The History of New South Wales, including Botany Bay, Port Jackson, Pamaratta [sic], Sydney, and all its dependancies ... with the customs and manners of the natives, and an account of the English colony, from its foundation to the present time ... Enriched with ... coloured prints

Front matter

Town &? Cove of Syiewey. Pub. by '2£Jbn£S fntavios/cr-Mow l\sanA tA^tfog, THE HISTORY ?/ NEW S OUT H WALE S , inducting JS OTJUyYÆsL Y, // , — ->_• audallits s t/ <i/ BJEPJEBBA^CIE S fanJ/Z/b '0/y^/y//^yj3)^m^^/j,^/fa'ZsM^// with //& OtM/sM-i *»</^kwm&œ r///c and au Account ox J THE EFGLiSH sOLONY, - from its - JF O lrÆ£>^4 TJOÆ. to the JPHESÆWT TIME by GEORGE BARRIIGTOJ sit/Sir rrn 7e?/</,r ?/f~cA//ie &€&wtc&) T^rwzc/Leai 4tv//L veoM/iinvC Yotete&aC /^r//i7s JLONBOX: _^wn&</ /^-Jtf. TONES, ir3. 9lewaa^c/tl/? fc Sherwood, Neefy, fc Jon e s. Paternoster row. idio.

Preface

TO THE SECOND EDITION OF BARRXNGTONs HISTORY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, -Sec. fye. Sec. ± HE rapid sale of the first Edition of this entertaining Work, and the frequent demands and enquiries since made relative to the same, together with the increasing importance of our Settlements in New South Wales, &c. having induced the publishers to reprint the pre sent Edition, it has been thought proper to extend and enlarge the original plan by a Supplement, bringing down the History of the Settlement to the present Period of 181 1. With this view, it has been the care of the Editor, besides the information received from the spot, to collect his materials from every quarter which could possibly afford him any information : for this purpose, neither the labours of the missionary, the journals of the navigator, native or foreigner, nor the public documents relative to the colony, have been neglected.

The merit of the arrangement and the execution of the task he must submit to the candour of his readers to decide upon. It may be necessary to point Out to the recollection of the public, that the History of New South Wales, written by George Barrington, after recording the events which distinguished that distant quarter of the world up to the year 1801, proceeded to relate the several voy ages of discovery made from thence into the Southern Ocean, &c. ; particularly those of Lieutenants Bass and Flinders, Captain Bamp ton of the Hormuzear, Ac. &c.

PREFACE.

. But in the present Edition the reader will find the still more im portant extracts from the recent voyages of M. Labillardiere, who was sent in search of the unfortunate La Perouse; and that of M. Peron, who visited Sydney between 1800 and 1804, while upon a voyage of discovery made by order of the First Consul of France fn the Southern Hemisphere. This enlightened naturalist's remarks, so creditable to the geuius and exertions of the British nation, are suffi cient to shew how astonishingly the colony has improved since Barrington published his History, Voyage, &c. &c. Almost every subsequent navigator, it will appear, has either found out some new islands, or something new in the manners of those already known. Added to these, the present volume contains very interesting and entertaining accounts not only of Van Diemen's Land, upon which a British settlement has been since established, but likewise of New Caledonia, New Ireland, New Zealand, the Island of Simboo, Ken nedy's Island, and Mangea ; also of Otaheite, especially so far as Pomarre, the king of that and some adjacent places, has been con nected with the missionaries, who are protected by Government in their attempts to introduce religion into the Friendly Islands.

To the Geographical department in this Edition we have added that of the Biography of some of the principal persons who have distinguished themselves in this newly discovered part of the world : among these, our readers may recollect Governor Colonel Collins, Captain Bligh of tlie Bounty, Lieutenant Riou of the Guardian, Messrs. Muir, Palmer, Skirving, and Margarot; and a young Eng lishman of the name of Bruce, lately married to a Princess of New Zealand. In fine, we presume that the present improved Edition contains " A comprehensive History of the Country itself, from its Discovery; the Customs and Manners of its Inhabitants; its Produc tions; and an Historical Detail of the Proceedings of the Colony from the Foundation to its present State."

