The Concilation and The National Picture.

Q1THE CONCILIATION

'The Conciliation', 1840, shows a single white man, George Augustus Robinson, amidst a group of local, traditionally portrayed and behaving Tasmanian Aborigines.

The main purpose of the text is to explain and present the initial reaction and effect that occurred when George Robinson was first sent on his journey to Tasmania to conciliate with and relocate the Aborigines there. The text is showing what happened before the actual event of moving them, and their initial views and outlooks on the situation. The text helps to visually express the scene of what happened when Robinson arrived and the confusion and curiosity of the Aboriginal people.

The main visual elements in the text are made up of the people's positions and expressions. The body language shown is important in the understanding of the text.

There are a lot of different perspectives and views shown in the Aborigines faces on the issue of George Robinson's proposal, and whether they want to trust him or not.

Proclamation board labelled "Governor Davey's Proc...

Picture of the last four full-blood Tasmanian Abor...

Taiwan Aborigines, Bunun Tribe, Formosa [c1900] At...

The Aborigines closest to Robinson, such as the man on his right which is shaking his hand, and the two women pointing towards him, suggest that they are trustworthy and want to accept him and cooperate with his ideas and proposition. Whereas there are other Aborigines in the picture, that appear not so sure about the whole idea. The man which is standing behind yet slightly to the right of Robinson and has the other man's hand on his shoulder, doesn't appear to want to trust him. The Aborigine, who is shaking his hand and appears trusting, is looking towards the other man and showing that he wants to respect Robinson, yet the one behind is looking at this man like he doesn't want to get involved and telling him by facial expression that...