Mr. G. Symmons and Dr. Wilson, superseded him. In 1840 an Act passed the Legislative Council constituting Rottnest Island a public prison for natives.
The prisoners on the island in 1839 did not relish their quarters, and twice in the first month attempted to escape. When the establishment was got in full swing they were made to perform furious kinds of work. Under the supervision of the superintendent and experienced men they erected comfortable cottages for themselves, after which the institution was made self-supporting. The prisoners collected salt from the lagoons on the island (which was sold on the mainland), cut wood, cultivated sufficient grain and vegetables to support themselves, and fished or hunted. The old lighthouse on Rottnest stands as a monument of their labour, and was erected within the first four years of establishment. The foundation-stone was laid by Mr. H. Trigg, superintendent of Public Works, on 21st January, 1852.
The prisoners took great pride in showing visitors their own work, yet they appeared to pine for their old freedom. Many of them were deprived of liberty for the committal of crimes and offences that they could not comprehend, largely often in obedience to their laws. The men whose chains they wore intruded on their domains, took their lands, and imprisoned them. It was a stern necessity, regretted by the white men. The young prisoners often benefited by their imprisonment; the older ones chafed under it.
The English Government had decided to inaugurate a new system for the civilisation of the natives, with the object of preserving the aboriginal races, and preventing oppression on the part of colonists. Much capital had been made out of the frays which had taken place with the blacks all over Australia, and those who did not understand the circumstances spoke and wrote trenchantly of the cruelty of the white men. Instructors to the natives were sent to all the colonies—those in Western Australia in 1839 were Dr. Wilson and Mr. C. Symmons, while a little later a son of Sir John Barrow received a similar appointment in this colony. Native schools were encouraged, and Governor Hutt, in his efforts to promote the civilisation and improvement of the aborigines and to extend the measures already in operation for that purpose, offered on 23rd June, 1841, a land bounty on the instruction of natives. He notified that he would grant a remission of £18 on the purchase of land to any person who had kept a native in constant employment for two years, and given him a complete knowledge of the usual operations of farming, reaping, mowing, &c. A remission of £36 was promised to those persons who could prove that they had taught a native with such proficiency a trade, calling, or handicraft as would entitle him to receive his indentures. Several colonists engaged natives on the strength of the bounty.
The Wesleyan denomination led the way in 1841 in establishing successful schools for natives, and through the zealous exertions of the Rev. Mr. Smithies, assisted by the Government, an institution was opened in Perth which was attended by thirty native children. This school was established as an experiment, for no one could tell whether it were possible to teach the aboriginal. The schooling occupied two hours each week-day, and public worship on Sunday. Mr. Armstrong was the patient teacher. A similar school was opened by the Wesleyan body at Guildford, where Mr. A. James was the master. Twenty-one native children attended this institution during 1841. A small subsidy was granted both schools by Government.
In March, 1839, the blacks were troublesome and daring, and killed pigs and other stock. In that month, also, a band of them was caught driving off 150 sheep from a station at York. Six men were arrested and some convicted. At Ellen's Brook thieving natives caused much annoyance, but an ingenious settler effectually drove them out of the district. He painted a hideous face on a paper lantern, which he lighted at night and hung on a bush near a body of natives. The poor blacks were alarmed beyond measure. Most of them hurried from the neighbourhood, declaring that the boylya had come from the north, and expecting the certain death of those who were bold enough to remain near by.
A hideous murder was perpetrated by natives in the south part of the York district on 18th May. While the wife of Elijah Cook was alone in her house with an infant eight months old, ferocious blacks approached and speared her and her child, and after battering them with hatchets, burnt the house to the ground over their bodies. Expeditions went out to hunt the murderers and avenge the terrible wrong. A proclamation was issued by the Government calling upon all persons to aid in discovering them. We are told that a proclamation to the same effect was issued in the native language, which was futile and ludicrous, seeing that the natives knew nothing of reading or writing, and that hose who compiled the document were perhaps the only Europeans who comprehended it.
After a long search Doodjeep and Barrabong were arrested. On the 1st July, 1840, they were tried and found guilty, and sentenced to be hung at the scene of the murder. A few days later, on 10th July, the execution was carried into effect. Doodjeep and Barrabong were chained, placed in a cart, and conveyed to the spot. A few military protected the conveyance, for it was expected that the dusky brethren of the prisoners would seek to rescue them. Two natives were met on the Way, and Doodjeep and Barrabong cried out to them, but the intruders were quickly driven off by the soldiers. Presently smoke ascended the sky from signal fires kindled by the two men. No opposition, however, was offered, although it is believed that a number of natives watched the execution from a distance. Chains were suspended from a tree, and Doodjeep met his fate with stolid calmness. Not so Barrabong; he trembled violently, and fainted as the cap was being drawn over his eyes. The bodies were left hanging to the tree as a warning of the dreadful vengeance of the white man.
Other murders were committed in 1839, but no explicit records exist of them. Among them was the spearing of a shepherd boy employed by Mr. Phillips, on the Canning. His sheep were driven off. Munday, the chieftain, again appears on the scene. He threatened to spear Mr. Armstrong, the interpreter and friend of the natives. He was to be charged with the offence. In December, 1839, a deputation from a number of blacks called on the editor of the Perth Gazette and asked him to devote his "paper talk" to the interests of Munday. The editor promised a "favourable consideration" of their request.
There was an immunity from depredations in 1840. A few sheep were stolen on the Swan in April, and the country was secured in pursuit of the thieves. The Leschenault natives murdered a white boy about the middle of the year. The details are meagre. Several Perth natives were appointed to act as constables.
In 1841 one of the most bloodthirsty deeds ever committed by Englishmen is reported to have taken place. No records exist of this affair, and the narrative depends on the evanescent
