Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

REPORT ON THE ABORIGINES OF
THE MURRAY AND LAKE DISTRICTS.
Crown Lands and Immigration Office, Adelaide,
January 25, 1859.
Sir—I have the honour to report that, in obedience to
your instructions, I left Adelaide on the 6th instant, for
the purpose of proceeding up the River Murray on a tour
of inspection of the various Aboriginal stations situate
thereon and at Goolwa, as well as generally to make
myself acquainted with the condition and wants or the
natives.
As the river steamer in which I took my passage was
proceeding no higher than the Junction of the Darling I
did not leave the boat at Overland Corner—the highest
of the present stations on the river—but went the whole
distance traversed by the Gnndagai, and thus had an
opportunity of seeing many natives in the New South
Wales territory, and especially a camp of about 25 at the
Junction.
On account of its being stated that it was the last
voyage of the season, I was compelled to secure my
return passage also in the Gundagai ; and, owing to her
having very little cargo and no barge in tow, she made
one of the most rapid trips on record, having occupied
but four and a quarter days in steaming to the Darliog,
and two and a half days only in returning to the Welling-
ton wood-pile, at which place I left the boat. I mention
this in order to aocount for ths very meagre character of
my report respecting the stations on the river.
I may here observe, before I enter into any particulars
with regard to the South Australian natives, that, not-
withstanding the facts that the aboriginal population is
much more numerous the higher you proceed up the
river, and that the New South Wales Government makes
no provision for their wants, those which I saw were
as well-conditioned, in every particular, as are our
natives ; and I was informed that such was generally the
case.
I only landed once on the Victorian side of the river,
where I saw about a dozen natives, who, however, seemed
hangers-on at the station, and appeared to be well cared
for.
The New South Wales Government has a regularly
organized native police, officered by Europeans, extend-
ing as for in our direction as Moorana—a depot some
distance below the Darling Junction. The constables'
pay is 2s. 6d. per diem, but they only receive 6d., the 2s.
being stopped for rations, &c.
Speaking or the numbers of the natives, I would state
that I was informed by Second Lieutenant Perry, or the
station just alluded to, that not less than 600 recently
assembled near the Junction for the purpose of a pitched
battle, but that he diverted the tribes from their pur-
pose, and dispersed the intending combatants.
The natives on the rirer, from the South Australian
boundary down to Lakes Alexandrina and Albert in-
clusive, are supervised by three officers only, viz., by—
Sub-Protector Mason, who, besides attending to the
wants of such sick or infirm individuals as choose to
locate themselves near his residence, visits in his sailing
boat those natives inhabiting the shores of the two
lakes, and up the river as high as Wall, a place about
40 miles above Wellington. He included Goolwa occa-
sionally, prior to the establishment of the depot there
under the auspices of the Aborigines' Friends' Society.
Police-trooper Sullivan, who takes from Wall upwards
to Moorundee (about 65 miles), and thence on to the
North-West Bend, 35 miles more by land, the place,
where the patrols, so far as the natives are concerned, of
himself and Corporal Besley meet, in the 120 miles of
water lying between their respective stations of Moorun-
dee and Overland Corner. And
Corporal Besley, who takes from the point last men-
tioned up to the boundary of the province, which cuts
the river about 80 miles beyond the Overland Corner
Station by land, or 140 by water.
Starting then from the South Australian boundary on
the Murray, and coming downwards, I have first to
allude to the 60 miles of river, or thoreabouts, lying
between that place and our last aboriginal depot at
Overland Corner Police-Station.
I learn that the native inhabitants of that tract are
somewbat numerous, and that at least 60 of them con-
sider Chowilla (about a dozen miles within our boun-
dary by river) as their chief camping place ; and that
during the season of the year in which supplies are
issued to the natives generally at Overland Comer, the
poor creatures are compelled to travel all the way to that
station (say about 25 miles by land) for the Government
rations.
As I have stated, Corporal Bealey's patrol extends past
Chowilla, and if a £10 iron store, similar to those pre-
viously purchased by this department, were to be sent ip
with the supplies of the first boat of the winter flood, it
could be erected at Chowilla, and rations, &c., be distri-
buted there periodically by Corporal Besley, as well as at
Overland Corner. Besley estimates the native popula-
tion in his district at 140 souls.
The next feeding depot on the river is at the Moorun-
dee Police Station, the issues being made by the officer in
charge, whose report to the 31st ultimo I append hereto,
as I was only on shore about five minutes at that place.
The natives of this district are computed by Police
trooper Sullivan at 66 souls.
The Moorundee depot was last year reopened, after re-
maining unsupplied for about two and a quarter years,
or since the services of Sub-Protector Scott were dis-
pensed with.
The depot at Overland Corner was first constituted in
August, 1853, and I now find it to be of more importance
as a station than the older one at Moorundee ; as I was,
on its formation, led to anticipate.
Sub-Protector Mason states that the natives in his
district have, during his residence on the river, become
reduced by one-half, and that they now number under
400 souls.
