The aborigines of Tasmania / by H. Ling Roth ; assisted by Marion E. Butler and Jas. Backhouse Walker ; with a chapter on the osteology by J.G. Garson.

  • Henry Ling Roth
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The aborigines of Tasmania / by H. Ling Roth ; assisted by Marion E. Butler and Jas. Backhouse Walker ; with a chapter on the osteology by J.G. Garson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    towards me, that I might tie it round his head for him, and who expressed the greatest joy, as he lifted his hand up to feel it again and again. . . . The women were very desirous of coming nearer to us ; and though the men made signs to them, to keep at a distance, their curiosity was ready every moment to break through all other consider- ations. The gradual increase of confidence, however, that took place, obtained for them permission to approach. ... A pole-axe which we used for cutting off some branches from the trees excited the admiration of these people. As they perceived us willing to give them anything in our possession, they did not scruple to beg it; and when we granted their request, they were overcome with joy. They were fully sen- sible also of the value of our knives, and received a few tin vessels with pleasure. When I showed them my watch, it attracted their desire, and one of them, in particular, expressed his wish to possess it; but he quickly desisted from his request, when he found I was not willing to part with it. The readiness with which we gave them our things led them, no doubt, to presume that they might take anything belonging to us, without asking for it : this obliged us to set bounds to their desires; but we found that they returned to us, without the least resistance, such things as we could not dispense with for our own use. . . . I wished to get a kangaroo skin; among the savages about us there happened to be only a young girl who had one. When I proposed to her, to give it me in exchange for a pair of pantaloons, she ran away to hide herself in the woods. The other natives appeared truly hurt at her refusal, and called to her several times. At length she yielded to their entreaties, and came to bring me the skin. She received a pair of pantaloons. . . . We showed her the manner of wearing them ; but notwithstanding, it was necessary for us to put them on for her ourselves. To this she yielded with the best grace in the world, resting both her hands on our shoulders, to support herself, while she lifted up first one leg, then the other, to put them into this new garment. . . . We invited them all to come and sit near our fire, and when they arrived there, one of the savages informed us by unequivocal signs, that he had come to reconnoitre us during the night. That we might understand he had seen us asleep, he inclined his head on one side, laying it on the palm of his right hand, and closing his eyes, and with the other, he pointed out the spot where we had passed the night. He then acquainted us, by signs equally expressive, that he was at the time on the other side of the brook, whence he observed us. . . . We were desirous of showing these savages the effedt of our firearms. . . . They appeared to be a little frightened at their report.’’ He continues, “ I had not perceived the young girl for some time, but happening to look behind me, 1 saw, with surprise, seven [women] who had perched themselves on a stout limb of a tree, whence they attentively watched our slightest movements. As they all squatted on the bough they formed a pleasing group.” Some of the savages accompanied La Billardiere to the coast, and he says: “ They no doubt conceived it to be our intention to return to Port D’Entrecasteaux, for we were twice mistaken in the path, and they both times pointed out to us that which