RIVOLI BAY. - DISCOVERY OF HARBOR. ~ ATTACK BY THE BLACKS.
BY the Governor Gawler, Captain Underwood, information of a highly interesting nature has been received in reference to Rivoli Bay, which has now, for the first time, been thoroughly examined.
Rivoli Harbour, as it may now be called, in the form very nearly of the spread horns of a bullock, or an extended half moon, seven miles from tip to tip of the horns. Directly in front at the distance of a few miles from the shore are a number of sand banks and & small island, and near the tip of the south-east horn, are a few reefs, which so completely protect the harbor, -that during one of the heaviest gales Captain Underwood has seen, and which continued 50 hours, he sailed about at leisure, and with comfort in a small dingy. Inside of these banks, reefs and islands, Captain Underwood sounded and found 4, 5, and 6 fathoms, shoaling (10 feet near the beach; but all round and behind the banks and island there is deep water for the largest ships in completely sheltered situations. The deepest water, and altogether the best ground for shipping, is near the south-east horn of the harbor, which was not before examined.
The Governor Gawler's cargo consisted of stores for the South Australian Company's party and stock, which had lately gone to runs near Lake Bonney. Captain Underwood when he arrived was forced to take a journey into the interior in search of the party, when he met with some adventures. He had likewise the opportunity of meeting on the beach with some gentlemen from Portland Bay, who brought the important intelligence that a number of inhabitants of that place intended to leave it for Rivoli harbour if they could succeed in securing town allotments.
It appears that the blacks had been very troublesome. They had stolen and destroyed about 500 sheep belonging to Mr Leake, and 150 belonging to the Company. One of the natives had been captured and was brought to Port Adelaide by the Gawler.
Having been favored with Captain Underwood's journal, we select from it some interesting particulars regarding these events....
"At the Company's station is a cavern about ninety feet deep, seventy broad, and one hundred long, with an entrance above about fifteen feet by ten, having, besides, an opening like a chimney, about four feet wide. In the evening, curiosity prompted me to go down it by a line fastened to a winch above, for the purpose of drawing water from it. It is like an immense dungeon, with an island in the centre, about thirty-five feet by 30, of a conical form, and surrounded by excellent fresh water, apparently [ very deep, as the sides of the island are very steep. The sides of the cavern look almost like a work of art ; one is about perpendicular, and looks like a blank wall. It then assumes rather the form of a D than square. The sensation in going up or down it was not very happy, as the line was small, and caused me, by the unlaying of the rope, to whirl round like a goose on a spit. It was very cold at its bottom. It has an endless supply of water. The island in its centre is about fifteen feet above water, and appears to have been formed by the falling in of the centre. About a mile from that cavern are two others one about forty feet, dry at the bottom, and about seventy feet across, the opening at top about twenty feet; it is strewed with bones of various animals, and has two beautiful fern trees growing in it : the other cavern is about one hundred yards across the top, and about twenty deep, with very steep sides, covered at bottom with scrub and grass.
Tuesday morning, May 13.-Started from from the Company's head station, in company with Messrs Lillecrappe, Frew, and McLaren. My old horse being the only one in the service, as all the Company's horses had been lost for two or three weeks, I was the only one who was mounted, which made the journey rather fatiguing to the party on foot. We had with us, besides, a native, who had accompanied the overland party from the Coorong. On our journey westward we touched at the Company's stations, to see that all was right. The day was very wet, which made travelling very unpleasant. We started several small herds of kangaroo. The country in that line is generally flat and grassy, but very woody. Had a view of the flocks. Saw the men busy erecting huts, &c.
We started two fine emus; they were very shy. In the evening, about sunset, we arrived at the western most station, distant about five miles from Lake Bonney, where we heard from the shepherds that one hundred and sixty five sheep had been lost the night before: it was uncertain, however, in what way they had disappeared from the flock. This news caused the superintendent to stop a day, to examine into that circumstance, and, if possible, recover them, or find out where they were. Consequently, on Wednesday morning, a party set out to examine all round the stations and runs, to trace them out. In the evening they returned, and one of the shepherds had found a track of about one hundred sheep, going off in a northerly direction from the station, and the tracks were quite fresh; so it was concluded that the blacks had taken them. I remained this day at the hut, and amused myself by shooting. Shot and skinned a laughing jackass and a scarlet parrot.
