William Buckley was an English convict who became famous for his escape and survival in the Australian wilderness. He escaped from the British settlement in Sorrento, Victoria, Australia in 1803 and lived with the Wathaurong Aboriginal people for over 30 years before he was rediscovered by European settlers in 1835. His story is a significant part of Australian history, and he is celebrated as a pioneer and early explorer of the country. His life story is more interesting than most novels written by mankind.
The Life Story of William Buckley
The early European settlers in Australia faced formidable challenges, grappling with the harsh forces of nature as they endeavoured to eke out a living and adapt to the novel realities of their newfound land. However, the struggle for survival was a nuanced experience, with certain individuals standing apart, and William Buckley emerges as a distinctive figure in this narrative.
Born in Marton, near Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, Buckley’s journey began with an apprenticeship to a bricklayer. At the age of 19, he took a divergent path, enlisting in the King’s Foot Regiment and swiftly being reassigned to the King’s Own Regiment. His life took an unfortunate turn when he found himself convicted of possessing a stolen parcel of clothes, leading to a harsh sentence: transportation to New South Wales, 10,000km away from his motherland, for a period of 14 years.
Buckley steadfastly maintained his innocence, asserting that he had merely assisted a woman, a stranger to him, who had implored him to carry a piece of cloth within a parcel to a soldier’s wife in the garrison for tailoring. This twist of fate marked the inception of a compelling chapter in Buckley’s life, setting the stage for a narrative of resilience, survival, and an eventual connection with the indigenous people of Australia.
William Buckley sustained himself on seafood during the journey. While traveling northward, he chanced upon a black man with a large family of children. This individual extended kindness towards Buckley, from whom he gleaned enough language skills to articulate his needs. After spending a few days with this benevolent group, Buckley bid them farewell and resumed his solitary journey.
Many months passed as he wandered through the unpredictable landscape, oscillating between periods of starvation and moments of consuming food to repletion. The relentless experience of solitude began to take its toll on Buckley’s mental state. On several occasions, he encountered Aboriginal communities, occasionally sharing moments with them.
One day, William Buckley caught the attention of a group of Aboriginal women who promptly informed their husbands. They had gathered to collect wattle gum, their favoured food item. Mistakenly believing Buckley to be a fellow Aboriginal who had previously died and been buried where they found Buckley.
Aboriginal people held a belief that the deceased returned to life after death, transforming into a younger and healthier version of themselves.Aborigines mistook the Europeans for their deceased ancestor. Additionally, they believed that upon resurrection, the revived individuals turned into white men. Assuming that Buckley was the embodied spirit of their deceased relative, they treated him with respect and honour. Buckley was carrying a spear that was left at the burial ground to mark its location. This confirmed their assumption that the dead relative has returned to life. Buckley made a concerted effort to adhere to their customs, ensuring not to give any cause for offense. In a gesture of acceptance, they even bestowed upon him a wife.
After living with them for around 6 months, Buckley happened to meet one of his companions with whom he escaped, living with another family of tribe on the seacoast, who then came and lived with him. But his reckless character with women made him fear would result in being murdered by enraged aborigines. He was asked to leave and Buckley never heard of him again. He soon lost all beckoning of time, but in about 2 years in the country he could express himself in aboriginal tongue pretty freely. He also mastered the art of spearing fish and hunting, which he claimed to do better than his fellow aborigines.
John Morgan’s ‘The Life and Adventures of William Buckley’
As William Buckley shared with the author chronicling his biography, “Aborigines also suffer greatly from skin disorders. The promiscuous interaction between the sexes is a common aspect of their way of life, especially during certain festivals when such behaviors are even encouraged. There are specific times when women are formally left to the young men who have yet to take wives. Occasionally, a black fellow might entice away a woman; the husband may permit her to go with him, but upon her return, she faces a severe beating.”
A date with Destiny – Buckley’s Chance
On 29 May 1835, John Batman, who is known as the founder of Melbourne, in 23ton Schooner ‘Rebecca’ anchored near Indented Head east of Geelong. Indented Head is located between Portarlington and St Leonards, around 100km by road from Melbourne CBD. On 9th June 1835, Batman once again landed at Intended Head with an expedition party. Leaving the party at Intended Head, Batman left for Tasmania. John Wedge was given the charge of the team. It was here, on 6th July 1835, Buckley met the expedition party, the group of white men after 32 long years. Some of the paintings of those years show Buckley meeting John Batman at Intended Head, which cant be true as Batman was at Tasmania at that time.
It had been nearly 32 years since William Buckley departed European civilization for the Aboriginal way of life. Initially, he struggled to recall any English language and couldn’t even answer the question, “What is your name?” Instead, he pointed to the two letters ‘WB’ tattooed on his body. However, within a few days, he regained the ability to speak reasonably well.
William Buckley was fearful that he will be punished for being a runaway. So surveyor John Helder Wedge put up an application to the Governor Arthur of Vandiemen’s land for a pardon which was granted immediately with conditions.
Some of the newspaper records of that time suggest Buckley acted as an intermediary between Batman’s party and the natives in signing the now infamous agreement between the two. But this contradicts other records which states Batman was helped by the aborigines he brought from NSW in making contact with Melbourne natives and so was the case with the treaty. The treaty was signed on 6 June 1835, whereas the first meeting between Buckley and Batman’s expedition team took place one month later in July 1835.
Buckley was considered as too dull. The only person in Batman’s team who saw some potential in Buckley was surveyor John Helder Wedge.
The Melbourne Treaty
The agreement was between Messrs. Batman, Gellibrand, Swanston and Simpson, on one side and the natives on the other were represented by Jagajaga, Cooloolook, Bungaree, Yanyan, Mowstrip and Mommamalla. The price was fixed at an annuity of two hundred a year in return for 750,000 acres of land. The group also handed out several blankets, mirrors, tomahawks, beads etc to the natives.
In 1836 Captain William Lonsdale came to Melbourne as Chief Agent of Government, Police Magistrate and Commandant for the Port Phillip region. Buckley was given the position of Constable. Buckley couldn’t cope with the pressures of the job and he was always looked restless and dissatisfied. Buckley was considered as a man of low intelligence and he was found to be less useful in mediating with the blacks and not much information came out of Buckley which the authorities could use to their advantage.
Another incident that happened in 1837, shook the small settler community. In 1837, Joseph Tice Gellibrand and George Brooks Legrew Hesse disappeared near Birregurra, on their way from Geelong to Melbourne. Great fears were expressed in Melbourne that they were murdered. Buckley was also a member of the search party dispatched. But the whites did not trust Buckley as they thought he is standing on two stools. Afterward he was given more freedom in his pursuit, but he could not do much as much animosity was already created between the blacks and the settlers, due to the cruel treatment of blacks in the hands of the settlers.
Buckley in Hobart
William Buckley left Melbourne on 21st December 1837 and reached Hobart early January 1838. Buckley was appointed as assistant storekeeper at the Hobart Town Immigrants Home and when that establishment was broken up he was transferred to the female nursery as gate keeper. At the immigrants’ home he became acquainted with a family consisting of a respectable mechanic, his wife and daughter. The mechanic was later killed by the natives and Buckley proposed to his widow and married her in March 1840, at the age of 60. In his old age received a pension from the Government. Buckley died at Hobart in 1856 at the age of 76. Some accounts say, a fall from a gig hastened his death. With this ended the weird yet colourful life of William Buckley the convict.
