Life and Adventures of William Buckley/Chapter XI
CHAPTER XI.
My march of life is nearly ended;
Bugler,—sound the "Halt!"
I have already related some of the circumstances connected with the loss of Messrs. Gellibrand and Hesse. Soon after the search for them had been given up, a vessel arrived at Geelong from Van Diemen's Land with goods and passengers; amongst them was a carpenter, who had with him a tool-chest and other baggage to carry up from the beach. By that time the natives had acquired the industrious habit of working in this way, many of them being very useful and civil, after their fashion; in fact, all those who know anything of their habits, are aware how docile those of the poor creatures are, who are well inclined, and how anxious they are to please those who employ and treat them kindly. One of this description was engaged by the carpenter to carry his traps up from the ship, and as a reward, and for the sake of decency, he was clothed in a much worn coat and trowsers; in which, having done all that was required of him, he set off to astonish his tribe by his very smart and altered appearance. He left in great glee, little thinking of what was to follow.
Some days after, another vessel arrived from Van Diemen's Land, and he, with others, went to her, looking for a job. The master of this craft seeing a native in such a dress, began to examine him after the fashion peculiar to self-constituted and many other kinds of Justices, who found their views and decisions only upon one order of thinking; namely, the infallibility of their own opinions—not in the least valuing those of others.
This wise sailor judge swore he knew the coat the man had on to have been the property of Mr. Hesse; that, in fact, it was the one he wore when he left Hobart Town;—that he could trace spots of blood upon it; and, on this evidence the native was seized, hand-cuffed, and forwarded to Melbourne on a charge of murder.
When the accused arrived there, he was brought before the Commandant, and I was required to act as Interpreter; this, however, I at first declined, having given up my connection with the Government; but considering that the life of a fellow-creature was in jeopardy, I at length consented.
A boy, in the employ of Mr. Faulkner, who was supposed to know something of the language, was interrogated as to what had passed between him and the prisoner? But I soon found the boy was altogether ignorant, and was shocked at the idea of his evidence being taken. I then questioned the accused as to how he became possessed of the clothes? He explained, by stating, that they were given him in the manner before-mentioned. I asked the poor fellow if he would know the carpenter again; or where he lived, so as to enable us to obtain his evidence? He said the man had left Geelong, and that he knew nothing about his present residence.
I explained all this to the Justices, but the Captain of the vessel persisted in the statement that the coat belonged to Mr. Hesse; so the prisoner was remanded to the guard-house. The coat was then given into my charge, with instructions that I should make every enquiry concerning its former ownership; and with that view, I gave it into the care of the Chief Constable, readily enlisting his sympathies for the native, who I believed to be innocent.
One day whilst walking along the banks of the river we were talking over the matter, particularly of the hard swearing of the Captain, and of the probable consequences to the accused: when a man, who, with his wife, was within hearing, suddenly stopped, and said he should like to see the coat; for he remembered having given a coat of the kind with other things to a native, for carrying his chests up from the Geelong beach in the manner already mentioned. We listened with great interest to his statements, and he afterwards fully proved the identity of the coat; and that the stains of supposed blood upon it were red paint marks, occasioned by himself when wearing it in his trade at Launceston. He afterwards clearly identified the prisoner as the native to whom he had given the coat and trousers; so that after an unavoidable short delay, he was discharged, greatly delighted at being liberated; although, on finding himself once more at liberty, he cried loudly and bitterly, like a child.
I make no remark upon the conduct of his accuser, who had so nearly sacrificed the life of another; but I must do the Commandant, Captain Lonsdale, the justice to say, he did all he could in the matter to administer justice free from prejudice; and that, after the case was dismissed, he ordered me to take the native to his own house, where he was received and treated with great kindness. After eating as much as he pleased, at my recommendation he was given blankets, tomahawks, and other things as presents, added to which, he received a quantity of bread and meat, to help him on his way homewards to his tribe, about fifty miles distant, over a portion of which I accompanied him, leaving the poor fellow at last in high spirits and good humour. It was a very lucky escape for him, and the circumstances are additional proofs of the danger at that time arising out of false information in any matter where the natives were concerned.
