| Narrative | A group of Aboriginal people killed colonists and stole sheep, strategically using stony and swampy country, difficult for horses, in the Budj Bim area to evade pursuit. Captain Dana and Native Police with Mr Edgar pursued them into the wetlands near Mt Eccles (formerly 'Mt Eeles') and killed eight to 10 Aboriginal people.
In a letter to La Trobe written at Mount Eckersly, September 6th 1843, H E Pultney Dana wrote that Christopher Basset, who lived 'on the head of the Crawford' had been killed by Aboriginal people. According to Dana, the Aboriginal people had also stolen his clothes and more than 200 sheep. 'I was out with my party accompanied by Mr Edgar of the Fitzroy in search of Mr Ward's child and had ascertained from a number of natives in the stones hear Mount Eels [Mt Eeles / Mt Eccles] that it whad been murdered by a black named Harry who used to live with Messrs Whyte. I was proceeding along the edge of the large swamp when I came across the tracks of sheep. I followed them for a short distance and came on a number of natives driving and breaking the legs of a flock of sheep; he natives fled into the reeds in the swamp and thinking they would be safe challenged us.' Dana, the troopers and Mr Edgar dismounted and pursued the Aboriginal people into the swamp and in an affray, Mr Edgar shot one of them. They continued the pursuit through the swamp to a large island and found a great number of dead sheep and a coat. The aboriginal people reached the far side of the swamp, and the colonists paused to secure up to 40 unhurt sheep. The Aboriginal people returned and attempted to retake the sheep and taunted them from a tea tree scrub across the swamp. Dana wrote, 'I determined to cross the men over the swamp before daylight and if possible take some of the murderers and drive them out of the scrub. I accordingly did so and a little before sunrise attacked them in the scrub it was by far the worst place I have ever been in and it was a mercy that my small party was not cut off to a man. I did not succeed in taking any prisoners but before we could take the scrub and drive the natives eight or nine were shot... Spears, waddies and tomahawks were thrown at us from all directions but no person was struck except one of the men, Moonee Moonee who got a blow on his head from a large axe but did not appear to hurt him. If these murderers had escaped without punishment there is no knowing when this work would stop; the same tribe of Natives killed McKenzie and his man, Ward's child and now Basset, and the Country they fly to after committing these outrages is such that but few white men could follow them and I trust that your Honor will not consider that I have exceeded my duty for following them into their strong holds, and making them feel that they shall not murder and plunder with impunity.' (Dana to Latrobe, 6 September 1843, pp99-106) |
