|
pp. 432-436.
“3rd. We again proceeded on our journey, having two Blacks, Lewis and Sam, as guides, Tommy having left Shoal Haven, without notice. We were so amply provided with food for two days, by our kind host, that the services of one of these men was required, to carry it on his head, in a sack. A circuit of about six miles, over grassy, forest hills, between two marshes, brought us to A. Berry’s sawing establishment, on Broughtons Creek, which is under the superintendence of a respectable, Scotch family, who do not think they have improved their situation in life, by emigrating.
“At the foot of the Cambewarra mountains, we met half-a-dozen Blacks, dressed in blankets, and in the old clothes of Europeans. One of these sons of the forest had an expressive countenance, and remarkably fine features; he spoke English tolerably, and said that he went occasionally, as a seaman, on board a vessel belonging to A. Berry. These people were accoutered with hunting and fishing spears, and weapons of war.....
“Upon trees on the ascent of the Cambewarra mountain, Dendrobium ruscifolium was in flower. Two other orchideous epiphytes, but of minute size, grew on mossy logs. near the top of the mountain, where there were several other remarkable plants. The Cabbage Palm grew to the top of the mountain, and on the descent toward the Kangaroo River, the Zamias were fine.
“After ascending about 2,000 feet, we descended nearly half as much, and pursuing our route, through almost trackless forests, reached a stock-station on the Kangaroo Ground [Kangaroo Valley] before sunset. This place is an open, grassy plain, inaccessible to carriages, and surrounded by mountains. In this sequestered spot we were recognized and welcomed, by a man in charge of a hut, who was a prisoner, in a bridge-party, at Windsor, when we visited that place, a year ago; in the mean time he had become free. We were also recognized by an Anglo-australian youth, who had been at one of our meetings in Illawarra. In this land of strangers, a very slight knowledge of a person is sufficient for claiming acquaintance. In passing through some of the more open forest, on the Kangaroo River, and contiguous plain, Buttercups, Violets, and Geraniums, resembling those of English fields, but not identical with them, reminded us pleasantly of our native land, while Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, numerous Aborigines, and many plants of truly Australian features, proved that we were still at the antipodes of the land of our birth. The men residing on the Kangaroo Ground [Kangaroo Valley], had no Bible. The only religious treatise in their possession, was a Prayer Book; but they were not destitute of compassion for the afflicted. A poor, aged, black woman, who had lost the use of her legs, and was living near their hut, under a slight shelter, formed of a few sheets of bark, was chiefly supported by milk and scraps of food, which they gave her.
“4th. We found our guide on the Kangaroo Ground [Kangaroo Valley], where he had been engaged in a fight, had got his head severely broken, and had then made peace with his antagonist. Three tribes of Blacks were assembled here last night; one belonging to the neighbourhood, and the others to Shoal Haven and Bong Bong. There were forty men in one of these tribes; they were going to the Cow-pastures, to learn a new song, that had been invented by some of their country people there ! For an object of this kind they often travel great distances. Several of them speak tolerable English. They were attired either in skin garments, fastened over one shoulder and under the other, or in blankets, or articles of European clothing; one having on a pair of trowsers, another a shirt, a third a jacket, and so on. Few of them had any covering for their heads, and none had shoes. All the men had undergone the ceremony of having one front-tooth knocked out, on being admitted to the privileges of manhood; and they had the cartilages of their noses perforated, and bones, the thickness of a quill, and about four inches long, through them. They wore fillets of network around their heads, and beads formed of short pieces of reed, around their necks. They prop up large sheets of bark with sticks, for shelters to sleep under, having fires in front. They are very peaceable, when kindly treated; we felt no fear in sleeping in a rude hut, without a fastening to the door, which blew open several times during the night, though about 200 of them were only a few hundred yards distant. In the morning eight of them, in addition to the three we had engaged, chose to accompany us on our journey. Our party did not commence their march till after a considerable time had been spent in conversation between our sable companions, and their countrymen: to this delay we were obliged to submit patiently. They carried with them, their arms, and a musket, which one of had received as a present from a settler, for whom he had done some service. The ascent of the mountain, toward Bong Bong, was steep, and covered with Cedar, Swamp Mahogany, Sasafras, Cabbage Palm, and large climbers [Colonial Timbers]. The stem of a Tecoma, that we met with, having blossoms like T. australis [Wonga Vine], but differing considerably from that species in foliage, was two feet in circumference, and reached the head of the tree that supported it, at about seventy feet from the ground, a species of Cissus [Water Vine]; and some other climbers, were also very large. One of the Natives ascended a Cabbage Palm, and with a hatchet, cut off its head, which he soon stripped of leaves, to afford us the opportunity of tasting the heart. Not having that of the Seaforthia to compare it with, at the time, I could not decide that it was superior, though it is generally reputed to be so. The Natives informed us that they were not aware that the hearts of these Palms were wholesome, till White people came among them; they now form a considerable item of their food, in this part of the country. The Blacks are greatly afraid of being poisoned, by eating articles to which they have not become accustomed. Though sometimes pressed with hunger, they seem not to have tried several vegetable productions, likely to afford sustenance; and those of V. D. Land will not eat any kind of fish, but shell-fish, probably from fear of being poisoned by them. We halted at the Waterfall Brook, after descending a little from the summit of the mountain, and divided the residue of our provision, which, though ample for the number that we amounted to when we left Shoal Haven, was somewhat small for thirteen, but all appeared content, being made equal partakers. We passed a water-fall [Fitzroy Falls], reported to be 500 feet from the top to the bottom, without being aware that we were near it. On descending, the country became sandy; Stringy Bark, and other upland species of Eucalyptus, as well as of Banksia, Hakea, Grevillea, and some of the Legumenosae, of the sandstone districts, succeeded to the richer forest, and toward the conclusion of our journey, the country became more grassy. Some Pheasants and a Kangaroo were espied in the bush by the Natives, who were very cheerful companions. They were amply supplied with food, on arriving at the noble mansion of Charles Throsby, at Throsby Park, near Bong Bong, where we also were with great hospitality.”
|
