Author: Buckley, William
Title: Reminiscenses of James Buckley who lived for thirty years among the Wallawarro or Watourong tribes at Geelong Port Phillip, communicated by him to George Langhorne, manuscript
Date: [1837]
Accession Number: MS13483
Transcript Number: pp0019-005-0
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took place thus - I was sitting under a tree near a
lagoon not far from the River Barwin dispirited and
and almost worn out with my sad condition when
some Black women made their appearance. I learnt afterwards
that they had come hither to gather the gum from
the mimosa Tree which forms a favourite article of food
[they] I had been I believe about two months resident in the
country but I do not think they had heard of me - on
seeing me they retired and informed their companions who
were nigh at hand - these came up and viewing me
for some time with evident astonishment at length made
signs to me to follow them. I immediately did so although
I despaired of my life as my impression was that
they intended to kill me they took me to their encampment
one black holding one of my hands and one the other.
on reaching a hut or 'Willum' near which was a Waterhole
I made signs that I was thirsty and they gave me some water
and without being asked offered me some gum beat up and
prepared after their manner. They then all sat down and
a general howling was set up around me the women
crying and sobbing and tearing their faces and foreheads
with their nails (a token of excessive grief - I learnt
afterwards that they believed me to be a black who
had died some time since and who had come again
to them in the shape of a white man - In the evening
a great dance took place, I believe in honor of my
arrival - and from this time I was to them an object
of the utmost care and solicitude - they never allowed
me to walk any distance unattended - and if I
happened to leave them for a little Blacks were
immediately sent in search of me - when tears were
often shed on my reappearance - I lived as they lived
and was careful not to give them offence in the smallest
thing - yielding to them at all times - and sharing