Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1Grey, George
History
Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1
Grey, George
Natural history -- Australia -- Western Australia; Western Australia -- Discovery and exploration
This weighty affair having been completed we again moved on, the natives
keeping a careful lookout for the friends they expected to see. They at
length espied one sitting in the rushes looking for small fish; but no
sooner did he see the approaching party than he took to his heels as hard
as he could, and two others whom we had not before observed followed his
example.
MEETING WITH A NEW TRIBE.
Our native comrades now commenced hallooing to the fugitives, stating
that I had come from the white people to bring them a present of rice and
flour. Moreover Jenna shouted out to his uncle, "Am not I your
nephew--why then should you run away?" This and similar speeches had, at
length, the desired effect. First one of them advanced, trembling from
head to foot, and when I went forward to meet him and shook hands with
him it reassured the others, and they also joined our party, yet still
not without evident signs of fear. An old man now came up who could not
be induced to allow me to approach him, appearing to regard me with a
sort of stupid amazement; neither horses or any other of those things
which powerfully excited the curiosity of the others had the least charm
for him, but his eyes were always fixed on me with a look of eagerness
and anxiety which I was unable to account for.
We explained to the strange natives that we intended to halt for the
night in this neighbourhood, and asked them to show us a good spot with
plenty of water and grass. At the same time those I had with me stated to
the others that unless the women and children came in I would give no
rice or flour. This declaration was however wholly unauthorised by my
sanction, and arose from their desire of exhibiting their personal
attractions to the ladies of these parts; but, feeling rather disposed to
see a little savage flirtation, I raised no objection to it.
The oldest of the natives, who appeared to regard me with so much
curiosity, went off for the purpose of collecting the women whilst we
proceeded to our place of halt. After going about three miles in a due
north direction we made a river coming from an east and by south
direction, and here called by the natives Goonmarrarup; it lies in rather
a deep valley, and at this point consisted of large pools connected by a
running stream about 20 yards wide. There was plenty of wildfowl upon
these pools and Ugat soon shot some for us.
SCENERY.
The scenery here was very picturesque: high wooded hills were upon each
side of us, and the valley was open and rather thinly timbered; but the
few trees it contained were of considerable size and beauty. Beneath one
of these we prepared our bivouac, the strange natives doing their utmost
to render themselves useful. They had never before seen white people, and
the quickness with which they understood our wants and hastened to
gratify them was very satisfactory.
MEETING WITH NATIVE WOMEN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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