Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2029261

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2 corrections, most recently by jhempenstall - Show corrections

"NO GOOD DAMPER INN."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.

Sir,-In the interesting article, "The

Gippsland Mystery," on Saturday, by  

Ernest McCaughan, it is stated that a     party of five whites and ten blacks were sent out under the leaderhip of De Vil-   liers, an ex police officer who kept the extra- ordinary named No Good Damper Inn. Apropos of this, a story was related to       me by the late Robert Rowley, then of Rye (a very old colonist who had known   Buckley, the wild white man). The story, which may be of interest, is that about the   year 1840 lime was being burnt about Sorrento and Rye. A layer of sheoak logs   was laid on the ground, then a layer of     limestone. Another layer of logs, then again stone, and so on, until there was a considerable stack. Fire was next applied.   By this rough and ready, though wasteful, system, lime used in the building of early Melbourne was then burned. The lime was then "slacked", afterwards sieved through a fine sieve, and forwarded to Mel-       bourne by ketch. One of these old wind- jammers had the misfortune to go aground near the site if Frankston. The lime was     taken off undamaged, stacked, and care- fully covered a little way from the shore.   A number of blacks were in the vicinity.  

They had had some little experience of   the white fellow's flour. When they found     the lime, sieved and done up in small bags     under a tarpaulin, they were sure they had   got the genuine article in plenty. So they mustered in force, took away all they pos- sibly could, and, fearing pursuit, did not         stop running till they put about 12 miles   between them and the stack of lime. The blacks then mixed their flour with water   upon their 'possum rugs and put the dough in the ashes to bake, the result being spoiled rugs and bad damper. In the words   of Mr. Rowley, "they called that place    

Dandenong," which means "no good dam-  

per. -Yours, &c., J. L. BROWN

Sandringham, Sept. 8.  

Brisbane Centenary.

Vf ipr, ul aitl, lr l.i

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