He divides them as follows in localities :—
From Wall (40 miles above Wellington) to Toombil-
lam, say a distanoe of 30 miles, about ..... ... 80
Thence to Point Pomond, on Lake Alexandrina, but
inclusive of a wandering tribe whose proper
country is on the north side of the Lake ... ... 75
Thence to Point Malcolm ... ... ... 35
Thence round Lake Albert ... ... ... ... 60
From Point Malcolm, westward, down to the Coo-
rang mouth ? ... ... . ... ... 33
Goolwa, Currency Creek, and Finniss tribes ... 50
Near the Angas, belonging to west side of Lake ... 45
375
The average number of those natives employed by
Europeans is about 70, and the average being constantly
fed by Mason is about 40 ; but when strong adverse
gales of wind prevail and prevent the numerous abori-
gines on the shores of the lakes from procuring fish—
their principal sustenance—he is then obliged to incresse
the issue or rations to a proportionate extent.
I should mention that at the various stations on the
river the people generally assembled to look at the
steamer, and I constantly observed the presence of
blacks amongst them, and wherever we stopped I saw
that they were well cared for by the settlers.
As an instance of how little the greatest kindness in
protecting and instructing even young natives operate
to eradicate their naturally-implanted taste for an un-
unsettled and idle life, I would report that on question-
ing some quite youug lads, who were pointed out to me
as having been inmates of the Poonindie Mission, as to
whether they would consent to return to that institution
to finish their education, they most unhesitatingly
declined.
The Aborigines' Friends' Society some time since
took in hand the special relief of the members of tribes
locating themselves at Goolwa Township, under the
supervision of a Mr. Allen. On my arrival at Goolwa I
waited on Mr. G. F. Allen, who informed me that there
were scarcely any natives encamped there, as all who
were able hod left for the harvest fields.
I, however, visited the camps, and succeeded in find-
ing nearly 50 persons ; but I ascertained that many
young natives had only arrived that day.
The sick and infirm that I saw certainly did not ex-
ceed half a dozen.
You are aware that at the first opportunity after the
expenditure became governmental the requisite supplies
were procured under contract in Adelaide and shipped to
Goolwa, where those articles are placed in the Govern
ment store, being afterwards withdrawn by Mr. Allen
for delivery in the shape of rations, twice weekly, at
Messrs. Goode & Allen's store.
I was credibly informed, both at Goolwa ana Port
Elliot, that the liberal ratiiulng of tin natives at tha
former place tad produced one very bid result, inasmuch
as formerly a considerable number wcro emplojed bj
tho rettlera and ihe Government, but thai now it is dif
ficult to induce any to work ; for although rations are
not issued indiscriminately to nil applicants, the able
bodied males who do not receive them will, rather than
work, catch a few fish andj oin stoak at meals with those
moro fortunae ones in the possession of Government
ra'ions.
Now as Mr. Jones, .tha Superintendent of the Tram
way, has ti no to distribute our stores at the Goolwa,
and is willing to undertake the duty, I beg to recom
mend tb.^t they be transferred to his custody for Issue.
ThU changei will afford him an opportunity, which at
present he does not possess, of securing the services of
the adult males when lie or other employers of labour
require them, and will, moreover, be beneficial in ether
reireots, . * ' f ? . t .
I next visited Port Elliot, at which place- 1- was in
formed that there were then about thirty natives, but ai
they were dispersed in their avocations I saw but few.
Captain Nation assured me that, although he was very
wHIIng to become the medium of distributing any
Government relierto them, yet at present he considered
it both unnecessary and undesirable, as the adults caa
readily procare fish for their own sustenance, and a!so
for sale; and, in addition to their earnings in that way,
they can always find employmeat in fetching wood,
water, &c for the inhabitants of the township.
As some relief may, perhaps, be necessary in the
winter, and as Captain Nation Is frequently absent on
duty, I would propose that an offer which Mr. Jones
made to mo, to take the responsibility of necessary issues
at Port Elliot aj well as at Goolwa, should bo availed of.
Having crossed the scrub to Willunga I arrived there
ontheevenlug of Friday, the 21st instant, and a few
minutes afterwards was surprised to see aboriginal
'Sam,' his wife 'Maria,' and their two children get
down from the Adelaide omnibus, dressed as well as
ordinary whites of the labouring class.
These people form part of the small remnant of the
AdelaiJo tribe whom, under your authority, I, in Sep
tember last, induced to quit the neighbourhood of Port
Adelaide, in order to 'sit down' permanently in the old
Court-Houie on the Eeservo, at WUlunga, in which dis
trict the males are regularly employed at certain seasons.
They, left Lefevre's Peninsula conformably with the
arrangement made, but I had heard no tidings of them
until our accidental meeting at Willunga ; and you may
be sure that Sam and his wife were no less astonished
than myself at the strange 'coincidence of my being
present to instal them in their new home.
The police-officer at once supplied them with soma
necessaries, as per instructions, and informed me that he
had that morning received a visit from some others of
the tribe, who leported that the whole fourteen would
be there in a few days— since which they have reached
the place.
Two young couples, members of this tribs, were
brought up in the Adelaide school, and are certainly the
most advanced specimens of aboriginal improvement I
have seen ; the males beinp good workmen, and all fonr
having decided European ideas and tastes.
In conclusion, I have satisfaction in reporting that
little or no sickness appeared anywhere to prevail, and
that the numb?r of infirm natives is very inconsiderable,
and nowhere could I hear of the present existence, to
any serious extent, of that borribis European disease
which has so seriously thinned their ranks. 2ndly. That
all the natives with whom I oame in contact, on the
river and lakes, expressed themselves highly satisfied
with the efforts which have recently been made for their
relief.- I hav-- Jtc,
' EDWD, W. HITCHIN. Secretary.
The Hon. F. S. Dutton, Commissioner of Crown
Lands and Immigration. '
$