B 505: Lecture on the Aborigines of Australia and papers on Wirradhurrei dialect, 1837-1840

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This material forms part of the Archdeacon James Gunther papers, 1826-1878, held by the State Library of New South Wales.

The following parts of the collection were selected for the Rediscovering Indigenous Languages project:

- Lecture on the Aborigines of Australia and papers on Wirradhurrei dialect, 1837-1840; call number B 505

- The Native Dialect Wirradurri spoken in the Wellington District, 1838; call number C 136

The Archdeacon William James Gunther (1839-1918) was born on 28 May 1839 at Wellington, New South Wales, and was son of Reverend James William Gunther and his wife Lydia, née Paris. Gunther (the elder) was a German-born missionary, who worked in the Mudgee district and died circa 1879. The Church Missionary Society mission appointed Gunther to its mission in Wellington in August 1837, and he stayed until the mission was disbanded in 1843. During this time, Gunter compiled lists of Wiradjuri words, phrases and executed studies on Wiradjuri grammar.

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will own that there is far more similitude ['3' in pencil] both in body and mind in the different races and tribes of man than dissimilitude and, they can only wonder at either the want of [cander?] or the want of judgment in those who have tried from the [word crossed out] diversity of human races to raise doubts and objections against the declaration of revealed truth that all spring from one common origin, from one pair. In the next place I would remark [word crossed out] even the fact that the Aboriginees are rapidly diminishing before our eyes, and that we, even though unwilling, have as Colonists been the indirect cause and instruments of their speedy extermination must tend to excite some interest concerning them. And here I must add that the poor miserable remnant we now notice in the settled parts of the Colony are not altogether a true [words crossed out] type of the genuine Aboriginees,

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['4' in pencil] They have learned our vices, they have copied some of the worst patterns of the White man and have become so debased [word crossed out] by intoxicating drink and other evil habits that they present (the present remnant) more or less a caricature of [words crossed out] their ancestors. If they have gained a little, in little matters by their intercourse with Europeans, they have lost [words crossed out] that independence of spirit, valor & courage, beside certain [word crossed out] better habits and customs which originally obtained with them & still may be found among the more distant tribes. If some of the older Colonists & Natives are present, to whom I may not afford much information that [word crossed out] is new to them, I would beg of them to bear in mind that there are many new comers amongst us less or but little acquainted with the habits or character of the Blacks. I must preface my lecture by one more observation viz; that I must draw almost

F. I would further remark here that their speedy disappearance from before our eyes is not altogether owing to intemperance & other vices they assume from Europeans I have known a number of fine young men dying away before they had almost any opportunity to drink, simply in consequence of the irregularity [word crossed out] to which they subject themselves living for a time with Europeans eating our food, and enjoying regular meals, besides wearing Europ. clothes & then suddenly returning for a few weeks to their own ways & habits;

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entirely from my own resources as I am not aware of much that [words crossed out] has been written or said, about the Aboriginees from which I could derive, much advantage, even if I had it to refer to. And as I have made the Blacks for more than six years the main objects of my attention & study, I fancy I do not presume too much, if I express chiefly my own opinion & the results of my experience. You will therefore bear with me, if my own name & personal efforts are now & then almost unavoidably, mixed up with my statements.

[words crossed out] I shall now proceed to make a few remarks as to the various questions which may naturally rise in our minds: When & how the [words crossed out] original inhabitants came to this country, when they came and with and [word crossed out to what other races they [words crossed out] bear a resemblance

[r.h. margin] These sudden & great changes often cause serious colds & other diseases under which they pine away

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and whether or not they were originally [words crossed out] so ignorant & uncivilized as they are now? I regret that to all these questions [words crossed out] no satisfactory answers can be [words crossed out] given. We can only throw out conjectures & hint at possibilities & probabilities concerning their original descent, as they are utterly without a history of their own with scarcely a [words crossed out] any fragments of tradition and in as much as all ancient history is silent about this part of the globe. How all the Polynesian islands have been peopled, how long they have been inhabited and whence they originally came will probably always remain [words crossed out] doubtful and problematical. But there is a chain of [word crossed out] islands [word crossed out] some smaller some greater [words crossed out] connecting this continent with Asia such as New Guinea, Borneo [words crossed out] is not far from the northern coast of this country and Timor is not a great distance from the Malay country on the Indian archipelago, or the Malay Archipelago as it is sometimes called. Whether driven from necessity, when hunted by other tribes

(Margin)

The Celebes The Phillipines or nearer still & in straiter line the Island of Timor Java Sumatra the Malay

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I will now give you an index or brief outline of the various [word crossed out] topics to which I propose to refer by such statements & explanations as may appear interesting respecting the Aboriginees. of Australia

1, We shall throw out of a few hints as to their origin and resemblance to other nations & how they [words crossed out] originally came here. 2, A description of [words crossed out] national peculiarities in features & formation & coler & their intellecual faculties 3, Hints at the causes of their degeneration. 4, Their ideas of a superior being & evil spirits and a future state 5, Their form of government & certain laws and customs 6, Their mode of living; food clothing, wandering habits 7, Their character & disposition, virtues & vices. 8, Their attainments as to any art or handicraft various ornaments, weapons utensils hunting and fishing 9, Their frequents wars and its causes. 10, The treatment of women 11, The curious ceremony of making young men 12, Certain Marriage laws and fictitious relationship amongst them. 13, Funerals ceremonies 14, Great peculiarities of language & different dialects

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