Originally Posted by
Ean Austral
I wasn't trying to put any blame onto any 1 particular person or event. It has been a long time since I read about Cpt Cook and then the first fleet , but iirc when cook arrived in botany bay , he seen 2 French flagged ships, I think were in the charge of Cpt La Perouse , and it would be very easy to assume they had been ashore as they would have been in search of fresh water. I think 1 ship was lost on the journey home but the British were worried that the French having already been here would try and settle first, so in sorts it was a race.
When the first fleet arrived , they encountered 2 French ships within weeks of having raised the colours in Sydney Cove , again these were in the command of La Perouse.
My point is , no matter where the ships came from , they would have been in search of fresh water , so its easy to assume they would have landed ashore. If they had any contact whatsoever with the Aboriginals, which would be pretty certain they would have , then chances are any disease could have been spread, and most likely was. Scurvy was rampant amoungst sailing ships in those days , any other type of disease would most likely have been as well. I have not read of actual accounts of disease infected blankets being given to Aboriginals in this country as suggested earlier.
As I say , am happy (or sadly) to be proven wrong
Cheers Ean