PREFACE.

TO THE READER. -II- HOUGH the death of George Barrington occurring within a few months after the publication of the first Edition of this Work, and his Account of a Voyage to New South Wales, with a detail of his Life, Trial, Speeches, &c. most probably prevented a continuation of that History down to a much later period, the publishers of the present work having been assisted by a person resident in the colony to whom Barrington bequeathed his papers ; from these and other documents they have been able to add to the present edition a series of the most interesting particulars relative to every event of importance; as well as the improvements and discoveries which have. been made in that distant quarter of the globe. The rise of Bar rington, after his arrival in the colony in September 1791, was not altogether so rapid as he has represented it.

He was not all at once promoted to the situation which he held at Paramatta; he was first placed at Toongabbe as a subordinate, and then as a principal icatchman, in which trusts being found diligent, sober, and impar tial, the governor resolved to draw him from the line of convicts ; and, with the instrument of his emancipation, he received a grant of thirty acres of land near Paramatta. He was afterwards made a peace officer, and thus not only received a reward for his past con duct, but an incitement to continue it ; and though not so absolutely free as to return to England at his own pleasure, he nevertheless enjoyed all the immunities of a freeman, a settler, and a civil officer, and had the additional satisfaction of knowing that his integrity was never suspected. But, in order to throw some light upon Mr. Barrington's first employ, it should be observed that the settlement was divided into four districts, over each of which was placed a watch consisting of three persons, one principal and two subordinate watchmen.

These, being selected from among those convicts whose conduct arid character had been unexceptionable since their landing, were vested with authority to patrole at all hours in the night, to visit such places as might be deemed requisite for the discovery of any felony, trespass, or misdemeanor, and to secure for examination all persons that might appear to be con cerned therein ; for which purpose they were directed to enter any

PREFACE.

. suspected hut or dwelling, or to use any other means that might appear expedient. They were required to detain and give information to the nearest guard-house of any soldier or seaman who should be found straggling after the taptoo had been beat. They were to use their utmost endeavours to trace out offenders on receiving accounts of any depredation ; and, in addition to their night duty, they were directed to take coguizance of such convicts as gained, or'sold, or bartered their slops or provisions, and report them for punishment. A return of all occurrences during the night was to be made to the judge-advocate ; and the military were required to furnish the watch with any assistance they might be in need of, be yond what the civil power could give them. They were provided each with a short staff, to distinguish them during the night, and to denote their office in the colony ; and were instructed not to receive any stipulated encouragement or reward from any individual for the conviction of offenders, but to expect that negligence or misconduct in the execution of their trust would be punished with the utmost rigour.

These watchmen, it seems, were of necessity chosen from among the co?ivias ; and as it was hoped some of them would feel a pride in being distinguished from their fellows, which might give birth to a returning principle of honesty, notwithstanding the jeers and scorn of some of their abandoned associates ; Mr. Barrington's con duct justified thTs reasonable presumption. Respecting Barrington, among other reports which reached this country relative to his decease, it was stated that he died insane ! This was so far from being founded on fact, that there was not the least appearance of any thing that might be supposed to have led to such a catastrophe in the conduct of Barrington. The same beha viour which induced the governor to place him in a superior situa tion at Paramatta, was the cause that he was continued in it till his decease took place, and which was hastened by the rapid progress of an asthmatic complaint, or rather a general decay, brought on by his unremitting attention to the duties of his office.

