Chapter 2: The Swan River Colony Summary and Analysis

Bidgup and his younger brother, Meedo, were hunting in the tribal land of Yellagonga, leader of a peaceful tribe. The young men had just slain a kangaroo and Bidgup was hauling it on his shoulders. Just then Yellagonga had called a meeting of his people. He was warning them about the approaching gengas. Just a few days before, Captain Fremantle had approached several Nyungar tribesmen, asking for their permission to give their land an English name. The men didn't understand a word he said. Fremantle tried sign language, but to no avail. Finally, he assumed that the men might know what he was talking about and declared that the region would from that time on be called Western Australia. As he spoke, he looked up and saluted the British flag. Captain James Stirling...