Ravenswood Dreaming, page 3
John’s father, a carpenter by trade, had started to build a hut in which the family could live. James, the next eldest in the family, was helping him by fetching things like tools and measures and holding string lines. James was also charged with the responsibility of keeping an eye on the two younger children, William and Jane, when their mother was resting, sleeping or feeling ill as she frequently did.
Yes, we should have some planks ready and we could carry some back each day when our work is finished, William suggested.
John nodded his approval. That’s a good idea, thanks for the offer, my father will appreciate that.
It was the 31st of December when the settlers from the Gilmore ventured further inland to inspect the land that collectively made up their new allotments. What greeted them was a most barren and depressing sight. Low, dull, scrubby vegetation, sandy infertile soil, punctuated with rocky limestone outcrops. Nothing like what they had been promised and nothing like the advertisements they had read. A happy new year? It was not a happy new year.
With very little choice the settlers had to press on. Like John’s father, most of them had wives and families to look after and had started building some kind of shelter besides their tent. In addition, all personal items and provisions to sustain them for the next few months had to be lowered into boats, ferried ashore and stacked on the beach under protective covers. Then began the laborious task of carrying and dragging everything up over the sand dunes to the site they had chosen for their tents or huts. All able-bodied persons were pressed into service, men, women and children alike, did what they could. Within a few days well-worn paths had been created on the least tortuous routes.
Mr Peel’s foreman had organized a working party to clear four patches of ground where they could erect four privies. Two sites were selected on either side of the settlement. Two each for men and women. The sites were selected where a natural barrier of scrub would hide them from view and where there seemed to be enough depth of soil to allow pits to be dug. This task turned out to be an arduous one as they kept striking large limestone rocks which had to be broken up and removed. Once this was completed two posts and a rail were erected on either side of each pit and a wide wooden seat with a hole in the middle fastened in place between the rails. Each pit and seat combination was then surrounded with pickets to prevent children and animals from falling in. Finally, a small square hut was erected over each privy to provide some privacy for the occupants. This might, to some, have seemed a very elaborate construction for such a humble purpose. However, when one stopped to think about several hundred people using them on a daily basis it made no sense to cut corners. In addition, the men constructing them were well aware that if they were not built or were of shoddy construction then there would be a lot of very unhappy (in particular) wives and daughters. No man in his right mind would want that.
While this essential work was progressing, John’s father had also been occupied with the erection of Mr Peel’s store shed which was situated on a limestone ledge above the beach to the south of Woodman’s point. It was a large precut building, designed to be built quickly to store Peel’s supplies yet to be unloaded from the Gilmore and another smaller supply ship. It would also be ready when the next two ships, the Hooghly and the Rockingham arrived with more settlers and supplies.
A few lucky settlers who had brought livestock with them, that had survived, were re-acquainted with their charges. The cows, calves and horses were lowered into the water and swum ashore tethered to one of the boats. The pigs and fowls were placed in crates and rowed ashore. The owners then had to find a way to house them. The four cows were tethered to trees within sight of the settlement. The horses proved to be valuable to drag logs to the saw pit. The pigs were allocated to their owners and the fowls placed in a communal pen near Peel’s store shed so that the eggs, if any, could be distributed to families with children. In all it was a dismal number of livestock that survived the journey. Some died and some had been used to provide fresh meat on the voyage instead of salt or pickled meat which became very unappetizing after a few months. It was a sad and expensive loss for many of the settlers who had planned to use them to start their farms or use them to supplement their family’s diet.
The timber cutting resumed on the 2nd of January and John Jnr and William Gaze were up and about before daylight. They met on the beach and had a quick swim to wake up. On the walk back to the settlement (Clarence was now elevated to the status of a settlement by the residents) they stopped at the well that had been sunk in a low spot between the dunes, drew a bucket of water each and poured it over each other to wash off the salt. It was debatable which was the worst, the salt from the sea water or the lime from the well water. Either way your hair had the wiry feel of a yard broom.
After a breakfast of bread and fresh fish they met at the end of the main path and set off for the site of the timber cutting. About thirty minutes into the journey they became aware that their path was blocked by a group of six blacks. They both froze. Neither spoke. Show them we are not armed, William uttered between clenched teeth. They both held out their hands, palms up. No one moved. They stood staring for what seemed an eternity. John noticed that one of the group was carrying about four long spears and he had a piece of cord, obviously of European origin, knotted about his waist into which was thrust a small axe.
He said something to them in a threatening tone. He was a bit taller and older than the rest of the group with a large crop of slightly greying black hair.
Still no one moved. John could feel his heart thumping. Surely, they would hear it. He closed his eyes for a second.
The tall one with the axe said about three words. Suddenly they were gone. It was as if they had simply vanished, melting into the scrub without a sound.
Shiiiit! William sunk to his knees.
John walked to the side of the track and bent over as though he was going to vomit.
They said nothing…………just stayed where they were for about thirty seconds.
Shit alright, John turned to face William who was still down on one knee. I nearly did. I thought we were for it then. I don’t know what that was about, but they weren’t happy.
He was intimidating, William took a deep breath in………out…… that older one that did all the talking. William continued breathing in and out deeply.
Come on my friend, we better get going before they change their minds. John walked a couple of paces and offered his hand which William grasped, and John pulled him onto his feet. William picked up his canvas bag and they resumed their journey at a brisk walk, one behind the other, breathing heavily.
Relief flooded over them when, finally, they walked into the small clearing where the saw pit was situated.
The supervisor strode over to them. He was not smiling. You boys are ten minutes over….His voice trailed off when he saw their faces. Both boys dropped their bags and sank down on a log. Breathing heavily, unable to speak and obviously distressed.
What’s up? He was still frowning. Are you sick?
There was a lengthy pause while he waited for an explanation. He was not ready to let them off the hook yet.
John took a deep breath, composed himself and blurted out, we were held up by some blacks.
What! Where?
About a mile back.
What did they take?
Nothing, just scared the bloody life out of us.
Are you both alright? He was a little more concerned. Yes, we are not hurt, just shook us up a bit that’s all.
Hey John. One of the men who was using a hand saw to trim the ends off some planks and cut them to length looked up. He was John Cousins, indentured to Peel but had special permission to work at the mill. He had spent some time in the merchant navy. He put down the saw and walked over to where the boys were sitting. Yes Mr Anderson?
These boys were accosted by some blacks about a mile back, he nodded the direction. Shook them up a bit. Sounds like Midgegooroo.
Cousins looked at the boys. You boys alright? The boys reassured him they were.
Might be a good idea to get that gun loaded and keep it handy by you? What do you think?
I think that is a wise precaution Mr Anderson.
Can you take care of that?
Yes, I can Mr Anderson.
Good, and you can drop the Mr Anderson, you’re not in the navy now. My name’s Albert, Bert to my friends.
John Cousins smiled and turned to carry out the instruction.
Right boys it’s time you started work, take your minds off it. You can both help Mr Cousins with the finishing. Bring the planks over for him and mark them up ready for cutting to size, then stack them in sizes once he has cut them. They nodded to show they had understood. Mr Anderson continued, now John your Dad tells me you are learning to be a carpenter, as your Dad’s apprentice, so I expect you can handle a saw and a square and can measure to length.
Yes, sir I can.
Good--- He turned and looked at William…… and what about you William, you familiar with that?
William composed himself. Yes sir, I’ve done a bit of it.
Good, anything John can’t help you with just ask Mr Cousins. You can both take a turn on the cutting and that will give him a rest.