His property, some time before his death, as a proof of his industry, might have been estimated from his being in possession of twenty acres of ground in wheat, thirteen sheep, fifty-five goats, and two mares. The tic o following Letters are retained, having appeared in the First Edition of this Work. To Mr. **** DEAR .SIR, I embrace the earliest opportunity of performing the promise I made you on my quitting England ; and should the contents of the accompanying sheets, collected chiefly from personal observation, aided by the best local inquiries, acquit me, in your mind, of a breach of that promise, I shall feel my self more than happy : — They had been more ample, but that I was impatient to pay .a debt of gratitude that would not brook the loss of <an opportunity ; consequently you will find the conclusion rather abrupt; but by the next ship, I shall, I trust, make amends, having nearly transcribed some letters from my friend Mr. Wentworth, containing a pleasant narrative of the rise and progress of the settlement at Norfolk Island ; together with some further par ticulars relative to, Sir, Your most obedient, And obliged, Humble Servant, G. Barrington Paramatta, November 1793.

To Mr. **** DEAR SIR, The long silence which I have observed must have led my friends to conclude that I had relinquished all my European connections, — that from some un toward accident, or the natural visitation of Provi dence, they would never hear from me more ; but that is not the case, and I can assure them that it proceeded from the multiplicity of business, and the: unceasing vigilance which my situation demanded. Besides, since my last, I have resolved on writing a regular History of the country, from the first esta blishment of the Colony to the end of the year 1 80 1 , seeing every day since the growing importance of this promising country. I have also corrected and much enlarged the printed copy of my Voyage, of the reception of which, in Old England, you gave me such a very flattering account.

This was peculiarly gra tifying to my heart, and has encouraged me to com plete my History, which, with the corrected copy of the Voyage, I herewith transmit to you ; for no thing gives me greater happiness than having fulfilled my promise, and added a little to the entertainment of so worthy a friend and patron. On the morning I left London, on my way down to the ship, I well remember your •»#*'* Your grateful Obliged humble servant, George Barringtoiv Paramatta, March 1802. DEDICATION TO HIS MAJESTY. SIRE One of the most humble of your subjects presumes to lay at your feet, the History of New South Wales, and your Majesty's Colony on that Island. Tempted by that eminent philanthropy, with which your Majesty is so peculiarly endowed, and the knowledge of which, in the most distant parts of the AVorld, has more gloriously exalted your illustrious Name in the hearts of all good Men, than even your truly powerful fleets and armies have enrolled it in the History of Great Sovereigns.

If your Majesty should deign to look on this production, you will have the sa tisfaction of finding, that the life you have so well spent, in promoting the comforts and happiness of the many millions com- 1* B DEDICATION. mitted to your care, is even of such an heavenly nature, as in many cases to cor rect, and often reform, the most vicious of those, who have been found improper per sons, to remain in those kingdoms which are blessed with your immediate presence. That just knowledge of mankind, your Majesty has so often shewn, in the appointment of your officers, has seldom been more beneficially felt, than in those you have from time to time chosen for New South Wales, who have in all cases been gentlemen particularly calculated to represent your person, and to fulfil your intentions, as they have possessed learning, prudence, justice, and mercy.

That your Majesty may long continue Vice-Regent on earth, and that you may enjoy all those blessings your many virtues so much merit, is the ardent prayer of, Your Majesty's Most humble and devoted Subject and Servant, George barrington

PREFACE.

TO THE FIRST EDITION. TO trace from the Origin the History as any Country, but more particularly the one of so promising an aspect of future importance as that of New South Wales, is an under taking very interesting, but not often to be accomplished with that degree of certainty, which precludes every idea of speculative fiction, though when capable of being ef fected, it forms a valuable acquisition to the World. In this situation stands New South AVales. Circumnavigators have fre quented it, and the public have been favoured with the accounts of individuals who have resided there, but no prior attempt has been made to produce a complete History of the country itself, from its discovery, and an account of its inhabitants, their customs, and manners, accompanied with an historical detail of the proceedings of the English colony from the foundation to its PRESENT STATE. preface.

