The History of Tasmania, Volume II | Page 4

On other occasions, they tended on the French with great kindness,
removing fallen branches from their path; and when the ground was
sloping and slippery, they walked beside them, and held them up.[2]
They rested every half mile, saying medi, "sit down;" then rising again,
after a few minutes' rest.
They themselves first saw the French: who, having travelled several
miles, lay down for the night near a brook: their fires betrayed them. A
native, next morning, pointed to their resting place: laid his head on his
hand, and closed his eyes. The good-nature of these people never
languished: twice, when the French lost their way, they directed them
to their ships. They welcomed their visits by raising their hands over
their heads, shouting and stamping on the ground. They greeted them
as often as their wanderings brought them in sight of the vessels, and
with the same friendly sounds bade them adieu.
[1798.] We owe to Captain Flinders and Dr. Bass the next description
of the natives. They were saluted by voices from the hills which border
the Derwent; one of these they ascended and saw a man, and two
women, who, catching up their baskets, scampered away. The man met
them with confidence: they tried, in vain, to converse with him in the
dialects of New Holland. They desired him to lead them to his hut; but
he hesitated, and moved slowly in the direction to which he had pointed.
Consulting his apparent feelings they desisted, and parted in friendship.
This was the first man they had seen in the island. His countenance,
they describe as unusually benignant; his features less negro-like than
common, and his manners frank and open. He exhibited neither
curiosity nor fear, nor did he seem attracted by any part of their dress,
except their cravats!
Mr. Bass made several expeditions into the country, attended only by

his dogs, and meeting no inhabitants he concluded that their numbers
were inconsiderable.
The accounts descriptive of native customs, by these authorities, are
full of errors; but they are the errors of inference, not of observation: it
is useless to repeat, in order to correct them. The colonists have
possessed better opportunities, and their acquaintance with aboriginal
habits supplies more accurate information, than could be expected in
the volumes of navigators.
Such as we have given, is their testimony to the social aspect of the
native character: nothing unfavorable is omitted. In a people so gentle
and affable, it is difficult to recognise the race afterwards covered with
sores, wasted by want and vice, or animated with revenge; and who
filled the colony with disgust and terror.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: This Otaheitian was returning from England to his native
country. In London, he was the lion of the day: he was introduced to
the first circles, and saw whatever in a great city could elevate his ideas:
his manners acquired the polish of society. Grenville Sharpe (he who
secured the decision that the soil of Britain gives freedom to the slave
that touches it) endeavoured to improve his moral sentiments. He
pointed out the practical injustice of polygamy. Omai replied, "one wife,
good--two wife, very good--three wife, very very good;" but he had not
misunderstood the argument. Taking three knives, he put two of them
side by side, and the other at a distance, and referring to a nobleman
who had left his wife for a mistress, said--"there Lord A., and there
Miss ----; and there Lady A. lie down and cry." (Life of G. Sharpe.)
But the moment he landed, he resumed all the customs of his
countrymen, and employed his knowledge of arms to destroy them.
This was the only trace of his civilisation which survived the voyage:
he had seen regal grandeur and mercantile power, but he retained his
preference for the habits of his then heathen race.]
[Footnote 2: "But these good savages took hold of our arms, and

supported us."]

SECTION II.
The party dispatched from Sydney, to take possession of the island, and
who landed in August, on their arrival at Risdon saw nothing of the
natives. A solitary savage, armed with a spear, afterwards entered the
camp, and was cordially greeted. He accepted the trinkets which they
offered, but he looked on the novelties scattered about without
betraying surprise. By his gestures they inferred that he discharged
them from their trespass. He then turned towards the woods, and when
they attempted to follow, he placed himself in the attitude of menace,
and poised his spear.
On the 3rd of May, 1804, during the absence of Lieutenant Bowen, the
officer in command, the first severe collision occurred. Five hundred
blacks, supposed to belong to the Oyster Bay tribe, gathered on the hills
which overlooked the camp: their presence occasioned alarm, and the