appeared enraged, came up to him. and used most violent, and threatening gestures; he however, hurried away, without raising his spear, further than to evince his determination of bringing it into exercise at some future period.
The only manner in which we can account for this threat, is, that Mr. Watson has frequently repeated to many of his tribe a determination to shoot him.
Preston Point, April 12th, 1833
To the Editor of the Perth Gazette,
- Sir,
I beg leave to avail myself of the opportunity, which your columns will, I trust, afford me of returning my sincere thanks to the inhabitants generally of Fremantle, as also to those gentlemen (from residents, but who happened to be there) for the very kind feeling evinced by their prompt aid and assistance this day on hearing the report of my premises having been destroyed, and Mrs. Weavell speared by the natives.—I regret exceedingly, a report so groundless should have been spread, thereby occasioning so much trouble, and probably inconvenience to many who instantanously left their homes and business, to render every assistance in their power, and shall at all times think of the circumstance with gratified rememberance.
- I am Sir,
- Yous "Respectfully
- JOHN WEAVELL.
- Yous "Respectfully
- I am Sir,
We are told it is in contemplation to form a station at the flats, in order to command the native pass. This is a wise and most essential measure.
CANNIBALISM.—Lord HOWICK moved for permission to bring in a bill to empower the Governors and Council of New South Wales to make such regulations as may be necessary to prevent outrages being committed by British subjects in the South Sea Islands, In reply to questions from one or two Members as to the object of this Bill, his Lordship stated that the courts of New South Wales had the power of punishing offences committed in the colony, but if an offence were committed in New Zealand they had no means of bringing the delinquent before them. And in fact, in consequence of this defect in the law, a most atrocious offender had escaped with impunity. The Captain of a British ship, who had not been able to get a cargo of slaves, assisted one tribe of savages in decoying another, and actually permitted them to be slaughtered and eaten on board British vessel. Owing to the want of power to bring this man before the Courts, he escaped unpunished. Leave was given to bring in the Bill.
We have given insertion to Mr. Lyon's "Glance at the manners, and language of the Aborigines" without venturing an opinion as to its accuracy, from a conviction of our inability justly to estimate his statements without submitting them to test of experience; however, in lending ourselves to the promulgation of his opinions, by no means let it be infered that we subscribe to the whole of his deductions. The subject of the treatment of the natives, necessary to effect the grand object of pacification, is one of infinite perplexity, and the most desirable method, can only be arrived at by a knowledge of their manners and language; to attain this end, we have opened our columns for the discussion, which we hope will tend to remove individual prejudices, and establish one general sentiment throughout the Colony. There is considerable merit due to Mr. Lyon, for his application and research, in this difficult, and complicated enquiry, consequently although we withhold our opinion upon the individual merits of his 'Glance &c.'—we still think the following anonymous contribution, by no means handles the subject with that minute criticism which can establish it, as an effectua, contradiction to his assertions
It must be allowed Mr. Lyon has taken great pains to collect materials to form a Vocabulary, and his deductions, whether from premises or not, it requires no magician to define, will merely be received as those of an individual, and estimated accordingly by the public, into whose hands we commit Mr. Lyon and his anonymous oponent, reserving any further remarks, gleaned from general opinion, until the whole has been submitted to that severe but accurate test.
Perth, April 9th, 1833
Mr. Editor,
In a 'Glance at the manners' &c. of the natives in your paper of the 30th March, we have abundance of assertion—deductions, I presume, from premises, but without any statement of these premises. And as the assertions are much at variance with what is generally reported, permit me to call to recollection a few well known facts.
The first or almost the first interview with the natives after the establishment of the Colony, was a furious and wholly unprovoked demonstration of every thing but amity and kindness, by a native near Woodman's Point to a party of officers of H.M. ships Challenger and Sulphur.
The first natives seen on the Canning seized and endeavoured to run off with a swan that was shewn to them.
Before the month of Nov., 1829, a corporal of the 63d Regt, who separated from his party and lost his way, was received by a number of natives in a most hostile manner, and only saved his life with his musket: and two boats far up on the Swan were beset in an inimical manner, and one of them attempted to be, if not actually robbed by those who are declared to be 'a harmless, liberal, and kind hearted race'
The second exploring party that entered the South branch of the Estuary of the Murray, had to defend themselves against an utterly unprovoked attack with their fire arms.
The first months after the establishment of the Settlement of King George's Sound were characterised by the hostility of the natives, and their deceitful stealing upon our people at work in the woods, for the purpose of spearing them.
The tribes in the vicinity of King George's Sound with whose manners and customs we are best acquainted, are well known to be generally thieves, liars, cheats. Their expertness and deception would not do discredit to the accomplished swindler. They secretly steal upon the unsuspecting, attack the old and infirm, or the young and powerless, in sacrificing, if we may call it so, to the mains of their departed relatives, and consequently without courageously risking their own bodies in open and fair battle. If one has done another an injury, revenge is sought by cunning and duplicity.
