|
 Rev.
Christopher Eipper was a Presbyterian minister and
school teacher in Paterson, New South Wales in 1848 and
later also taught at other schools in the Hunter Valley.
However a decade before this he led an adventurous
existence as a Missionary to Aborigines in Queensland. He
was twenty eight years old when he and his wife Harriett
emigrated to Australia with other German missionaries
recruited by Reverend J.D. Lang.
In
January
1838
they arrived on the fever ship 'Minerva' in which
many passengers had became ill with typhus fever
and consequently died.
Fellow
missionary Gottfried Wagner, also twenty eight years old,
suffered with the disease but recovered. Leopold Zillman's wife Clara also
recovered. Moritz Schneider wasn't so fortunate. He perished while
still in quarantine in February. Schneider's pregnant wife Maria
survived.
By April 1838 the
missionaries had
arrived at Moreton Bay where a station was formed
on a hill at Nundah which they named Zion hill. It was situated
seven miles north of Brisbane town and two miles from the
government cattle station at Eagle farm, (a former agricultural
settlement and female factory). They cleared ground
for cultivation and by 1841 eleven thatched or bark roofed slab
cottages with enclosed yards, kitchens and storehouses had been
built on the ridge.(4)
They cultivated crops to support themselves but also as a means of
contact and influence over the natives.
They were often
short of funds. They did receive assistance from abroad and in
1841 three large cases of clothing and other useful items were
received from the 'friends of the Mission' at Berlin.
Despite this, and although the government allotted land for the
Mission and contributed financially, there was still a desperate
need for funding and supplies which they hoped to receive via
donations from the public. Rev. Mr. Schmidt visited Sydney
from Moreton Bay in October 1841 and with a view to encouraging
public support, probably brought with him this interesting account
of the Rev. Eipper's expedition which was later published in
The Colonial Observer.
Observations made on a journey to the natives at Toorbal August
2nd 1841 by the Rev. Christopher Eipper, of the Moreton Bay German Mission
AUGUST 2ND
1841 - Mr. Eipper left with Mr. Wagner, Zion's hill, about noon, under
the guidance of three natives, Wunkermany and the two brothers,
Wogann, who carried their provisions on their heads. The direction
in which we went was nearly north. Our way led us this day over a
soil similar to that which is found near our own place. Towards
evening we reached a small creek, which we had to cross - as it
was ebb tide we could get over without being obliged to take off
our garments. On the opposite side our natives made a little stay,
because they had found a tree emerging out of the water, which was
eaten through with worms called Coppra; and these worms appeared
to afford them a delicious repast. Every worm had made his own
channel; they are of a milk white colour, with a brown stripe
along the back; they taste not bad, although to a European palate
they are not very inviting. It is remarkable in what a variety of
ways these natives find their support; and it would be interesting
to know how they first discovered the various objects which are
now the constituent parts of their sustenance. The value of a
tomahawk can only be estimated when all these ways are known.
Here, for instance, they might have got some Coppras, without such
an implement, by breaking as many branches off the trees as their
strength would permit; but with the assistance of my tomahawk they
cut the tree into pieces, and clearing the same obtained every
worm it contained.