William Buckley alikuwa mfungwa Mwingereza aliyejulikana sana kwa kukimbia na kuishi katika jangwa la Australia. Aliponyoka kutoka makazi ya Uingereza huko Sorrento, Victoria, Australia mnamo 1803 na kuishi na watu wa asili wa Wathaurong kwa zaidi ya miaka 30 kabla ya kugunduliwa tena na wahamiaji wa Ulaya mnamo 1835. Historia yake ni sehemu muhimu ya historia ya Australia, na yeye ni sherehe kama waanzilishi na mapema mvumbuzi wa nchi. Hadithi ya maisha yake ni yenye kupendeza zaidi kuliko riwaya nyingi zilizoandikwa na wanadamu. Historia ya maisha ya William Buckley: Wahamiaji wa kwanza wa Ulaya katika Australia walikabiliwa na changamoto kubwa, wakipambana na nguvu kali za asili walipokuwa wakijitahidi kupata riziki na kukabiliana na hali halisi mpya ya nchi yao mpya. Hata hivyo, mapambano kwa ajili ya kuishi yalikuwa uzoefu nuanced, na watu fulani kusimama mbali, na William Buckley inaonekana kama takwimu ya kipekee katika hadithi hii. Kuzaliwa katika Marton, karibu Macclesfield, Cheshire, Uingereza, safari Buckley ya ilianza na apprenticeship kwa bricklayer. Alipokuwa na umri wa miaka 19, alijiunga na King's Foot Regiment na baada ya muda mfupi akapewa mgawo wa King's Own Regiment. Alipatwa na hatia ya kuiba nguo na kusafirishwa hadi New South Wales, umbali wa kilomita 10,000 kutoka nchi yake ya asili. Buckley alisisitiza kuwa hana hatia, akisema kwamba alikuwa amemsaidia tu mwanamke, mgeni kwake, ambaye alikuwa amemsihi kubeba kipande cha kitambaa ndani ya kifurushi kwa mke wa askari katika kambi ya askari ili amfunge. Utaratibu huu wa bahati uliashiria mwanzo wa sura ya kuvutia katika maisha ya Buckley, kuanzisha hatua kwa hadithi ya upinzani, kuishi, na uhusiano wa mwisho na watu wa asili wa Australia. William Buckley alijiruzuku kwa kula vyakula vya baharini wakati wa safari hiyo. Alipokuwa akisafiri kuelekea kaskazini, alikutana na mwanamume mweusi aliyekuwa na familia kubwa ya watoto. Mtu huyu alionyesha fadhili kwa Buckley, ambaye alimpatia ujuzi wa kutosha wa lugha ili kueleza mahitaji yake. Baada ya kukaa siku chache pamoja na kikundi hicho cha watu wenye fadhili, Buckley aliwaaga na kuanza tena safari yake ya upweke. Miezi mingi ilipita alipokuwa akizurura katika mazingira hayo yasiyoweza kutabiriwa, akipita kati ya vipindi vya njaa na vipindi vya kula chakula hadi alipokula vya kutosha. Uzoefu huo usio na mwisho wa upweke ulianza kuathiri hali ya akili ya Buckley. Katika pindi kadhaa, alikutana na jamii za Wenyeji wa Asili, na mara kwa mara alishiriki wakati pamoja nao. Siku moja, William Buckley alivutiwa na kikundi cha wanawake wa asili ambao waliwajulisha waume zao mara moja. Walikuwa wamekusanyika ili kukusanya wattle gum, chakula chao cha kupendwa. Walitambua kwamba Buckley alikuwa mtu wa asili wa Australia ambaye alikuwa amekufa na kuzikwa mahali ambapo Buckley alipatikana. Wenyeji wa Australia waliamini kwamba wafu walifufuka baada ya kifo na kuwa watu wenye afya bora kuliko wao, na waliwaona Wazungu kuwa mababu zao waliokufa. Kwa kuongezea, waliamini kwamba baada ya ufufuo, watu waliofufuliwa waligeuka kuwa watu weupe. Kwa kudhani kwamba Buckley alikuwa roho ya mtu wao wa ukoo aliyekufa, walimtendea kwa heshima na heshima. Buckley alikuwa amebeba mkuki uliobaki kwenye kaburi ili kuashiria mahali ulipo. Hilo lilithibitisha dhana yao kwamba mtu huyo wa ukoo aliyekufa amefufuka. Buckley alifanya jitihada kubwa ya kufuata desturi zao, akihakikisha kwamba hakutoa sababu yoyote ya kukasirika. Kwa ishara ya kukubali, hata walimpa mke. Baada ya kuishi nao kwa miezi sita, Buckley alikutana na mmoja wa wenzake ambao walikimbia pamoja naye, wakiishi na familia nyingine ya kabila kwenye pwani, ambao kisha walikuja kuishi naye. Lakini tabia yake ya kukosa kufikiri na wanawake ilimfanya aogope kwamba ingeweza kumfanya auawe na wenyeji wenye hasira. Aliombwa aondoke na Buckley hakusikia juu yake tena. Muda si muda, muda ulipungua, lakini baada ya miaka miwili hivi akiwa mashambani, aliweza kujieleza kwa lugha ya wenyeji kwa uhuru. Pia alijua vizuri uvuvi wa mkuki na uwindaji, jambo alilosema kwamba alilifanya vizuri kuliko wenyeji wenzake. John Morgan's ‘The Life and Adventures of William Buckley Kama William Buckley alivyoshiriki na mwandishi akiandika wasifu wake, Wenyeji wa asili pia wanateseka sana kutokana na magonjwa ya ngozi. Mawasiliano ya ngono kati ya jinsia mbili ni sehemu ya kawaida ya maisha yao, hasa wakati wa sherehe fulani ambapo tabia kama hizo hutiwa moyo. Kuna nyakati hususa ambapo wanawake huachwa rasmi kwa vijana ambao bado hawajaoa wake. "Mara kwa mara, mtu mweusi anaweza kumshawishi mwanamke; mume anaweza kumruhusu aende naye, lakini anaporudi, anakabiliwa na kupigwa vibaya. ""Tarehe na Destiny"" Buckley's Chance ""Kama ya 29 Mei 1835, John Batman, ambaye anajulikana kama mwanzilishi wa Melbourne, katika 23ton schooner ""Rebecca"" anchored karibu Indented Head mashariki ya Geelong." Indented Head iko kati ya Portarlington na St Leonards, karibu kilomita 100 kwa barabara kutoka Melbourne CBD. Mnamo Juni 9, 1835, Batman alisafiri tena kwenda kwenye mji wa Intended Head. Baada ya kuondoka kwenye karamu huko Intended Head, Batman alienda Tasmania. John Wedge alipewa jukumu la kuongoza timu hiyo. Katika siku ya 6 Julai 1835 Buckley alikutana na kikundi cha watu weupe baada ya miaka 32. Picha za miaka hiyo zinaonyesha Buckley akikutana na John Batman huko Intended Head, ambayo haiwezi kuwa kweli kwani Batman alikuwa Tasmania wakati huo. Miaka 32 hivi ilikuwa imepita tangu William Buckley aondoke katika ustaarabu wa Ulaya na kuingia katika maisha ya Waaborijini. Mwanzoni, alijitahidi kukumbuka lugha yoyote ya Kiingereza na hakuweza hata kujibu swali, "Jina lako ni nani?" Badala yake, alionyesha herufi mbili "WB" zilizochorwa kwenye mwili wake. Hata hivyo, baada ya siku chache, aliweza kuzungumza vizuri. William Buckley aliogopa kwamba angeadhibiwa kwa sababu ya kukimbia. Kwa hiyo, mtafiti John Helder Wedge alimwomba Gavana Arthur wa nchi ya Vandiemen msamaha ambao ulipewa mara