That such a work must prove acceptable to the world in general, but particularly to his fellow countrymen, the Author is well aware; and as his residence in the country enables him to add considerably to the vast fund of know ledge already ascertained, he trusts that his endeavour to furnish a complete History of New South Wa^es will meet with general approbation. If, in the perusal of this work, the refined mind finds but a few moments pleasure in following the interesting narratives re specting the natives or colonists; or if he is beguiled of one tear of sensibility, in commis serating the sorrows or sufferings of his inno cent or guilty fellow creatures, the end of the Author will be answered: for though, alas! he has formerly wandered in the paths of error, he trusts that now he has felt the kind hand of patronizing favour, he maybe looked upon as a Man endeavouring to do well, and hopes the promotion he has received will be the means of enabling him to effect some good in the remnant of his life, to counterbalance that proneness to evil which is ever too attend ant on the human creature.

Introduction

. I HE important advantages which will continually result to the Mother Country from New South Wales, renders it of sufficient consequence to make the slightest information sought after with anxious avidity — nor is it a matter of surprise. The climate is healthy, the soil good, and the very bowels of the earth are fraught with inexhaustible treasures; it con tains iron, copper, and coals; while the exterior abounds in wood, and the fruits, which are various, reach the summit of perfection, these ad vantages will accelerate the growing importance of the trade and commercial interest of the country, while bays and harbours offer their sheltering protection to ships. Yet considerable as these advantages are, they are very far surpassed by the school the English Colony forms, for the correction of those unfortunate human beings who, urged by various depraved motives, forfeit the protection of the laws they have failed to observe ; it is much to be lamented, that the number of objects thus

INTRODUCTION.

. exiled is so great, while it is highly honourable in a government to afford, even these outcasts, an opportunity of being serviceable to the state, and by their own good conduct, ultimately to themselves. To the original projector of the Colony (Lord Sydney) the public are under great obligations, and no doubt can now arise of its success. Though it must prove painful to observe, that many sent to New South Wales continued incorrigible — yet, on the contrary, some in the infancy of the Colony will be found reforming rapidly, and the penitence of a few cannot be but acceptable to man, since in heaven there is joy over even one SINNER that TRULY REPENTS. In executing the History of New South Wales, I shall avail myself of all my materials under a regular series of Chapters; first tracing the discovery, then the nature, customs, and manners of its original inhabitants ; from that I shall proceed to the plan for settling the Colony, its foundation and progress to the present time; and lastly, the natural history of the island — thus endeavouring to present a complete whole.

THE HISTORY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. CHAP. I. AN contemplating the origin, rise, and fall of nations, the mind is alternately filled with a mixture of sacred pain and pleasure. And while the "mind's eye" views the prosperous state of this infant country, it can hardly refrain taking an excursive glance at the United States of America, and at the same time find itself obliged to acknowledge, that it must prove equally great, and ardently hope it will prove abundantly more grateful to the mother country. The beautiful and fertile island of New South Wales is ascertained to be the largest in the world, and formerly supposed to be part of that imaginary continent, called Terra Australis In cognita, lies between 10 degrees 50 minutes, and 43 degrees south latitude, and between 110 and 153 degrees 30 minutes east longitude, exhistory of tending in all as much as the whole continent of Europe, the eastern coast running not less than 2000 miles in length from north-east to south-west.

Its dimensions from east to west has not been so accurately ascertained. The Dutch navigators, who chiefly explored the island, called those parts first discovered Eendraght (Concord) Land, which was the name of the Ship that first made the land, in 1616, 24 degrees and 2.5 degrees south. Two years afterwards, Zeachen discovered another part of the coast, in 15 degrees south, who named it Arnheim Dieman, though this was not the same part that received the name of Dieman's Land from Tasman, which is the extremity southward, in latitude 43 degrees. Jan Van Edelsgrave, in 16 19, has given his own name to a southern part. Dampier coasted the western parts in 1687, and again in 1699 ; from this period it was visited several times, by the Dutch and others, but nothing of any consequence transpired till in 1770, when the celebrated Captain Cook explored the country, and called it New South Wales; however, the shortness of his stay precluded him from making any thing more than general observations, though Sir Joseph Banks, (then Mr. Banks), discovered such an ample field for botanical research, that one part, in compli ment to him, was called Botany Bay.

