It is well to bear in mind that Queensland was not the only area in Oz where 'blackbirding' occurred. Mike Murray and Leslie Silvester, of Fremantle WA have written a song about its occurrence in Western Australia. They recorded it on their CD 'Strangers on the Shore', a suite of songs 'of ships, the sea and first contact with Western Australia'.

From the 'Western Australian Herald' of 23 October 1869: 'Preparation for the New Pearling Season … take the first ebb and glide away out of the creek … then comes the most important part, the picking up of the niggers … for pearling after all would never pay white labour'.

Mike and Lesley noted: 'Blackbirding flourished in the pearling industry in NW Australia. Kidnapped Aborigines from the Gascoyne region were held captive on islands, such as Lewis Island, and the luggers would call in from time to time to replenish those who had perished whether from the bends, ill-treatment or shipwreck'.

LEWIS ISLAND LUGGER
(Mike Murray & Lesley Silvester)

The lugger is painted already
She is painted in red and in green
She's painted so gaily, we smile at her
She's painted in red and in green

The lugger is rigged out already
She's rigged out with tackles and ropes
She rigged out to take us a-pearlin'
She's rigged out with tackles and ropes

And the lugger is charted already
She's charted out from Nichol Bay
She's charted to go out for the pearling
She's charted out from Nichol Bay

Oh father why are we waiting
Away from our home far away
Why do we wait on Lewis Island
For the lugger to take us away

And the lugger is loaded already
She's loaded with beer and with wine
Loaded with blackbirds from the Gascoyne
Loaded with beer and with wine

And the lugger is sailing already
She's sailing away from the land
She's taken away my family
She's sailing away from the land

Oh father …

And the lugger is stranded already
She's stranded between surf and reef
Now gone are my sister and brother
Stranded between surf and reef

And their headstone is written already
Written in pearl shells and blood
A headstone to stand among many
Written in pearl shells and blood

Oh, father …   

And the lugger is sailing already


--Stewie.