moja kwa masharti. Baadhi ya rekodi za gazeti la wakati huo zinaonyesha Buckley alitenda kama mpatanishi kati ya chama cha Batman na wenyeji katika kusaini makubaliano ya sasa ya aibu kati ya wawili. "Hii ni kinyume na rekodi nyingine ambazo zinasema Batman alisaidiwa na wenyeji wa Australia walioletwa kutoka NSW katika kufanya mawasiliano na wenyeji wa Melbourne na hivyo ilikuwa kesi na mkataba huo. """ Mkataba huo ulisainiwa Juni 6, 1835, wakati mkutano wa kwanza kati ya Buckley na timu ya Batman ulifanyika mwezi mmoja baadaye Julai 1835. Buckley alionwa kuwa mwenye kuchosha sana. Mtu pekee katika timu ya Batman ambaye aliona baadhi ya uwezo katika Buckley alikuwa mtafiti John Helder Wedge. Mkataba wa Melbourne ulifanyika kati ya Batman, Gellibrand, Swanston na Simpson, na wenyeji wa Australia waliwakilishwa na Jagaja, Cooloolook, Bungaree, Yayan, Mowstrip na Mommallam. Mkataba huo ulimalizika kwa mwaka wa miaka mia mbili kwa ajili ya ardhi ya ekari 750,000. Kikundi hicho pia kilitoa mablanketi kadhaa, vioo, tomahawks, shanga nk kwa wenyeji. Mwaka 1836 Kapteni William Lonsdale alikuja Melbourne kama Mkuu wa Serikali, Polisi Magistrate na Kamanda kwa ajili ya Port Phillip mkoa. Buckley alipewa cheo cha Constable. Buckley hakuweza kukabiliana na shinikizo la kazi na yeye daima inaonekana restless na kukosa kuridhika. Buckley alionwa kuwa mtu mwenye akili ya chini na alipatikana kuwa na manufaa kidogo katika upatanishi na weusi na haikuwa na habari nyingi kutoka kwa Buckley ambazo mamlaka zingeweza kutumia kwa faida yao. Tukio jingine lililotokea mwaka 1837 lilitikisa jamii ndogo ya wahamiaji. Mwaka 1837 Joseph Tice Gellibrand na George Brooks Legree Hesse walipotea karibu na Birregurra, wakiwa njiani kutoka Geelong kwenda Melbourne. Hofu kubwa ilionyeshwa katika Melbourne kwamba waliuawa. Buckley pia alikuwa mshiriki wa kikundi cha kutafuta kilichotumwa. Lakini wazungu hawakumwamini Buckley kwa kuwa walidhani alikuwa amesimama juu ya viti viwili. Baada ya hapo alipewa uhuru zaidi katika kazi yake, lakini hakuweza kufanya mengi kwa kuwa tayari kulikuwa na uhasama mkubwa kati ya weusi na wahamiaji, kwa sababu ya utumishi wa kikatili wa weusi mikononi mwa wahamiaji. William Buckley, ambaye aliishi huko Hobart, alisafiri kutoka Melbourne tarehe 21 Desemba 1837 hadi Hobart Januari 1838. Buckley aliteuliwa kuwa msaidizi wa msimamizi wa duka katika Hobart Town Immigrants Home na wakati taasisi hiyo ilivunjwa, alihamishwa kwa nursery ya wanawake kama mlinzi wa lango. Akiwa nyumbani kwa wahamiaji, alikutana na familia iliyofanyizwa na fundi-mafundi mwenye kuheshimika, mke wake, na binti yake. Baada ya kuuawa na wenyeji, Buckley alimwomba mkewe wa kiume na kuolewa naye mnamo Machi 1840. Alipokuwa mzee alipokea pensheni kutoka kwa Serikali. Buckley alikufa huko Hobart mwaka 1856 akiwa na umri wa miaka 76. Baadhi ya masimulizi husema, kuanguka kutoka kwenye gig kuliharakisha kifo chake. Kwa hilo maisha ya ajabu lakini yenye rangi ya William Buckley mfungwa yaliisha.