CHAPTER XLVI.

Swan River.-Drunkenness.-Fights of the Aborigines.-Temperance Meeting. -Evils connected with the use of Spirits.-Explorators.-Weapons of the Blacks. Retribution.-Amount of Black Population, &c.-Jelly-fish.-Education.-Visit of the Blacks.-Birds, &c.—Aurora australis.-Intemperance of Seamen.-Revenge and Expiation of Injuries among the Aborigines.-Embarkation.-Peaceful Retrospect.

1st mo. 23rd. WE returned by a boat, to the Old Ferry, three miles from Freemantle, and walked the remainder of the way, which is over rough limestone and sand, and were glad to reach our former quarters again, notwithstanding, in some respects, they are far from what we could desire; especially in being at this time, the resort of a number of noisy, drunken sailors, belonging to a whaler, and some other vessels in the roads.

26th. Having received an invitation to attend another temperance meeting, at Perth, we returned thither. A large party of the Murray River Natives were crossing the Melville Water, at the Ferry, above Freemantle, as we passed. They were returning from Perth, were they had been to fight with the Natives of that neighbourhood, respecting a woman who had been carried off by the latter, and who was dreadfully speared by one of the party. While under excitement, they also killed a man, known by the name of Dobbin, who had rendered himself an object of dislike, by committing a robbery, some months ago, on a white man's premises. The white man went out on the spur of the moment, fired at the first Blacks he came at, and shot an unoffending young man. For this offence he was tried, and though not found guilty of murder, he was removed to King Georges

Sound, for his own safety. Many of the Blacks that we passed, were lame from spear-wounds in their legs or thighs, that they had received during their late conflict; this we also found to be the case with the Perth Natives, few of whom had escaped without injury. Before, and also some time after these battles, which appear to be affairs of honour with these untutored people, they have grand corroberries, or dances together! It is matter of surprise, that little care is taken by the civil authorities, to prevent these murderous combats, which sometimes take place in the towns, in the presence of white people, who remain passive spectators. In this instance, however, the chief constable drove them out of the town, got possession of some of their spears, broke them, and threatened to fire amongst them. I am aware that much difficulty attends interference with the customs of the Natives, but I am also satisfied, that if putting an end to these barbarous practices were an object of solicitude, on the part of the civil authorities, it would be effected.

At the Temperance Meeting, the provisions of the Act of Council, rendering it lawful for masters to pay one-third of the wages of their servants in spirits, were brought forward, by a person, who argued, that thus it was made compulsory on the servant, to accept one-third of the amount of his wages, in spirits. This sentiment was controverted by the Advocate General, who showed, that the Act only protected the master from penalty, in case the servant, at his own desire was paid in spirits, to this amount. There is reason, however, to believe, that the construction put upon it by the other party, is one, by which servants, in some instances, have been imposed upon. But too generally, the great avidity of servants to obtain spirits, has rendered it unnecessary, on the part of such masters, as wished them to take out a portion of their wages in this pernicious article, to force it upon them. The inducement of masters to sell spirits to their servants has been strong, from the large profit laid upon them. them. A settler on the Swan, who contracted to have a barn built for £80, acknowledged to a person of his acquaintance, that, in reality, the building only cost him £45, deducting the profit he derived from spirits and other

articles, taken by the contractors in lieu of wages! Thus have the hirelings been oppressed. This class of persons complained further, that when they had received onethird of their wages in spirits, the residue was often paid to them, in orders upon store-keepers, from whom there was, not unfrequently, little but spirits to be had, so that, at times, it was difficult for them to obtain a loaf of bread for their families. The capital of this Colony appears to have been drained out in spirits. Under these circumstances, and other difficulties, with disappointments of no ordinary character, which the settlers of Western Australia have had to contend with, it is no matter of surprise that numbers of the labouring class, as well as of persons of other descriptions, should have left its shores, and sought to better their condition in New South Wales and Van Diemens Land.

Many young men, who left their Native Country, with good characters for sobriety, have become drunkards, through the customs of the society to which they have been exposed, on ship-board, and after their arrival in the Colony. Numbers of these have filled the drunkard's grave, and others appear to be hastening thither, appalling examples of the debasing and enslaving influence of strong drink. It is generally admitted, that spirit-drinking is on the decline in the Colony, but a distillery has lately been established by a settler on the Swan River.

