An Aboriginal describes his employment

William Alannam writes to George Augustus Robinson, I am a native of New Holland near to Botany Bay. Native man Bugerygoory (alias William) … I was young when I left my tribe, I am now about twenty five years old. I have been employed in a whaling ship, on my return I joined the blacks, after some time I joined a sealing vessel out of Sydney and remained sealing about five years during which time I couldn’t get any money but was supplied occasionally with spirits in lieu thereof.” (Vincent Smith p. 155)