The Mind of a Thief

by Patti Miller

  12

  The Missionaries’ Diaries

  I have not been the only thief.

  Ngunguda nilla buranu ngaddunu; minyamminyambul ngumdia-girrin. This sentence in the Wiradjuri language was written in 1839 when the Reverend James Günther compiled a Wiradjuri–English Dictionary, much of it copied from the Reverend William Watson’s notes. The purpose of the dictionary was to teach other missionaries the Wiradjuri language in order to convert the Natives to Christianity. After the standard sections on nouns and verbs and other grammar, there’s a section of ‘useful sentences’. The English translation of this sentence is: Give me that child and I will give you plenty to eat.

  When I came upon the words in Günther’s dictionary in the Mitchell Library, it stopped me in my tracks, the transaction so clear and simple. It was just a sentence in a dictionary stored for nearly 200 years on dim shelves, and perhaps not enough to convict, but there was plenty of other incriminating evidence in the journals. The Church Missionary Society, which appointed and funded the mission, still holds 905 pages of handwritten papers from the Wellington Valley missionaries: William Watson, Johann Handt, James Günther and catechist-agriculturalist, William Porter.

  As I read their journals, the nineteenth-century grammar and phrasing lulling me, it felt as if I were swimming back through their bloodstreams and looking out through their eyes – a time traveller’s view of my own country’s past. I became addicted to their words. I felt as if they were letting me use their gaze, giving me direct access to the daily life of the first few years of the place that I came from. Even more than that, they gave me the pleasure of meeting individual Wiradjuri, real people with names and personalities: Kabbarrin, Rachael, Bobby, Jemmy, Bungarri and more, each of them living and breathing and arguing the point.

  Watson, an Englishman in his early thirties, and Handt, a German Lutheran several years older, both employed by the Anglican Church Missionary Society, arrived in the Wellington Valley on 3 October 1832. The journey, which takes me five and a half hours, with a quick break for coffee in Bathurst, took them forty-five days. It appeared the journey alone was a challenge to their Christian faith. Their horses were skittish and broke traces and shafts, a snow storm in the Blue Mountains meant they couldn’t even light a fire at night to keep warm, a dray was balanced precariously over a cliff on Victoria Pass. There was no road after Bathurst so they were frequently lost, bogged in marshes, had their drays broken, and lost their cattle and horses. At least once they arrived in the Wellington Valley there was shelter, the huts left by the soldiers and convicts.

  From their journals it’s evident the missionaries were idealistic personalities, the steel of their religion framing and determining all their responses. To them, the Wiradjuri were not a people to be subdued, but souls to be saved. They had more direct, daily interactions with the Wiradjuri than most other whites at the time and recorded what they saw in their diaries each day. Theirs are the only records of individual names and personalities of Wiradjuri men and women from the early years of settlement; people and moments and conversations saved from forgetfulness.

  From the diary of Reverend William Watson

  1832

  29 Sept

  As I pass’d by a Station today, an Overseer told me that we were going to Wellington on a very needless errand, for the Blacks would only laugh at us. I made answer to him. Is that any new thing? Is it strange to find persons dispos’d to laugh at religion and sacred things?

  4 Oct [Arrival in the Wellington Valley]

  Last night as we had not an opportunity of putting up our bed stead, we attempted to sleep on the floor, but the attempt was in vain, we were attacked with such a host of vermin.

  This evening about 9 O’Clock I heard a loud screaming in the Bush at a short distance from our house. At first I thought it proceeded from some children quarrelling, but when I arrived at the place from which it proceeded I found King Bogin beating his wife in a most cruel manner. He has cut her arm to the bone and lacerated her head and right side very severely. I prevailed on him to cease but he was very angry, and having emptied her bag of the trinkets which they usually carry with them he threw it at her, as he did also some water 3 times (I suppose as a deed of separation) and then told her to go away deeper into the Bush to make a fire for herself, for he would have nothing more to do with her, but the creature could scarcely crawl and it rained very heavily and was exceedingly dark.

  11 Nov

  Alas how little love do I feel towards him whose sufferings and death are set forth in such a striking manner in these emblems. What are ordinances but empty channels when the Spirit of God is absent, when the love of X’t [Christ] is not felt or his glory seen. How ill qualified surely must I be for recommending the love of X’t [Christ] to others, while I am destitute of it myself.

  4 Dec

  Several Black children came from Goboleon today. I taught them letters by marking them out with pipeclay on a board, let each of them have a slate and a piece of pipeclay to make letters themselves. They were much entertained with looking at my pictures.

  They come over every Sunday and occasionally during the week. It is a great treat to them to sit down in my study and look at the books. Scarcely anything surprises the Blacks more than to see my library. They never saw so many books together before.

  There is intellectual acuteness enough in them. Indeed I have never found any deficiency of it in reference to things with which they are acquainted, so far is the charge of idiotism preferred against them wide off the truth. The period may be distant, but I have no doubt it will come, when it shall please God to change their hearts when they will equal if not outvie some of the now civilised and polished nations of Europe.