We were to encamp for the night near this river, but as the
place where fresh water is generally found was dry, we were
obliged to go three miles farther, until we came to the border of
a swamp, where we halted. It is the custom of the natives to
encamp in the neighbourhood of fresh water, although they do not
always seem to consider their convenience, for sometimes they have
to go a great length to fetch water. We had expected that our
guides would have made huts for us, as they did for our brethren,
who had made this journey before, but we were disappointed; they
thought, probably, that in addition to our clothes we might be
content to enjoy the same comfort which they had, viz that of a
large fire. Mr. W. however knowing, from experience, that we should
find it very cold to sleep without a shelter at this time of the
year, set himself to the construction of a hut with sticks and
grass, which we made the natives pull out of the ground. We soon
found the comfort thereof; and were taking some cold food, when
our attention was arrested by a very loud calling of our black
friends. It was soon evident that no mortal foe disturbed them,
for then they would have armed themselves, or called for our
assistance. On enquiring about the cause, we were first told to be
silent, for Wunkermany was speaking to the Devil; but when we
persisted in asking, they replied, that the Devil was taking hold
of the moon with his two arms, to eat it up, and would not let it
go. They then began to call the name of every one of their tribe
three times, fearful lest they should forget any one; which they
did for two reasons - first, in order to frighten the Devil by
naming all their mighty men an boys, and then to secure themselves
against his power over them in death. For it is the devil who
would swallow up every soul, which rises into the air after its
separation from the body; and nothing but their great lamentations
for the dead, accompanied with cutting their bodies and beating
their heads with sharp instruments, will move him at last to let
the departed soul fly off to England. Their manner of treating
with the Devil was, however, in this instance by no means
reverential. From single expressions, which we could catch, it
appeared that they scolded him, calling him every bad name their
language afforded, and frequently cursed him, so that it is a
wonder he is moved at all, by their thus speaking to him to let
them off, and not rather provoked to destroy them. Deplorable as
the condition of these wretched men is rendered by such
superstitions, we could not keep our gravity when beholding and
hearing them thus engaged to contend with Satan, as they were
doing for nearly the two hours which this total eclipse of the
moon lasted. Every where we were told this ceremony was performed
by the natives on this occurrence. So great had been their fear an
anxiety, that they would neither move nor eat anything while it
lasted; but when it was over, they laughed themselves at the
Devil. It was, however, in vain to endeavour to convince them of
their error by a rational explanation of the phenomenon; this was,
they said, what the white man believed, but it was not for the
black man. Afterwards, they requested us to speak very loud to
some strange natives, whom they said they heard approach our
encampment, for it was not now a proper time to come. When we told
them that they were mistaken, they replied, that they had
distinctly heard the noise of some men's steps at a distance. We
had our evening worship during this eclipse, and told them to be
silent while we spoke to God, which was much better than to scold
the Devil, who had no power over those who belong to the Lord
Jesus Christ; nor were such afraid that he would eat up the moon.
Our rest was not interrupted; but when towards daybreak, the fire
got low, we awoke with cold limbs, and had to search for wood to
renew the fire. By this were taught to provide for the future in
the evening the wood for keeping up the fire at night, as we
observed the natives themselves do.
TUESDAY AUGUST
3RD 1841. - Early in the morning we continued our
journey towards the second river which we had to cross; it is
called the Pine River, although there are but few pines on its
banks; (we ascertained afterwards that this river empties itself
into the Bay under the name Eden River, given, to it by Mr.
Petrie, who traced it from the Bay in his boat; and this river and
the one we crossed yesterday are two arms of the Eden, which unite
before they reach the sea). After a tedious walk through high and
wet grass, and crossing the river about nine o'clock, we
stopped to take breakfast at a camp of the natives, some of whom
were present. As we had yet a good supply of potatoes, we parted
with a few, chiefly to make the burdens of our guides lighter. In
these intervals of rest we were chiefly engaged in collecting
words of the different tribes. Our path led us now through a more
mountainous part, whilst hitherto we had gone over a rich alluvial
soil. In the afternoon we beheld the Bay, and to the right the
path to Umpie Boang or Old Settlement, was pointed out; but as
there was no smoke visible, our guides concluded that the natives
of that place had gone to Toorbal, which is the native name for
Ninga Ninga.
Towards evening, our direction being still the same, we came to
the banks of another river or creek of the same breadth as the
Pine River; it was however pretty deep, as it was flood tide.
Having crossed it, we went over a tract of rich soil, followed by
a marshy plain, until we arrived at the last river on our journey.
Its native name is Kaboltur; among the whites it is called
Deception River; its breadth is considerable; and it had risen to
such a height that one of our guides, by whom we had been forsaken
on account of a piece of pork, and who had wished to hasten on
before us, had not ventured to cross the river alone, and thus we
found him here again. The night was coming on, and the sky
threatened rain, but we had no choice left, as we could not spend
the night on the marsh on this side of the river, so we were
obliged to cross it, and reached safely the opposite shore,
although we had to go up to our chins into the water. When we had
reached dry land, we encamped for the night; the natives joked
again about the Devil's eating the moon last night.
In the middle of the day, when going down a hill, one of our
guides missed a girl, which had been given to him as his future
wife; all were thrown into the greatest consternation, for they
said that the relations of the girl would beat them if they had
permitted her to be stolen by strange natives. These poor
creatures appear never to enjoy security; they would immediately
have returned to the pine River, or even to Zion's Hill, if the
girl, who had only missed the path, had not been fortunately
found.
This girl is now already fulfilling the duties of a wife to her
future husband; and we have had occasion to observe what a useful
commodity their women are to the natives, as they are chiefly
expected to procure the necessary food, which has always more
certain than that which the men are engaged to find. Single men,
who would of course think it beneath their dignity to go in
search of roots, we observed, were regularly supplied every day
with a bundle of roots by one or other of the women, when
returning from the swamps.
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 4TH 1841. - The next morning we found that we had
not been far from the coast; for after about one mile's walk we
saw the bay again, and were told that now our way would lead along
the sandy beach to Toorbal. The bay assumes, with the promontory
of the old settlement to Toorbal, a semi circular shape. Moreton
Island is seen at a distance running from south to north. Our
guides took a little time here to gather the flowers of the
honeysuckle tree, which they sucked. The stamin of this flower, or
rather cob, are moistened with a clear and sweet juice, but as in
sucking it so much of the pollen becomes mixed with it, it loses
much of its good taste. About noon, after reaching the north
corner of the bay, we turned westward, and soon met the lady of
his Majesty the King of Toorbal employed in digging dangum, which
is the native name of the root hitherto called bangwall. Here we
stopped to take dinner; for our guides had told us we should not
let our provisions be seen, as the natives were so greedy; it
became, however, evident, by what we afterwards experienced that
none were more greedy than these worthies themselves. We then went
still westward, and were saluted by a number of women, engaged in
digging dangum, after having crossed a very disagreeable swamp
well nigh a mile long. We were received very cordially, but were
struck with the coldness and indifference which the natives
evinced at meeting each other; we observed the same indifference
on arriving at the camp, about four o'clock; it was just the time
when another division of women returned from gathering oysters, who
freely gave us a good deal as they passed us. The first thing we
had to do was to erect a good hut of sticks and grass, which, by
the approach of night was nearly finished, and then we left it
alternately to pay our particular brothers our first visit. Our
hosts gave us what their houses could afford viz., oysters and
pounded dangum; they would immediately have us sit down and chat
with them. But we had soon occasion to witness some of the natives
own ways; the king had stolen an axe belonging to one of our
guides, which he had left in the keeping of his mother; he had all
the way been talking that he would beat the king for it, but we
gave no great heed to it; as soon, however, as the pounding of dangum had ceased, he arose, took his two waddies, and, standing
at the side of our hut, commenced his charge with a loud voice,
ending with a challenge to the king to fight him. All was
immediately deep silence, and from a great distance an answer was
returned; the words grew hotter on both sides, and one or two
others added now and then a few remarks. Our guide now ran forward
but came soon back, saying that the king was coward. Here the
matter ended. Afterwards the king paid us several visits when
passing by without any sign of hostility on either side. Several
evenings during our stay there such occurrences took place, but by
our interfering between the contending parties, which they did not
seem to dislike, the quarrels were settled without blows. Such was
the eagerness of all to listen to what was spoken on such
occasions that when ever any one was heard to speak in that way
after the evening meal had been taken, we scarcely could get any
information from our neighbours or guides of the cause of the
quarrel.
THURSDAY
AUGUST 5TH 1841. - The next morning we went to the sea
coast, to the place where the natives gather oysters and catch
fish; it was a part of the bay, apparently quite enclosed with
land, but we afterwards ascertained that it has an outlet into the
sea to the northward - Mr. Petrie calls in Deception Bay. Thus, Moreton Bay has four openings, the south passage, which is only
passable for boats; the passage at Amity Point, which is now used;
the north passage, between Moreton Island and Yarun, and the
passage through Deception Bay, ending at Head Petre. Opposite the
main land, on a protruding point of which we stood, is a large
island running from south to north, called Yarun by the natives;
and another not so large lies westward, in which direction is the
glasshouse mountains; nine in number, of very striking appearance
and conical shape were visible. Some smaller islands or rather
groups of trees, are seen between Yarun and the mainland, where
the oysters are found in the mud at low water.
FRIDAY AUGUST
6TH 1841- This morning we went with some of the
natives to see the spot where the solemnity of making kippers is
to take place; its distance from the camp is about one mile and a
half; no woman or child is permitted to come near. On the way, the
natives killed snake, but as it had no fat they did not eat it.
