# The Aborigines of Victoria/Volume 1/Chapter 2

It is not easy to convey correct ideas regarding the mental capacity and faculties of the Aborigines by any general statements. They differ from one another almost as much as uneducated Europeans differ from one another; but while in the latter the capabilities of improvement are very great, in the Australian black they are limited. With keen senses, quick perceptions, and a precocity that is surprising, he stops short just at the point where an advance would lead to a complete change in the character of his mind.
The adult wild native when brought into contact with the whites learns the English language quickly and easily, and all the words that at all resemble those of his own tongue are pronounced distinctly. Those which are harsh, or in which sibilants occur, he softens, and he keeps closely to the grammar of his own language.
Black children brought up in the schools learn very quickly, and in perception, memory, and the power to discriminate they are, to say the least, equal to European children. A Missionary, the Rev. F. A. Hagenauer, a gentleman of great ability, who has the control of the Aboriginal Station at Lake Wellington, reports that the examinations made by the Government School Inspectors show that the Aboriginal pupils taught by him are quite equal to the whites. In his last report he states that the whole of the fifth class in his school had passed the standard examination (that appointed for pupils in State schools), and that they had received certificates. Whether they will continue to advance as they approach maturity is another question. If they do not, under the guidance of a gentleman of education who has devoted himself to the work of ameliorating the condition of the natives from a sense of duty, it may fairly be assumed that the prevalent opinion regarding the mental constitution of the Australians is correct.
The following account of a native youth, as given in the reports of the Board for the Protection of the Aborigines in Victoria, is similar in many respects to those recorded in other cases where attempts have been made to educate and civilize the natives:—
"Thomas Bungeleen presents all the marks of the pure Australian, and in mental capacity, disposition, and character, is probably a fair type of the race. Before the Board undertook the care of him, some attempts had been made to teach him drawing, and he had been occasionally employed in copying letters and in other clerical duties; but all the gentlemen who had kindly taken an ​interest in his welfare, and endeavoured to teach him, concurred in stating that his want of application rendered any great improvement quite hopeless; he was found to be averse to labor, and all those inducements which operate on the European were wanting in him. He was brought before the Board and examined as to his qualifications; it appeared that he had obtained some little instruction; he could read with facility, write clearly, and seemed to possess some knowledge of arithmetic; he exhibited a quiet unembarrassed manner, and replied to every question calmly but promptly. Here, in the case of this young Aboriginal, an opportunity seemed to be presented to the Board of proving to the world that the Aborigines of Australia are degraded rather by their habits than in consequence of the want of mental capacity, and though the boy showed only an average ability, it was thought that, by careful education and instruction, he would probably become a good citizen, and of the highest usefulness as an agent in dealing with the Aboriginal race. With this view they sought admission for him at the Grammar School, St. Kilda road; admission was refused, and perhaps the interests of the school were best served by the refusal; but comment on this fact would not probably tend to place in the most favorable light the peculiar advantages which we derive from civilization. The Board then proposed to have him educated at the Scotch College; but this was abandoned, on the recommendation of Dr. Cairns, who suggested that he should be placed under the care of Mr. Robert Doig, a schoolmaster at Fitzroy square, who kindly took charge of him at once. After a short experience, it was found that ordinary means of coercion were quite ineffectual to compel habits of obedience and industry, and with great regret the Board had to abandon their scheme of educating Bungeleen in the manner first proposed. After being some time under the charge of Mr. Thomas, who has at all times exerted himself in a most praiseworthy manner in the boy's behalf, he was transferred to the S.S. Victoria, where, under the eye of Captain Norman, it is hoped he may be taught the duties of a seaman. The difficulty of educating and imparting instruction to an Aboriginal who, whatever be his natural good qualities, is yet not without many of the characteristics of the savage, is very great. Precisely those persons who, by education and character, are best fitted to teach and control him, are those who would be the least likely to undertake such a charge; and the discipline of an ordinary school would scarcely improve him, even if he could be made to attend it regularly. Bungeleen's mind, under proper treatment, may be so far improved as to admit of his receiving a higher education, and if he acquire habits of obedience and industry, improvement is certain. Nearly all the Aborigines are, however, prone to amusements, and they dislike work and restraint of every kind: of a happy, playful, kindly nature, it is questionable whether any of them are capable of sustained labor, such as is requisite to obtain knowledge to fit them for the business of civilized life."
