Page:History of West Australia.djvu/129

Rh much excited among themselves. Sir James and his companions sought to hold an interview with them, and called loudly to them, but without avail. The noise made by the natives was so loud and clamorous that they did not seem to hear the white men's voices.

Sir James now stationed his party so as to bring about the desired interview. Captain Ellis, Mr. Norcott, the mounted police, and three other members of the white force were sent over the ford to the left bank where the natives were congregated. The remaining members, including Sir James Stirling, waited and watched some quarter of a mile away.

The excited natives did not observe Captain Ellis and his men cross the ford and go among the high trees until they were about 200 yards distant from them. They were greatly astonished, but not confused. There were about seventy men on their side, and all seized their numerous spears, and stood forward in defiance of the white men. They made a formidable-looking front, but when Captain Ellis continued to advance they sullenly retreated. The leader of the Englishmen gave the word "forward," and the horsemen dashed among the bristling spears of the natives. At the same moment the avengers recognised the well-known features of some of the worst offenders in the tribe. One, Noonar, was particularly celebrated for his effrontery, and Mr. Norcott, seeing him, called out to his companions, "These are the fellows we want, for here's that old rascal Noonar." The savage turned on him, and, in tones of peculiar ferocity, said, "Yes, Noonar me," and was about to strike him down with a spear when Mr. Norcott shot him dead.

The assailing party continued firing upon the blacks, who, while they retreated towards the river, hurled spears at their pursuers. The first shot and the shouts and yells of the natives supplied a signal to Sir James Stirling, who rode forward at full speed, followed by his companions, and stood on the opposite bank of the river. All were well armed. It was a critical moment for the natives, for some of them were in the river and others were scrambling up the right bank. They were utterly confounded when they observed a second party of assailants before them, and were thrown into terrible consternation when a fusilade killed some of them. Exposed to a cross-fire, without any opportunity to rally, they remained in the river, secreted themselves among the roots and branches of the shrubbery or in holes in the banks. Some immersed themselves in the water with faces only uncovered, holding beneath the surface a spear ready to pierce anyone who approached close enough. Still others were more hardy and desperate, and fought the whites on the banks or attempted to break through their ranks. They paid the penalty of their courage, and were all shot down. The whites remained on the banks and shot the natives in the water or among the roots and branches until about thirty were killed. The numbers are not definite, for it is thought that others may have been killed and been carried away by the stream. The remainder were too securely hidden for discovery, or floated down the river.

While retreating the natives were joined by numbers of women and children. It was desired not to injure any of them during the skirmish, but several were killed. Eight women and some children were taken prisoners, and upon seeing that they did not suffer immediate death a few of the men in hiding cried out that they were of the female sex. In was now thought that sufficient punishment had been inflicted on this tribe in the destruction of half its male population, and the bugle sounded to cease firing. The two parties went back to the ford, where they joined company. There they found that Captain Ellis had been badly wounded. In the brunt of the first onslaught a spear, thrown at a few yards distance, struck him on the right temple and knocked him off his horse. He fell upon his head, and received a severe concussion. P. Heffron, a constable, was speared above the right elbow, and without surgical aid it was found difficult to extract the weapon. Intense pain was caused to Heffron, for the spear was barbed to five inches from the point. The whole party now assembled on the left bank half expecting the natives to return in strong force, but their expectations were not realised.

After consultation, Sir James set the prisoners free for the purpose that they should fully explain to the remnant of the tribe the cause of their chastisement. He burdened them with a message, which they well understood, that if again they speared white men or their cattle, or attempted to avenge the deadly punishment just inflicted, four times the number of whites would come down and destroy every man, woman, and child of the Kalyute tribe.

Captain Ellis died shortly afterwards from the effects of the battle at Pinjarra. As the wound in the temple was not sufficiently severe it was believed that he had succumbed to concussion of the brain, caused when he fell from his horse. The soldier recovered. Quietness reigned thenceforth for a long time among the Kalyutes.

After the return of Sir James Stirling and his party a plan was set in progress as an experiment in civilising the natives. The more serious onslaughts were for a time suspended, and the authorities and private people therefore listened with greater pleasure to proposals which were laid before them. All wished that the aborigines should peaceably become amenable to English law. In December, 1834, the proposals were made public. Mr. F. Armstrong, a settler who had taken great interest in the natives and understood their language, was appointed to take charge of an institution which it was contemplated to erect under Mount Eliza. This was the beginning of the institution at Mount Eliza, which became such a strong force in after years. Mr. Armstrong had made diligent enquiry among the natives, and had associated with them in their primitive haunts. He had done this voluntarily, and he therefore zealously accepted the position offered by the Governor. The main feature of the institution was that the natives should procure their own means of subsistence, either by the remuneration derived from work performed for private individuals, or by the exercise of their own native arts, such as fishing and hunting. It was not intended that they should be maintained at the public expense, or in a state of indolence. A boat would be provided for them for fishing purposes, and any surplus over their own supplies was to be disposed of for their benefit. No restraint would be placed upon them, and they would be permitted free ingress and egress to the grounds set apart for them.

The advantages to be obtained by natives attached to the institution were set down as protection from violence, whether from each other or from white people; medical aid in time of sickness; and a regular supply of food ensured by cautious guidance and provident superintendence. These, it was hoped, would lead them to a "more civilised and happier state of existence." The Government was actuated in forming this institution by the disposition to do the natives good. The Governor gave them a boat for use in fishing. They were to be shown how to build huts for themselves, and if at any time they