This place is called Bool, and has the figure of a large basin
twenty one feet in diameter, surrounded by an earthen wall about
two feet high; the whole place is cleared of the grass, which is
pulled up by the roots; it has also an outlet to the southward, by
a ditch about three feet wide and half a mile long. There the
kippers are led to their huts, which during the time of their
trial are separate from the rest. At one place along this reach
are found the rude figure of a kangaroo and a seahog, by which it
is intended the young fellows should be frightened when passing
along. It appeared that the clearing of this ground was allotted
to certain individuals in equal parts; so the natives told us,
adding that some who were lazy had not yet done their work.
The rest of the day we spent in visiting and conversing with
the natives, as opportunities were offered. Daily some had gone to
catch Kangaroos, but had not been successful; and from what we
afterwards observed we may justly say that by the mode of life,
which these natives lead, not only their whole time every day is
taken up in procuring their food, but that even then they are not
always rewarded for their toil. Besides the women's time is also
entirely taken up in digging roots and gathering oysters; but,
what they generally contribute to the sustenance, is surer to be
obtained, and constitutes their main support. The men may be said
to provide the meat, but the women the bread. As regularly
as the former go a hunting, or fishing, so regularly do the latter
go for oysters or dangum. But although it is certain that the men
derive greater pleasure from the chase and from fishing, than the
women when drudging in the swamps, yet it is doubtful from their
natural indolence, whether they would either hunt or fish, if they
were not compelled to it by hunger.
SATURDAY
AUGUST 7TH 1841. - Mr. W. Went to see the mode of the
women in gathering oysters; they were at the same place, where we
had been the day before. There was a canoe, in which they rowed to
one of the small Islands above mentioned, where they gathered the
oysters out of the mud into the boat. When they had thus gathered
a great quantity, they went back to the shore, and made a fire,
into which all the oysters were put, to cleanse them from the
mud, and being thus stewed at the same time they are eaten and
taste very well. The natives had been boasting, when inviting us
to their places, that it would suffice for one man, to eat three
oysters, and then he would feel satisfied; we never saw any one
content with three oysters, nor did we ourselves feel any
reluctance to eat more than three. In the same manner they had
been saying, that one man had enough to do to carry one fish; we
never saw any one groaning under his load, nor had we any
difficulty to eat up any fish they gave us. |
The next day was Sabbath, the 8th May, which we spent as
quietly as we could. We cannot, however, refrain from saying, that
as long as these natives have no other mode of life, they will
never be able to keep a Christian Sabbath, though they were
Christians; they cannot be expected to fast, yet they get scarcely
sufficient for each day; it is true, that at times they may have
abundance of fish, but taking it altogether, it may with truth be
stated, that they have barely sufficient food for every day, and
having no regular meals they are always hungry. This observation
gives us, in one point of view, some satisfaction, as it is
confirmation, that the plan upon which our Mission is conducted,
is fully adapted to their peculiar situation; for while
endeavouring impart unto them a knowledge of divine things, were
are also teaching and assisting them to procure their livelihood
in a laborious and surer way; and should the Divine Spirit move
their hearts to believe the Gospel, their former mode of life will
be no obstacle in the way of its acceptation.
MONDAY AUGUST
9TH 1841 - We went to have a view of the neighboring
island, Yarun, to which its inhabitants had invited us. For this
purpose we had to cross two arms of the bay in a canoe of the
natives, which was just large enough to hold us both and two young
men to row it. These canoes consist of one piece or sheet of bark,
each end of which is gathered up into a bundle, a stick forced
through it to form it into the shape of a bow. The edges of the
sheet are strengthened with strong pieces of split cane, which
are fastened on with small cords of cane wound over them and
carried through small holes of the bark; two or three ties are
fastened across these edges at different places, lest the sides
should bend so low as to let the water in. Our vessels were thus
Certainly not very convenient, as we had to sit almost immoveable
and could not stretch our feet; yet it was comparatively safe, at
least, the natives, who love life as well as any one, consider it
to be so; they know well that their vessel cannot stand against
wind and waves, therefore they would not venture to cross if the
sea were ruffled but slightly. The natives of Toorbal had all along
expressed a desire that we should cultivate ground at their own
places of abode, and especially Naimany, the Lord of Yarun, wished
us to do so on his island, but we found the soil very sandy, so
that we could think of acceding to his wishes. We went across the
island to the sea cost, when we found that we were about seven
miles outside Moreton Bay, Moreton Island lying to the southwest
from us. Our two natives had not taken the least provision with
them; they had only tasted a little dangum on our arrival on the
island in the morning which some old women had given them; they
would therefore fain have staid on the beach to gather nugire, a
small shell fish in a blue shell (in taste it resembles that of
the oyster) and dig dangum in the neighbouring swamps. The sky
was, however, threatening rain, and as we heard that on the
beach, opposite the mainland, large huts would be found, we
crossed the island again, and spent the night in one of those
huts. They were certainly the best constructed and largest huts we
ever have seen, some about twenty feet in length and all well
covered; the sticks which formed the frame work were so nicely
joined, that they might remind one of a gothic archway. As a small
fire could not be kept up inside without being incommoded by the
smoke, we were very warm and comfortable, for without, the wind and
waves were howling dreadfully, so that we had scarcely any hope to
be able to cross Deception Bay the next morning. Here we took our
last provisions for supper, of which our hungry boatsmen also
partook. The next morning the wind blew very fresh, but fell off
about ten o'clock; we had fortunately espied a canoe on the beach,
in which we could at once cross over to the main land, otherwise
we should have been obliged to return by the same way by which we
came over yesterday, and have lost therewith the whole day. Here
we saw also the junction of Moreton and Deception Bay. Having
crossed the latter, we went for some time along the beach, and then
turned westward, but our guides took first their breakfast out of
the swamps, and being young men they were very particular to dress
themselves carefully before they made their appearance again in
the camp, significantly replying to our enquiry, why they did so,
the ladies will see us.
In the afternoon our
attention was suddenly arrested by a great
noise, caused by beating sticks together, and as we saw all the
women run with their long and pointed sticks, which are used in
digging dangum; we ran also to ascertain what this meant. But what
a scene did we behold! the whole of the women were engaged in
a regular battle; it was quite overwhelming to look at this fight
of women, than which no contest of men could be fiercer; some had
actually froth before their mouth. Each had her antagonist, who
parried her blow by holding her stick between her fingers over
head; and then immediately returned the stroke, which was parried
in the same way when they got close together, they took hold of
one another, each endeavouring to throw the other down. Some had
their fingers and elbows bleeding when we arrived; but unable to
look at it any longer, we rushed betwixt them, and at last
succeeded in separating them at the peril of getting a few blows.
They then settled the matter seemingly with words. It was a love
affair that had brought the whole sex to arms. Some old women,
however, were very much displeased, and pointed their spears at
ours; yea, one threw it a Mr. E. The late execution of the supposed
murderers of Mr. Stapylton has had thus far a salutary effect upon
them, as they have a great fear of being brought before the
Commandant at Brisbane Town; thus, when we wishing to know the
cause of this quarrel used a word similar in sound to Brisbane
Town, whether they were immediately frightened, and enquired if I
would tell the Commandant of this quarrel they would be pulled up;
on other occasions they begged we would not tell the commandant
anything, because it was only a trivial thing. They seem
nevertheless to have well understood the nature of the punishment
and of the crime for which it was inflicted; for some said that next
their king must be pulled up who killed not less than ten black
men. Of the women, that soft sex, we could thus form no good
opinion, especially when the next morning two were again found
fighting, whose husbands were quietly looking on as the wives beat
each other; we separated them, threatening we should tell the
Commandant of their quarrels. The men were certainly upon the
whole as bad in their way, with the exception of a few, who by
their conduct gave us great joy; one, whose wife was sick, desired
us to pray for her recovery, who appeared to be really concerned
for his partner, to whom with another sick woman we sometimes gave
some rice and tea. Wunkermany used to kneel down with us to
prayer.
In the night the young men had a dance, for
which they had
painted upon their bodies stripes with clay; the women and girls
beat time by clapping their hands against their laps as they were
sitting upon the ground; they sang also, or rather repeated a few
words in a singing tone. Their dancing does not exactly consist
in jumping or moving about, but in a measured movement of arms and
limbs to the right and left. We did not really expect to see so
much propriety on such an occasion; we were much more disgusted
with the appearance of young girls and women, their nakedness
appeared more offending than ever before.
When the Toorbal and Bonyer natives heard that we had not found
the soil of Yarun eligible for cultivation, they seemed to rejoice
in it, and invited us to inspect their own ground tomorrow.
Accordingly we went on.
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 11TH 1841. - Went with a great number of the Bonya
natives to their own ground - the distance is not very great, but
as they were hunting kangaroo it was late in the evening when we
arrived at the place where we were to spend the night. For the
chase of kangaroo they have nets which they place across an open
plain, wherever they have seen the walks of their prey. They
prefer, and if possible, select a place which is enclosed by
water, so that the kangaroos when driven and frightened by their
shouting, are sure to come against the nets, where some men are
stationed to despatch them with the spear or club. Whoever spears
a kangaroo has the right to take the skin, to choose the best part
for himself, and to divide it as he likes, which is generally done
neatly, but sometimes strife ensures through their greediness.
Otherwise, without nets and driving it is a mere accident if they
catch a kangaroo. We started two large kangaroos before the nets
were put up, which the natives suffered to escape without
troubling
themselves to spear them.
On several occasions, and particularly in the following
instance, we found the natives labouring under the mistake or
rather superstition, that out of a book we could know what had
happened at a distance, or who had stolen any article. The party had
separated itself into two divisions, one of which was joined by Mr.
W. to continue the chase, whilst Mr. E., whose foot was sore went
with the other slowly when at last they stopped by a fire to wait
for the others. There they roasted some snakes, which they had
killed, and a sucking kangaroo; but all at once they desired Mr.
E. to look into his book, and to find out if Mr. W. with the other
party had killed a kangaroo; and when Mr. E., knowing what they
meant, told them that he had no book with him, one of them untied
Mr. W's bundle and taking out his New Testament, opened it,
saying, Mr. Wagner large kangaroo, after which he shut and
replaced it. This superstition has arisen from a very unpleasant
circumstance; one of our brethren had his axe stolen by the
natives, which another of the brethren mentioned to a third who
had a book in his hand, and was reading in the hearing of some
natives, and as this person knew already the name of the thief he
mentioned it to the one who had addressed him, which led the
natives to conclude that he had this knowledge out of his book.
Thus we were applied to by Wunkermany to look into our book who
had stolen his pipe.
The ground over which we went this day was very good, and
the
natives were very particular in asking us for our opinion of it,
and took great delight in pointing out to us their respective
property. We spent the night on the edge of a large swamp, to which
late in the evening our kangaroo hunters resorted. They had not
been very successful, having killed only one small kangaroo,
of which they gave us a bit of the tail and part of the leg;
expressing at the same time their regret that we had so little to
eat. Of the rest of the kangaroo more than ten men were
participating; but some made up their meal with other animals,
they had met on the chase; for one had an oppossum, another a
snake, a third a guana &c. When it was night we held our evening
worship; most of them had never heard us sing, and they showed
great delight at it, requesting to hear more, for it did them good
in their belly.
THURSDAY
AUGUST 12TH 1841 - The next morning it was resolved, that they
would first go to the sea and catch fish, and gather oysters, and
from thence they would conduct us to the mountains. but as our
guides, when leaving Zions-hill, had only spoken of a weeks
absence, and as our brethren might begin to be concerned for our
safety; Mr. E. thought better to go back to Toorbal, and from
thence to return home, whilst Mr. W. would make a longer stay in
order to visit the mountains. One of the natives was appointed to
conduct Mr. E. back to Toorbal, where he arrived about noon. From
thence Wunkermany and Jemmy Millboang conducted him to Twinshills.
They took partly a different road from that by which we had come
to Toorbal; the Deception River was crossed at its mouth by swimming
across, but the place, where we had deposited wine and provisions
on the way to Toorbal, we were not able to reach that day, as my
foot was till sore, and Wunkermany had run a thorn into his heel,
since Monday last we had entirely been subsisting upon the natives
food, viz, pounded dangum and Kangaroo flesh, which we boiled with
a little salt. This day I had eat nothing except a small bit of
Kangaroo flesh, and drank the water in which it had been boiled, I
felt consequently very hungry, especially after travelling more
than twenty miles and swimming across three Rivers. The night
also was the worst I have spent on this journey; as my clothes had
got wet when swimming through the rivers , so that I had no cover
for the night.
FRIDAY AUGUST
13TH 1841 - On the morning we continued our journey
until we came to the spot, where our provisions lay, where we made
a hearty meal.
