3 November 1830 - TPIC

Commentary by Patsy Cameron.
Reference: (FM) Plomley, N.J.B. (ed.) Friendly Mission: the Tasmanian journals and papers of George Augustus Robinson (1966)

Daily Project Commentaries

3 November

The rain was persistent and heavy throughout the morning. Robinson entertained the group by playing the flute and he issued all of them ‘slops’ (FM, 1966, 266). The weather was very ‘unfavourable’ which prevented the boat from going to warenekomekar (Swan Island) and Robinson was pleased when the clanspeople paraded about in their new trousers (as it would prevent them from running away) The group were provided with blankets. The gale force easterly winds and rain began to ease by late afternoon and after sending two of the clanswomen into the bush to find the three others they, all five, returned within two hours.

That night they all sang and danced and told Robinson the names of 72, mostly young men, who remained in the bush. What is interesting is that the names of those relayed to Robinson did not include Mannalargenna who was obviously with the group at Bark Hut and therefore with Robinson on the night of 3 November 1830. This night the clanspeople ate bread and drank tea ‘of which they were all very fond’ remarked Robinson (FM, 1966, 266).

Robinson recorded some Coastal Plains clan customs tonight which were not practised by the outside clans. For instance, they were not allowed to pull leaves to make baskets or roast blue tongue lizards because it was believed that doing so would make the rains come. One of the men (probably this was Mannalargenna as he was later seen to do this on many occasions) thrust the lighted end of a fire stick towards the direction he wished the wind to shift (FM, 1966, 266). The following day it did!

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