Devoted attachment of Women—Remarkable instance of this, exemplified in the tale of an Australian savage—Journey resumed—Botanical productions—The Munne-munne range—Luxuriant plain—Mr. Warby’s farm—The bell bird—Junction of the Murrumbidgee and Tumat rivers—Native names of rivers—Soil—River cod—Aquatic fowl—The Tumat country—Fertility of the plains—Assigned servants—A mountainous range—The Murrumbidgee Pine—Geological character of the vicinity—Mr. Rose’s cattle station.
How agreeable it is at all times to see a strong feeling of attachment, more especially when conspicuous in a female. Who has read that beautiful tale, “Waverley,” and failed to admire this feeling, so well displayed by Flora M’Ivor towards her unfortunate brother! And other instances, equally beautiful and correct, are scattered over our literary productions, founded “on o’er true tales.” It is met with, emanating from the human heart, both in savage and civilized life; and it is correctly stated by an elegant writer, that “there is a latent intellectual force in woman, capable of being called into action only by circumstances of the deepest moment, and on occasions of peculiar excitement:” and it is further observed, that “she who complains the airs of heaven visit her too roughly, will undergo, without a murmur, more acute sufferings than man may know: and the seeming heartless coquette, who wins our contempt at the assembly, will prove, in the hour of sorrow and affliction, a benign and ‘ministering angel.’” Perhaps some may feel disappointed when they find this digression only introduces a brief tale of one of that degraded race—an Australian savage, in whom this feeling was strong, and which occurred in this part of the colony—not in one of that amiable and gentle variety of the sex who grace the assemblies and parks, and form the domestic happiness in our native land.
A female of one of the aboriginal tribes in the Murrumbidgee country formed an attachment and cohabited with a convict named Tallboy, who, becoming a bush-ranger, was for a long time sought after by the police for the many atrocities he had committed, but always eluded pursuit. This female concealed him with true native ingenuity, and baffled his pursuers—she would fish and hunt for him, whilst he remained secluded in the retreat she chose. She often visited the stock-keepers’ huts at the different stations, and whatever provision she received from them was immediately conveyed to the unworthy object of her devoted attachment. Although many knew she was privy to his concealment, yet it was found impossible to elude her vigilance, by following her, and thus discover his retreat:—she evaded all attempts; and seemed ever watchful for his safety, probably knowing the fate that awaited him, if taken. Neither promises of rewards—enough to excite the cupidity of any individual, but one in whom a higher feeling was paramount—nor threats could induce her even to acknowledge she was acquainted with his place of concealment, much more betray it. Nay, it has occurred more than once, when there was a fear of discovery, that she has given voluntary information to the police of having seen him thirty or fifty miles distant, when, in fact, his place of concealment was in the immediate neighbourhood. The brute, however, manifested no kindred affection with this female, but would frequently beat and ill-use her.
Whilst she administered to him the refreshing cup of kindness, he bestowed on her misery in return. He had in one instance given way to his natural brutish disposition, by ill-treating the being who had done so much for him,—when he was on the verge of discovery, indeed had himself given up all hopes of escape, when she again saved him, by engaging to point out to the police his place of retreat, and absolutely led them away, under that pretence, in a contrary direction, affording her paramour both time and opportunity to seek out a safer asylum. When she arrived with the police at the spot she had informed them he last was, he of course was not there, and a strict search in the vicinity was equally unsuccessful: she then left them to continue their pursuit after the criminal, pretending to know nothing further respecting him or his place of concealment. At last he was captured by venturing out too boldly during her absence, was tried, condemned, and expiated his offences on the scaffold at Sydney.
