iii. April-July 1836
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Diary 3: April-July 1836, p.1.
Class Mark: C N/O 92/23
MS page no: 2-294
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Rec. June 29
Rev. W. Watson's Diary from April 1st to July 31st 1836
A
[4 April 1836]
Mond April 4th A few weeks ago Ngarrang Bartharai came up to the Mission House for the purpose of leaving with us his motherless daughter, 4 years of age, and his sister Maria an orphan of about 10 years. He was accompanied by his father and mother, to each of whom, as well as to himself I gave a blanket. The grandmother in a few days went away with the child, and yesterday Maria was decoyed away by an old man an Aboriginal native.
A short time ago two of our native youths, in the company of the Sergant of the Detachment at this place, went to a station a few miles off and brought thence a native female of about 12 years of age in an advanced state of pregnancy. She had lived with Europeans from an age too early to be credited in England. A few months since, the man with whom she was living came up into this neighbourhood; when he was severely beaten, and deprived of her by the man from whom our youths took her, with whom she was living as his wife after he had taken her from the other.
[8 April 1836]
Frid. 8th Many natives came up to day. They listened to instruction
Diary 3: April-July 1836, p.2.
Class Mark: C N/O 92/23
MS page no: 2-295
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[10 April 1836]
Sund 10th Many Natives at Church to day: they were afterwards instructed, and appeared to hear with interest some missionary accounts that were read to them.
[11 April 1836]
Mond 11th Mr and Mrs Handt left this place, for Sydney, to day: taking with them two of their children, and leaving the other with Mrs Watson.
[13 April 1836]
Wed 13th A sick native came up this morning for some medicine, which was given to him; but because he did not instantly recover he directed me to give him "more and more."
Darby an Aboriginal Native has this morning given to us a little girl about five years of age to whom he is step-father; the child's mother was equally willing for us to have her. They had so frequently promised her that I had almost given up all expectation of having her.
[16 April 1836]
Sat. 16 A widow of about 20 years of age named Mary Ann, whose husband died at this place last year, has come to live in the house. She did so a few weeks ago, but the other females at the camp teased her so much that she went away. On that occasion knowing who they were that had enticed her away, I withheld some indulgences they were accustomed to receive at the Mission House, and they now say that they will not do so any more. We have named her Betty. Another widow expressed much desire to come
People in WellPro Directory: Handt, Mary (nee Crook) | Watson, Mrs
Diary 3: April-July 1836, p.3.
Class Mark: C N/O 92/23
MS page no: 2-296
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and live with us; but I am sorry to say that we have not convenience.
[20 April 1836]
Wed 20th About 40 Natives remaining here now, all of whom are under instruction.
[23 April 1836]
Sat 23rd
Kobon Bartharai, one of those who brought the female mentioned on the 4th July, is exceedingly troublesome, wanting to take her away to be with himself.
[27 April 1836]
Wed 27th Gungin was driving Bullocks at plow to day as usual, - he saw a native youth having a fowling piece, pass the paddock, he immediately threw down the whip and joined the fowler.
[30 April 1836]
Sat 30th Hearing a loud noise at the native's camp about 10 o'clock to night I went to ascertain the cause, when I found that Kobon Bartharai was angry with Kabbarrin one of our youths because he could not succeed in taking away from us the female that he desired. To end the quarrel I persuaded Kabbarrin to come and sleep in the kitchen, which he did, saying, he would not go down to the camp any more. I found also Ngarrang Jackey in a violent rage, because an European assigned servant had gone to the camp some nights ago and, by threatening to shoot him with a pistol, had taken one of his wives away by force.
Diary 3: April-July 1836, p.4.
Class Mark: C N/O 92/23
MS page no: 2-297
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[1 May 1836]
Sund. May 1st Our Natives received new Cloaths this morning. One of the youths spread his handkerchief carefully on the floor, another took his dirty shirt &c to kneel on at Church.
[7 May 1836]
Sat 7th Ngarrang Bartharai came up to day; I spoke to him on the impropriety of his conduct in giving me the two girls, as noticed under date of 4th instant, and then having them taken away. He denied all knowledge of the circumstance, adding that he had been to Bathurst and therefore did not know where they were. Their readily excusing themselves by telling the most palpable falsehoods is truly awful.
