Australia

Captain James Cook

When Cook and his men sailed into Botany Bay they were surprised that the natives didn't seem to notice. They sat indifferent on the shore or fished the shallows with no change in preoccupation. Cook's vessel, the creaky Endeavor, would certainly have been the most imposing object they had ever witnessed, yet it was ignored. They saw not god, devil, or doom, as did natives elsewhere. Their innocent vision would, of course, turn out to be their downfall. They should have run.

These natives were very different and quickly became objects of scorn and hate. The white Europeans who conquered the continent would see them as filthy and feral creatures, pre-human or "animal." They did not have government, written language, housing, agriculture, clothes, or pottery. They had no concept of ownership. Their language did not include words for tomorrow or yesterday. They lived only in the now. Indeed these wild creatures were different. They would have to be tamed and put to use, or be eliminated. They might impede the divine march of European civilization.

The enlightened assessment of the Australian aboriginal by Captain Cook, quoted above, was indeed ahead of its time. It would not, however, ease their fate. Similar to other endemic peoples of the new world, they were murdered, plundered, or enslaved, whatever was necessary to satisfy the immediate European whim. (next photo)

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"They may appear to be the most wretched people on earth, but in reality they are far happier than we Europeans. They live in a tranquility which is not disturbed by inequality of condition: the earth and sea furnish them with all things necessary. They set no value on anything we gave them. All they seemed to want was for us to be gone."
Captain James Cook When Cook and his men sailed into Botany Bay they were surprised that the natives didn't seem to notice. They sat indifferent on the shore or fished the shallows with no change in preoccupation. Cook's vessel, the creaky Endeavor, would certainly have been the most imposing object they had ever witnessed, yet it was ignored. They saw not god, devil, or doom, as did natives elsewhere. Their innocent vision would, of course, turn out to be their downfall. They should have run. These natives were very different and quickly became objects of scorn and hate. The white Europeans who conquered the continent would see them as filthy and feral creatures, pre-human or "animal." They did not have government, written language, housing, agriculture, clothes, or pottery. They had no concept of ownership. Their language did not include words for tomorrow or yesterday. They lived only in the now. Indeed these wild creatures were different. They would have to be tamed and put to use, or be eliminated. They might impede the divine march of European civilization. The enlightened assessment of the Australian aboriginal by Captain Cook, quoted above, was indeed ahead of its time. It would not, however, ease their fate. Similar to other endemic peoples of the new world, they were murdered, plundered, or enslaved, whatever was necessary to satisfy the immediate European whim. (next photo)
© Danny Kimberlin 2015