  The weather is extremely hot here. Thermometer yesterday 94 in the shade. In the sun 120.

  6 Dec

  At this station I saw Rachael [sic], the gin to Bobby King of Wellington, who expects every hour to be delivered. She was in the hut and attended by a Black female and an old man whom they name the Doctor. She was here a short time ago and I warned her not to kill the child when it should be born, she promised me that she would not. The man at the hut informs me that several Blacks (whether male or female I cannot say) persuaded her to go into the Bush that the child might be destroyed as soon as it made its appearance, that she refused, saying parson ‘tell her not tumble it down, he be murra cooley (very angry) if she did’. He says they threatened to spear her if she would not, and so they prevailed.

  8 Dec

  Two Black gins came over from Kelley’s very early this morning, but not before I had heard that Rachael had murdered her child. I asked them about it, they enquired who told me, but that I was not disposed to answer. They acknowledged that the child had been murdered and they said that too by Kelley. I have been told today what I fear is too true, that Kelley pays to King Bobby a certain portion of handkerchiefs &c for the loan of Rachael, and this child was his.

  13 Dec

  Kelley came today to have his eye dressed (as he has done occasionally for a long time). I spoke to him in plain terms in reference to his connexion with Rachael and the very great guilt which must attach to such conduct. I told what I had heard. He denied its being true, he said the child was ‘still born’, however I gave him to understand that I firmly believed what I had heard. I had another circumstance against him, he had been beating in a most severe and cruel manner one of the Black gins who is old. What are my feelings at the conduct of these English stock-keepers may be better conceived than described.

  1833

  21 April

  Our children respond very well at church. I am sometimes almost ready to imagine myself at St Mary’s, Islington, when I hear them. They are very partial to singing, indeed all the Natives are very much attracted by music. They are almost ready to dance at the sound of the flute.

  27 April


  When we had come near to the place we perceived by the light of the fire a white infant laid very near to it, and apparently struggling in the agonies of death but not crying. The elder yeener was sitting with her back to it, and the younger yeener was digging a hole in the ground with a long stick (which they use for the purpose of digging up roots &c). Mrs W asked her why she had killed the child? She said no good that one, this one very good, taking the Black child Charlotte and putting it to her breast. Mrs W asked her if she killed the child with the staff? She said no, with her foot. Mrs W took the babe and wrapped it in a blanket which she took from one of the girls, and folded it in her cloak for it is a very severely frosty night.

  30 June

  We have generally some sick and occasionally from half a dozen to a dozen [Aborigines] at the same time apparently destined to an early dissolution, filthy and corrupt in their bodies through the ravages of the venereal, covered with sores &c and unwilling to move from their place on any account, or to do anything for themselves. I must wash and dress their wounds, their victuals must be prepared for and taken to them. Under such circumstances it will be readily conceived that we must be attacked by a host of vermin as well as be affected with the most unpleasant stench.

  1834

  1 Jan

  A man came over from Goboleon to say that seven armed bushrangers had robbed a hut at a short distance and had intimitated their intention of coming to Wellington. We have indeed more danger to apprehend from such characters than from the untutored Natives around us.

  4 July

  One of the boys observed ‘I believe all children go to Heaven’.

  I said they are not baptised.

  He then remarked ‘What for all pikininny go to fire, no good that’.

  1835

  2 Feb

  41 natives here this morning, 22 of them came to breakfast. I had last night prepared some boiled Wheat and Beef, so when they came up I was ready to distribute the same to them. I embraced the opportunity this afford of addressing them; the Lord grant it may be for the good. Most of them immediately left the Establishment . . .

  16 July

  Mrs Watson has been confined to her bed through sickness for two or three days – the child is likewise very ill, always in the cradle unable to sit up and as I have no assistance but my little girls who are by no means attached to the infant, I have had it to wash and dress and otherwise attend to, as well as to Mrs Watson and to cook for a large number of Natives, my hands and heart and head have been fully engaged.

  20 Sept

  Reading in my tent today, and only 3 natives present, an Old native said ‘do not be miserable, do not be miserable: don’t you want to be in the house at Wellington?’ I should be always happy, and I wanted the natives also to go there . . .

  26 Sept

  King Bungarri one of our native boys was sitting in the garden resting himself to day. Seeing him busily employed I went up to him and found that having moistened some clay, he had made a very striking image of a child, or woman in miniature, calling it a ‘Lolly’ (Doll). It was well proportioned, and its large Bonnet with knotts [sic] of ribbons on it looked very well. He afterwards made a gig and Horse with all the things necessary for drawing and placed his ‘Lolly’ in the Gig. When it shall please the Lord to convert these native by His Holy Spirit they will develope [sic] intellectual powers, far beyond what many at present, are willing to acknowledge them possessed of.

