Arabanoo facts for kids
Arabanoo (c. 1759 – 1789) was an Aboriginal Australian man from the Eora people. He was captured by British colonists on New Year's Eve 1788. These colonists had arrived with the First Fleet at Port Jackson. His capture was planned to help the British communicate with the Aboriginal people. Arabanoo was the first Aboriginal Australian to live among the Europeans.
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Life in Early Sydney
Life for the British settlers at Port Jackson was hard in the first years. Relations between the Eora clans and the Europeans were not good. Governor Arthur Phillip decided that the "difficult and uncertain times" had to end. He decided to capture an Aboriginal person. He explained in a letter that it was important to "learn their language or teach them English." This would help them understand each other better and prevent misunderstandings.
Arabanoo's Capture
In late December 1788, Lieutenant George Johnston and Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball went to Manly Cove. Their goal was to capture some Aboriginal people. They seized two men, but one managed to escape. Arabanoo, however, had a rope thrown around his neck. He was dragged to the boat, screaming.
Many of his people heard the noise. They threw spears at Johnston and Ball to try and stop the capture. Warning shots were fired over their heads. Arabanoo was tied to the boat's seat and taken to Sydney Cove. He was thought to be about 30 years old.
Living with the Settlers
Arabanoo was taken to Governor Phillip's house. He was washed, shaved, and given a meal of duck and fish. He was dressed in a shirt, jacket, and trousers. One time, his shirt caught fire when he was too close to a fire. Phillip first called him Manly, but Arabanoo told him his real name.
To stop him from escaping, Arabanoo was often held with handcuffs and rope, or iron chains. At night, he was locked in a hut with a convict. When he first got the handcuffs, he thought they were decorations. But he became very angry when he learned what they were for.
Later, Arabanoo was shown to other Aboriginal people. This was to prove that he had not been harmed. In April 1789, his chains were removed. Arabanoo chose to stay at the British outpost. He was often seen wearing European clothes and drinking tea at the governor's house.
Governor Phillip hoped Arabanoo's capture would improve relations with the Eora people. However, it did not help much. Arabanoo did not learn English very quickly. Also, convicts later attacked Aboriginal people near Botany Bay. A terrible sickness called smallpox also spread. It had been brought to Sydney by the colonists. This disease caused a devastating sickness among the Eora population.
The Smallpox Epidemic
In April 1789, smallpox broke out among the Indigenous people around Sydney. No cases were reported among the European colonists. However, one sailor, who was Native American, caught the disease and died. Arabanoo was used by the colonists to look for survivors. He was horrified when he saw the campsites. They were either empty or filled with the bodies of his people.
He was described as being "very sad and quiet for some time." Then he exclaimed, "All dead! All dead!" and bowed his head in silence. Arabanoo later helped bring some sick survivors back to a hut near the settlement's hospital. He helped care for them, including a boy named Nanbaree and a girl named Boorong. Soon after, Arabanoo himself showed signs of the disease.
Arabanoo's Death
After six months living with the settlers, Arabanoo died of smallpox on 18 May 1789. He called the disease gal-gal-la. He was buried in the garden of the government building. Colonel David Collins said his death was "to the great regret of everyone." Collins noted how kind and friendly Arabanoo had become, showing he was not "savage" at all.
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