In the afternoon we crossed the Pine River, and on approaching
the second arm thereof were not a little surprised to be overtaken
by Mr. Wagner and two natives, who had this day come all the way
form Toorbal. The natives had, after my departure changed their
mind, and would not go to the mountains, because they had not
their wives with them; Mr. W. therefore had returned with them to
Toorbal the evening before, and early in the morning his brother
Anbaybury had conducted him with two other natives to the
Deception River by the road, which we had come to Toorbal; but when
Anbaybury did not find there my footsteps, he insisted that I had
not yet returned, but had gone fishing with the Toorbal natives,
and declared his intention to return, whereby the two others became
also wavering. Mr. W. however took up his bundle, saying, he would
go on ,although he was sure to lose his way; this moved thereby
these two so much that they sprang up and took his things, saying
they would go with him. When he joined me he had not tasted
anything this day, but taking a crust of bread with his two
companions, he went on at so brisk a rate, that I with my sore foot
and tired guides could not follow him; he reached Zion's Hill a
good while before me, having travelled this one day upwards of
fifty miles.
This Anbaybury is a shrewd little man, as the following
anecdote will show: 'He said one day to Mr. W. that when he (A)
was at Zion's Hill, he did everything for Mr. W., fetch wood and
water, bark, prepare clay, chop wood, work the ground with the hoe
etc. Now, as Mr. W. had come to his abode, he ought to do the same
for him (A). Mr. W. told him it was quite right that he had done
so, for he had paid him well; but he ought to consider that he
(Mr. W) was a missionary and Anbaybury black fellow. Now, as he
had come to him to Toorbal to visit him, it was a shame that he,
as his brother, had never come to fetch wood or water for him, nor
had he built a hut to live in it. When he heard this, he changed
his tone, and said, he would have done all for Mr. W. if he had
come to the place where his tribe had their camp"
Mr. W. crossed after my departure from him over a creek, on the
other side of which the territory of the Bonya natives begins, to
which his brother Anbaybury belongs; the soil here is very eligible
for cultivation, and more so, the farther we went. At this the
natives evinced great joy, saying, if we would bring hoes and axes
with us their women should work, and they should hunt for us, and
when the crops were ripe, they would not sleep but watch them. But
it was necessary to have fire arms, lest strange natives should
rob them. They quite exhausted themselves in making promises of
good behaviour and industry; but their joy was not quite pure, for
we had before observed the whole of them moved by jealousy which
tribe should have the benefit of cultivation amongst them; every
tribe striving to lower the other in our opinion; the Toorbal
natives had said that the Bonya natives were liars, they would
starve us if we went to them. And when Anbaybury had silenced them
in this respect sufficiently, they said, as we were leaving
Toorbal, that the Bonya tribes would kill us. It was therefore the
interest of the Bonya tribes to make a good impression upon our
mind in their favour.
Concluding remarks
This journey has inspired us with new hopes that if we have but
mastered the language of these aborigines much may be done for them
under the Divine blessing; we trust we have advanced one step
further to this desired end by this journey, and if the brethren
who are to follow us do a little more, the amount of this difficulty
will, with the help of the spirit form high, by degrees be
surmounted. With regard to residing among the natives we think it quite
safe; and we found no difficulty to live upon such food which the
natives eat, as dangum, oysters fish, kangaroo, but not every
stomach is able to bear it; once a day it may be required to have
an European meal, rice, peas, pork etc. In the morning we went
about begging some pounded dangum for breakfast, which we never
were refused; but fish and kangaroo are not so easily obtained form
the natives. It will not do, however, for any long time, to be left
at the mercy of many, it is much better to attach oneself to one
family, who will provide as well as they can for their quest; my
brother Dunkley's wife was ever ready to pound dangum for me when
I told her I was hungry, though she would have to borrow it.
We had opportunities to observe the manners and habits of the
natives very closely and found that the children are for the
greatest part of the day idle at home, and that it would be proper
to keep school with them, which we have recommended to the brethren
who will have to go after us. Thus a sort of wandering school
will in future be established among them.
Of the
wretched condition and degraded state of these heathens we have
had additional experience; and our hearts have been stirred up
within us to renew our exertions for their benefit, and to be more
fervent in our intercessions at the throne of God for the
outpouring of his spirit upon them. During the time of our absence
our brethren at home have daily met for prayer; and since our
return these exercises have been continued greatly to our
refreshment, and we firmly believe to the ultimate benefit of
these benighted heathen, if God in his mercy and loving kindness
will vouchsafe us an answer of peace to our supplications. May the
day soon dawn when they will be visited by the dayspring from on
high by the tender mercy of god; and when praise will wait for
him, not only in Zion, but also in the wilderness, and from the
mouths of the redeemed natives at Morton Bay.
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