The Aborigines' Friend and the Colonial Intelligencer/1855/Edward Warrulan, an Australian Lad

Edward Warrulan, an Australian Lad.

Edward Warrulan was the son of one of the chiefs amongst the natives of South Australia, residing not far from Adelaide. He was brought to England by Edward Eyre, the distinguished Australian traveller, accompanied by another native lad, who, after some short stay, was, it is believed, carried back to his own country, and of whose subsequent fate we are uninformed. Edward's age was not exactly known, but he was a mere child. He accompanied his kind patron almost wherever he went, and his good and orderly conduct was certainly very remarkable. He exhibited neither shyness nor obtrusiveness, but an unaffected manliness and propriety of manner, with a little imitation of his patron, which made him appear very amiable and interesting. Not long after his arrival in this country he accompanied the Australian traveller to Windsor to see the Queen, and the "Illustrated London News" published some account of him and his visit, with a portrait, giving a pretty accurate idea of his person as he then appeared.

When Sir Edward Eyre was appointed by Lord Grey, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to be the Assistant-Governor of New Zealand, an arrangement was made at the Colonial Office for the purpose of defraying the expense of maintaining and educating Edward Warrulan in this country, out of the fund set apart for the benefit of the South-Australian natives, and Dr. Hodgkin, probably at the suggestion of Sir Edward Eyre, was requested to act as his guardian in carrying out the plan. As a special favour, admission was obtained for him into an agricultural school at Sibford, in Oxfordshire. He had there the advantage of a guarded and religious education; and, besides the instruction which he might receive in the ordinary branches of useful elementary education, he was encouraged to engage in some pursuits of farm­ing and horticulture. He could write a little, but he was ex­tremely deficient in even the earliest steps of school learning. It is not intended, in stating this, to imply that he had been neglected, which is not probable, as his patron hoped that he might acquire a classical education as a preparation for missionary service. It was, doubtless, rather the result of his mental peculiarity. Whilst he carefully observed many things, and had an excellent memory for persons, places, and things, as well as for historical facts, he had great difficulty in understanding the grammatical construction of sentences, and more particularly every thing relating to numbers, and even greater difficulty in retaining that which he had seemed to master in respect to these subjects. It may be inferred, from the great want of numerals in the Australian languages, that defect in arithmetical power is a characteristic of the Australian natives. It will therefore be interesting to state, that two lads, brought to this country from West Australia by Dr. Madden, were reported by their teacher to have no difficulty of this kind.

When E. Warrulan was of an age to make it desirable that he should apply himself to some useful occupation by which he might both maintain himself and become useful to others on his return; it was evident that he had neither strength nor inclination for agriculture. He tried carpenter's work with the same result, and therefore quitted the party with whom he had been placed on trial to learn that business.

It was then suggested by Frederick Tuckett, who, in his exten­sive travels, had become well acquainted with colonial life, and with the habits and dispositions of several native races, that the business of a saddler would be very likely to suit Edward's capa­city and inclination, and also to afford him the most certain means of profitably employing himself. The idea was most happy and judicious, and, in acting on this plan. Edward Warrulan evinced a perseverance and industry which, it is believed, that he had never shown-before. His character seemed to unfold and ripen, without his losing his childlike simplicity. His politeness was not mere imitation, but was evidently self-suggested and habitual.

He doubtless owed much to the training which he had received; in the first instance, from the almost paternal care of Sir E. Eyre, and subsequently from those with whom it was his happiness, in succession, to reside, from the time of his going into Oxfordshire until his death. It is also especially due to our friend and zealous fellow-member of the Aborigines' Protection Society. James Cadbury, of Banbury, to state that to no one was he more indebted than to him. Not only were his moral culture, mental improvement, and personal health and comfort sedulously watched by this friend, during his residence at Banbury, but the advantageous position in which E. Warrulan was placed in Birmingham was obtained by him. When E. W. was taken ill J. Cadbury went to Birmingham to visit him there, and also frequently conferred with Dr. Hodgkin personally and by letter both before and during his illness.

We subjoin the following account of this young Australian, for which we are indebted to one of his Oxfordshire friends, who has been so kind as to collect and record a few particulars which will be read with interest by those who knew him. We would also beg those who as yet have not learnt to sympathize with the uncivilized, but regard them as savages devoted to destruction, to reflect how many of Edward's unhappy countrymen might have lived as amiable and useful men, or have died with Christian hope as he did, had they not been sacrificed to the vices and cruelty of the white man, or suffered to perish through his indifference.

