Reverend Taylor, 1838

Reverend Richard Taylor to Reverend W. Cowper, 6 February 1839, BPP, Colonies, Australia, 8: 45-6.

The following letter was written three months after Taylor's visit to Wellington Valley from 3-7 November 1838. The letter was accidently carried to New Zealand and was not received by Cowper until April 1839. It was therefore submitted by the Sydney CMS to the NSW Executive Council during its inquiry into the Wellington Mission, with the request that its contents remain confidential. The following transcript is taken from a copy of the letter enclosed with other material from the Executive Council proceedings in a despatch from Governor Gipps to Lord Russell, 7 May 1840.

Liverpool, 6 February 1839.
Rev. Sir,
Having recently returned from Wellington Valley where I had an opportunity of examining into the present state of our mission there, I beg leave to forward through you a brief account of my visit to the corresponding committee of the Church Missionary Society. On my arrival there, which was the day after the general fast, I found the valley of Wellington presenting a deplorable picture of the effects produced by the long-continued drought. Not a vestige of verdue was to be seen; the grass was completely burnt up, and even the foliage of the trees appeared to have lost their usual colour. Every crop had completely failed and even the bed of the Bell, which must average a depth of at least 40 feet, was perfectly dry. I found the number of natives encamped in the neighbourhood of the mission house very small, and very few of them receiving any instruction. There were from six to ten young men residing on the mission premises, and 12 children living in Mr. Watson's house, composing his school. I examined them in the New Testament, which they read with great facility, pronouncing it without any foreign accent, and readily answering many questions which I put to them from it. They were also perfectly acquainted with Watts', the Assembly's, and another catechism, but they had not been taught the catechism of our church. These scholars were chiefly girls. The two eldest were 15 years old; they were mothers, and had been rescued from the hands of' the whites, with whom they had lived from the early age of eight years. I attended a service given to the natives in their own language by Mr. Watson, when 25 were present; it was extremely interesting. The greatest attention was paid to what was said, and I much regretted to find that this service was not given so frequently, as it ought to have been. I was much grieved to notice the little desire the natives have to learn anything, their only concern is about eating. and I feel convinced that the general idea entertained of the missionaries is, that they are stationed amongst them by Government only to distribute provisions. The missionaries have many difficulties to contend with; they are surrounded by settlers who live openly in adultery, or with native females, many of whom are children bought at the age of eight years, for oftentimes a mess of pottage. Some are mothers at 13. These vile people use every means in their power to prejudice the natives against their teachers; and whenever they require their assistance, scruple not to entice them away with the offer of a little rum. This description, I fear, too equally applies to the highest is well as the lowest - from the ruler to the ruled. The only native I heard of who really appeared to be under the influence of religion (though there are several under instruction, and who take much delight in singing, sing with great sweetness), was a poor female, who was daily accustomed to retire to the bush for prayer. A white man endeavoured to entice her to accompany him, and on her refusal shamefully beat her; but upon complaint being made, it was said if he were punished his dray would be delayed, and consequently his master would be the sufferer; he was therefore permitted to proceed. But I fear the missionaries are not free from blame themselves, since they do not make any efforts to excite a more favourable feeling towards them. As I have already intimated, there is not even a regular native service on Sunday, and only one in English, although there are two ordained missionaries. I plainly told them, if they would visit the different stations near them they would shame the unrighteous deeds of their countrymen, and hinder them from deluding; the natives. At present, being totally neglected by the missionaries, they delight in opposing them. A most lamentable want of unanimty likewise prevails in the mission, which cannot but materially suffer from it. The surrounding settlers are now endeavouring to get Wellington Valley made a township of, and most probably they will be successful. There are so many immoral characters residing in the immediate vicinity of the mission, that I fear it is of little real benefit. It is a question whether it would not be more desirable that it should be removed further into the interior, and that a large block of land should be set apart for that purpose, on which no whites should be allowed to reside, or else that there should be several small stations in different localities, that thus the tribes might be followed in their wanderings. They are a very interesting race, and perhaps have been more maligned than any other on the face of the globe. They are of a chocolate colour, several shades lighter than those in the vicinity of the sea, and much better formed. They easily acquire our language, are partial to singing, and very facetious, imitating with great exactness anything which may strike them in the manner or tone of those they see. They are as expert in the use of the gun as they are with their own weapons. The language is agreeable and expressive; it contains names not only for every plant, but also for the different genera; and there are also words to distinguish marsupial animals, as well as the flying one. Neither are they so destitute of religious ideas as is commonly supposed. They believe in three gods: one they say made all things, another is his son (which is very remark able), and the third tells them when to corrobery, appoints their ceremonies, and teaches them their sacred songs. Their funeral rites are curious, and the manner of constructing graves, which, covered with a tumulus of earth, reminded me of our British cairns. I have thus endeavoured to give a faithful, though I fear not very satisfactory, account of the present state of the mission, as it appeared to me. I might have formed erroneous ideas respecting it; if so, I shall be pleased to find myself mistaken.

Believe me, &c.
(signed) Richard Taylor.