20. I am aware of the great interest taken by his Excellency the
Governor and all the members of the Government of Queensland in the
promotion of missionary enterprise. I much fear, however, that the
mainland here will be found but a barren field for missionary labors.
One great obstacle to successful work is the unsettled nature of the
people. No inducement can keep them long in one place. Certainly a
missionary station might be formed on one of the neighbouring islands
- Albany or Mount Adolphus Island, for instance, where some of the
young natives might be kept in training, according to the system used
by Bishops Selwyn and Patterson for the instruction of the
Melanesians.
21. With the Kororegas or Prince of Wales Islanders, who, from
constant communication with the islands to the northward, have
acquired a higher degree of intelligence than the pure Australians, I
believe a successful experiment could be made. Missionary enterprise
beyond the protection and influence of this new settlement at
Somerset would, of course, at present be attended with considerable
risk.
22. To the Banks and Mulgrave Islanders in Torres' Straits, a
similar remark will apply. Those people, however, seem to be of a
more savage nature, although intelligent, and giving considerable
attention to the cultivation of yams, bananas, etc. Both the good
and bad features in their characters may, I believe, in a great
measure be attributed to the strong influence exercised among them by
a white man, called by the natives "Wini," who has been living there
for many years. This man, who is supposed to be an escaped convict
from one of the former penal settlements in Australia, no doubt
considers it politic to keep Europeans from visiting the island where
he resides, "Badu". The natives of Cape York hold him and the Banks
Islanders generally in the greatest dread, giving me to understand
that all strangers going to these islands are killed, and their heads
cut off. The latter appears to be the custom of these and the
neighbouring islands towards their slain enemies.
23. The natives of the islands more to the northward and eastward
are said to be of milder dispositions, especially the Darnley
Islanders - of whom Captain Edwards, of Sydney, who had a
"Bech-de-mer" fishing establishment there during the last year,
speaks in high terms as being of friendly dispositions and displaying
very considerable intelligence, living in comfortable huts and
cultivating yams, bananas, coconuts, etc., in considerable
quantities. Among these islanders I should think missionaries might
establish themselves without great difficulty, and with a
satisfactory result.
24. I think that the simple fact of a settlement of Europeans being
established at Cape York will very much tend to curb the savage
natures of the natives, not only of the mainland, but also of the
islands, and any unfortunates who may be cast among them from
shipwrecked vessels will, at all events, have their lives spared; and
I believe that, should such an event take place, I should soon hear
of it from the natives here. The communication between the islanders
and the natives of the mainland is frequent, and the rapid manner in
which news is carried from tribe to tribe to great distances is
astonishing. I was informed of the approach of H.M.S. Salamander on
her last visit two days before her arrival here. Intelligence is
conveyed by means of fires made to throw smoke up in different forms,
and by messengers who perform long and rapid journeys.
25. I should like much to send one or two of the Cape York natives
to Brisbane to remain there a short time. I believe that the reports
which they would bring back to their tribe of the wonders seen among
the white men would tend more than any other means to promote
friendly feelings towards us, and to fit their minds to receive
favourable impressions.
26. From what I have previously said of the soil here, it will be
seen that no large portion of it is suited for agriculture. Even
were the land good, the peculiar climate, which may be considered dry
for eight months in the year, would not permit satisfactory
cultivation to any large extent. During the rainy months, from
December to April, vegetables suitable to the temperature may be
grown in abundance.
27. Of the agreeableness and salubrity of the climate of Somerset, I
can not speak too favorably. The wet season commenced here last year
(1864) with the month of December, and continued till the latter part
of March. During that time the rain was intermittent, a day or two
of heavy wet being succeeded by fine weather. The winds from the
north west were light, and falling away to calm in the evening and
night. During this season the highest range of my thermometer was 98
degrees in the shade; but it very rarely exceeds 90 degrees, as may
be seen from Dr. Haran's meteorological sheets. During the calms
immediately succeeding wet the heat was disagreeable, and mosquitoes
appeared, but not numerously. The nights were invariably cool. The
weather for the remaining seasons of the year may be termed
enjoyable. A fresh bracing breeze from the south east blows almost
continually, the thermometer averaging during the day from 80 to 85
degrees. This temperature, with the cool nights, (sufficiently so to
render a blanket welcome) and delightful sea bathing, prevent any of
the lassitude or enervating influence so common to tropical climates
elsewhere from being felt at Somerset.
28. During the time of my residence here no serious indisposition
has occurred among the European residents. Occasional slight attacks
of illness generally traceable to some cause, has taken place, but as
far as can be judged there is no 'local malady'.