Thursday, we mustered all our forces and arms to pursue and recover the sheep, if possible. We had, however, but one charge of powder for each gun, as the stock was exhausted. We made seven in number, including black Jemmy; myself the only cavalry man among them. We started off early, rank and file, in good order and good spirits. We came on the track after about an hour's march, and, following it about an hour longer, we perceived fresh prints of horses feet in the same direction, and we soon smelt the fumes of burning flesh; as there was but little wind the smoke lay among the trees. Immediately after we came to a fire, and found it to be a white man's fire. Following the direction of the tracks, and finding the strong smell of burning increase, we concluded we were near the scene of slaughter and feasting. Ten minutes after we saw the smoke of several fires through the trees. 1 then dashed forward on my old horse to reconnoitre, and coming up to the first fire saw it covered with parts of sheep, roasting most merrily. Going forward I soon saw a number of persons standing among the distant trees, and at first thought them natives. They were drawn up to receive us, thinking us to be natives coming to the attack. We were mutually and happily undeceived, when we recognised Messrs Leake and Mcintyre, and five others, under arms, and on the same errand as ourselves. They had five horses, and had met the blacks at their camp about half an hour before we came up. They told us they were very busy cooking sheep for breakfast, and quite secure and happy when they surprised them. There were about two hundred of them. They drew up in half-moon form and gave battle, but on receiving two rounds from the guns of their assilants they dispersed, leaving their camp, spears, and cooking sheep, with some axes, tomahawks, waddies,&c, &c. The camp was in a thickly wooded spot, close to a reedy swamp and thick belt of tea-tree, which afforded them instant shelter from their pursuers. There were about twenty fires burning, covered with parts of sheepskins, &c. The ground was thickly strewed with offal all through the camp. Parts of sheep were hanging on the trees, making altogether, including the motley group of whites, a scene for a Hogarth or Cruikshank. I sketched something like it, but cannot do it justice. After staying awhile to make observations and concoct our next plan, we joined forces, making a respectable show of six horsemen and nine footmen. Finding further pursuit fruitless, and no hopes of recovering the sheep, we determined on going altogether to Mr Leake's station, about five miles distant, at the foot of the Bluff Range, at which I halted on my journey to Mount Gambier. There we got refreshments - talked about the rascally blacks -their daring and successful robberies - the necessity of a local police, or taking rash measures into private hands - and otherwise amusing ourselves.
We again started with our little party of seven back to the Company's station, being quite satisfied that the missing sheep had been taken away by the natives. Having reached near the station, a party of natives were seen through the trees about the hut, and the sheep were in the yard. Fearing that mischief had been done I again galloped forward to surprise the natives, who on seeing the horse scampered off in all directions. There were about a dozen of them. One of the shepherds hearing us coming up, and sure of support, seized on one of the natives and made him a prisoner, when the party on foot coming np instantly secured him; he was foremost among them in robbing the hut, and taking possession of the station. They had demanded the sheep, and made a fire a short distance from the entrance of the sheep yard ; on examination we found they had taken from the hut a damper and a shirt, a leg and side of mutton I picked up in the reeds where they crossed, running off. The prisoner showed great uneasiness and terror at his being in our hands : a watch was kept over him during night. Saturday morning we finally started for the bay, and set out about eight o'clôck, taking the prisoner with us made fast to the horse."
& from the same edition of the South Australian Tuesday 27th May 1845
POLICE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. MONDAY MAY 26, 1845
Charley, a native, was charged with stealing sheep, the property of the South Australian Company, at Rivoli Bay. Mr Lillycrappe, Superintendent of the sheep in that district, was examined and gave the particulars of the attack. The black was remanded.
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