Their bones were broken in that island trap;
busted ribs clawed their breathing flesh.
Desolation overshadowed dreams:
four walls, a catechism, civilizing imprisonment.
They turned on her, that one, Robinson's bait:
"Look what you brought us to," they said,
"You're cursed to live to see your people dead.
You're cursed to be alone, remembering."
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Through the courtesy of Mrs Dandridge we are placed in possession of an outline of poor Trucanini's career. When a young woman she was instrumental in aiding Mr Robinson to collect the natives after the "Black War." and she, with them, was sent to Flinders Island, where so many of them fell under Death's scythe. In connection with this matter she often repeated the upbraiding she received from the poor natives for persuading them to give themselves up, and further stated that they had told her she would be the last of them as a punishment for that action. Since the death of her husband, William Lanny, the last male representative of the race, she would add to this story, "See it has come true," and she was right.
Launceston Examiner, 13 May 1876
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Ok Rob, what are you reading at the moment?
ReplyDeleteDave
I've been working my way through old newspaper articles via Trove. There's so much rich detail there that I suspect is yet to find its way into contemporary historical accounts. If you have a look at google plus you'll see I posted a link to a map I'm working on - connecting newspaper stories to locations in Tassie. Apparently, in her final years, she used to often recount the story of how the others said she was cursed to be the last.
ReplyDeleteOk, sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out later.
You could do a book's worth on this theme.
Dave