Bert Anderson had been a ship’s carpenter in a former life. That’s why he was selected to take charge of the timber cutting party. He had experience with tree selection and the construction and use of saw pits and he was used to supervising groups of men. He knew what he was doing, men recognized his expertise and also respected him as a fair boss. A few times in his career he was required to go ashore with a party of men and select and cut timber needed to repair the ship.
On one occasion, this was in relatively unknown territory in the Pacific where the native inhabitants were not known for their hospitality, the captain had sent three armed members of the crew to provide protection while his work party cut and sawed the trees.
So, it was probably a good thing that he was in charge when, later in the morning, without a sound, and without any warning they became aware of a group of blacks standing to one side of the clearing. The saw pit crew had stopped and the other sounds of activity around the worksite stopped one by one.
Mr Cousins spoke quietly. Stop work boys. It looks like your friends have decided to pay us a visit. You must have made an impression on them. Pick up the tools and just move slowly over behind that stack of timber.
John and William did as they were told. Over the top of the timber they had a good view of the group. Mr Cousins had slowly and nonchalantly picked up the gun, checked it briefly just to reassure himself, but kept it down by his side where it was out of sight of the group.
John’s eyes immediately settled on the older one towards the front. It was the same man they had noticed in the encounter earlier that morning. Mr Anderson walked towards the group in what John thought was an extremely relaxed manner. He stopped about three paces from the leader and said something that John could not understand. This elicited a response and again John could not understand. Mr Anderson beckoned to the group to follow him and the older one and two others followed him towards the saw pit and with a combination of signs and words he pointed out to them how the logs were being cut into planks and showed them the stack of timber that John, William and Mr Cousins were standing next to. They appeared unimpressed. The older man glanced down at the gun in Mr Cousin’s hand but did not react.
John then realised that the men had been expecting the visit and that they had encountered these Aborigines before. The group of three stood their ground glancing around the clearing. Mr Anderson walked over to a pile of bags of flour at the foot of a tree stump, picked up one of the bags walked back and gave it to the older man. That should see you through for about a week Midge. What do you say?
Midgegooroo said something in reply and the two men nodded in agreement. The three natives then turned and walked back to where the others were still standing motionless. Just as before the whole group turned as one and as though they were shadows amongst the trees, disappeared from sight.
Even though there had been no threat from the blacks, there was a collective sigh of relief and the men gradually resumed their work.
Mr Anderson walked over to the stack of planks, and smiled at John Cousins. Caesar has been paid what he is due and won’t bother us for a few weeks. John Cousins carefully laid the gun on the bench. Yes, He nodded, it’s a small price for Governor Stirling to pay for all this beautiful timber.
Mr Anderson turned to the boys. Is that the fella that you saw on the track this morning?
Yes, that’s him, the boys answered simultaneously.
He’s hard to forget that one. Got that big lump on his forehead. Goes by the name of Midgegooroo. He pays us a visit every few weeks when he needs some tucker. Guess he figures he owns all this including the trees. Mr Peel might have something to say about that. This is Noongar country and his tribal group are the Beelier people. It seems that they control all the land South and West of the Canning River. This is about as far south as they go, although he has been sighted around Point Peron. They, the natives, need to be treated with kid gloves. There are certain places they don’t like us to go. I don’t think they meant you any harm this morning. Just didn’t know who you were and just gave you the once over.
The rest of that day was uneventful. Young John and William shouldered four planks between them and walked back to the settlement of Clarence. They deposited the planks alongside the half-built hut that Old John was working on.
He came out to thank them and admired the timber, commenting on its grain, colour and apparent strength.
The boys described the events of the day, including the confrontation on the track in the morning and the visit to the pit site later on. John’s father was greatly concerned. Perhaps you should be carrying a gun or have a guard with you, he suggested. I will speak to Mr Peel about it and see if he can persuade the Governor to provide a soldier from the barracks to escort you and others to and from the worksite.
Mr Cousins had a gun loaded and ready but there was no need for it as it turned out that they had dealings with that particular man, Midgegooroo before and they knew him, William explained.