As it may be expected, that I should say something more about the localities I visited, of the climate I experienced, during so many years, and of other things and circumstances which more properly belong to the history of a country, than to that of an individual, I will add a few brief remarks.
The climate I found very genial, in temperature I suppose between that of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land; but during the winter months, the cold winds and rains, in the country near the coast, are very trying, even to the Aborigines, who often shrink before the heavy gales into hollow trees, caves, and holes in the rocks, in a pitiable manner. In the summer months, it is not so hot as many imagine, but as the heat generates myriads of musquittoes, and of a very large sort of horse fly, the traveller suffers much inconvenience and torment. These, however, are not peculiar to Port Phillip, for in all uncleared and uncultivated countries it is the same. To avoid these insects the natives carry their lighted fire-sticks, holding them to windward.
The thunder and lightning storms are occasionally very heavy, and I have already noticed the shock of an earthquake, but I never heard of any other. There was also one heavy flood, in consequence of continuous rains, but they are not often known to exceed the supply required by vegetation.
The trees and flowers.—I have not the ability to give an account of these; neither is it necessary, scientific explorers having done so in various works, which the growing importance and natural resources of the province have rendered it desirable to bring before the public. The same with the birds and other creatures. It is more especially my business, in this narrative, to allude to the Aborigines.
The natives live to about the same age, generally, as civilized people—some of them, to be very grey-headed. They have an odd idea of death, for they do not suppose that any one dies from natural causes, but from human agencies: such as those to which I have alluded in previous pages of this narrative. The women seldom have more than six children, and not often so many. So soon as they have as many as they can conveniently carry about and provide for, they kill the rest immediately after birth: not to eat them—as may be supposed—but with the idea that, for the sake of both parties, and under such circumstances, death is practical mercy.
To resume the thread of my narrative. I sailed from Melbourne in the Yarra Yarra, on the twenty-eighth of December, 1837, and landed at Hobart Town the tenth of January following. On arriving, the master of the vessel, Captain Lancey, went with me to the Bank, to procure the value of a cheque I had; and he afterwards took me to the Duchess of Kent Inn, where he entertained me very hospitably. In fact, on all occasions he behaved towards me in the most generous manner.
At the Inn, I was visited by a Mr. Cutts, then the landlord of the Black Swan, Hobart Town, a country-man of mine, who insisted on my making his house my home, free of all charge; which invitation, for a few weeks, I thankfully accepted.
In my rambles about the town, I was frequently accosted by persons anxious for information about Port Phillip, with the extraordinary accounts of which all Van Diemen's Land had become, I may say, inflamed. To the new colony, vessels full of emigrants, with sheep, &c., were almost daily proceeding; so that any information from me was considered valuable. In one of my perambulations, I met with a gentleman who gave me a ticket to the Theatre; asking me, at the same time, to accompany him, which I did, and was very much gratified at what I saw. At length one of the performers came to ask me if I would like to visit the place again, and come upon the stage? Thinking his offer kind, and that I should see the performance better there, I said yes; little supposing I was to be then exhibited as the huge Anglo-Australian giant. However, the next day I found what was intended, and soon gave a denial to any such display, very much to the mortification, as I afterwards understood, of the stage manager, who had publicly notified my appearance.
About this time I was visited at Mr. Cutts', by one of my old shipmates in the Calcutta, who had become a wealthy and respectable settler, near the Green Ponds, about thirty miles from Hobart Town. After a few days, and he had settled his business, I accepted an invitation to accompany him to his home, where I was hospitably entertained more than three weeks; when, being tired of an indolent life, I begged my friend to make interest with his Excellency Sir John Franklin, so that I might have employ. My friend lost no time in acceding to my wishes; and, in a few days I was directed to call at Government House at an early hour, and had the honour to be introduced to Sir John and Lady Franklin, and to several gentlemen who were breakfasting there. Numerous were the questions they put to me, and amongst the rest was, what I wished on my own account? I replied, a small allotment of land! His Excellency said he could not grant land, but that he would see what could be done in the way of finding me employment.
