EXTRACT FROM JOURNAL OF GEORGE AUGUSTUS ROBINSON, PROTECTOR OF ABORIGINES RE. VISIT TO MOUNT ROUSE. RECORDS OF VICTORIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY NO.6 1977 *

Tuesday, 4 May 1841

Hazy weather and wind from the W. The country I came through yesterday from Bird's home station to his out station is forest land, well grassed and the soil of good quality, even rich. It was 10 miles out of my way to come by this road. Sent Myers off on horseback (Punch), in quest of the gray strayed horse. Would have sent Barnard but I knew he was not to be trusted. Started on my way for Mount Rouse. I drove the van. Reached Mount Rouse, 10 miles, pm with no difficulty.The road was tolerably good excepting the marsh 3 or 4 miles from Mount Rouse which was rough but not soft. It bore the marks of being impassible in winter. Very deep wheel ruts. But although we had had a month's rain, it was quite hard and not a drop of water to be seen. The station at Mount Rouse is at the NW side. Stony rises run for several miles away from the E and SE side of it. The Merri River runs past the S side and has its rise a little to the S West of the mountain. It drains this part of the country. The soil was remarkably good the trees stunted and of the usual kind. Brock, brother to Dr. Brock, VDL is overseer. He is at Melbourne prosecuting man who stole his horse. I am introduced into his hut, 12 x 10; built of turf and thatched with grass. The grave of Cadd is 300 yards from the hut, fenced in and under a clump of honeysuckle trees, NW. The other man who was so dreadfully beaten has recovered and living at the station. Busy writing journal. (fig. 38).

Wednesday, 5 May

Fine day throughout. Today, pm Myers returned with the strayed horse. I went with a party of natives to the top of Collorrer, Mount Rouse and had a fine and extensive view of the surrounding country. I rode up on the west side. The day was remarkably clear and the view extensive. To the SSW saw the sand hills on the sea coast. My VDL native was the first to see smokes of the native fires, SW by S, 15 miles. Mount Napier, Tappoc bore W; Mount Sturgeon bore NNW; Teeringellum bore E by N; Mumbbitealk E; Warrigon Hills E half S; Cone,nun.dare SE; hill WNW.
Mount Sturgeon is called Tole.Loke.we.ar-r; Port Davey Un.mut and Cow.wer.min.you.um.mut. Point Fairy, south. Saw little hill near where the natives encamped. On Mount Rouse saw the following initials on Banksia stunted tree JR, F. H.
Mount Rouse or Tappocca is of volcanic formation. The same kind of scoria is on it as on the hills of lava at the Loddon. Large masses of lava stone crown the top on the N side and appear, when seen from the base of the mountain, appears as if placed there by art and of a small size. My VDL native said look at the stone at the top; black fellows make it. But when we got on the top we found that they were large masses, from 7 or 8 feet high. They all appeared to overhang the brow and ready to fall. But this is not exactly the case as will be found by trying the experiment. We suceeded, however, in throwing down one large mass which tore away the trees that stood in the way of its downward motion. The natives were much pleased to see it tumble down. Saw the smokes of native fires in a direction SW by W and NW. One of my objects in ascending this mount was to get acquainted with the situation of the localities of the surrounding tribes and whose names I had already been informed of them. I filled up with some additions see former journal.
1. To.lo.ar.rer Conedeet 2. Mautterchoke Conedeet - country at 3. Cart Conedeet 4. Weentappac Conedeet
5. Caloorar Conedeet, Mount Rouse
6. Cupponenet Conedeet. Al. lome, WSW· Pat.how.were.rer: Portland Bay.
Returned from the mount to Cox's station. Timber had been cut on the side of the hill, near the top. Mr. John Henty from the Grange called on his way to Melbourne. He said the blacks had not troubled him of late. Saw Mr. Cadds grave NW from the huts 300 yards. It is fenced in - see sketch - also the scrub where he was killed, 3 or 400 yards from it. Rooney, the man who was so dreadfully beaten as to have his life almost disposed off, is now at the station and in appearance is scarcely disfigured, and says he is tolerable well. These people told me of the story of the man lost 5 days and of his being with the blacks and the kind manner in which they treated him.
I was also informed that on Sunday last, upwards of 30 natives came to the station and enquired for me. Said they had seen me a long way off. They left the following morning, Sunday, and have not been seen since. They behaved very well. Fine view of the Grampians from Mount Rouse. This is the nearest point of the Grampians. A fine landscape or, I should say, an extensive landscape for scenery without water can scarcely be complete. Beautiful it is; a champions country. The Grampians appear to rise from the plain not having any broken ground between the plains and the mountains.