"Edward Warrulan arrived in Banbury from London in 1847, and proceeded to Sibford school. He resided there till the 2d month, 1852, and then became an inmate of Thomas Dumbleton's family, of Banbury, to learn the saddlery and harness work. He left T. Dumbleton the 17th of 3d month, 1855, to improve himself, and settled in the large harness manufactory of J. Middlemore, Birmingham, and remained there until the beginning of the 10th month (October).

He was taken ill from exposure in a railway train the middle of 9th month, and his malady terminated fatally on the 23d of 10th month, 1855. By request of his friends of Covendon, near Coventry, he was buried in the Church-of-England Cemetery. Birmingham, on the 27th of the same. C. Mule, of Birmingham, kindly officiating.

Thus he spent about four years in an educational establishment, and about the same period in learning the harness manufacture. He discovered much interest in the occupation, and the object of moving to Birmingham was for improvement, prior to his expected return to his native country; bat, although conversant with this employ, he could not readily understand its relation with its money value.

During the whole intercourse of his short but varied residence in Oxfordshire, he maintained a character, very prepossessing from its native gentleness and ease; and though often subject to irritating circumstances, was scarcely ever known to repel them, except by mild expostulation, or very trite replies, which, in years, were mostly couched in Scripture language, singularly applicable and unanswerable.

Of his conduct and attainments at Sibford school. Richard Routh states that "We found him a peaceable and innocent character, and we do not remember, at any period, his ever having intentionally done wrong. In meetings for worship. Scripture readings, and other serious opportunities, his deportment was thoughtful and suitable for the occasions. He committed to memory, weekly, portions of the Sacred Volume, and, in a severe attack of indisposition he had whilst at school, the remembrance of these texts gave him great comfort; and when too poorly to read for himself, be took great pleasure in listening to others. He also expressed a great desire that his parents might be brought to acknowledge of their Saviour."

The testimonies of both his employers are highly satisfactory, his good conduct, and general docility, and application, making them no trouble, and inducing them to promote the object in view, that of learning the trade. Whilst in Banbury be frequently accompanied his master to farm-houses, where his conduct was equally correct.

Amongst his school-fellows he contracted warm friendships, which were sustained until his decease; and letters from two of these juvenile correspondents, received after his death, proved and expressed the strong attachment that existed between them. His company was earnestly sought by numerous juvenile applicants at each successive vacation, and these visits of friendship have been maintained at intervals ever since. In his visits to Buckingham, Shipston, Banbury, &c., as well as those to his early friends in London, Covendon, Derby, &c., the warmest encomiums were expressed, or afterwards conveyed by letters, and he bore away many gratifying proofs of attachment in presents of books, ring, and other mementos, which he highly valued.

It will now prove a lasting satisfaction to each and all of these generous friends, that their intercourse tended to foster that propriety of conduct which formed a native element in his character; and, further, that they impressed him with the knowledge and love of his heavenly Father and Redeemer, which became, in his last moments, both a solace to himself and a rich legacy to survivors.

Whilst at Banbury his right hand was severely mutilated by a combing machine, but, by the kind and able treatment of Dr. R. S. Wise, his hand was restored. The confinement to his room for several weeks, and the necessarily painful dressings attending the cure, had no prejudicial effect on his patience or temper, and his sense of thankfulness under it, expressed both to the doctor and kind mistress of the family, amply proved his gratefulness to man, whilst he was equally sensible of that Source from whence he oft acknowledged all his blessings flowed.

This illness might, in the appointment of Divine Wisdom, have been permitted as a fitting means to introduce his mind to that further purification which he was favoured to experience prior to the unexpected and rather sudden termination of his youthful career.

Late in the autumn of 1855 a pleasure trip to London was awarded by J. Middlemore to his work-people, in which E. Warraulan was glad to avail himself of the always high treat to share in the kindness of Dr. Hodgkin and his excellent lady. His health was not more feeble than usual, but in returning to Birmingham he afterwards complained that one of the passengers in the railway train refused to close the window, though he respectfully urged it. From this his susceptible frame received a shock which it never overcame, and a severe cold was the consequence. It gained the immediate care of his kind hostess, Deborah Hill, and that of E. Chesshire, whose medical skill was assiduously and gratuitously afforded to the last. Their combined efforts mitigated the severity of the attack; but the sudden termination of his life, about six weeks after, proved how difficult foreigners find it to acclimatize themselves to the varied climate of Great Britain.