The deceit and impertinence of the natives are daily complained of by the inhabitants of Perth at this very moment.
I pass over many instances of ingratitude for good treatment, of requiting liberality and kindness with depredation and outrage, when opportunity served them, because in their common intercourse with us it is difficult to separate retaliation from wanton trespass and assault.
'Martial courage' is displayed by a native in the same way that a dog trampled upon, will instantly seize the offender, and will immediately slink away from fear.—It is not the martial courage of a declared foe we have to dread in the natives, it is the dastard duplicity of the secret assassin and incendiary.
For all this I do not wish to countenance the inhuman and more than savage treatment which the natives have too often experienced from individual persons. Nor do I mean to condemn the original possessors of the soil, unheard and untried. They are endowed with mental faculties which if properly directed, might be turned to our and their advantage. To give this direction, the power of interchanging ideas, is the first step. But those who may be appointed to obtain such power, should be more than linguists; they should possess a quick comprehension, a sound and cool judgment, and a fearless rectitude of action.
(Continued.)
Ngooljar, a friend; a bosom friend. See Ngoolya Gaen, an acquaintance; one of the same tribe.
Nulboo, a girdle—made of the fur of the opossum
Dyrgee, a band round the head, also made of the fur of the opossum
Bidang, feathers, stuck in the hair ornamentally
Booka, a mantle; a kangaroo skin thrown over the shoulders
Wardogoodye, a woman's mantle fastened under the chin. See wardo. See also goodye
Goodoo, that in which the child is carried
Wardo-goodyenee, a diminitive evidently from the preceeding word; a child's mantle
Willong, a covering for either a house or a person; a shelter of any sort
Boorno, a pin of wood, by which the mantle is fastened under the chin. See Boorno
Woonda, a string of platted hair, fastening woman's mantle. See Wonda-ngoon
Moolyatut, an ornament for the nose; a bone, or feather, passed through between the nostrils. See moolya
Wilgee, a red pigment with which they adorn themselves
Gidye, a spear
Mun-gor, a barb; gidye-mun-gor, a barbed spear
Moolya, the point of a spear. See moolya
Meero, a womera; a board tapering at both ends, made to throw the spear
Koilee, a curved stick, with which they kill the cockatoo, and other birds
Ngardu, an ax, made of sharp stones; for the purpose of barking dead trees in search of grubs See ngardu
The handle, a plain piece of wood, is lined near the end, on one side with the gum of the red gum tree; and the sharp stones are set in the gum.
Mindat, sick
Baloomay, an operation performed on the patient, by rubbing the body near the part affected, and clapping the hands, or snapping the fingers. It seems to be intended to operate as a charm
Tabea, to die; to sleep; to lie down; to be buried. So also in English, to die, is only to sleep. See the New Testament in various places. This would lead us to suppose that they have some idea of a resurrection, and a life to come. In burying, the tribes of Derbal, fill in the grave in the usual manner. But the tribes to the southward, leave it open, arching it over with wood and place the body under the arch in a sitting posture, with the face towards the East. This is another proof that their ancestors came from the old world; and were probably descended from the Chaldeeans, or their neighbours. For the first idolaters were all worshippers of the sun; and, in the act, stood with their faces towards the East See cap. 16.
The spear and womera of the warrior, agreeable to the common practice of all the barbarous nations of antiquity, are planted by the grave.
Goaaween, to laugh
Moorangween, to weep. How like the English word, to mourn. See Moorat
Nynow, to sit down, properly with the hands folded
Boneetdngowl, to lie down with the knees crossed.
See Boneet
Windaween, to lie down
Beedjar, sleep. This is the term by which they reckon both time and distance. Not so many days; but so many beedjars; that is so many sleeps, or nights; night being the proper time for sleep. Low as these people have fallen in the scale of humanity, they have not yet become so mad as to violate the laws of nature, after the example of the fashionable world; who turn night into day and day into night. See Boodjar
Mingala, to close the eyes. See mingat
Boneelanugaween, to kneel down
Yeeramanugaween, to stand up
Derboween, to swim.
Bardoo, to walk
Goongoo, a path.
Yukameeroodyebit, to run
Titown-kanweeng, to dance.
Gagaloornee, to wash
Gagaloomee-naboing, to wash the face, or person
Dogalier? who is this? or what is this person's name
Uriarouree? how do you do? properly to shake hands
Nindyawnee, to kiss.
Ngandit, very bad
Booyee, to eat. See booyee
Doorguree, to drink. See doorgat
Maryn, food, victuals.
Boen, flesh, a piece of meat
Dadya, birds cooked. See dyeeda
Dooburn, disageeable to the taste; bad
Booranyak. hungry.
Mooradabeen, full
Garoo, in Beeliar, more.
Gan, upon
