“On Willis’s or the Salt Creek we saw, in a large mob of natives, one old man who had evidently been in the wars; his arm had been broken in two places, and had set crooked at each fracture, giving the poor old man a very battered appearance. The old fellow walked up and down the camel train from one person to another, talking and gesticulating, evidently wishing us to go on; and on our starting, he looked very pleased, and pointed in the direction we were going, saying, ‘Appa, appa’ (water, water), as much as to say, ‘Go on; there is plenty of water over there for you.’ At starting, much to our amusement and surprise, the old man said, ‘Good morning, good morning.’ This was towards evening, but although the old man seemed to wish us away from his own camp, he was at our camp the next morning to see us start, and wish us good morning again. Several women at the old man’s camp were smeared all over with burnt gypsum (plaster of Paris), making them quite white, and giving them a horrid-looking appearance. They were in mourning for deceased relatives. All the natives we saw looked very healthy and fat, the children looked as clean in the skin as could be desired, and, altogether, their appearance and physique showed them the pictures of health and contentment. We saw one fine young man who was blind from cataract, and the poor old man with the broken arm was leading him about and attending to his wants. We afterwards saw, at Kopperamana, a young hearty-looking woman, who was suffering from the same affliction.
“They told us that the weather last year in the winter was very cold, but that no rain fell. They make the best wurleys I have seen anywhere, all covered in securely, and having a hole for the exit of the smoke, as well as the entrance hole, which is, however, small. They are covered all over with grass, rushes, roots, earth, &c., and are quite dry. In the summer they have only a shade constructed of boughs. During the hot weather they were catching large quantities of fish with nets, which they constructed very ably from rushes. These nets are mostly fixed stationary across a favourable spot in the creek, and the fish caught by endeavouring to pass through the meshes, when they get fixed in the net by the mesh passing over their gills. When the supply of fish fails, or wanting a change of food, they have roots, seeds, herbs, caterpillars (in bushels), lizards, snakes, and numerous odds and ends, to procure all of which in quantity requires at times much labour, and this food-labour mostly falls to the lot of the lubras, who have generally plenty to do, for after they have got the food to their wurleys, there is much to do grinding or pounding seeds of acacia, nardoo, &c.
“Some of the large waterholes on the Salt Creek have superstitious terrors attached to them. One blackfellow, after killing a pelican with a boomerang, would not attempt to recover his weapon, as he said there was a large snake in the hole always on the lookout for blackfellow.
“At Kopperamana, the Lutheran Mission Station, only a small number, about a dozen or so, were camped. They appeared to easily obtain plenty of fish in the lake, but had not such a fat, hearty-looking appearance as the natives on Salt Creek. Some were employed on the station shepherding goats, others lamb-minding, &c., and all appeared to be well-treated. Of their scholastic attainments I cannot say very much, as I was informed that as they got taught any learning they went away. One young fellow appeared to have a good idea of figures, and counted twenty-five very fairly. Only a few natives were seen at Lake Hope; these talk pidgin-English with fluency, well interlarded with strong adjectives. They have plenty of fish in the lake, and the rats, snakes, roots, &c., according to the season. Perrigundi Lake has long been known as a so-called dangerous place for whites to camp at, unless well armed and in pretty good force. It was at this place where a party of stockmen from Lake Hope were attacked some years ago, while they were asleep, and, only for the bravery and promptitude of one of the party, the whole of them would have been killed. One young man, named Newman, died of the spear wounds he received in this fatal affray. We camped here two nights and one day—Saturday night and Sunday. Seven or eight finely-made, strong young fellows paid us a visit, and were very peaceably disposed, and fetched us some fine fish in exchange for a little tobacco. Some of the weapons they had with them were of the most formidable dimensions, and well adapted for knocking down a bullock. They did not make any offer to molest us; but the sight of our revolvers, rifles, and guns, no doubt everywhere acted as a good warning to them, as to what they might expect if they commenced hostilities.
“They did not appear to pay much respect to old age, after decease, as one of them was noticed by one of our party taking some dead wood from an old grave to make a fire, and on being remonstrated with, he replied, ‘All right; only old woman been tumble down.’ Proceeding on to Lake M’Kinlay, there is a pretty numerous tribe there, but only eight or nine visited our camp, as most of them were away hunting in the sandhills, where they always go after the rains have left water enough in the claypans for their subsistence while hunting. Some of them were much frightened at the camels. They looked in excellent health. We camped here close to the tree which M’Kinlay marked on his journey. The tree had been partly destroyed by the blacks, but some fine young saplings are springing up, straight and tall again, and the old tree promises to be soon as good as ever. I think it is only an act of justice to these poor creatures to record their peaceable and friendly behaviour to us all the way we travelled, and we hope that as soon as the Salt Creek country is occupied, which from its fine grazing capabilities it immediately will be, a thoughtful and liberal Government will send a supply of useful things to them—as blankets, tomahawks, &c.
“The Salt Creek tribe is numerous and powerful, and I feel convinced that kind but firm treatment at the outset will bring about the most desirable results. Police protection ought to be at once given to the first settlers on this and the neighbouring creeks. It would act as a wholesome check on the bad propensities and cupidity of the natives, and at the same time procure their proper treatment.”
CHAPTER IV.
Efforts made to civilize the Aborigines—Rev. L. E. Threlkeld—Results of Missions—Government support of Missions—Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts—Population in the Port Phillip District—Examination before the Legislative Council on the Aboriginal Question—Lieut. Sadleir’s evidence—Rev. L. E. Threlkeld’s evidence—Captain Grey’s opinion.
The following may be considered as a brief summary of the several attempts to christianize and civilize the aborigines. Several portions of the Bible have been translated, but as the natives are fast acquiring English, this need not be continued.
The Rev. Mr. Threlkeld was a translator into the aboriginal language, as appears from the following, but the tribes in question are now extinct:—