The Old Race and the New. [Truganini]

Rare large colour supplement of Truganini, the last full blooded Tasmanian aboriginal.

Truganini (c.1812 – 8 May 1876) was born on Bruny Island. She was a daughter of Mangana, Chief of the Bruny Island people.

Collections:
National Gallery of Australia: Accession no. 86.652
National Library of Australia: Libraries Australia ID 50631124
National Library of Victoria  : Accession no: A/S25/12/75/SUPP

Verse below the title:
Last of her tribe ! left sorrowful and lonely, A vanished race to wail: Of wars and woes which wrought decay, she only Is left to tell the tale- To tell of those who common ills defied, Yet dropped before the white man’s breath, and died. /​ Last of her tribe ! her lot, indeed, were dreary, If charity were dead ; If will to aid, and love to cheer the weary, From ev’ry heart had fled. But, see ! she is not left without a friend-Without the solace sympathy can lend. /​ A benediction rest upon thee, maiden, For this one kindly deed ; May thy young life be fair, be pleasure-laden, And peace thy after-meed. In such as thee we find the salt of earth, The promise of humanity’s new birth. /​ Around the world our conquering race is sweeping With swift resistless tread ; And everywhere are Nature’s children weeping For those untimely sped. Though all our might be impotent to save Our care may sooth their pathway to the grave.

From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher