The Aborigines of Australia

by R.N. Richard Sadleir

From information obtained from Mr. Watson, of Wellington Valley, I learn that the language of the tribes of that district is also derived from the same general origin, but their various dialects also differ very much, and the use of any one dialect is very limited.

During the period of my connection with the London Missionary Society, I generally had about three or four tribes resident around me upon 10,000 acres of land, granted in trust for the use of the aborigines; and I have occasionally employed from ten to sixty blacks in burning off timber and clearing the land, at which work they would continue for a fortnight together, being the employment they appeared to like best. Since that period, I have not been able to employ more than half a dozen at a time, having no funds at my disposal for their support.

I have generally found that they would continue at their work for eight or ten days at a time, when some other object called them away, and they remained absent for as many weeks. Two lads whom I was teaching to read and write, in which they had made some progress, remained with me for six months, when they went away, and after an absence of nearly a year returned, and they are now at work at my residence, where they will probably stay until some native custom or report of hostile intention from a neighbouring tribe or tribes will again call them away.

In respect to the office of Protectors, I think too much is expected in the duties which are to devolve on them. I consider a Protector as a legal advocate, to watch over the rights and interests of the natives, and to protect them from aggression, which I think would be sufficient occupation for any individual.

The object contemplated respecting the moral and religious improvement of the natives by instruction, would be more properly the duty of persons appointed specially for that purpose, and would fully occupy their time.

To illustrate the subject, and show the necessity of legal protectors, I state the following circumstance:⁠—I was directed by the Government to send a man of mine to Patrick’s Plains, to give evidence respecting the alleged murder of three black women by their own countrymen. I had to attend myself, and the distance I had to travel was 200 miles, which detained me a week. I was informed on the road of a murder at Liverpool Plains, which took place a year before, when, after some depredations committed by the blacks in spearing cattle, a party of stockmen went out, took a black prisoner, tied his arms behind him, and then fastened him to the stirrup of a stockman on horseback; when the party arrived near their respective stations, they separated, leaving the stockman to conduct his prisoner to his hut. The black, when he found they were alone, was reluctant to proceed, and the stockman took his knife from his pocket, stuck the black through the throat, and left him for dead. The black crawled to the station of a gentleman at the Plains, told his tale, and expired. Another instance was mentioned to me, of a stockman who boasted to his master of having killed six or eight blacks with his own hands, when in pursuit of them with his companions; for which his master discharged him. These cases alone, if I had authority to act, would have taken me some months from home, merely to investigate the matter at that distant place.

Thus I am firmly of opinion that a Protector of Aborigines will be fully employed in investigating cases, which are so numerous and shocking to humanity, and in maintaining their civil rights. I am certain that the duties attached to the office of Protector of the Aborigines are more than any single individual can perform.

Mr. Threlkeld advocated the removal of the natives from Flinders Island, and says “I have no hesitation in saying that I think the establishment itself may be beneficial, as an example to the other blacks, who will in all probability visit it.”

Captain Grey’s opinion.

He states, in his recommendations to Lord John Russell for the treatment of the aboriginal population, that the people are capable of being civilized, but that all the systems hitherto pursued have been erroneous, and that the error lay in treating them as British subjects, in as far as British property was concerned, but in all that related to themselves they have been left to the exercise of their own customs and laws; but as their traditions and laws are peculiar, and such as cannot raise them from a state of barbarity, however it may be intended, and the plea of their being a conquered people may appear plausible, this state of things is inadmissible, and the natives from the moment they become British subjects should be taught, as far as possible, that British law is to supersede their own, for he says, until this is enforced, the natives will ever have at disposal the means within themselves of effectually preventing the civilization of any individual of their tribes, even those who may be disposed to adopt European habits, &c. Capt. Grey then refers, in support of this view, to instances of persons, especially girls betrothed in their infancy, who after adopting European customs have been compelled to relinquish them and to return to a state of barbarism. He likewise shows the effect on the mind of these people when they are punished for offences such as theft, murder, &c., committed upon Europeans, while they are freely permitted to be guilty of those very acts upon themselves.