Two hundred squared – forty thousand years

Our history, the root and seed. Like dew a

National life appears, it vanishes –

Glory unsustained. The sky is blue –

Eternity – for this is what our forebears

Recognised – days cloudless. Questionable, a

Love unlinked – a castle in the air.

Obtainable, what is – a water table.

National life appears, it vanishes –

Glory unsustained. The sky is blue –

Eternity – for this is what your forebears’

Thought – a blowing wind – unlinked, but true.

Evening – the stars appear – transcendent.

Root and seed. A nation squared. Resplendent.

.

Tongerlongeter unmistakable

Onlookers saw his imposing stature missing arm wearing

New cloak

Graves littered the country

Economy free to grow

River people asked who would care for the

Land

On their way to the Straits they suffered much from seasickness

Nausea great wailing

Graves littered the country

Evening they sit around the fire and talk, or one sings,

The rest listen with deep interest and attention, frequently applauding by a general shout

Evil spirit

River people asked who would care for the Land

.

(see Reynolds & Clements, Tongerlongeter)

Risdon

.

The Coal Valley a short distance east of Risdon

Open country ideal place for hunting

Nights of dancing

Grassland for driving animals down to the Derwent

Endless discussions

Running women and children retreated under fire

Large numbers of fighting men present

Old men at the foot of the hill near the Valley employed in making spears

Numbers favoured the original inhabitants

Guns insufficient

‘Ensuing thirty years provides the strongest affirmation of this interpretation of the events of this fateful day at Risdon’

The members of the besieging party were warriors

Europeans shot a cannon, saving the camp

Recalled, John Henry Fawker, ‘it was war between the races and no quarter’.

.

Thousands of Australians go

On pilgrimage to Gallipoli

No tree has been planted in his honour

Great and brave patriots

Every injury they can inflict upon White Men as an Act of Duty

Rightful possessions which have been torn from them by force

Look upon us as enemies

On pilgrimage to Gallipoli

No tree has been planted in his honour

Great and brave patriots

Every injury they can inflict upon White Men as an Act of Duty

Tasmanian landscape has no memorials

Embarrassed eyes averted from brutal bush fighting

Regaled in a cloak sad eyes unwavering

.

The females of the island make smoke signals in answer to the men

On the hills the men sing

No children  

Gilbert Robertson census of Aborigines ‘at large’ in

Eastern Tasmania

River, recuperated

Life conceived

On the hills the men sing

No children

Gilbert Robertson census of Aborigines ‘at large’

Embers

The soldiers on duty heard a rustle as though a mob of wild cattle were passing

Escaped

River Ouse gave birth (Parperermanener)

.

The moon

On their bodies

Numinous

Gathered at the full of every moon

Each distinct tribe

Reverence profound

Looking eyes upturned arms

Orb luminous

Night ecstatic

Gathered to dance

Each distinct tribe

The moon

Engraved in stone, depicted in charcoal on the walls of their huts

Reminiscence

‘a tribe camped on the face of the hill about two miles away in front of our house at the time when the moon was full and we could see capering before a large fire’

            (see Reynolds & Clements, Tongerlongeter.)

Tongerlongeter

On the morning as a storm lashed

No outward wailing

Grief inward

Extra-large coffin

Remains covered with earth

Luxury on the lands of his primeval existence

On the morning as a storm lashed

No outward wailing

Grief inward

Engaged in a justifiable war against the invaders of their country

Tongerlongeter

Exile

Remains covered with earth

.

Tasmanian

Of earth and stars

Not extinguished at death

Guerrilla strikes – “reconnaissance, ritual preparation, weaponry, wind speed and direction…”

Eldest girl, Mary, covered in blood

Radius bone violently torn away

Life saved

Of earth and stars

Not extinguished at death

Garment of wool lined with linen or fine-weave wool

Esteemed

Tasmanian

Edged with white

Remembered no more

.

(see Reynolds & Clements, Tongerlongeter.)

The land

Only this

Nullius

George Arthur, governor of Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) was instructed to

Engage with Aggressions in the same manner as if they proceeded from subjects of an accredited State

Resistance – a protracted warfare

Lamented Arthur

Only twenty-six left

Nullius

Governor of Tasmania instructed that they shall be immediately

Embarked for Great Island where they shall be treated with all kindness that humanity can dictate

The shadows of a hideous dream

Enduring sense of injustice

Resistance

.

Toka Mengha leah. The timber cross has vanished.

On seeing on a clear day the coast of Tasmania,

Numerous statements confirm, and the summit of the snow-capped Ben Lomond,

Gave tears – “There my home, there my country.”

Extraordinary, the procession of Tongerlongeter into Hobart.

Robinson and his son led, thirteen Aboriginal associates, and the twenty-six survivors of the war,

Leisurely, accompanied by a large pack of dogs.

On seeing on a clear day the coast of Tasmania,

Numerous statements confirm, and the summit of the snow-capped Ben Lomond,

Gave tears – ‘”There my home, there my country.”

Ever recurring attacks – eighty-six pages in the Colonial Office records.

Thistles mark his grave.

Earth. A plain and sacred

Right. [They are not rebellious subjects, but an injured nation.]

.

A song played at Tongerlongeter’s funeral, ‘in honour of a Great Chief’, contained these words: ‘Toka Mengha leah’. (see Reynolds & Clements, Tongerlongeter.)