  3 Oct

  This is our third anniversary in this lonely wild. A wild it was when we entered on it, and a wild it remains. No real improvement appears in the general conduct of the natives. They are as wicked in every point of view as they were before our arrival. Several have died during the year in the Bush, of whom who can say that they have gone to heaven? We have need indeed to humble ourselves deeply before our God. While the emissaries of Satan are successful at all points, we have too much reason to take up the lamentation of the prophet, and say ‘I have laboured in vain, and spent my strength for nought and in vain’. Several times when there appeared a breaking in the clouds, and we were hoping to see light arising out of darkness, suddenly the clouds became thicker and darker and we were left to bemoan our false calculations. Again and again this has been the case with us, so that now we are afraid to hope.

  6 Oct

  They always say our speaking to them respecting their evil conduct, is being angry. Many times when I have been endeavouring to show them the danger of a sinful course, they have said ‘speak good’ ‘speak good’ ‘don’t speak that way’.

  17 October

  Had some conversation with the natives here this evening; as usual Kabbarrin was the chief speaker. He said that when he sees a shooting star it is the departing Spirit of some native, (others say it is an omen of the death of some native) that the soul also makes a buzzing noise when it first leaves the body. He said many curious and superstitious things which nothing but a knowledge of the gospel will eradicate.

  Gungin is sadly out of order to night . . . I remarked that he was running about all the day, not doing any thing for us, nor under any instruction. He replied in a very fiery manner. What do you want here? What do you come here for? Why do you not go to your own country.

  19th Dec

  I remarked that the great Spirit whom we name God was the maker of all things. He enquired ‘What God?’ ‘I believe white man made the Bible and then put down God in it.’ ‘O Baiami is a great Doctor, parson is no Doctor.’

  1836

  19 June

  Kabbarrin refused to have his jacket this morning, a good new blue one for which I lately paid 16/- in Bathurst, he says that it looks too much like ‘new chum’ a name given to newly arrived assigned servants.

  25 July

  Kabbarrin has been dreaming again. He says that last night he saw the Lord, who put his hand on Kabbarrin’s head, he saw many cords let down from heaven far whiter and more beautiful than any he ever saw before. He says that he also saw that very dark place.

  29 Aug

  It has often occurred to my mind that the existence in their Dialect of a word for shame, and the frequent use of it among them, is an evidence that, though guilty of every vice that can disgrace human nature, they yet profess a higher sense of moral propriety than people imagine, or than we could easily believe considering their general licentious behaviour. Indeed some of their regulations, or customs, are truly admirable as it regards modesty.

  16 Nov

  What then was my astonishment, on coming from the Bush about 6 o’clock this evening, to see about two hundred, near the mission house, standing in battle array with all their weapons of war, their spears pointed, and ready for an attack. The number of our natives present was very small. I told them that this ground was sacred, and no fighting could be permitted. But they appeared deaf to all I said. One apparently full of self importance, had much to say respecting his having been at Bathurst, – how Englishmen did when men were brought before a magistrate – how the land ‘all about’ belonged to the natives, and that I was not to mind.

  I was therefore more determined to let them know that I was a peacemaker. I had to ride up and down the ranks of the enemy, and occasionally to knock down a spear already pointed: while our own natives were continually calling out ‘Mr Watson keep at outside the spears will hit you – the Bargans will hit you.’ However I hazarded the danger and succeeded in preventing any fighting at that time; but not before I was so hoarse with shouting that I could scarcely speak . . . I spoke to them respecting religion: some listened, and, asked questions: others laughed. Some said that ‘they did not understand about soul; but they understand tobacco and pipes’.

  17 Nov

  The natives came up this morning promising to be peaceable. I endeavoured to impress, upon their minds, the truths of religion; but they had no ears for those thi
ngs, they were hungry and wanted food. In the afternoon seeing some natives running up from the river, and from that inferring that all was not right, I immediately mounted my horse and rode up, when I found them engaged in hot war: their poisoned spears were flying in all directions, and their tremendous clubs were in full play. One of our Natives (Charley) had his skull fractured and part of his brain appeared in the hair: his ribs were also much bruised; however I instantly rushed in among them, and after much to do, succeeded in stopping the engagement.

  27 Feb

  The mothers of our new come children are continually teasing us to give them up; but knowing that if let alone the dear little creatures will be happy enough, we shall not easily surrender them.

  From the diary of Reverend James Günther

  1837

  August 9

  In catechising the Children today I was much pleased and surprised at the progress they have made, not only in reading the English, but also in Scriptural knowledge. Some of them would put many European children to shame. However degraded they may be, they afford at least a decisive proof, that they are quite as capable of cultivation of the mind as other nations.

  16 Aug

  I copied a number of words today from a vocabulary of Mr Watson’s of the Aboriginal language. From the little I have seen and heard of this language, during the few days of my residence here, I conclude that it is not so poor as we might naturally expect, judging from their rude manner of living, in consequence of which their notions must be very confined.

  Was much pleased this evening with Fredric, one of our Native youths, apparently a very droll fellow, saying his prayers so well in English or rather leading the rest of the Youths & Children.

  21 August

  In the afternoon when several Native women were standing before my Study door waiting for a frock which Mrs G. was making for one of them, I read some sentences to them in Wirradurri when they amused themselves in correcting & teaching me.