Part Four Answers

1 a) This suggests that the New South Wales

government sees the Hawkesbury River as an area
worthy of development. Settlement in this area enables
the people to provide for themselves by growing crops
and raising livestock so the government is determined
to protect the settlers from the indigenous people who
were beginning to fight back.

1 b) Thornhills purchase of his first ever pair of boots is

significant because he has earned enough money to purchase
what was perceived as a luxury item in that era. The boots
make him feel important because they change the way he
walks and remind him of the gait of the gentry he ferried
across the Thames in London.

2. In this passage, fire is used to symbolise how Thornhills

life has changed. In London, fire is difficult to attain
because his family lives in such poverty and firewood is
expensive. In New South Wales, there is ample firewood
for his family to enjoy warmth during winters (which are
not as harsh as those they experienced in London, either).
It also symbolises his newly acquired wealth.

3. Smoke is used to symbolise the Darug peoples

resilience in this passage. When Willie draws his
fathers attention to it and assures him that the family
is safe, Thornhill feels only weariness. It is clear to
him that the indigenous people will not leave the area
and succumb to settlers demands.

4. Thornhill approaches the Darug people as if he is the

owner of the land. He and Sal agree that they must keep
the Aborignal people happy, but must not let them take
advantage. He claims to feel naked as he walks towards
the camp and acknowledges the falseness of his own
voice when he speaks. He is aware that a conversation
has taken place but it not sure what the exact nature of
the conversation is.

5. After this length of time living alongside the

river, Thornhill is able to distinguish between the
Darug men. Whilst he notices their similarities,
in particular their long thin legs which give them
a gait he has not seen before, he can
differentiate between Whisker Harrys grimness
and the grey stubble on the older mans face,
and Black Dicks heavy face and ability to throw
a spear (pp198-199).

6. Sal is condescending at times, particularly when

she tells the young woman who touches her dress,
You are nothing but a dumb animal (p 200) but
she engages in a conversation with the women,
much of which is friendly banter and mimicry. This
shows Sals desire for female company and her
willingness to barter for some of the Darug peoples
cooking utensils- so that she can sell when the
family returns to London.

7. Blackwoods recall of this encounter with the

Darug people reveals his willingness to observe
and learn from them. He admits he was scared
but laughs as he acknowledges that he never got
his hat back. Unlike other settlers on the
Hawkesbury, he understands the intention of the
encounter- a warning to remain on the beach and
he will be left alone.

8. Dick is different from the rest of his family in that

he loves spending time in the bush. He returns from
these sojourns with items such as gum leaves and
stones which his family glances at only briefly.
Thornhill watches his son play with the Darug peopleDick strips off and runs, calls and laughs with them as
if he is a pale cousin (p 211). Dick accepts the
children as his equals and enjoys learning from them.
He symbolises the ideal behaviour of settlers on the
Hawkesbury River.

9. Thornhills musings are a reflection of his

observations that the Darug people seem less
busy than the Thornhill family. He
acknowledges that they are farmers who do
not have fences (p 211) and concludes they
are much like the gentry. This is ironic
because Thornhill is working arduously to gain
wealth and become more gentrified, yet he
knows the Darug peoples lifestyle is akin to
those he ferried across the Thames.

10. Smasher Sullivan represents the very worst

behaviour of British settlers in New South Wales.
The arm of the river on which he lives makes
Thornhill feel uncomfortable and he avoids it, but
he knows he can purchase dogs from him.
Smasher has scalped the land by cutting down
trees and lighting fires. His beliefs are the
antithesis of the indigenous people who use only
what they need.