Mateship is a very Australian concept. We look at how this concept probably evolved.
Australians have a concept of “mateship”. Australians look after their “mates” (No matter what country, race or colour). In both World Wars there are many stories of courageous Australian men and women dying for their mates. Where did this concept evolve in the Australian psyche? In the previous part of this series we looked at Australian Indigenous Dance and War. In this 3rd installment of our series we look at mateship.
NOTE: Please overlook the racist language in the following account taken from an historical document – treat it for what it is “an historical document” from a time of slavery and ignorance. The racist words and language in no way represent the views of this Blog.
Mr. Johnstone’s “Reminiscences of the habits and manners of the Aborigines of Queensland -1886″ Cont
“These blacks, who are often despised by new comers, have yet their ideas of what is right and wrong; and no greater lovers of their country can be found. They will also risk their lives for those they love.
Many years ago when I was in the native police I had a boy who came from the Lower Murray. I could talk a few words of his language. I little thought however, that this would be the means of saving my life. There was a colonist on the Fitzroy river murdered by the blacks. I was then a minor officer in the service, and was ordered out to punish the murderers. I was very ignorant of the ways of the blacks, or rather I was fool hardy.
We got the tracks, which is no easy matter sometimes, and after three or four days steady following we came up with the blacks camped alongside a waterhole. It was the only piece of water within 40 miles, and we knew they would have to come there for water. We hid ourselves in the dense scrub, and about sundown the gins came down for water, instead of the men. After they had got to the water I gave the signal and the troopers surrounded them. When the gins saw that they were fairly caught they told us they know nothing of the murder. We asked them again, but they told us that they had come from a totally different direction. The troopers were dumbfounded. We let the chief’s two gins go and kept the others as hostages. In a few minutes up came the blacks as bold as brass. Their story was that they had been out hunting. They offered to lead us to the place where the real murderers where, and my troopers where perfectly satisfied that these blacks were innocent.
This being the only water the kangaroos were coming in hundreds to drink. We shot some 30 or 40 for them and were quite friendly with the blacks, and at night we all camped together. I was quite aware that it was dangerous to camp near them, as every black camps with his spear beside him. Just about 9 o’clock as I was lying down by my fire, I noticed two of the tribe come and lie alongside it too. I sat up and then saw that there were two of them at each of the other fires. I then said to my men (who were all natives), “Suppose you sleep, you get killed; you look out.” The blacks did not understand English. I lay down, but you may believe I did not feel comfortable.
In the morning we left them and went to Phillips Creek, and found the other tribe, who told us the same story, but we could see that the latter had not been in the district where the murder happened. On our way back to where the bodies were lying a severe thunderstorm came on and the tracks were wiped out, so we took a circuit back to the first place we had been at, and came out on the upper side of the water. Here we met the gins carrying the plunder which had been taken from the station, and when they saw that they were bowled out, they told us where the men where hunting who had committed the deed. I left two troopers to take charge of the gins, and took the other five troopers with me.
When we came up to the men I pretended that we had punished the other men for the murder. We camped with them and shot them some kangaroos. In the middle of the night they tried to murder the whole of us. The first thing I saw was every black fellow rising, and then a shower of spears came into our midst. Instead of jumping to my feet I crawled away like a bandicoot, then this boy (all the black fellows are called boys) of whom I had spoken, stood up and sheltered me till I got away. When we got out of the light of the fires we returned the fire with our carbines. The boy was wounded by two spears, and when I sad to him “you speared, you die,” he answered “all right, I save you, you countryman belong a me.”
I could give numerous other instances of how these black fellows would die for a friend. When I think of what they could have been, and what they are I am more than sorry.”
Some historians believe that the early Australian convicts were pitied by the Aboriginals. As a result, convicts and Aboriginals became good friends having a common enemy in the British. This was probably where the idea of “mate” evolved. Based on the historical document we shared I think that “mateship” is almost definitely an indigenous Australian concept.
In the last installment of our series we conclude with “the safety of the peecheree”.
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About Danny Sheehan
Danny lives in Hong Kong but is originally from Australia. He is Married to Maggie and together they have two children with whom they enjoy sharing and enjoying an exciting life with daily. Danny's passions are freedom, adventure and discovery, mainly in nature and science but also spiritually. He is a great believer in living in the NOW.
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