It will not be requisite to relate here the remarks made by Captain Cook, as we shall incorporate A MIL E ,V FJEMAJL E NATIVE his with all other information through the course of the work. Therefore shall now pro ceed in the proposed plan ; first with THE NATURE, CUSTOMS, AND MANNERS OF THE NATIVES. Both the male and female natives are not generally tall, and very few of either sex are well made, their limbs are long and thin, the exercise they take, and the poverty of their living, must be the cause, for the climate is particularly fine. But the limbs of those who reside in the woods, exceed in length those on the coast; for these suffer very great difficul ties to procure food, while those on the coast draw from the never-failing ocean an ample supply of fish; but the inhabitants of the woods have to hunt and climb trees for animals and honey ; enabled by the parental hand of Providence they effect this with little labour ; armed with a stone hatchet, they cut a notch in the tree big enough to place the ball of the great toe, which done, they take the first step, embracing the tree with one arm, and holding the hatchet in the other, in this situation the next notch is cut higher up for the other foot to rest on, and proceeding thus they reach as high as they wish, which is often from eighty to an hundred feet.

The features of the men 1* c are hard and disgusting, and the bone or reed they wear through the nose, added to the bushy hair of their heads and beards, render them almost horrible. The females have a small portion of that delicacy the more refined females of civilized nations justly boast; in deed, even the blush of shame has been seen on the dark cheeks of a female native of New South Wales. Their eyes are sunk in the head, and covered with thick eye-brows; their noses are flat, with very wide nostrils; their eyes are particularly good, and forms to them the greatest acquisition, for if short-sighted, they could not avoid the spears which would otherwise wound, if not kill them. Their mouths are wide, and lips very thick; their teeth are in general white, sound, and even. .Some of them have pro minent jaws, and one of them, called old AVrerahng, might with great ease pass for an Orang-Outang.

Both sexes rub fish-oil into their skins, which, with the heat of their own bodies, produce a stench which by no means accords with the refined ideas of decency; but this is used to guard against the in usqui toe's, some of which sting with severity: however, in this, as in all other parts, some are more beastly than others, and it isby.no means uncommon to see tKe entrails of fish frying upon their heads in the sun, till the oil runs over the face and body. This unguent is deemed by them of so much importance, that children even of two years old are taught the use of it. The natives of this country have various ornaments ; with gum they fasten to their hair, fish-bones, birds, feathers, slips of wood, dogs' tails, and the teeth of the kangaroo; those on the south of Botany Bay, plait the hair with gum, like pieces of rope, and, occasionally, they daub themselves with red and white clay, the latter previously to dancing, and the former to battle.

The forms of these imagined ornaments are governed by the taste of the person ; and, really, those who excel in this plastic art, look like spectres. Scars are, by both sexes, deemed highly ornamental, inasmuch, that they are proud to have wounds made with shells, and as they keep these open, the flesh grows up on each side, and then suffering it to skin over, it forms the honourable badge of a wale or seam. This operation is generally performed when young, and though for many years they continue full, in the decline of life they become nearly invisible. The hole which is bored through the nose, between the age of twelve and fifteen, is only used on particular occasions to put the reed or bone in ; this ceremony is generally confined to the male, though there are instances of the females undergoing the same mutilation.

The women suffer another operation when in fants, which is the loss of two joints of the little finger on the left hand ; this is effected by a hair being tied round the joint, which stops the circulation, when the part drops off in consequence of mortification ; very few indeed escape this loss, and those few Avho do, are treated with contempt. The men too suffer a privation, most of them lose the right front tooth, which operation is attended with numerous ceremonies. The principals, who perform it, come from Cam mer-ray, armed with shields, clubs, and throw ing sticks, painted in the form of their tribe ; the ground selected for the business is pre viously cleared in an oval figure of about 30 feet by 20, and this mystic spot is called Yoo-lahng: the operators arrived, take their position at one end of it, and at the other end the boys, generally to the number of from 14 to 20, and of various ages, who are brought by their friends or relations to undergo the ceremony, which initiates them into the liber ties of men as soon as they are capable of per forming the duties.

