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1.5.1 The 'Afghans'
The role of the 'Afghans' in the community at Milparinka was significant,
even though the group is not particularly visible in the historical record.
The 'Afghans' arrived in the Australian colonies as handlers for early
imports of camels from Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. They
appear to have generally been referred to by this appellation, even though
their origins were considerably more widespread than the name suggests.
'Afghans' and camels from a camel stud owned by Thomas Elder at
Beltana in South Australia certainly had an impact upon the early history of
Milparinka and is mentioned later in that context, whilst by 1895 an Indianowned
carrying company based at Bourke was deeply involved in
transportation of goods in the vicinity of Milparinka. Afghans employed by
this organisation featured prominently in a case heard in the Milparinka
Courthouse, where details of their contract with the company were
subjected to scrutiny. The historical record suggests relatively large
numbers of Afghans at Wilcannia and at Broken Hill where semipermanent
base camps became established, and at Bourke and Beltana.
However, at Milparinka their presence was almost exclusively itinerant.
The information which I have identified regarding the Afghans as general
carriers has been included in Appendix B.
1.5.2 Afghan Involvement in Storekeeping
In contrast with the general nature of Afghan involvement, one of the
stores at Milparinka clearly had links with the Indian sub-continent,
although the history of these links is obscure. The store certainly carried
fabrics which were either of Indian origin in woven after the style of these,
and William Baker is said to have been married to an 'Indian woman'. The
history of the relationship has not been pursued, but perhaps suggests one
facet of the town's character. William Baker may also have had
arrangements with some of the 'Afghan' hawkers operating in the general
area, but no information in this regard has been identified. William Baker is
discussed in considerable detail in Chapter 5.
1.5.3 The Australian Aborigines
Accounts of Charles Sturt's enforced camp in 1845 at Depot Glen, which
was located about eight miles upstream of Milparinka on a tributary of
Evelyn Creek, all mention the presence of Aborigines.
Topar,( or as Brock indicates the men had dubbed him, 'Bob'), one of the
Aborigines accompanying the expedition as guides and shepherds was