Observations on the coast &c from Cockburn Sound to Geographe Bay, between the 17 and 30 of Nov^r 1829 by Mr Collie and Lieu^t Preston ¹
Extracted from the Diary by Lieutenant William Preston

About ˝ a mile above this the water being perfectly fresh we filled our barricoes and soon had our native friends around.  On returning between 30 and 40 had assembled on the banks and ran to the shallow at the mouth where they closely surrounded us carrying green boughs and without any weapons of offence of defence.

Memorandum made during a Journey across the Darling Ranges at the Swan River Settlement, October 1830, by James Henty ²
Extracted from the Diary by James Henty

Previous to our crossing the river we were visited by two natives each with a green branch on his head.  They appeared to have seen no white person before as their manner of approach was particularly shy and cautious and the green branch had never been used by the natives to the westward of the range. 

Journal of an Expedition over General Darling’s Range, 100 miles East from Swan River ³
Extracted from the Diary  by John Wall Hardey

… and in a little time met with a small party of natives; these are the first I have seen on this excursion.  We got a green branch, (which is the emblem of peace), shouted, and made many signs, but all was unavailing.

Expedition To Port Leschenault,  to explore the Collie  & Preston River by Mr W.K. Shenton ⁴

Extracted from the Diary by W.K. Shenton

… we were received by them sitting upon their haunches like tailors and on our appearing friendly they rose - dancing round us with green boughs in their hands and singing musically “Aba”, “Aba" ...

Expedition to explore and settle the Avon valley, September - October 1831, by George Fletcher Moore ⁵
Extracted from a Diary by George Fletcher Moore

... on coming near the settlement see a number of natives who ran off crying out “hunnyan;” find that a large number had been at the settlement the day before, with green boughs - supposed emblems of peace ...

REFERENCE

1. Shoobert, J, (ed), et al.,Western Australian Exploration, Vol. 1 1826-1835, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, Western Australia, 2005, p.99.
2. ibid, p.176
3. ibid, p.190
4  ibid, p.221
5. ibid, p.263

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