The Last of the Tasmanians

by James Bonwick

FERN TREE VALLEY NEAR HOBART TOWN

THE

LAST OF THE TASMANIANS;

OR,

The Black War of Van Diemen's Land.

BY

JAMES BONWICK, F.R.G.S.

FELLOW OF THE LONDON ETHNOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETIES, AND FORMERLY
AN INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, VICTORIA.

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS, AND COLOURED ENGRAVINGS.

LONDON:
SAMPSON LOW, SON, & MARSTON,
CROWN BUILDINGS, FLEET STREET.

MDCCCLXX.

[All Rights reserved.]

LONDON:
R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS,
BREAD STREET HILL.

PREFACE.

---

My simple object in the publication of this book was to make known some facts of colonial history not collected by another. It is just possible that my own deep interest in the fate of the Lost Tribes may have led me to overvalue the importance of that knowledge. To me the story of the Tasmanians is so romantic, so affecting, so suggestive, that I, perhaps, have erred in deeming the public sensitive to such sympathies. Anyhow, a sense of duty has actuated the literary venture. Others had laboured for me; I did but return a little.

The critic's forbearance is respectfully solicited. I am conscious of irregularity of style, if not of graver faults. The apology is, that most of the book was written on the voyage from Australia; and those who know the constant disturbing influences of ship-board, and the absolute deprivation of quiet privacy, will be ready to accord me their indulgence.

The difficulties of collecting materials for such a work must be considered. It was not a mere hunt through Blue Books. The forest depths, the sultry plain—the homes of peace, the dens of penal woe—have each brought something to the store. The laugh of the Bushman, the sigh of gentle womanhood, the grief at lost affection, the curse from some remembered wrong, have been the varied accompaniments of tales thus told.

The returning of thanks to those who have aided my efforts is a pleasing duty. Yet where so many individuals have been kind it is not easy to name a few. To the Government officials of New South Wales and Tasmania I am under much obligation. The early records of both colonies were unreservedly submitted to my inspection. To the Australian Library of Sydney, the noble Public Library of Melbourne, and the Parliamentary Libraries of the Colonies, I am also much indebted.

If this simple narrative of the Tasmanians excite some benevolent desire to bless the rude tribes left beneath our sway, my object is accomplished.

The Second Part, soon to follow the present historical work, will speak of the Tasmanians in their home, and everyday life. It may be regarded as a sequel to the book in hand. The one traces their career as a nation; the other will bring them in their individuality before us. We shall see them at their meals, their sports, their sick couch, and their grave. Their songs and laughter will be heard, and their dark traditions told.

Should the British and American public listen favourably to the story of the Tasmanians, other chapters of early colonial days, as singular as they are interesting, may be unfolded.

It is with humble confidence in the sympathy of philanthropists, and a respectful reliance on the generosity of Anglo-Saxons in both hemispheres, that the book is launched upon the waters of the literary world.

James Bonwick.