In a subsequent report, that for 1862, the Board write as follows:—"This Aboriginal boy, of whose future career great hopes were at one time entertained, has been for some time in the C.S.S. Victoria, under the care of Captain Norman. He has made the voyage to Carpentaria, and has lived continually in the ship since he first joined, with the exception of one or two ​brief visits to Melbourne. The Board regret to state that his conduct is most unsatisfactory. He is wholly deficient in the qualities which belong to a sailor, and equally unfitted for employment on shore. When, in consequence of gross misconduct, it is necessary to inflict punishment, Captain Norman states that he exhibits the mental peculiarities of some varieties of the African race—stolid indifference. He 'sulks'; and however severe the punishment might be, it would produce no effect. This characteristic, if joined to other qualities, would not be a mark of inferiority; but he lacks the amour propre, that personal pride and desire to be thought well of, without which mental progress is impossible. Thomas Bungeleen's misconduct on shore compelled the Guardian to make complaints, which were duly brought under the notice of Captain Norman. As it will be necessary to remove him from the Victoria, the grave consideration of the Board will be given to his future treatment. His case will not be considered hopeless until every available means to improve him shall have failed."
In the report for 1864 it is stated that—"Thomas Bungeleen is now under the care of the Secretary of the Central Board, and he is usefully employed in the office. He writes very well; he is generally attentive to the instructions given to him, and is making fair progress in learning. He has some knowledge of arithmetic, and he is gradually gaining a knowledge of the use of mathematical instruments: already he can plot from a simple field-book, and can draw plans tolerably well. He appears to like the work he has to do. Credit is due to Captain Norman, of the C.S.S. Victoria, for much of this. On board the Victoria he was very troublesome; but the discipline of the ship certainly has been beneficial to him. His temper is still peculiar, but less violent than it was when he was younger; and some hope is now entertained that he will lead a steady, reputable life. Every care will be taken to teach him useful knowledge, and to qualify him for a higher position than has yet been attained by any native of Australia."
He died in 1865:—"Thomas Bungeleen, an Aboriginal, who for some months was employed in the office in Melbourne, and gave evidence of some talent, is dead. A hope was entertained at one time that he would become a useful member of society; but, whether owing to defects in his early education or a natural propensity to evil, he became nearly as troublesome in the office as he was when on board the Victoria. He died of gastric fever at the house of Mr. Hinkins, Moonee Ponds, on the 3rd January 1865."
"Governor Phillip," says Bennett, "who had never relaxed in his efforts to benefit the Aborigines, took with him to England two promising young men of that unfortunate race: one of them was Bennilong, who had become much attached to him; the other was his companion, Yemmerawannie. They had acquired, from residing with the Governor, a knowledge of the usages of civilized life, and both were persons of more than ordinary sharpness and address. The latter died in England, but the former returned to the colony. He was, while in England, presented to George the Third, and introduced to most of the leading men of that day. He adopted the observances of society with remarkable readiness, and behaved on all occasions, while among strangers, with propriety and ​ease; yet soon after his return he threw off his fine clothes, and the restraints of civilized life, as alike inconvenient and distasteful, and, in spite of all persuasions to the contrary, reverted to his old habits and his old haunts."
The Australian native is kind to little children, affectionate and faithful to a chosen companion; he shows exceeding great respect to aged persons, and willingly ministers to their wauts; he has great love very often for a favorite wife; he exhibits, at times, great courage; he is hospitable, and he can be generous under very trying circumstances. But he is also cruel, treacherous, mean, and cowardly. At one time he shows himself superior to the whites—at another he is as cunning as a fox and as ferocious as a tiger. Some tribes and families seem almost destitute of the better qualities, and others display on nearly all occasions, honesty, truthfulness, courage, and generosity. The conduct of the natives of Victoria when Buckley was first discovered by them, and during the period of more than thirty years that he dwelt amongst them; the extraordinary kindness shown to the shipwrecked seaman Murrell, who lived with the wild blacks of Queensland for more than seventeen years; their behaviour to Thomas Pamphlet, when he was entirely at their mercy; the generous treatment of King by the blacks at Cooper's Creek; and the many instances of loyalty and integrity that are recorded of natives who have been well treated by settlers and explorers—are sufficient to satisfy the mind that all the higher instincts on which civilized men pride themselves are not absent in the bosom of the savage.
