Evaluate how successful your studied novel has been in communicating complex ideas about

a particular time and place.

Strange Objects written by Gary Crew is a creative, non-fiction text that has been set out in
an epistolic structure. It’s written as a collection of sources entitled ‘Items’ that takes the
reader through two different narrative streams. The first revolves around the fictional
character Steven Messenger after he finds a ring and a mummified hand at a camp 1986,
and the second involves the lives of Dutch sailors Wouter Loos and Jan Pelgrom who were
castaways from the 1629 wreck of the Batavia off the Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia.
I shall choose to focus on the second narrative. Both were sent to live on the mainland of
Western Australia after committing mutiny against the shipwrecked crew. The portrayal of
their lives are fictional and is a representation of what could have happened to the two
Dutch sailors. Wouter Loos’ fictional journal contains multiple complex ideas about the 17 th
century society such as the first encounters with the Aboriginals, the difference in values
between the Dutch sailors and the Aboriginal people, the introduction of European diseases
into these Aboriginal villages and the Aboriginal society at that time.
The first complex idea presented within Wouter Loos journal is the that of the first
encounters between the Dutch sailors and the local Aboriginal tribes. Upon meeting the
local Aboriginals, Loos observed that both parties exhibited fear with Jan Pelgrom
“Stumbling and crawling” and “Gasping and sniveling with fear”, whilst the Aboriginals
showed fear to the clothes and only lightening up when “I (Loo’s) stood before the Indians
completely naked… [and] I was touched again all over, while the voice were once more
railed in a great babbling”. In the 17th century, connections to the outside world were
extremely limited and nobody had settled in The Great Southland (Modern day Australia).
According to The Australian Government Web Archives, “The first records of European
mariners sailing into ‘Australian’ waters occurs around 1606” (Australian Government,
31/03/15). The local Aboriginal tribes and the Dutch Sailors have never met anyone else
who were different to them and had only heard of the rumours, tales and stories from other
people. This shows the reserved and enclosed actions from both parties. Additionally, first
encounters have often ended negatively with blood between the European Settlers and the
Aboriginals. This is shown through the White stockings with the quotes, “Two phantom
limbs, white and skeletal now pranced about the circle in a horrible mimicry of walking” and
“White stockings, the boy breathed in my ear”. According to Professor and Historian Noel
Loos, in 1906, an “Unfortunate encounter with the Aborigines occurred at the Batavia river 1
… where one Dutchman was speared fatally”. The ideas presented within Loos journal
effectively communicate the idea that the first encounters between the Dutch sailors and
the Aboriginals did end in bloodshed at time.
The next complex idea presented within his journal was the difference in values between
the Dutch Sailors and the local Aboriginal people. This is shown through the Aboriginal’s
unwillingness to trade with the Dutch sailors and the idea of community. Wouter Loos
acquires a jewel which was described as “of marvelous beauty” and Loo’s attempted to
trade these items with the local tribe but they “refused to trade 1these jewels.. [and] the
1
Present day Wenlock River in North Queensland
toys were taken from the ground behind me”. To the Aboriginals, there was no such thing as
trade, and it’s believed that everything belonged to everyone. Items were shared around
within the community without expecting anything in return. This was backed up by Dutch
sailor Carstenzoon, who mentioned “[The locals were] so bold that they grasped the
muskets of our men and even tried to take the same off the the shoulders and they wanted
to have all they saw” (Carstenzoon, 1623). The fictional events presented within Wouter
Loos journal are hence, portrayed accurately and has effectively communicated the
differences in values between the Dutch sailors and the local Aboriginal community.
Another intricate idea presented within Wouter Loos journal was the introduction of
diseases into the local Aboriginal communities. In the final installment of Wouter Loo’s
journal, he mentioned “Flies hover over the gaping mouth. Open sores thicken the lips. Vile
matter seeps from the hollow eyes.” Loos was describing a dead man who has died due to a
disease carried and passed down from the Dutch sailors. He goes on to describe that the
community is “thick with bodies” and “they suffer and die with feverish wailing”. The only
people not affected were the Dutch sailors and Ela, a British castaway. According to a
report by Peter J. Dowling “The major epidemic diseases during the early contact stage were
smallpox, syphilis, tuberculosis, influenzas and measles”. These diseases were responsible
for the death of many Aboriginals since their bodies did not have any immunity to the
disease. Furthermore, historian Judy Cambell writes, “Smallpox alone killed more then 50%
of the Aboriginal population”. Wouter Loos presented diseases effectively and showed the
impact of European diseases into the local Aboriginal society.
Finally, the book teaches us important information about society during the 17 th century.
From here, we can learn about the Aboriginal culture, many of their traditions and their
ways of life. One example is what rituals are done to those who pass away. According to
Wouter Loo’s journal, “They (The Aboriginals) wrapped the body in sweet smelling leaves.
They raised her high above the earth, hidden in the branches, in the sky.” This teaches us
about the respect paid towards the deceased by the Aboriginal people and how it differs
from the typical Western style that the world is accustomed to. According to a funeral
guide, “Aboriginal groups would leave them (The deceased) on an elevated platform outside
for several months” (Funeral Guide, 20/08/2019). This is relatively similar to the process
mentioned within Wouter Loos journal and closely ties to the Aboriginal culture in the 17 th
century.
The 17th century saw the Dutch first coming into contact with the local Aboriginal
communities. Although limited and accurate information has been recorded, the author has
done an exceptionable job communicating the complex ideas within Wouter Loos journal by
addressing first encounters, the difference in values between Dutch sailors and the local
Aboriginal communities, the deadly diseases introduced and the Aboriginal way of life.

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