[8 May 1836]
Sund 8th It appears that Bartharai came up yesterday with a message, as several of our natives have accompanied him on his return. I am told that some have gone away because they did not receive food enough; although they were daily supplied with Beef and wheat. I suppose this tale is invented by those who remain, merely to induce me to give them a more liberal supply.
[11 May 1836]
Wed 11th A Store at this place was last night robbed of property to the amount of fifty pounds. Our natives have been endeavouring to track the robbers, which they did for several miles; but without finding either the plunder or the plunderers.
[12 May 1836]
Thurs. 12th Rode over to a station about 14 miles from this place to see a sick woman the wife of an assigned servant. In the hut where they live which is a remarkably small one, six individuals reside. The sick woman with her husband and child, and two shepherds, and a native female who lives with one of the shepherds as his wife. When speaking on the impropriety of living in this way, one replied, "the master sees and knows, and if he allows it, nobody else has ought to do with it."
Diary 3: April-July 1836, p.5.
Class Mark: C N/O 92/23
MS page no: 2-298
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[13 May 1836]
Frid. May 13th I was grossly insulted this evening by a drunken man who had been drinking Spirits at the house of the Sergeant of the Military detachment here.
[14 May 1836]
Sat 14th Gungin requested one of our men to day to cut his hair: the man not thinking what day it was promised to do it on the morrow. "No not tomorrow, said Gungin, tomorrow is Sunday; if I have my hair cut tomorrow I shall die."
[15 May 1836]
Sunday 15th Many natives at Church to day. About 30 remaining with us.
[22 May 1836]
Sund 22 Many natives at Church to day. Catechised the children as usual and read over some Missionary accounts, and they seemed as they generally do to feel interest in those accounts.
[24 May 1836]
Tuesd. 24th Many natives came up to day; but they had no ears to listen to instruction: all they desired was to have their temporal wants supplied.
[1 June 1836]
Wed. June 1st As our girls are reading through the Book of Genesis, they came this evening to the melancholy account of Dinah's sin. This afforded an excellent lesson on the evil consequences of mingling with wicked heathens, and they listened to it with attention.
[3 June 1836]
Friday 3rd In their New Testament reading, the children came this evening to the raising of Jairus's daughter.[14] The circumstances struck one of the girls very forcibly and she asked many questions.
Diary 3: April-July 1836, p.6.
Class Mark: C N/O 92/23
MS page no: 2-299
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[4 June 1836]
Sat 4th Several Natives have been working in the garden during the last fortnight; but the weather is too cold for them.
[7 June 1836]
Tuesd 7 Our native youths have begun to work with more apparent earnestness than usual. One drives Bullocks at plow, others are pulling up fences to make a new paddock, and one is cultivating a piece of ground for tobacco.
[12 June 1836]
Sund 12th The little motherless girl given to us sometime ago; but afterwards taken away by her grandmother, came up to day. I immediately took charge of her knowing, that though she cried much at the time kind treatment and a few hours would reconcile her to us: accordingly she is quite satisfied to night. Mrs Watson has been again confined through sickness for two or three days.
[19 June 1836]
Sund 19th 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. One Sunday he will have blue jacket and trowsers, another Sunday he will have frock and white trowsers, and so continually changing. However he went to church which I did not expect when he was so much out of order respecting his Cloaths .
[26 June 1836]
Sunday 26th Many Natives at Church to day. I afterwards preached to them and catechised the children in their presence; some of the elderly natives said they understood what was said.
People in WellPro Directory: Watson, Mrs
Diary 3: April-July 1836, p.7.
Class Mark: C N/O 92/23
MS page no: 2-300
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[30 June 1836]
Thursday 30th The Natives continue to work well, in their respective departments.
This Quarter I have formed a new vocabulary in the order of English and native dialects correcting the orthography &c of my former one, and adding many more words. Am now proceeding with a new vocabulary in the order of native dialect and English, composed and preached several sermons in the Aboriginal language.