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THE ABORIGINES OP AUSTRALIA. 69 The last public appearance of the king was at the Governor’s Ball, at Government House, accom panied by three aboriginal females. In 1868, he accompanied the Duke of Edinburgh to Hobart Town, in a blue suit of clothes, with gold lace round his hat, walking proudly with the Duke, as one possessing royal blood; but he was seldom sober. He also perished. He took to the sea and became a celebrated whaler, but on getting his wages, £12 13s. , he commenced drinking, and died of cholera. He was followed to the grave by a large concourse of people, mostly sailors. There still remained one woman, Lalla Rookh. Truganina, or Lalla Rookh, as she was sometimes called, the last of the aborigines of Tasmania, died on the 8th instant (says the Hobart Town Mercury, of May, 1876) of paralysis, at the residence of her protectress, Mrs. Dandridge, in Macquarie-street. The death of this last scion of a once numerous race is an event in the history of Tasmania of no common interest, and it may well serve to “ point a moral and adorn a tale ” on the question of the gradual but certain extinction of the aboriginal races of these southern lands. Of Truganina we shall no doubt hear many interesting narratives, now that she has departed this world, but at present we must content ourselves with a few brief facts concerning her life and death, leaving it to others, who have leisure and opportunity, to favour the public with more extended notices respecting her. That she was a queen is an admitted fact, and that she had five husbands, all kings, is generally known. The last of these partners of her joys and sorrows was the celebrated King Billy-, who died in March, 1869, and was the sole remaining male representative of the Tasmanian aboriginals. It is a singular fact that Truganina assisted “ Black Robinson” in his efforts to induce the few natives, then alive, to place themselves under the care of the Government. She accompanied “ Black Robinson” on a visit to the natives, distributing presents of various kinds; and when they paid a second visit they were warmly received, and the natives eventually consented to be taken care of by the State. Truganina has seen them all die. She could tell many very exciting stories of her life, and used to amuse those friends who visited her with relating them. At one time, with other natives, she was in Victoria, then known as Port Phillip. A murder was committed, and though she always said she was innocent, she and another woman and some males were sentenced to be hanged. Fortunately for her, she had saved a lady and two children from the fury of the blacks on one occasion, and this coming to the ears of the authorities, her life was spared. Twenty years ago, when Mr. Dandridge, who succeeded Dr. Milligan, took charge of the Oyster Cove Aboriginal Station, there were sixteen survivors of the race, including Truganina, who belonged to the Bruni Island tribe. Pifteen of them died during the life of Mr. Dandridge. Nearly three years ago he, with his wife and family, removed to Hobart Town, bringing Truganina with them, and the citizens soon became familiar with the form of Her Majesty. She appeared at public gatherings on several occasions, and frequently went out for walks, always in charge of some member of the family with which she lived. Her short, stout figure, red turban, and dusky features were known far and wide, and always attracted great attention. She was partial to conversation, and was always willing to give such information as was within her knowledge. The death of Mr. Dandridge, two years ago, was the occasion of great sorrow to her, and she never ceased to mourn his loss. Since then she has been under the care of Mrs. Dandridge, the Government having for many years granted £60 per annum for her maintenance. She suffered a good deal from bad health of late. Though sometimes very weak, she always rallied, and promised to live many years. Within the last ten days, however, she had a presentiment that she was going to die, but it did not seem to give her great concern. She passed away as peacefully as a child, and though she was about seventy-three years old, she did not look half that age after her death. One of the aborigines pathetically describes the destruction of the people:—“All blackfellow gone. All this my country. A very pretty place ; many piccaninnies run about; plenty of blackfellow there ; corroboree; great fight; all cause about only me tell now. Poor them, tumble down all; bury her like a lady. Put her in coffin like English. I feel a lump in my throat when I talk of her, but bury her like a lady, master.” Mr. Howitt says we actually turned out these inhabitants of Van Diemen’s Land because we saw it was a goodly heritage; and our best justification is that if we did not transport them we must burn them out with our liquid fire, and poison them with disease and vice. It is a powerful and, in some respects, a mysterious history. The only hope appears to be when the Gospel precedes colonization, but even then, if the tide sets in too soon, destruction follows. Let us look to European Christianity. How many so-called Christians are little better than savages, for with all the appliances by which they are surrounded, the law only restrains them from violence. However many the failures, yet the capacity for advancement of these people renders it no longer a question of doubt whether they are no better than dogs. [Sketches.] K Sydney : Thomas Richards, Government Printer.—1883