According to this promise, I was soon afterwards appointed Assistant to the Storekeeper at the Immigrants' Home, Hobart Town; which situation I held about three months; when the immigrants having been all settled, the establishment was broken up, and I was transferred to the Female Nursery, as Gate-keeper.
At the Immigrants' Home I had become acquainted with a family—consisting of a respectable mechanic, his wife, and daughter; the former of whom, thinking to better himself, went on to Sydney; but, whilst on a journey he afterwards undertook overland to Port Phillip, he was killed by natives near the Murray River; thus leaving his family unprovided for.
The fact of his death having been ascertained, I tendered myself to the mother; she accepted me as her future husband, and we were married by the Rev. Mr. Ewing, the Episcopalian Clergyman at New Town, in the month of March, 1840.
Soon after this, I was attacked by typhus fever, and lay many days suffering very much; it being the only severe illness I had undergone in all my life. The kind attentions I received from my wife and her daughter however, under the merciful providence of God, at length restored me to health, but not to such health as I had previously enjoyed; my privations and exposure in the bush, with increased years, having, no doubt, materially damaged my naturally strong constitution.
In the year 1850, there was an alteration in the establishment at the Nursery, and I was paid off by the Convict Department, my services being no longer required, with a pension of twelve pounds per annum. With this small sum, for which I feel grateful, under all the circumstances of my case, and the industry of my wife and daughter, we contrive to live humbly and honestly; but I do entertain a hope, that something will be done for me by the local authorities of Port Phillip—now the great and wealthy colony of Victoria—when, by the means of this narrative of my life, my sufferings, services, and wants, are better, and more generally known.
My narrative is now at its close; let its details of dangers and privations serve as a moral to the young and reckless,—to all who, passing unheeded the admonitions of parents, guardians, and friends, rush heedlessly on the future, with all its trials and consequences, occasioning many bitter pangs to those who would instil into their minds motives of action, founded on religion and propriety. The want of these, or rather the abandonment of them, by me in early life, led to the sufferings I endured in after years, some of which I have here endeavoured faithfully to portray.
Finally.—To the Almighty God of my existence, I thus publicly offer up in all humility, my heartfelt prayers of thankfulness, for the great and merciful preservation and undeserved blessings he has vouchsafed unto me in all my wanderings: hoping, that when it may please Him to call me hence—I may surrender myself into his hands, with the true spirit and feelings of a Christian man.
As this page closes "The Adventures of William Buckley," in justice to him something ought here to be said in furtherance of his claim upon the Home and Local Governments. It is generally admitted, that had he not been at Port Phillip when the first Settlers arrived, they would, most probably, have encountered dangers and difficulties, which were averted only by his presence and influence.
It is understood, that two hundred acres of land were ordered him by Sir Richard Bourke, which grant he never received. He however yet lives, and the opportunity therefore remains to do him justice. It is not to be supposed that those who have the control of these affairs in Victoria, will rest content with his receiving the pittance of twelve pounds annually from the British Government, for services performed in Van Diemen's Land;—to think this, would be a reproach to all concerned. Let us then hope that some additional provision will be made for him, so that he may never have cause to regret (on account of poverty) his return to civilization, or the services rendered to those of his countrymen who found him in his solitude, and restored him to what he hoped would prove happiness for the few remaining years of his extraordinary existence.
In all the surrounding prosperity, arising out of the increase of flocks, and herds, and gold, surely Buckley may be permitted, in a very small degree, to participate? His career in this island has been most respectable and praiseworthy. Under all circumstances, then, Victorians, give him a reward suited to your means, your liberal feelings, and your sense of justice.—Ed.