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Miago ought, according to custom, to have allowed three full days to elapse before his brother's widows entered his hut, but as Bennyyowlee appeared resolved not to renounce his intention of claiming the hand of one of the ladies Miago's friends thought it more prudent to bring matters to a speedy issue, lest, in the interim, his rival might carry of Mugawit, the young lady he was desirous of possessing.
Weyup, the half-brother of the other native girl, was also present, and therefore evidently favoured Miago's cause. As I conceived that there was every possibility of Mulligo's having sufficient strength left to linger through the night, and as the evening was fast closing in, after a little casual conversation with the natives I returned home. June 15.
When however Bennyyowlee departed Miago's mother and the two native girls went over to the Ngotak and Nagarnook party, who were, on this occasion, united.
They then built a hut for Miago and lighted a fire; the old mother herself swept out the hut, so as to make it perfectly clean and nice; the brides then laid down in it, one on each side, so as to leave a vacant place in the centre for their new lord and master; and Miago's mother, having seen all these arrangements completed, returned once more to the hut of her husband.
From Port George the Fourth the BEAGLE sailed for Swan River, where she arrived on the 25th of May. Her most important discovery during this cruise was King's Sound and the Fitzroy River. As they neared Miago's birthplace, Stokes says he questioned him upon the account he intended giving his friends of the scenes he had witnessed.
A general disturbance would have taken place had not I and several other Europeans come up at the same moment and pacified Miago, whilst Bennyyowlee took advantage of this temporary calm to evacuate the field, followed by insulting shouts of laughter from Miago's friends. A circumstance strongly illustrating the peculiar family customs of this people occurred this evening.
Moorroongo, Miago's stepfather, was a Tdondarup, and as such stood in the relation of matta-gyne to Bennyyowlee; his hut stood therefore amongst those of this native's friends, and Miago's future wives remained in the care of his mother, and of course amongst the friends of his rival.
I found that Miago's hut was close to Mulligo's, and he himself was present, ready to assert his right to the wives of his dying brother should anyone appear to dispute his claims; he was evidently well supported, for the Nagarnook family mustered strong around his hut, and the two half-brothers of one of the ladies in dispute were members of it.
On approaching the point where Mulligo was lying, distant about a mile from Perth, I found that my anticipations were correct. I fell in with the encampment of the friends of a native named Bennyyowlee, of the Tdondarup family. This native had signified his intention of asserting his claims to the possession of one of these young women, and even some of Miago's friends were disposed to favour him.
Cruise of H.M.S. BEAGLE Passengers Grey and Lushington Swan River Northern coast survey commenced Supposed channel at Dampier's Land non-existent Lieutenant Usborne accidentally shot King's Sound Effects of a rainy season Point Cunningham Skeleton of a native found New discoveries Fitzroy River explored Exciting incident Boat excursion to Collier Bay Swan River Native steward "Miago" Amusing inspection Meeting with the explorers at Hanover Bay Lieutenant Grey's description of native tribes Miago's memory Fremantle Needed communication BEAGLE at Hobart Town Survey work at Cape Otway Exploration of northwest coast Reminiscences of colonisation Discovery of the Adelaide River A serious comedy Port Essington and Clarence Straits Harbour of Port Darwin named The Victoria River Extravagant hopes Land party organized Captain Stokes speared Return to Swan River BEAGLE again North Examination of Sweer's Island Flinders and Albert Rivers discovered Inland navigation Gun accident Native mode of burial Fallacious Theorising The BEAGLE'S surveying concluded Maritime exploration closes.
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