WOMEN WITH BLACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 211, 5 September 1924, Page 5

WOMEN WITH BLACKS.

DOUGLAS MAWSON SURVIVORS

THE STOBT OONTIBMED. ACCEPTED BT GOVERNMENT. (By Cable. —Press Ass_clatl»n. —Copy«_Jit.> (Eecelvcd 10 a.ih.l MELBOURNE, this day. Official confirmation has "been received by the Administrator of the Northern Territory that both the white women of the Douglas Mawson are alive at Bradshaw's inlet. A police party is proceeding immediately to Arnheim Bay to bring the women back. The authorities, who were at first sceptical, now have no doubt. At least one child was bom of tbe elder woman not long after landing. Therefore it is a white child and not a half-caste as rumoured. The women are Mrs Willett, aged 35, and her daughter, aged 14. — (A. and N.j. Cable.)

During July the Douglas Mawson, a 333-ton vessel, belonging to the Queensland Commissioner of Trade, was reported missing. Aboriginals brought the news that blackfellow. had sunk the ship and after the men, took the two women Who Were aboard, to the baefceountry. People who know the blackfellow, took the story with the usual grain of salt, but the fact that no traces of the missing vessel were found made it necessary to investigate The immensity.of the territory made it moat difficult, but the knowledge that >black-sllows were not likely to kill young women although they often kill their own Old ones, gave hope that if the story were true the women might foe restored alive. The expedition sent to investigate consisted of twenty men undef a military officer and was accompanied 'by black trackers. Apfbpbs of the killing of their own old women (and men), the blackfellow does not regard it as cruelty but as kindness. The life led by the natives in immense and often barren territory where water* holes are sometimes days' journeyapart, is so harsh that only the young cah travel vigorously enough. In some tribes When the young are about to kill the old they take A most affectionate leave and' instantly hit them fatally oil the head with a waddy. They think it j kinder to kill them than to leave them to die of thirst and hunger.