Thursday, 6 May

Wind W. Misting rain and showers during the night. Yesterday I requested 3 natives to go to the Tappoc Conedeet natives with my letter to request a meeting. They started on the journey but returned the same evening. Said, "too long away and plenty frightened". It was arranged for them to go this morning. I proposed to remain at my camp and go with them to the TappocCortedeet, to which they agreed. pm, they now all want to go back to Tarong. Say they are too frightened. In parley with them. Ordered the camp to remain and tomorrow they are to accompany me for which service they are to have a blanket. They consent. Whether they will fulfill the contract I cannot say . I have no doubt that I shall get a communication with the Tappoc natives but it would not be nearly so effective if introduced by my present party who know my purpose and intentions and also have seen and experienced my know my kindness. I gave Eurodap and Charlie a blanket each yesterday and if they go with me tomorrow they are to have a handkerchief and knife also.

Three gentlemen dined at Cox's today; Mr. Tulloch a doctor from Portland Bay and a (............ ), I am told, to Mr. Blair the Police Magistrate but this I cannot believe. For, if so, he acted an ungentlemanly part in not introducing himself to me. Sent my natives out to the stony rises west of Calorer to see if they could discover the natives. The 3 gentlemen left with proffers of attention to myself. Rooney the man who was so much beaten by the natives at this station had two of his teeth extracted by Dr. Byass from Portland Bay. A Mr. Sharp, a store keeper, was the third person. Mr. Tulloch gave a deplorable account of the way he had been attacked by the natives. There is a man, hut keeper to Brock who told me he came out a free immigrant to Swan , that he lost his wife and child on the passage and lost £ 3000 at Swan River settlement. Mr. Scott from Richardson called. He is taking the census of the Portland Bay district. He has 25 shillings a day for his trouble.

Nothing can justify the killing of blacks for stealing sheep. The law does not require life for sheep stealing; 15 years transportation is the longest period for expatinations. If a white man was to steal 1000 or 10,000 sheep he would only be transported. Thus, how dare settlers abuse the law or, rather, outrage the law by committing these homicides. The emancipated convicts in the P.P. district are the greatest scoundrels sweepings of NSW and VDL men who not get emplyment in the convict colonies.

The black first showed the Manifolds the way through the stony rises so Scott and Manifolds say. And yet they drive them away.

Friday, 7 May

Wind SW, light air. Little cloud but fine. Wednesday morning there was a fog. Light one but which the people said they have not seen before this season.

Mr. Scott showed me the printed form of the census. Under the head "Religion" were, among other persuasions, and Pagans. Surely in this country the list of pagans must be very large.

Bad characters

There are such among the Aboriginal natives and, contrary the practice of some of my assistants and others, I make use of them and try to proselitize them to my way of thinking, and endeavour to make them do good. If we have a crooked stick we pare it and score it to make it straight. So with crooked dispositions. Eurodap has a bad name. I took him of necessity and made him very useful to my aims.

H. Nickalls enquiry at Flinders.

Natives after much persuasion and consultation consented to accompany me to Furlong's, late Wedge's station, I packed up and started. The natives followed with reluctance. Crossed some low stony rises and crossed some low land about a mile from Collorrer, Mt. Rouse, which, though dry and hard, was extremely rough for wheel carriage, Dead mens graves and hollow land and must be almost impossible for loaded drays when swamped. But it appears, like most of this country, that a great deal of rain must fall before it is swamped. With the view to fall in with the natives, I avoided the road and took a route over the beautiful undulating downs to Furlong' s station; formerly Wedge's. Not a drop of water was met with over the whole distance. By the tortorous way we travelled, at least 22 miles.

To encourage the native attendants, 8 in number, I allowed them the use of the spare horse, occasionally the use of my own, as also an occasional ride in the van. Our general course at first, leaving Calorrer was WNW, then NW and by N through a beautiful undulating country covered with dwarf banksias, gums cherry tree, and well grassed. But without one drop of water and without sheep or cattle, the absence of water rendering it useless for grazing purposes. The grass was fine and verdant. The heavy dews which are frequent and the late showers must have invigorated the vegetation. As we occasionally crossed the higher elevations, we had a fine view of Mt. Abrupt and Sturgeon and the Grampians. A short distance before reaching the Lake barbarously named Linlithgow, we passed over an elevation from which wo had a magnificent view: Abrupt and Sturgeon, 10 miles distant; the Grampians outline good, and the vast downs to the NW and NE, thinly studded with dwarf trees was truely grand. A vast champaign country and resembled one vast park. My VDL native was in rapture. He exlaimed it was a big big country, and what he then said was like a big garden. We saw not a kangaroo nor an emu. During this day's journey we occasionally crossed what in wet weather would be called a lake or lagoon but which was now not only dry but the ground had large cracks and fissures which was dangerous for horses to pass over and required care to prevent their legs from going into them, some being several feet deep. The day was remarkably fine throughout and the natives in tolerable good humour. Towards the end of the journey, however, they showed signs of impatience and said it was no piccinnany way but too much long way.On arriving at the dry hollow, called by Mitchell a very extensive lake , and barbarously named Lake Linlithgow, we found it without the least drop of water. And the bed white marl and across which the whites and blacks pass over when travelling through the country. The surface is slightly moist and the imprint of white man's shoes and black men's naked feet and dog's feet were numerous. I saw on the edge quantities of ( illegible) . In the wet this is a shallow lake and though the lake is mapped by Tyers 2 miles, I don't think more than a mile wide and l 1/2 long. To the S of this lake, separated by elevated land 3 or 400 yards across, and along which were old camping places of the natives where they had baked roots, etc., there was a reedy swamp and which is one of the heads of the big swamp.

