Talking of savages reminds me of my early life, when I surveyed the shores of the Northern Territory. I well remember in particular going into Moreton Bay, now Brisbane, Queensland; my interview with the natives, who had not at that early period of the Colony seen a white man, and had only the fear and cunning savages in general mostly possess.
After anchoring, late in the evening, I early next morning prepared to visit the land to carry out my instructions, but, before doing so, armed myself and men no natives at that time had been seen, nor their fires. Soon after landing, and looking around, I heard the shouting of many natives, and after some time had elapsed, an old grey-headed and bearded man made his appearance alone, with the bulk of his tribe behind him, creeping, and appearing greatly alarmed. I went to meet him, when he shrank back, and I had great difficulty in inducing him to meet me: so, to give him confidence, I held out a tomahawk to induce him to come forward, which he did with great fear and trembling.
It took a long time before we met-more than an hour – and when we did it was only to touch each other’s fingers. He was trembling all over and in a great state of excitement, so I laid down the tomahawk with a knife and some other trifles that I thought would be serviceable to him, retired a few paces, and then went forward to the boat to return to my vessel in the river.
As soon as I got to it, the whole tribe came from their hiding place, out of the thicket or mangrove scrub, and were making signs to come to them, and shouting at the top of their voices, dancing and throwing up their hands to show they were unarmed, leaving their spears in clusters shoved into the ground, and their war weapons laid aside. I, returning on board, concluded the first interview.
Just as I was getting into the boat a flight of wild ducks flew over the tribe, I up gun and shot one, tumbling him down amongst them. The noise of the report of the gun did not in the least alarm them, as they were not aware of its powers to kill, but as the bird fell at their feet, their astonishment was beyond description with their shouts of wonder.
I left the shore, and went on board for the rest of the day. It was on a sandy beach I landed, and from the time I got on board, they assembled in hundreds to see the print of my foot, which to them – I having shoes on – must have been and was marvellous; the beach being lined the whole day with the different intermediate tribes, as news had flown far and wide of the wonders they had witnessed.
The next morning I went on shore, but the hesitation was not so marked, and after placing on the beach a number of what I considered useful articles to them, and my apparent confidence in them, they gradually crept towards me, seeing I had no intention of hurting them. The old man of my yesterday’s acquaintance was the first to come forward, and took hold of my hand and made a great fuss, pawing me all over; as the rest of the tribe did as we became better acquainted.
I had on my head an old Calcutta hat, which I put on his head to his great delight, considering himself clothed from head to foot. The whole tribe – men, women and children were in a state of nudity, so there was no fear of petticoat interest, but the great wonder to all, and the difficulty to be solved, was my footprints in the sand, not being a foot like their own, so when most of them were assembled around me, I took off my shoe and stocking, convincing them I had a foot and toes like their own, and opened my shirt collar to show them I was flesh and blood as they were. I can never forget their surprise, their shouting, dancing and astonishment, hugging and making a great fuss over me, as you may well imagine, giving me their spears, war implements, baskets (made by the women), etc., a good collection for the Governor – Sir Thomas Brisbane.
My gun was a great source of wonderment among them – they handled it with caution and examined it minutely. It so happened that a pelican was feeding on one of the sandbanks not very far distant, within range, so I pointed to it, making signs that I would kill it – fortunately I could depend on my fowling piece, it was a real good one; I fired, and down dropped the pelican to their great astonishment and delight, which was accompanied with the same outburst of shouting, etc.
Every morning I remained in their river they brought me fish in abundance, enough for myself and ship’s crew.
When I left – with regret – the whole tribe were in great distress, following me four or five miles down the river, running on the beach with their women and children – shouting lamentations, throwing up hands, howling, and bewailing my departure. Still I always thought it prudent, both for myself and my men, to be on our guard and well armed. Fortunately no white man had been in that immediate neighbourhood before us, so we had nothing to fear, and others that followed us reaped the advantage of our friendly visit. At that time, early in 1822, I was little more than three months in the Colony.