Acton, London, October 18, 1869.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. VOYAGERS TALES OF THE TASMANIANS.
The First Battle	3
Captain Cook's Visit	5
The French Visit in 1792	9
Flinders and Bass at the Derwent	15
Péron's Visit in 1802	18
The French and the Wood-nymphs	23
CHAPTER II. THE BLACK WAR.
Massacre of the Blacks in 1804	32
Destruction of Public Records	39
Kidnapping Black Boys	41
Michael Howe's Black Mary	47
Chase after Stock-keepers	50
Colonel Sorell's Order of 1819	53
CHAPTER III. CRUELTIES TO THE BLACKS.
Cruelty of Early Settlers	59
Cruelty of Bushrangers	61
Spanish and Dutch Cruelties	68
CHAPTER IV. OUTRAGES OF THE BLACKS.
Hanging of Two Aborigines	75
The Demarcation Order of 1828	78
Martial Law	82
Pictorial Proclamation	85
Proclamation of October 1830	89
Mosquito and the Tame Mob	98
Execution of Mosquito and Black Jack	103
Cruelties of the Blacks	107
A Hand left in the Trap	111
Bravery of a Half-caste Wife	121
Chastity of White Women respected	125
Time of Terror	129
CHAPTER V. THE LINE.
Proclamation for Volunteers	133
Arrangements for the Capture	143
Leaders and Numbers in the Line	151
Savage's Tale of the Savages	158
Mr. Walpole caught a Black	163
Siege of the "Three Thumbs"	169
£80,000 for One Black	173
Egg-gatherers break through a Line	179
CHAPTER VI. CAPTURE PARTIES.
Leaders of Parties	182
John Batman, the Blacks' Friend	189
The Sydney Black Guides	193
A Night at Ben Lomond	198
Gilbert Robertson, the Leader	201
Jorgen Jorgenson, the Dane	206
CHAPTER VII. GEORGE AUGUSTUS ROBINSON, THE CONCILIATOR.
Bruni Island Depôt	213
Truganina, the beautiful Tasmanian	217
The Conciliatory Mission	220
Robinson's Capture of a Tribe	223
Triumphal Entry into Hobart Town	229
Truganina saves Robinson's Life	233
CHAPTER VIII. FLINDERS ISLAND.
Swan Island Depôt	243
Gun Carriage Island	245
Flinders Island Depôt	247
Visit of the Quaker Missionaries	251
Life of Aborigines on Flinders Island	253
Mr. Clark, the Catechist	259
School Examination of the Natives	260
Dr. Jeanneret, the Commandant	267
Dr. Milligan removes Natives from Flinders	270
CHAPTER IX. OYSTER COVE.
Author's Visit to the Natives at Oyster Cove	274
Death of Mr. Clark	277
Maryann and Walter	282
CHAPTER X. THE SEALERS.
Home life of Sealers' Women	295
Robinson removes the Women to Flinders	300
The Qnakers and the Sealers	305
CHAPTER XI. HALF-CASTES.
Murder of Half-castes	311
Fecundity of Mixed Races	318
Bishop Nixon's Visit to the Straits' Half-castes	317
Bong and her Daughter Dolly	321
CHAPTER XII. NATIVE RIGHTS.
Legal Rights	327
Hanging of Four Tasmanians	331
CHAPTER XIII. CIVILIZATION.
Whately's Degradation Theory	385
Effects of Civilization	348
Drink and Civilization	347
Walter, the civilized Tasmanian	352
An Aboriginal Discourse	354
Mr. Wedge's Black Boy	355
Failure of Australian Missions	365
Christian Tasmanians	367
CHAPTER XIV. DECLINE.
Amalgamation of Races	378
Decline, a "Decree of Providence"	375
Hawaiian and Maori Decline	379
Drink, the great Destroyer	381
Story of the civilized Mathinna	388
Count Strzelecki's Theory of Decline	387
Lanné, the Last Man	398
Lalla Rookh, the Last Tasmanian	399

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

COLOURED PLATES.
To face page
Fern Tree Valley, near Hobart Town Frontispiece
Attack on a Settler's Hut	51
The Corra Linn of Northern Tasmania	364
WOODCUTS.
Mother and Child. (Péron's "Voyage")	23
Tasmanian Woman. (Péron's Arra Maida)	25
Tasmanian. (Péron's Grou-Agara)	26
Pictorial Proclamation for the Blacks	84
Mr. Robinson on his Conciliation Mission. (From Mr. Duterreau's great picture)	210
Wooreddy, Truganina's Husband. (From Mr. Duterreau's portrait)	217
Manalagana. (From Mr. Duterreau's portrait)	218
Fac-similes of Autographs	268
Wapperty, a Tasmanian Woman. (Photographed by Mr. Woolley)	279
Patty, the Ring-tailed Opossum. ((Photographed by Mr. Woolley)	280
Patty in Oyster Cove Holiday Costume. (Photographed by Dr. Nixon, Lord Bishop of Tasmania)	280
Bessy Clark, of Oyster Cove. ((Photographed by Mr. Woolley)	281
Walter George Arthur, and his Wife Maryann the Half-Caste.	282
William Lanné, the Last Man. (By Mr. Woolley, 1866)	393
Lalla Rookh, or Truganina, the Last Woman. (Photographed by Mr. Woolley, 1866)	399