The ceremony then begins, from the opposite end of the Yoo-lahng the armed party advance, singing and clattering their shields and spears, and with their feet kicking up dust enough to hide and choak every body around them ; on nearly reaching the children, ©ne of the armed men steps forward, and, seizing a lad, returns to his party, who hail him by a shout, shewing, at the same time, a de termination to keep and protect the victim; in this way the whole are taken and seated on the opposite end of the Yoo-lahng, each with his legs crossed under him, holding down his head and clasping his hands. Miserable as this situ- Published Pe^.i/j3o2. fy IMJonejr PatcrnoxicrPow. ation must be, it is not to be altered during the night, and till all the ceremony concludes, no refreshment is to be given them.

As the natives are well aware, that the knocking out the tooth is attended with considerable pain, the performers of the mystic rites are found cunning enough to impress on the minds of those about to suffer, that on their being delivered of a bone, for which farce they conceal one in a girdle, that the operation will be ef fected with a proportionate degree of ease, as they suffer the greater degree of pain. Thus one falls on the ground, and draws himself into every form that ideal pain can invent, and while in this state, some dance, some sing, and some beat him, till he produces the wonderful bone that is to perform the operation with little or no pain. This closes the first act of the farce, and with it generally closes the day. Towards sun-rise, the next morning, the party advance into the Yoo-lahng, shouting, and run ning three times round it.

The operators now parade round the Ydb lahng, on their hands and feet like dogs, with a wooden sword in the girdle, which, from the position it takes behind, serves to represent the tail; this is meant to endow them with the good qualities of that animal. The next cere mony is, one brings into the circle a kangaroo, made of grass, and a second a load of brush wood, and it is not unusual for him to have some in his nose. These are laid at the feet o the young men, and the bearers retire. By this form they are supposed to have the power of killing the animal given them, and the brush wood is the retreat of the kangaroo. — The following scene is to shew them one of the exercises, hunting the kangaroo ; for this purpose they leave the bo}rs some time, aud taking off the sword, or dog's-tail, they fasten some long grass to the girdles, and approach the circle as a herd of kangaroos, jumping along to the music of a shield, beat with a club.

On reaching the Yoo-lahng, they pass the boys, then throwing away the grass tails, each takes up a boy and carries him off to the next scene, which is opened by several laying on the ground. The boys are then made to stand together; at each end sits a man on the stump of a tree, with his arms extended : as the boys make towards these, the men begin to stare and loll out their tongues ; the boys are now led over the men, who then make a noise like thunder at a great distance. This is meant to make them brave men. The whole party then stop, and the boys are set down. At the same time, the performers arm with spear and shield ; the whole then poise and present their spears, at every third stroke which one gives his shield with a club, who stands in the centre. This is to shew the use of the spear to the youths.

The scene that follows, is the ceremony of knocking out the tooth. A native sits on the grass, and a lad is seated on his shoulders. Now the mystic bone is produced to lance the gum, for which purpose it is made sharp; a stick is then with great ceremony cut at some distance from the end, and laid on tree, then three aims are taken before it is struck, when the gum is cut, the operator puts the sharp point of the stick on the tooth, and with a stone in the other hand, after making three aims, he hits the stick, and out falls the tooth, generally as perfect as if drawn by a dentist. The lad is then taken away, that the gum may be healed by his friends, who dress him, as he must for some time appear; which dress eonsists of a girdle, a wooden sword, and a ligature round his head; for that day he must neither eat nor speak, and his left hand must be kept up to his mouth.