27th. We took tea with the Governor, in company with Captain Hardinge, of the Pelorus, and two young officers s; also a young man named Smith, who came out by the Eleanor, intending to join an exploratory expedition to the northward. This young man ultimately lost his life, through hunger and fatigue, when returning to Perth, from a subsequent exploratory expedition, with Captain Gray.

28th. We had a meeting in the evening with the inhabitants of Perth, in which ability was graciously afforded, to point out "which are the first principles of religion," and to illustrate the objects and spirit of the Lord's Prayer, and the necessity of guarding against drawing nigh unto God with the lip only, in the use of it.

M M

29th. We called upon a Wesleyan local preacher, who is an interesting instance of reformation, from the drinking habits that prevailed in the early stages of this Colony; when it is said, that few persons went to bed sober. As a specimen of some of their ideas of moderation, this person related, that, having made some comment to three of his men, respecting having taken more liquor than was good for them, they replied, that they had only had two bottles of rum among three of them, and they did not think that could be called excess! The Wesleyans have a neat little chapel in Perth. In a walk, I passed a large tribe of Natives, who were in a very agitated state, threatening, vociferating, and occasionally raising their spears: they appeared to be verging toward a combat, but I could not learn the occasion; groups of Blacks, and some white people were looking on, at a short distance. I also met with a few, little, naked, black boys, tending sheep. In this hot weather, the Blacks sleep in large groups, on the loose sand of the streets, drawing their cloaks over them. The men often wear bands about their loins, into which they stick their hammers, with the handle downwards, behind, which gives them the appearance of having a short tail. These hammers, which serve also, in some respects, as hatchets, are made of pebbles, fastened together, and to the handles, with the gum of the Grass-tree, mixed with ashes. The weapons of these Natives are of a more warlike character, than those of the Blacks of many other parts of Australia. Most of their spears are barbed with wood, and some have a ridge of sharp splinters of quartz-crystal, or of glass; these they call death-spears. The women dig up roots with a stick, about the thickness of a broom-stick, but longer, and sharpened at one end; they carry their provisions, and also their infants, for which they generally show great affection, in square, skin-bags, at their backs.

Francis Armstrong, the Government Interpreter to the Blacks, informed us, that when the young man, noticed on the 26th, as having been shot, was on the point of death, knowing that the theft of Dobbin, had occasioned to himself the fatal injury, that was fast hastening his dissolution, he was

overheard, requesting another of his countrymen to avenge his death; and though this was many months ago, yet when Dobbin was killed, the party who had been so charged, was overheard to address the departed youth, to this effect: -"There, my brother, his flesh is meat for thee." Some cases of cannibalism are said also to have been traced among these Natives.

It seems probable that the Aborigines, residing in different localities, within about 70 miles of Perth, and occasionally resorting thither, may amount to 1,000. The hunting grounds of these people, are the lands, of which the British Government has taken possession, without regard to the original proprietorship, yet professing to recognise the Blacks as British subjects. It is true, they are an uncivilized people, living on the wild produce of the earth, but they are, nevertheless, intelligent beings, and ought not to be treated with injustice. They have a strong claim upon the sympathies of the British public, and measures ought to be adopted for their instruction, and for preventing the effusion of blood, which sometimes takes place through mutual retaliation between them and the Whites, and at other times, through their own barbarous customs and superstitions. There are persons in Western Australia who would gladly co-operate in the work, but the Colony is too poor to do much, unless the principal supplies were furnished from Great Britain.

At one time, it was intimated, in a Swan River paper, that the language of the Aborigines was a mere jargon! but an intelligent individual acquired so much knowledge of it, as to prove its power of communicating ideas. Hostile views

against these people, at one period proceeded so far, as to meditate a war of extermination against them, but the same individual made so powerful an appeal against the injustice and iniquity of such a measure, that the settlers, convened at Guildford, on the occasion, inquired what they should do in the case. To this, the friend of the Aborigines replied, "Do, my dear Sirs, what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has commanded." And to the further question, "What is that?" he answered, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." The