The Little Black Princess; A True Tale of Life in the Never-Never Land

by Jeannie Gunn

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: History, Australia, Childrens, Memoir, Nonfiction

66 pages, Paperback

First published December 26, 2009

About the author

We of the Never Never is an autobiographical novel by Jeannie Gunn. Although published as a novel, it is an account of the author's experiences in 1902 at Elsey Station near Mataranka, Northern Territory in which she changed the names of people to obscure their identities. She published this book under the pen name Mrs Aeneas Gunn.

Mrs Gunn was the first white woman to settle in the area. Her husband was a partner in Elsey cattle station on the Roper River, some 300 miles (483 km) south of Darwin. On 2 January 1902 the couple sailed for Port Darwin so that he could take up his role as the station's new manager. In Palmerston (Darwin), Mrs Gunn was discouraged from accompanying her husband to the station on the basis that as a woman she would be 'out of place' on a station such as the Elsey. However, she travelled south and her book describes the journey and settling in. However on 16 March 1903 Aeneas died of malarial dysentery and Jeannie returned to Melbourne shortly afterwards.

Reviews

[Claire Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides an insight into the deeply racist workings of the Australian colonial mind in which Aboriginal people were originally portrayed as irredeemable savages when they resisted the invasion of their lands, and once the war had been one were patronised as childlike fools heading towards extinction. This book exists in the space between these two times when the author, her husband and staff rode out on N****r hunts and yet formed affectionate, if deeply problematic, bonds with their Aboriginal slaves - none of the staff at the station were ever paid for their household or station related work. At the centre of the story is the child Bett-Bett, whose mother had actually named Dolly, and who the author decides to adopt and let live in her bathroom because she is identified as having 'white blood' and therefore being worth 'saving' from her family and people. Conveniently in this self-innocenting narrative, the fact Dolly had a European father is entirely omitted as it would have required an explanation of the widespread sexual slavery Aboriginal women were forced into alongside their domestic duties. This book is a colonial artefact and should be read as being informed by the settler colonial imperialistic mindset of the times and beloved by the White Australian public ever since because it conforms to their prejudices and legitimises their presence in this country on stolen lands.

[Jenny Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs Gunn loved the aboriginal people on her cattle station at a time when many cattle owners were shooting Aboriginal people. While a little politically incorrect these days it has many helpful insights.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very light look at a white woman and her relationship with the Aboriginals. She takes in a aboriginal girl. The language is old fashioned but Jeannie is kind and loves the natives.

[Madeline Cowgill Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I much preferred this story to its predecessor’We of the Never Never’ as this text at least pays homage to some of the aboriginal traditions and belief systems. The story also highlights the problematic and somewhat disturbing internalised racism that the colonialists carried without even realising the fact. The aboriginal people aren’t paid for their services to Gunn and she just expects them to provide these services simply because they are black and she is white. This was the disgusting reality of the slave trade and the poisonous racism that was cast around the world at this time. Throughout, Gunn believes that she is ‘saving’ Bett-Bett and giving her a better life, when really, who is she to say which way of living is best? I did love the note about aboriginal people believing that cockatoos carry dreams…it rings true to me. The connection between the people and the land and animals here in Mataranka is lovely.

[Karin Seton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It gives such a good insight in the way people used to live on the homestad and the peculiar way they treated the indigenous people. Jeannie tried her best at that moment... It is hard to find a way to understand how they treated the indigenous people. It makes you rethink your own view on the world and racism.The ending was sad though...

[Juanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view of patronizing relationship between colonizers and indigenous.

[Deb Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this to aid a student who wanted to subvert Gunn’s colonialist works. While I concede this ‘True Tale’ is historically helpful, the overt racism and paternalism made it difficult to read.

[Glenn Blake · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very average story, that I was unable to keep reading because of the constant pidgin English throughout, that began to grate on me

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book - 'pretty savey eh!'

[Jane Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely dated but still and interesting read.

[Emily Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The author was clearly a wonderful lady and writes beautifully with warmth and humour in a way that shows how deeply she cares for the aboriginals and respected them much more than most white people at the time. However it is clear that she still thought that they would be better off changing some of their ways and often questions their actions and traditions. Of course this is to be expected from the context of the book, and ignoring that unavoidable aspect I found it to be a fascinating time capsule preserving a way of life which no longer exists. I have a very different view of aboriginal history after reading this, it's impossible not to be taken in by their endearing antics and there is much to be learned from the practical, earthly wisdom. A delightful set of memoirs. Highly recommend.

[john O’R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open honest and lovingly told