Overview
Australia had many encounters with visitors from other parts of the world before the Endeavour. Explorers came in search of new discoveries for the advancement of knowledge, trade and wealth. Explore these encounters with explorers from other parts of the world, their perceptions of place and how this influenced their interactions with Australia’s First people.
Key inquiry question:
What perceptions did visitors to the Australian shoreline hold when encountering the people and places of Australia?
Australia’s first international trade
1. Closely examine the artwork The Makassans – The Muldi by Paddy Wainburranga Fordham. Read about the artwork and match the written descriptions of the 12 sections with the images. Develop questions that will guide a student-centred inquiry into the trading relationship as outlined in the artwork descriptions. Sample questions may include: Who were the Makassan? What language groups were involved in the trade? What did they trade and why? Was the trade fair? How did the trading partners view one another? When did the trade stop and why?
2. Conduct research to describe the trade relationship between the Makassan and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Access materials from Australian museums, libraries and galleries. Use graphic organisers to outline the trading relationship.
3. Investigate the steps that are being taken to revitalise Australia’s first international trade in the radio broadcast Reviving Australia's first international trade: sea cucumbers at ABC Radio Darwin. What are the potential issues associated with the trade in Australia today?
4. Analyse the importance of this trading relationship to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Historic visitors on Endeavour
1. Examine the artworks by Tupaia, Tahitian navigator and high priest, and Endeavour artist Sydney Parkinson. Artists were taken on voyages to observe and record natural history. Analyse the artworks to extract information that informs your view on the perceptions held by those on board Endeavour.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that the sources contain distressing material.
- Painting by Tupaia made during Endeavour’s 8 days in Kamay Botany Bay - Indigenous Australians in bark canoes, drawing by Tupaia | British Library. Tupaia developed skills in painting in the European style from Endeavour artist Sydney Parkinson. Closely examine the painting and the way he represents the Gweagal as they fish. Identify the details and expressions of the people. How do you think Tupaia viewed the Gweagal? Confirm your position using evidence from the primary and secondary sources available online at Tupaia at the British Library.
- Observe the sketches in Sydney Parkinson’s sketchbook and first European drawing of a kangaroo created at Kamay Botany Bay and Endeavour River respectively. Conduct research into Sydney Parkinson to form an opinion of how he may have viewed Australia’s First people.
- Evaluate and compare the viewpoints of Tupaia and Parkinson as evidenced in the sources.
2. Read the following extracts from the descriptions made by Lieutenant James Cook in the Endeavour journal about the east coast. Full extracts of voyaging accounts by James Cook, Joseph Banks, Sydney Parkinson and John Hawkesworth can be found online at South Seas - National Library of Australia. Analyse the text to identify the views held by Cook about Aboriginal peoples and country.
"I do not look upon them to be a warlike People, on the Contrary I think them a timorous and inoffensive race, no ways inclinable to cruelty, as appear'd from their behavour to one of our people in Endeavour River which I have before mentioned. Neither are they very numerous, they live in small parties along by the Sea Coast, the banks of Lakes, Rivers creeks &Ca. They seem to have no fix'd habitation but move about from place to place like wild Beasts in search of food, and I beleive depend wholy upon the success of the present day for their subsistance.
In short these people live wholy by fishing and hunting, but mostly by the former, for we never saw one Inch of Cultivated land in the whole Country'.
We are to Consider that we see this Country in the pure state of Nature, the Industry of Man has had nothing to do with any part of it and yet we find all such things as nature hath bestow'd upon it in a flourishing state : In this Extensive Country it can never be doubted but what most sorts of Grain, Fruits, Roots &Ca of every kind would flourish here were they once brought hither, planted and cultivated by the hand of Industry; and here are Provender for more Cattle at all seasons of the year than ever can be brought into this Country".
3. Observe the portrait of Captain James Cook to examine the institutions to which he belonged. Explain how this may have influenced his perceptions in making his observations.
4. Conduct research into the philosophical thinking in Europe during the 1700s and 1800s to develop understanding into the perspectives of the British when viewing Australia - imperialism and social Darwinism.
5. Write an extended response proposing how perceptions of the people and environment of Australia may have contributed to the later actions of Britain in establishing a penal colony in 1788. Use evidence from the sources in your argument.
Main image: The Macassan Prahu © Dhuwarrwarr Marika, reproduced courtesy of the artist and Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre