Donald Thomson in Arnhem Land

by Donald F. Thomson, Nicolas Peterson

This collection presents the personal writings of Donald Thomson, an Australian who became embroiled in a bitter legal battle that erupted in 1932 when a group of Japanese pearl fishermen raped a number of Aboriginal women. Arnhem Land Aboriginals retaliated by killing five of the Japanese and were subsequently sentenced to death. Thomson accepted a federal commission to investigate the case, and, by communicating with the Aboriginals, managed to defuse the situation and secure their liberation. The account of Thomson's first meeting with the Aboriginal leader Wongo tells of the electric exchange and eventual friendship that Thomson developed with Wongo, a partnership that enabled him to study local customs and language. Thomson's writing is unique in that it offers a full picture of Aboriginal peoples, presenting them as individuals and active agents in local history.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Peter Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, almost ‘true adventure’ plus anthropology, with plenty of cultural observation and wise dealing with Indigenous people by this careful and patient Donald Thomson, who had a great strategy for defusing situations and brining a kind of justice that was recognised and respected by all. A good read.

[John Wenitong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful human history lesson by an obviously empathetic explorer and philosopher. I loved it! Anyone wishing to know more about Australian history should read this wonderful account...

[Thomas Isern · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising book, but in the end, a little disappointing. Thomson's narrative is just sort of one thing after another, without bringing us to any particular understanding of the people of Arnhem Land. As for the last part, where he is organizing aboriginal people as paramilitaries: Didn't anyone at the time say out loud that this was just crazy? Sending men out with spears to face machine guns and Zeros?