She wished to follow him, on hearing he was a prisoner; but that was impossible: so, reclaimed by her tribe, she was obliged to become an unwilling wife of one of the blacks. It is but too well known in what degradation the female sex are held among savage nations, so different from the deference and respect so justly given to that amiable and gentle portion of the creation in civilized life. This unfortunate female was ordered by her husband, whose word is law, to follow him, at a time when she was rendered incapable by illness:—on her hesitating, he struck her with savage barbarity with his tomahawk so severely over the head and legs, that she fainted from loss of blood. She was found lying on the ground, and taken to the house of a settler residing on the banks of the Murrumbidgee river, and every kindness and attention shown her; but after lingering, suffering severe mental and bodily anguish, she expired. There is a son by this female and her convict paramour about three years old, living with the tribe, who are so attached to him, that for the present it has been found difficult to get him away from them, so that he may be brought up in a civilized state of society.
On the following morning I left Jugiong, and resumed my journey through a very interesting portion of country. The banks of the Murrumbidgee stream were adorned with large “swamp oaks,” (Plow’y of the aborigines,) magnificent water gum-trees, (Dad’ha and Yarra of the aborigines,) and immense quantities of a species of mallow, rising to the height of from two to six feet, and which at this time was profusely in flower, decorating the banks, mingled with other flowering plants. This mallow is named “Cumban” by the natives; and upon the banks, or in the vicinity of the river, is a species of Urtica, (“Cundalong” of the aborigines,) resembling the European species, “butter-cups:” the small red poppies, geranium, and other plants, similar to, or closely allied to the European species, were abundant. After riding a distance of seven miles, “Cuney’s Station” was passed, situated at a fertile spot, called “Kitagarary Creek.”
Passing by the Munne-munne range, the scenery consisting of picturesque but broken country, thinly wooded, abounding in rich pasturage, the whole appeared a fine grazing land, some parts being also well calculated for sheep—the whole for cattle.
After leaving this range, an extensive, beautiful, and luxuriant plain or flat, surrounded in the distance by gradually-sloping verdant ranges of hills, was entered upon: this flat was carpeted by thick grass and gay flowers; and near a small creek, a quantity of plants with pink flowers, having at a distance some resemblance to our well-known “red clover,” attracted my attention: it seems to be of the natural family Ameranthaceæ, probably of the genus Nissanthes. Although the ground was strewed with flowering shrubs and plants, but very few appeared peculiar to this portion of the colony. The “kangaroo grass” (Anthisteria australis) was the most lofty and luxuriant among the native grasses,[92] covering the soil, about which different species of Eucalypti were scattered; among them the “Box tree” of the colony, (Berre of the natives,) “Bastard apple tree,” (Carbut of the natives,) “Bastard box tree,” (Bargan of the aborigines,) and “iron bark,” (“Mucker” of the natives,) were most numerous. At this season they were covered with a profusion of white blossoms, which attracted flocks of parroquets, to sip, like the puny humming-bird, nectar from the flowers. Occasionally the “Green wattle,” or “Wundua” of the natives, was seen loaded with its fragrant yellow blossoms; and also a few trees of the “Bum, billerang,” or Banksia rosmarinifolia.
I rode for a few miles through this fertile flat, which continued undiminished in picturesque beauty, until again the dark foliage of the “Plow’y,” or swamp oaks, indicated the proximity to the fine stream of the Murrumbidgee; and, arriving at its banks, crossed to the farm of Mr. Warby, called “Darbylara,” where I was glad to rest after a long and sultry ride of thirty miles. This farm, situated in a beautiful spot, is close to the junction of the Tumat and Murrumbidgee rivers.
On approaching the river, the feathered creation in mingled harmony animated the scene; the tinkling note of the “Bell-bird,” or “Gilbulla,” of the natives was heard, a certain harbinger of the vicinity of water; and these birds were very numerous.[93] Perched on a lofty tree, the “razor-grinder” bird of the colonists may be heard uttering its peculiar sciz, scizaring notes, which so closely resembles the noise of the “razor-grinder’s machine,” as to render its appellation well deserved. The bird first commences with a rather prolonged whistling note, which is succeeded by the peculiar grinding notes, continued for some time without intermission, resembling in some degree the noise produced by the drums of the male Tettigoniæ, whose dinning notes resound through the woods during summer, almost to the exclusion of all other harmonious or inharmonious sounds.