That’s all very well but don’t forget there have been problems with the blacks in other districts. It’s not much use waiting until something happens and then saying we should have been armed and ready to defend ourselves. Old John was not going to be put off.
Well the gun belonged to Mr Anderson and stays at his camp near the saw pit.
Mr Cousins has a gun and he will be walking to the pit. Perhaps you could persuade him to take it along and we could walk with him, John junior suggested.
Yes, that’s an idea, Old John nodded. My gun is here and there being a couple of other guns in the settlement we would be safe enough. I’ll go and have a word with him. He marched off down the path.
The next day the boys met Mr Cousins at the southern end of the settlement. He had two other timber workers with him and was carrying his loaded gun. The five of them set off for the saw pit.
The rest of January passed without any more encounters with the blacks. The workers were accompanied by armed guards, courtesy of the governor as there had been some more disputes in other parts of the colony.
Work at the saw pit was hard and tedious and the weather did not make it any easier. The days were hot and dry and it sapped their energy. Thankfully the late afternoons and evenings were cooled down by the arrival of a sea breeze which blew strongly until after sundown. Many nights they spent sleeping on the beach as it was much cooler and there were less mosquitoes and other insects.
The hot weather brought with it another problem. Flies. They tormented everyone from dawn to dusk. They were smaller than the flies they knew in England, but what they lacked in size they more than made up in numbers. These flies, they discovered, were particularly attracted to areas of the face and head that were moist. The eyes, mouth and ears were targets and this was a problem when they settled on the faces of the smaller children.
Towards the end of January, they were plagued with a new threat which made life even more difficult in the trying conditions. They noticed that, one by one, members of their family were becoming very ill with dysentery.
These conditions were very detrimental to the health and well-being of Jenefer who was now heavily pregnant. John’s father was very worried about her as she was losing weight and obviously undernourished. This combined with the extreme heat was affecting her a great deal and she was barely able to walk without feeling faint. To make matters worse she was constantly suffering from dysentery and becoming dehydrated. The birth could not come soon enough.
Peel had still not managed to have the township and the blocks surveyed and so no land could be allocated to the settlers who had contracted to him. Even if this had been done most were not very impressed with the quality of the land. It was dotted with rocky outcrops of limestone; the soil was poor and there was no water available for irrigation. Peel had not and could not make available any livestock, farming machinery or tools as his mysterious partner, back in London had not arranged for them to be shipped from Sydney which was the original agreement. So, those families who were planning to farm could not make a start. As a result, the tradesmen had no work either.
For most of the time Peel seemed to be the absent ‘Lord of the Manor’ spending a lot of his time on Garden Island. Indeed, his actions indicated that he was more occupied with his own welfare on the Island than the plight of his servants, the settlers and their families on the mainland at Clarence.
Mr Peel’s problems were compounded when word came that a ship, the Hooghly, had arrived off Garden Island. The next day she navigated Challenger Passage and dropped anchor in Cockburn Sound. On board were 116 artisans and labourers. With so many able bodied and enthusiastic men available they had ferried ashore most of their possessions within two days; and like those before them they stacked it all on the beach. The smatterings of news they were greeted with was not good. Conditions were bad but they had to see for themselves. Young John and William had taken a day off the timber cutting to help the new arrivals to settle in. Together with Old John they had adopted a newly arrived family, William Ward and his wife and their three sons. The first day the two boys and Old John had shifted a considerable amount of their possessions off the beach and pitched a tent for them on a patch of ground next to the Thomas family’s hut. They offered to show the new family around the settlement the next day. As luck would have it, Jenefer Thomas had gone into labor in the early hours of the morning and it appeared she would give birth some time that day. Several of the other women had gathered at the hut to tend to Jenefer’s needs. When Mrs Ward heard the news, she declined the offer of a grand tour and elected to stay around the vicinity of the hut and as she said, ‘help out’.