Though the natives at Cooper's Creek had no doubt been frightened by the explosion of the firearms, which the explorers discharged from time to time over their heads, to prevent them from carrying away the stores that were left, they were kind and compassionate to King. He says in his narrative:—"The same day one of the women, to whom I had given part of a crow, came and gave me a ball of nardoo, saying that she would give more only she had such a sore arm that she was unable to pound. She showed me a sore on her arm, and the thought struck me that I would boil some water in the billy, and wash her arm with a sponge. During the operation the whole tribe sat round, and were muttering one to another. Her husband sat down by her side, and she was crying all the time. After I had washed it, I touched it with some nitrate of silver, when she began to yell, and ran off crying out, Mokow! Mokow!—(Fire! Fire!) From this time she and her husband used to give me a small quantity of nardoo both night and morning, and whenever the tribe were about going on a fishing excursion, he used to give me notice to go with them. They also used to assist me in making a gourley, or breakwind, whenever they shifted camp. I generally shot a crow or a hawk, and gave it to them in return for these little services. Every four or five days the tribe would surround me and ask whether I intended going up or down the creek; at last I made them understand that if they went up I should go up the creek, and if they went down I should also go down, and from this time they seemed to look upon me as one of themselves, and supplied me with fish and nardoo regularly."
​Yet the people of this district are thus described by Mr. Gason:—"A more treacherous race I do not believe exists. They imbibe treachery in infancy, and practise it until death, and have no sense of wrong in it. Gratitude is to them an unknown quality. No matter how kind or generous you are to them, you cannot assure yourself of their affection. Even amongst themselves, for a mere trifle, they would take the life of their dearest friend, and consequently are in constant dread of each other, while their enmity to the white man is only kept in abeyance by fear. They will smile and laugh in your face, and the next moment, if opportunity offers, kill you without remorse. Kindness they construe into fear; and had it not been for the determination and firmness of the early settlers, they would never have been allowed to occupy the country. The tribe is numerous, and if they knew (and it is feared they will eventually learn) their own power, the present white inhabitants could not keep them down, or for one day retain their possessions. They seem to take a delight in lying, especially if they think it will please you. Should you ask them any question, be prepared for a falsehood, as a matter of course. They not only lie to the white man, but to each other, and do not appear to see any wrong in it. Notwithstanding, however, what has been said of their treachery, and however paradoxical it may appear, they possess, in an eminent degree, the three great virtues—hospitality, reverence to old age, and love for their children and parents."
A correspondent has furnished me with a very interesting account of the behaviour of a native who accompanied a trooper and another person with despatches addressed to Burke, the leader of the expedition of which King was a member. When the two whites and the black were starving and reduced to the miserable extremity of feeding on one small snake a day, with the usual meal of nardoo, which did not satisfy their cravings, and when either of the white men, according to their own account, would not have shrunk from a crime in order to procure food, so weak were they from famine, the native displayed a resignation truly astonishing, and calmly took only such portions of the snakes as his white companions gave him, though it was the black that caught the snakes and cooked them. My correspondent thus concludes:—"The fidelity of the poor fellow was touching in the extreme. In the earlier portion of the period, when they were fruitlessly watching for 'something to turn up,' a band of natives, of which their companion's tribe was an offshoot, came across them, and their native friend stood by them, exhausting all his diplomatic powers to cause his dusky brethren to render the powerless trio assistance; and, to their credit be it said, that, although from the curious manner in which they gazed at the white skins there was sufficient proof that they had never seen a white man before, still they freely divided wild-fowl, &c., amongst them. Most tempting offers at last were made to the native to accompany them on their departure. He remained faithful to the end, when to remain with his comrades existed only the prospect of starvation, whilst to have gone with his countrymen he might have eventually had an opportunity of joining his Darling River tribe in safety. M——— states that when utter ruin stared them in their faces, he was struck with admiration when the poor creature offered, in his feeble ​condition, to find his way back to the Darling—an exhibition of courage which made the white men ashamed of themselves. The poor fellow traversed hundreds of miles, and arrived at Menindie—not figuratively, but literally—with the skin off his feet. But language is totally inadequate to describe the toilsome, chivalrous, and perilous journey undertaken by the native to relieve his white friends—an act that shows even amongst 'the poor, half-witted natives of Victoria' (as some are pleased to term them) there are those to be found who in the hour of danger can put the most civilized persons to the blush by their courage and devotedness."
