The fourth in a series of caches highlighting Tasmanian bushrangers - although in this case the subject was no simple bushranger.
Musquito was raised in the Broken Bay hinterland of Sydney and was probably around ten years of age when the First Fleet arrived in Port Jackson. Musquito was not his original name. To Europeans, the first glimpse of him appeared in the illustrations of Nicholas-Martin Petit, drawn in Sydney for the Baudin expedition 1800-1804 and there he is named Y-erran-gou-la-ga, though like most aspects of Musquito's life, this is much disputed.
Following the death of resistance leader Pemulwuy, Musquito led renewed outbursts of violence in the Hawkesbury area in mid 1805. A General Order at the time named Musquito the principal leader and called for his apprehension. Musquito showed himself to be an excellent influencer, leading from among his group rather than in front of it, with an ability to muster alliances among different mobs. But he was no democrat, rather a highly directive and calculating tactician.
Musquito was captured in July 1805 and gaoled in Parramatta, but not charged. Governor King exiled him to the convict colony on Norfolk Island where he spent almost eight years. As part of the evacuation of Norfolk Island, Musquito was sent in January 1813 on the ship Minstrel with other convicts to Port Dalrymple (now Launceston) in Van Diemen's Land.
In 1814, Musquito's brother ‘Philip’ convinced governor Macquarie to allow Musquito to return to Sydney, but Musquito remained in Van Diemen's Land. He worked for the fledgling colony tracking down bushrangers — including the legendary Michael Howe. And for his service, was again promised repatriation to Sydney by lieutenant-governor Sorell in 1817, but again this did not occur. By February 1818 Musquito was a servant of the corrupt and wealthy settler and entrepreneur, Edward Lord. But ostracised and disillusioned with the hierarchical nature of white society, Musquito decided to leave the settlement for the bush.
Musquito formed a group of between 20 to 30 companions and joined the Oyster Bay mob in south eastern Van Diemen’s Land. They raided farms in the region and killed several stockmen. In August 1824, Musquito was captured and charged with aiding and abetting the murder of a Tahitian farmhand named Mammoa and William Hollyoak at Grindstone Bay. Found guilty of the death of Hollyoak, despite a paucity of evidence, Musquito was sentenced to death by hanging.
Musquito’s conversation with the gaoler Mr Bisdee before his hanging on the 15 November 1823 was noted and is available in historical records. “Hanging is no good for a black fellow”, Musquito was purported to have sourly intoned. When asked why it wasn’t as good for a black fellow as for a white fellow if he kills a man, Musquito retorted: “It’s very good for a white fellow, for he is used to it”. Modern historians interpret the bitter irony Musquito is expressing in his response as muscular contempt for white culture: they’re used to the barbarity of hanging and they deserve it.
For more reading on Musquito, there is an excellent book by historian Michael Powell titled 'Musquito Brutality and Exile'.
Please don't walk across the fairway - stick to the path. And dogs must be kept on a leash. I've pushed a stroller along this track many times, but it gets a bit bumpy.