Title

Natives of New South Wales as seen in the streets of Sydney.

Author

Earle, Augustus.

Details

Augustus Earle: Views in New South Wales, Sydney, 1825

Publication date

1825

Type

About the work

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

NATIVES OF NEW SOUTH WALES AS SEEN IN THE STREETS OF SYDNEY

It is a fortunate circumstance for the European Settlers in Australia, that the Black Natives in the neighbourhood are of a peaceable and indolent character; and though they are of little service to the Colonists, they are in no danger, although surrounded by their roving hordes, few acts of aggression taking place, unless irritated or insulted by the Whites: how different the situation of the early Settlers in North America, where the rifle and sword used to be fastened to the plough, to protect the farmer from the sudden attacks of the Indian savage.
In the neighbourhood of Sydney, the Natives are growing scarce; the Whites locating so much land has destroyed their hunting grounds and means of subsistence; but still occasional groups are seen wandering through the streets, vending fish, flowers, or other trifling matters, for the purpose of procuring grog, or any kind of strong drink; their propensity to drunkenness being excessive.
The occupation of the group seen in the accompanying Plate is, in making a bucket of intoxicating drink (which they call bull) out of an old sugar bag; and, wonderful as it may seem, a bag of that description will make a whole party drunk. They separate the parts of the matting, and soak it, then stir it till fermentation takes place, when it is greedily drunk, and intoxication produced; they then become noisy and troublesome, and it is not uncommon for lives to be lost after one of their carousals. It is difficult for the police to interfere; they are scarcely amenable to our laws; but these boisterous meetings are prevented as much as possible.

[Accompanying text, Augustus Earle: Views in New South Wales, Sydney, 1825.]