I passed in the course of the day several old camping places of the natives. This hollow named Lake Linlinthgow, the natives told me was Tar.re.arere. I am not sure whether this is correct as the natives with me, though been here, are not natives of the place. From Tar.re.are.re proceeded in what Mitchell calls Mt. Peirepoint, another uncouth name. And the land declines from this hill to the Grange Burn. An elevated ridge runs from it. Saw Furlong's, late Wedge's, station on the Grange. A spot celebrated for the maltreatment of the natives. I rode on. First crossed the grange at a place where the water was not higher than the horses fetlock, and at half a mile from wherc I crossed arrived at the home station.

Mr. Edgar, the overseer, was from home. Maddox, Boynton's overseer, a tall young man with long black hair and scowl on his countenance, and a red-headed young man, were at the hut. A scotchman a storekeeper or sub-overseer was here acting in charge. A man formerly in the employ of Protectorate under Parker was here. There appeared a rush of men at the station. I had not been in many minutes before a shepherd came running to the home station. He had a gun in his hand and reported that a shepherd, mentioning his name had been chased by the blacks. I guessed what it was and said I would, ensure his life against these blacks. The sub-overseer took his gun and I went with the man. ( illegible) shots were being fired and, as I fancied, so , it turned out. It was my party the man had seen. But so far from their chasing him, they were a long way from him and in charge of my 3 white men and VDL native and 3 horses and van. Moreover I proceeded the whole party and saw no sheep until near the home station. This whole was a gross fabrication. The natives, 8 in number, were quietly walking along with my men and belonged to my party. What the fate of these natives would have been if I had not been there may be guessed.

I said to the man who made the report that it would be fortunate if these were strange natives, as I would get a communication, when one of the baggards of the establishment (illegible) laughed and replied, much they care about your communication. I said I wanted none of his impudence. The overseer took no notice. My party arrived and I encamped the 1/2 mile from the home station, near a clump of honeysuckle trees on the W bank of the rivulet. The spot on which I camped is, I am informed, part of the surveyed and proposed township. A police magistrate is to be stationed at this spot this place has been eulogized by Mitchell and Tyers.

Maddox confirmed the statement of the man lost and being with the natives as reported at Mt. Rouse. He was a man of Boynton's.

Hc said he believed more was said about the blacks than was necessary and that they were represented worse than they are. He is on the Wannon and was told he could not live there for the natives.

Saturday, 8 May

pm, Mr. Edgar said they have never been troubled with the blacks since they have been there. I could not learn anything of Wedge's transaction. am, a very heavy dew fell in the night. No natives had been seen at this station for a long time. Was informed by my natives that an Aboriginal black was staying at Furlong's. Sent for him and learnt the following particulars. He was terribly well clothed and spoke some english. His original name is My.er.bur. men. About 18 years, alias Mr. Daniel. Belonged to Wol.low.wer.to. section or tribe, near Winter's station, Mane.meet nation. He informed me that the country at Wedge's - Forlonge's - belonged to the U.el.gal Conedeet, a section of Mane.meet, that the place at Wedge's was called by 2 names, Allong.were.ing and Allenbassom. My natives said there were plenty of native spears and weapons at Wedge's - Forlonge's - and baskets and (.....).

Sent for 40 lbs of flour, 50 lbs mutton which was refused by the storekeeper who said the overseer was not at home and he would not take it on himself to let me have it. pm, took a ride around the hills. Saw a great number of fine mushrooms. Returned to head station, enquired if Mr. Edgar had returned. Said no, and that he would not let me have anything. He had no instructions. I said I was on public service and had people with me; they could not starve. I came there from having been informed natives were numerous at Mt. Napier and I had no supplies unless I got it from them. Mr. Edgar might say the same, but then if it could not be sold it could be lent and I would get a sheep of Tulloch and return it. He said he would take it on himself to let me have it.

Got a sheep: scabby thing. Mr. Edgar returned and said that I could have what I required. I told the man before Edgar returned that I knew Furlong.

*Notes: The original (digital) pictures were taken on April 20, 1999, and inserted for illustration purposes only. They have since been upgraded.

The serial ran between 20/4/99 - 21/5/99.

This is the last available diary entry.

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Friday, 21 January 2000