Besides these aids, E. Warrulan received from numerous friends and acquaintances many attentions and delicacies which his feeble health and appetite required, and Dr. Hodgkin paid him a visit to confer on the spot with the medical attendant, though repeated correspondence had taken place between them. E. Warrulan was greatly elated to see bis kind friend. Dr. Hodgkin, and anxiously inquired when he might return to Australia, where now all his affection appeared to centre. He had long before desired to forward, for his father's acceptance, a copy of the sacred writings, but it is difficult to say if it ever reached its destination. And now he was more than usually earnest to communicate personally to his father that love of his Saviour which he had, it is believed, for many years found as his comforter whilst separated from his friends, and now felt, during his illness, both as a solace and a privilege to experience. To his father, indeed, this would have proved too late a boon, as the information had already reached this country, that in a prevailing sickness both himself and several members of his family had been removed by death; a fact E. Warrulan was not suffered, by his truly kind and considerate friends and attendants, ever to know.

To the survivors of that family, and to the tribes of the Australian continent, it is difficult, and almost painful to contemplate the loss which they may have suffered in this truly opportunate mind. His dying sympathies were with his brethren according to the flesh; and though unable himself to communicate the unsearchable riches of Christ,, surely, the feeble voice of the sufferer, on his bed of death, shall not fail to reach those for whose behest his last words and his closing thoughts were intended, as the following instructive narrative by Deborah Hill, and others, fully justify.

Some few days before his death a person said to him, in the course of conversation, "Then you know that Christ died for you?" "Yes; and not for me only, but for the whole world."

During his illness. D. Hill says, he was asked what his hopes then were. He replied, "My hope is in the Saviour and His promises. My Saviour is always around me; I am happy on my bed; I am happy on my couch: my Jesus strengthens me:" and be energetically asked herself and assistants, "Are you happy?"

He frequently alluded to his father, and wished to go to Australia to tell him how good his Saviour was to him, and his wish that he, too, should come to Jesus, and partake of His love. The evening previous to his death, on going to him, after leaving him a few minutes, he looked smilingly on D. Hill and said. I have had some sweet sleep. Yes," he said, "I have been asleep in Jesus." D. Hill continues: " His hands were frequently clasped, as though he was in prayer, when we could not understand what he said."

At another time he said, "The angels are around my bed. I want to soar away;" waving his hand towards her; and about an hour before he died he said, "The white robe; oh, the white robe!"

He died about ten o'clock on the morning of the 23d, passing away as in a sweet sleep.

During his illness, putting his arms round D. Hill with much affection, he said, "What shall I call you—mother, step-mother? No, mother!" and from that time be used no other designation to her.

In thus narrating the close of E. Warrulan's life, it is with no view to exalt the creature, but to exhibit that remarkable display of Divine grace which at times so brilliantly shines forth as through the weak of this world, strong in faith, and heirs of eternal blessedness. His early education and knowledge of Holy Scriptures were greatly blessed to him, and the encouraging language may be held forth to all instructors of youth, "In the morning sow the seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou canst not tell which will prosper, this or that, or whether both shall be alike good."

The following is the letter alluded to announcing the death of Edward's father, who had often made inquiries respecting his absent son. The letter is from E. B. Scott, the official protector of the Aborigines.

"Morumda, 12th April 1855.

"My Dear Burt,

"At your request I write to tell you, for the information of the native (Warru-loong), who is in England, that his father and eldest brother are dead, and so are all of his uncles, cousins, &c. &c., and every member of his (the Mool-yoob-koo) tribe, excepting his brother. Gum-oodj, and his two sisters who were born subsequent to his departure from Australia. I may also add, for your information, that the tribe beforementioned was once (thirteen years since) a powerful one, and composed of many able warriors. You can also tell Warru loong that all the native tribes belonging to this portion of the Morray (say sixty miles up from Mooroondu) are reduced in numbers,

"Believe me, yours faithfully,⁠

"George Burt. Esq.

"E. B. Scott."