3.54 CHARACTER OF NATIVES. 



The natives here are the same in aspect, habits, 

 and character, as those of the rest of Australia. I 

 endeavoured to learn something respecting their 

 division into ranks or classes, as described by Mr. 

 Wilson, in his Voyage round the World ; but, 

 although it appears they have the terms of " man- 

 drowillie," &c, which he mentions, I could not get 

 much information about them. One thing is certain, 

 that any distinction of rank must be purely nominal, 

 as no such thing is apparent in their ordinary com- 

 munications with Europeans, and the condition and 

 employments of all are precisely the same. There 

 are several tribes in Cobourg's Peninsula, three of 

 which are seated on Port Essington, as their natural 

 possessions ; one occupying the head of the har- 

 bour, and one each side of it. The languages of 

 these tribes differ one from the other, but are all 

 kindred dialects, each tribe, when speaking their 

 own, being intelligible to the other. Ever since the 

 formation of the present establishment at Port Es- 

 sington, the whole of the natives have conducted 

 themselves peaceably, and submitted in all things, 

 to the dominion of the white man. They occa- 

 sionally have pilfered rice and other things from 

 the stores, but have never offered any resistance, far- 

 ther than struggles to escape, when apprehended for 

 such an act. One white man, walking into an en- 

 campment of natives, and seizing a black fellow as 

 a thief, has never even had a spear raised against 

 him. Captain M' Arthur, on one occasion, ordered 