Mr. A. Porteous, a Local Guardian of Aborigines, makes mention of a native who was faithful, courageous, and honest. He says:—"The Aborigine who died on the 6th instant (May 1872) did an act, over thirty years ago, that might justly be recorded to his honor. At that early period the Aborigines knew nothing of civilization or the law of honor, but those not having the law are sometimes a law unto themselves. In the year 1838 the Mount Emu tribe was very numerous and warlike, and was a terror to many of their neighbours and also to the white man; every hut had two or three stand of arms. At one of the Mount Emu out-station huts the hutkeeper absconded (while the tribe was camped close to the hut), leaving the hut, with all it contaiued, in their hands. In the hut was a quantity of flour, sugar, tea, and meat, two or three stand of arms, bedding and clothing, belonging to two shepherds who were out with their sheep. A number of the tribe wanted to take everything that was in the hut and be off with it. When Billy heard what was proposed, he sprang into the hut and got a gun, and stood in the door, and told his companions that if any of them attempted to take anything he would shoot them, and ordered one of them to go to the home-station and tell the manager to send a white man to take charge of the hut; and Billy kept possession until the white man came. During the last thirty-one years that I have known Billy his life has been in accordance with this act, sterlingly upright and full of kindness; and I much regret to have to record his death."
Major Mitchell had a good opinion of some of the natives he met with in his several expeditions. He says, "My experience enables me to speak in the most favorable terms of the Aborigines, whose degraded position in the midst of the white population affords no just criterion of their merits. The quickness of apprehension of those in the interior was very extraordinary, for nothing in all the complicated adaptations we carried with us either surprised or puzzled them. They are never awkward; on the contrary, in manners and intelligence, they appear superior to any class of white rustics that I have seen. Their powers of mimicry seem extraordinary, and their shrewdness shines even through the medium of imperfect language, and renders them, in general, very agreeable companions."
At Fort Bourke, a strange black who saw Mr. Larmer (one of Major Mitchell's party) fishing, gave him a fish; and a black who was shot at and hit by the overseer in self-defence, ran off yelling, but on Major Mitchell's running after him with a green branch in his hand, the poor fellow threw away his ​weapons and sat down. He was relieved by Major Mitchell, and showed great fortitude. He was quite a wild black.
Of their intelligence Major Mitchell gives an example:—"An opossum in a tree had baffled all the endeavours of himself (a friend of the king's) and some young men to get at it, when they 'cooyed' for the king. He came, climbed the tree in an instant, and after a cursory examination, dropped some small sticks down the hollow of the trunk, and listening, pointed, as by instinct, to a part of the trunk, much lower down, where, by making a small incision, the others immediately got the animal out."
Their modes of expressing defiance and contempt are well described by the same eminent explorer. One native and a boy refused to move so as to allow the sheep to be driven back, and when the shepherd held out a green bough to them, they also each took a bough, spat upon it, and thrust it into the fire. On Major Mitchell advancing to the native with a green bough in his hand, the black was not daunted; he shook a twig at him in quite a new style, waving it over his head, and moving it in such a manner as to indicate that they should go back. The black and the boy then threw up dust at them in a clever way with their toes. The man's expressions of hostility and defiance were unmistakable, and they could not conciliate him. He brought up his tribe subsequently, and Major Mitchell gives a vivid picture of the strange antics of these untamed natives. They approached the party of white men, holding in their hands boughs, but using them apparently as if they wished the party to go away. They waved the branches defiantly and spat at the men. They afterwards sang a war-song, jumping, shouting, spitting, and throwing up dust. They retired, dancing in a circle, and jumping, crouching, and springing, spear in hand. The same tribe was seen again the next day. With them was an old man of an odd and striking appearance, supposed to be a coradje or priest. They commenced a processional chant, slowly waving their green boughs, and approaching the forge of the blacksmith. None except the old man and several other ancients wore any kind of dress, and the dress itself consisted of a small cloak of skins fastened over the left shoulder. As they chanted their mournful hymn, the old man occasionally turned his back towards Major Mitchell and his party, touched his eyebrows, nose, and breast as if crossing himself, then lifted his arm towards the sky, and then laid his hand on his breast, all the time chanting with an air of remarkable solemnity. They proved to be thievish, endeavouring to steal all they could from the forge; and when the blacksmith gave one a push, the thief commenced again the chanting and spitting, throwing dust in the air, and making a motion as if he would use his spear. Major Mitchell says that he never saw such unfavorable specimens of the natives as these—"implacably hostile, shamelessly dishonest." The more they saw of the invaders' superior weapons, the more they showed their hatred and tokens of defiance.
Collins's statements respecting the natives are accurate. "They are," he remarks in one part of his work, "revengeful, jealous, courageous, and cunning. Their stealing on each other in the night for the purpose of murder must not be imputed to them as a want of bravery, but as the effect of the diabolical spirit ​of revenge, which is thus sought, to make surer of its object, than it could have done if only opposed man to man in the field."
