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Updated: June 2, 2025
"They closely examined the heroic Miago, who submitted to be handled by these much-dreaded 'northern men' with a very rueful countenance, and afterwards construed the way in which one of them had gently stroked his beard, into an attempt to take him by the throat and strangle him an injury and indignity which, when safe on board, he resented by repeated threats, uttered in a sort of wild chant, of spearing their thighs, back, loins, and, indeed, every individual portion of the frame.
The following casual anecdotes, though trivial in themselves, will assist in illustrating some of the peculiarities of the native mind and character. Speech that the native Miago would have addressed to the aborigines of Perth if he had landed as Governor instead of His Excellency Mr. Hutt. He came into my room directly after the Governor had landed, and made this imaginary address.
On Monday evening therefore when I went to the native encampment I found that the first forms of the marriage ceremony had taken place, which were as follows: Miago ordered the two widows of his brother to prepare his hut, that as soon as the sun had set he might sleep there.
I will state a remarkable instance of this: The officers of the Beagle took away with them a native of the name of Miago, who remained absent with them for several months. The next time I saw him was at Swan River, where he had been left on the return of the Beagle. He was then again a savage, almost naked, painted all over, and had been concerned in several murders.
"Miago, when he was landed, had amongst the white people none who would be truly friends of his; they would give him scraps from their table, but the very outcasts of the whites would not have treated him as an equal, they had no sympathy with him, he could not have married a white woman, he had no certain means of subsistence open to him, he never could have been either a husband or a father, if he had lived apart from his own people; where, amongst the whites, was he to find one who would have filled for him the place of his black mother, whom he is much attached to?
During the time he and his townsman Miago were with us, the following vocabulary was made; the words from Port Essington have been furnished by Mr. Earl. October 11. We were happy to have an opportunity of rendering this important service to the colonists, who acknowledged it in a very handsome manner.
He was generally taken, with a view of giving confidence to any of his wild countrymen who might be encountered; but he exhibited the greatest possible repugnance to this service. His terror for the northern men fully equalled that of Miago, from whom doubtless he had received the most terrific accounts. It was only by giving him a gun that he could be at all induced to go.
Several persons here told me, "you see the taste for a savage life was strong in him, and he took to the bush again directly." Let us pause for a moment and consider. Miago, when he was landed, had amongst the white people none who would be truly friends of his.
"The officers of the Beagle took away with them a native of the name of Miago, who remained absent with them for several months. The next time I saw him was at Swan River, where he had been left on the return of the Beagle. He was then again a savage, almost naked, painted all over, and had been concerned in several murders.
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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