diving

net used in divi

g cup made

scull of a native with the s

-WORKS OF

ms, wallabie, or young kangaroo; the fur is turned inside, and the l

worn on the back by the women, with a band passed round the lower part and tied i

om, made also of a broad kind of grass, used for carrying anything

ling bag, made of a kangaroo

all kal

road-leaved grass, used for carrying anything;

somewhat flattish basket

edles--sinews of animals for thread--fat and red ochre for adorning the person--spare ornaments or belts--white pigment for painting for the dance--a skin for carrying water--a stone for pounding roots--the sacred implemen

SCELLANEOUS N

North Coast, barbed for 3 fe

North Coast, barbed for 18 in

th Coast, barbed for 18 inc

h Coast, with head of quartz, 6

th Coast, with head of slate, 6

of hard wood, Nort

k of North Coast

t, very pliant, 3-16ths of an i

throwing stick,

nt of feather

teeth in a bunch,

elt, from Murray River,

thin wand, and stuck in the ha

War

War

of close

forehead of

of grass, used as pin

cerer's

cerer's

e