Our Indooroopilly - The 'Australian' on Parsons, 1824 Australia

Readings from Primary Sources on Moreton Bay & Brisbane

This report by The Australian, 21 October 1824 is reprinted from J.G. Steele, The Explorers of the Moreton Bay District 1770-1830, Brisbane, 1972.
Note that Footnotes are per J.G. Steele.

Story so far— Pamphlet, Parsons and Finnegan, three ticket-of-leave convicts, had been blown north from Sydney by a storm in an open boat and had wrecked on Moreton Island. They eventually crossed South Passage to Stradbroke Island. With kind treatment by local Aborigines and strength restored, they were set on returning to Sydney which they believed lay north. Building a canoe, they crossed to the mainland and then proceeded by foot up the right bank of a large river, the Brisbane river. Retracing their steps, they returned to the mouth. After resting for a month, they struck north for a headland they believed to be Jervis Bay. They reach Noosa and split up- Pamphlet and Finnegan return to Bribie island area and Parsons continued on. On 29 November 1823, Pamphlet hails Oxley's cutter "The Mermaid" and is rescued. Finnegan is picked up the next day. The following is a description written in the "Australian" 21 October 1824 of the rescue and return to Sydney of Richard Parsons.

A CURIOUS CASE OF SHIPWRECK¹

The brig Amity has brought to Sydney a man of the name of Richard Parsons, who was shipwrecked in Moreton Bay, about two years ago. This man gives a very curious account of his misfortunes and adventures. It appears that he was originally a sawyer. He had entered into the Five Islands trade. By his earnings he had saved about 50 guineas; with which he purchased the half of a boat; three others joining him in the speculation. They intended to fetch timber to Sydney.

With their first trip commenced their misfortunes. They were blown off the shore by a heavy gale of wind; and after [having] been driven about, after 20 days, during which one of the three died, at last reached Moreton Bay. When first they fell in with the natives, these were timid, and avoided them. They, however, succeeded in making an acquaintance with them, and in a short time got quite friendly. When they had lived among the natives in the neighbourhood of Moreton Bay, for three or four months, Parsons wished to explore his way to Sydney, along the coast, but his companions would not accompany him, as they thought themselves well off where they were. The natives gave them nets to catch fish, and showed them where to find and how to use the bungwa, as they call it - a very nutritious root, something like ferne, but larger; it is found in swamps. The natives also taught them what they could of their language.

Parsons, at length, set out alone, and as he thought towards Sydney. Unluckily, however, he proceeded northward. He continued this course until he had travelled four or five hundred miles along the coast, and only began to suspect his error by the extreme heat which he felt, as he advanced. In his progress he fell in with various tribes of natives, who for the most part avoided him, at first seeing him. When he could not entice them to come near him, be would, if possible, get hold of one of their children, and caress it. This stratagem usually succeeded. They would then come and offer him fish and be very friendly. At all times he found the men very jealous of the women, who often were not allowed to present any thing; for the men would give it themselves to him. This feeling he describes as pervading the whole tribes he fell in with, in a greater or less degree.

He was about three months in going, and about four or five months in returning. He suffered many hardships in going, and was frequently three or four nights without food; he fared better on his return, as he got more acquainted with the natives. He was fourteen months without any article of dress. His progress was much impeded by large rivers, which he usually swam across. When in want of fresh water, he commonly found it by travelling three or four miles to the westward. The rivers he crossed were all of salt water. The widest he fell in with is the River Brisbane. He found one much deeper and with more rapid current, more to the northward. The huts of the natives are much the same as those built by the natives in this settlement, but larger and stronger. The natives are a stouter and more athletic race of men than we have been accustomed to see here. He describes the land, wherever he has been, to be very sandy and poor; worse even than Broken Bay. He had seen no rain for twelve months.²The country is covered with thick scrubs and vines. He found a great deal of pine and iron bark; she oak, swamp oak, and a kind of spotted gum. Some timber he found good, some very bad; both the land and timber are best near Brisbane River. There is some good timber on the large river he found to the northward of the other. Currijong³ is found in great abundance in the interior.

He was on his travels when the first ship went to Moreton Bay. The two men that stayed behind him left the place on that occasion. Mr. Oxley left a memorandum in a bottle to give Parsons the information of a ship having been there. This bottle had been carried away to a distance of 50 or 60 miles, by the natives; but when he came back, it was brought to him.⁴ He was never in any danger from the natives except once. A female brought him some fish and he attempted a little familiarity with her, when on a sudden a great number of the natives started up, and in a menacing attitude called out to him to let her alone. Such was their uniform kindness to him, that they were sure to offer him the best fish they had caught.

When about 60 miles off Moreton Bay, on his return, the tribe there would not allow him to quit them; and he was obliged, at last, to watch his opportunity and set off by moonlight. When the ship was about to sail they came on board to give him a fishing net,⁵ in order as they told him to get his living in the country he was going to. The only mode that he had of computing time was by watching the new moon, and then cutting a notch. These facts, especially such as relate to the disposition of the natives, we consider important, as they show that by avoiding harsh treatment in the first instance, many misunderstandings may be avoided between the whites and the blacks.

1.	The Australian, 21 October 1824.
2.	This explains the shortage of fresh water experienced by Oxley and Cunningham in September 1824, on the Brisbane River.
3.	Hibiicus heterophyllm.
4.	Parsons, however, could not read.
5.	A fishing net was the article most valued by the natives. See Flinders in the "Norfolk", 16 July 1799, Note 24; also Narrative of Thomas Pamphlet, 27 April - 3 June 1823.