[1] It is believed that the first contact with white people occurred on 26 February 1818 during the explorer Phillip Parker King's first voyage in HMS Mermaid, which took him to the north-western coast of Australia.
Having hove to, close by them, they became much alarmed, and cried out in loud tones, which were increased when our boat was lowered and despatched after them; but it was not without the greatest difficulty that Mr. Bedwell succeeded in bringing one on board.
During the interval of heaving to and bringing him on board, the cutter was anchored near the central island, where a tribe of natives were collected, consisting of about forty persons, of whom the greater number were women and children; the whole party appeared to be overcome with grief, particularly the women, who most loudly and vehemently expressed their sorrow by cries, and rolling on the ground, and covering their bodies with the sand.
[4]Once on board, the captive, a six foot tall lad in his early twenties, scarified with horizontal strips from his chest to his navel, but with no nose-piercing or tooth evulsion, was treated to sugared water, and, turning to the shore, cried out: coma negra!.
He was allowed to return to his camp on his log – called a "marine velocipede", whose construction from mangrove roots was described in detail – with various gifts, such as a red cap, biscuits and an axe.