He adds that the natives of New South Wales are splendid mimics. They were fond of attending church and noting the observances therein. After going away, they would take a book, and with much success imitate the clergyman in his manner, laughing and enjoying the applause which they received.
Collins gives a very flattering picture of the women:—"The features of many of these people were far from unpleasing, particularly of the women; in general, the black bushy beards of the men, and the bone or reed which they thrust through the cartilage of the nose, tended to give them a disgusting appearance; but in the women, that feminine delicacy which is to be found among white people was to be traced even upon their sable cheeks; and though entire strangers to the comforts and conveniencies of clothing, yet they sought with a native modesty to conceal by attitude what the want of covering would otherwise have revealed; bringing to the recollection of those who observed them
'The bending statue which enchants the world,'
though it must be owned that the resemblance consisted solely in the position."
In other parts of this work reference is made to the remarkable affection which men sometimes display towards children, and it is seen also in their behaviour to their relatives and friends.
"Another very common error," says Mr. Bunce, "is that there exists no settled love or lasting affection between the sexes; not only does the strongest feeling of affection exist between the male and female, but it is often exhibited between individuals of the same sex, as could be amply testified by witnessing the parting scene at an Aboriginal camp, when one of its members is about taking a long and dangerous journey. It is scarcely possible to conceive a more painful or affecting scene than is exhibited on such an occasion. The moment the time has arrived for the party to take leave, he rises and approaches his eldest male relative, with one hand extended and the other covering his eyes, the old man approaching in the same manner; on meeting, each clasps firmly the other's hand, when they elevate their arms to an angle a little above the hair of their heads; in this way they remain for the space of three minutes, and during the whole time genuine tears may be seen oozing through their fingers; at the expiry of the time mentioned they again lower their arms, and finish with three sharp jerks of the hand, and walk off in different directions, still continuing to hold down their heads, and avoiding the sight of each other again. This very affecting ceremony is only observed between relatives and those who are closely attached, but with others the three jerks of the hand only are given."
The mental peculiarities of the natives can be best ascertained from their habits, their customs, and their arts; and the detailed accounts in this work exhibit them prominently.
The Aborigines are at one time impulsive, at another phlegmatic; they can exert themselves vigorously when hunting or fishing or fighting or dancing, ​or at any time when there is a prospect of an immediate reward; but prolonged labor with the object of securing ultimate gain is distasteful to them.
They are industrious and painstaking in fashioning things that they know are of value to them and to the use of which they have been accustomed; but they are slow in adopting the mechanical contrivances of the whites.
They love ease even more than pleasure. The natives hunt in order to procure food, not for the delights of the chase. Without being quarrelsome, they are always ready to fight—and, perhaps without premeditation, they are often cruel to the stricken foe.
They are superstitious, they are credulous, and they willingly surrender their reason and ignore their instincts when influenced by their doctors and dreamers. They believe in the existence of evil spirits, and are afraid to leave their camps in the night; but when they are impelled to avenge an injury, neither the dread of evil spirits nor the fear of darkness will hinder them.
As there are very few instances of bodily deformity amongst the natives—so equally rare are any mental peculiarities that might be traced to aberration of intellect. Indeed it is perhaps strictly true to say that insanity is unknown amongst the natives who have not mixed with Europeans. Dissipation, and drinking the poisonous liquors that are vended in the low public-houses in the bush, have no doubt produced their usual effects in some cases; but the wild black is always sane.
There are, it is believed, no idiots amongst them; and deafness and dumbness are exceedingly rare.
* ↑ Australian Discovery and Colonization, 1865, p, 170.
* ↑ "Fire," in Mr. Gason's vocabulary, is thooroo. The word mookoo means "bone."
* ↑ Interior of Eastern Australia, vol. I. and II.
* ↑ English Colony in New South Wales, pp. 355, 357, 358.
* ↑ Language of the Aborigines of the Colony of Victoria, by Daniel Bunce, 1851.
* ↑ Collins states that few deformities of person were noticed amongst the natives of New South Wales: once or twice the prints of inverted feet were seen on the sand. Round shoulders or hump-backs were never observed in any one instance. I cannot remember ever having seen a native with any deformity.
* ↑ Mr. Gason says that during nine years' acquaintance with the Dieyerie and neighbouring tribes he encountered only one woman and one man deaf and dumb. He conversed with them by using native signs.