The Bushman

In Short

This book offers an intimate, often humorous, and deeply opinionated account of early settlement in Western Australia. It functions as both a personal memoir of life in the bush and a pointed argument for colonial reform. By documenting the practical challenges of farming, the realities of interactions with the Aboriginal population, and the absurdity of colonial bureaucracy, the narrative provides a vivid portrait of a society struggling to find its footing. It has lasted because it provides a rare, grounded perspective on the physical and political friction inherent in the British Empire’s expansion.

The Story

The narrative follows the author’s journey from England to the nascent colony of Western Australia, beginning with a precarious sea voyage. Almost immediately, the expedition is marred by an attempted mutiny, as a disgruntled crew rebels against the leadership of a female passenger. The crisis is only resolved when a passing Portuguese warship intervenes, allowing the author and his companions to eventually reach their destination.

Upon arriving in Western Australia, the focus shifts from maritime danger to the rugged demands of colonial life. The author, along with his brothers, sets out to establish a farm in the interior. The daily struggle to secure land, transport goods, and manage livestock—particularly the high cost of bullocks and the difficulty of navigating heavy terrain—becomes a central theme. The narrative details their efforts to build a life on the banks of a river, where the colonial reality of "squatting" stations and the isolation of the bush become their new normal.

Life in the colony is depicted as a mix of intense labor and unexpected comedy. The author describes the "dragons" of the colony—a humorous reference to stray cattle or livestock causing local disputes—which lead to absurd legal entanglements and fines. He reflects on the "spirit of the age" in the colony, noting that it is often at odds with civil order and social improvement, frequently leaving the settlers in a state of frustration.

The story periodically moves into the wilderness, where the author joins hunting expeditions alongside Aboriginal guides. These excursions reveal his admiration for the guides’ uncanny ability to track animals through seemingly featureless terrain, even as he maintains a detached, often patronizing view of their culture. He recounts close calls, including a near-fatal boating accident where he narrowly survives a capsize, feeling, in those final moments, a profound sense of "death and futurity."

As the author reconciles himself to the hardships of the bush, he turns his attention toward the political machinery governing the colony. He argues that the distant Colonial Office in London is fundamentally ill-equipped to understand or manage the needs of its settlers. He advocates for a total reform of land sale regulations and a more self-reliant system of governance. The narrative concludes with a sense of guarded optimism; while he acknowledges that the colonial environment is a "school of moral anatomy" that can expose the worst of human selfishness, he believes that time and proper management—particularly the development of a timber trade with the Royal Navy—will eventually allow the colony to emerge from obscurity and prosper.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The author sets out from England, only to find the sea journey threatened by a mutiny over the ship’s command. The situation escalates into violence until a fortuitous encounter with a Portuguese vessel leads to the capture of the mutineers and the safety of the passengers.

Establishing the homestead Upon arrival, the author and his brothers face the immediate, crushing costs of transporting goods into the interior. They pivot to becoming their own boatmen to avoid the ruinous fees charged by local middlemen and town storekeepers.

Encounters with the land and people The narrative documents the daily life of the bush, including the author’s observations of the Aboriginal people, whom he describes as "light-hearted" yet fundamentally misunderstood by the colonial legal system. He recounts his own failed scientific theories regarding kangaroo development, illustrating the trial-and-error nature of life in an unfamiliar landscape.

The legal and social struggle The author details the absurdity of local politics, specifically a protracted legal battle over trespassing cattle that results in unnecessary fines. This serves as a springboard for his broader argument that the colonial administration is disconnected from the realities of the settlers it governs.

A vision for the future The book closes with an analysis of the colony's potential for trade, particularly in timber and horse-breeding for the Indian market. The author expresses a final, cautious hope that liberal reforms will eventually allow the colony to move past its current state of neglect.

The People

The author serves as the narrator, a man of education and strong opinions who views the colonial experiment with a mix of frustration and genuine curiosity. He is the central voice of the text, constantly analyzing his own reactions to the "coarseness" and "selfishness" he perceives in colonial society.

His brothers appear as companions in the arduous task of carving out a farm, serving as the practical workforce during their shared ventures into the interior. They represent the archetype of the determined settler, laboring to build a future despite the lack of infrastructure.

John, a helper mentioned in the author's hunting and camping recollections, acts as a resourceful, "active-minded" presence in the bush. He is a foil to the author’s own reflection, representing the capable bushman who has mastered the landscape in ways the author cannot fully replicate.

Hannibal, a name given to one of the author's subordinates or perhaps a pet, features in the comedy of the "dragon" incident. His involvement in the legal disputes highlights the author’s disdain for the pettiness of local magistrates and the way small incidents can spiral into significant social conflict within a tiny, insular community.

In Its Own Voice

"The weakness of childhood is passing away: the Infant is fast growing into the possession and the consciousness of strength, whilst the Parent is obliged to acknowledge the increasing usefulness of her offspring."

The author characterizes the relationship between the British Empire and its maturing colonies as a strained but developing bond.

"The World of Time was past, and new being was at hand."

In a harrowing moment during a boating accident, the author captures the sudden, existential shift he feels when facing immediate death.

"There we have the human heart laid open before us without veil or disguise: there we see it in all its coarseness, its selfishness, its brutality."

The author describes the colonial experience as a "school of moral anatomy" that strips away the pretenses of English society.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the failure of distant governance. The author argues that the "Colonial Office" manages the colonies with a selfish, fear-inspired policy that aims to keep territories dependent rather than productive. He posits that the "Spirit of Trade" and the lack of a proper, local sense of honor have led to a society that can be cruel and transactional. Beneath the anecdotes of bush life lies a plea for autonomy; the author believes that only when colonies are treated as partners rather than "infants" in "leading-strings" will they be of any real value to the parent state. The book is an inquiry into what it means to be a "civilized" subject when transported into an environment that lacks the traditional hierarchies and constraints of home.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of the British Empire will find this a fascinating, if sometimes difficult, primary source. It avoids the polished, retrospective tone of official histories, offering instead the raw, often frustrated voice of a man living through the period’s rapid changes. Those who enjoy descriptive travel writing will find pleasure in the accounts of the bush, the campfires, and the daily survival techniques of the early settlers.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the author’s period attitudes. His descriptions of the Aboriginal population are marked by a colonial perspective that, while occasionally appreciative of their skill, is also deeply dismissive of their culture and rights. The book is long and often digresses into the minutiae of botany or the specifics of colonial administration, which may test the patience of a casual reader. Yet, there is a warmth to the author’s prose that makes his personal triumphs and failures feel immediate. It remains a valuable, if flawed, record of a time when the world was being mapped and managed in ways that continue to influence how we understand the history of global settlement and the endurance of colonial legacies.