Letter from John Bulmer 15 April 1880
Transcription - Page 1
Bulmer re messages
I will answer all your letters
re Black fellows shortly. For
some time past I have not had
many here they have been
away hop picking and after
[this before some ?] walking
about however they are all
beginning to draw up to the
station. I will get the
information you requested
and forward it.
I think I can answer
your last note at once.
I have asked the Blacks and
they give the same answer
as Tuleba +c did. If
Tara Bobby was going to challenge
the Boul Boul men to fight
he would carry his spear
& Maruwan. A spear or a
shield sent to a tribe was
an act of defiance and
Document Details
Date
15 Apr 1880
Letter From
Bulmer, Reverend John
Letter To
Howitt, Alfred William
Author
—
Country
Australia
Colony/State
—
Holding Institution
Museums Victoria
Collection Name
Alfred W. Howitt Collection
Registration Number
XM 81
Medium
Letter
Region
Gippsland
Locality
Lake Tyers
Summary
"Although this letter from Rev. J. Bulmer appears incomplete with the first page missing, A.W. Howitt has annotated the top of first page with ""Bulmer re messages April 15th 1880"". Discussion regarding communication - invitations and challenges - between groups in the Murray-Darling and in the Gippsland region. Includes notes on the issuing of a challenge to the Boul Boul men to fight; carrying a spear and Maruwan; sending a spear and shield to another group as 'an act of defiance'; and a reference to a stick sent to the Yelta group. In addition discusses how many Aborigines living near the Lake Tyers Mission went away to pick hops."
Physical Description
Letter, possibly incomplete, handwritten in ink. Signed and with an associated date in A W Howitt's handwriting top of first page. One sheet, three pages. Good condition.