NATIVE FEUD

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 69, 23 March 1938, Page 20

NATIVE FEUD

WAR OF EXTINCTION

POLICEMAN STEPS IN

THE BLACKS OF ARNHEM

LAND

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, March 17,

A secret patrol to the wilds of Arnhem Land (North Australia) has been made by Constable Murray, of Roper River, to investigate recent tribal battles among aborigines, during which several men ; were killed. Constable Murray has arrested three aborigines, and he will take them to Darwin. They were surrendered to him voluntarily by other blacks.

When he was returning with his prisoners, a boat iiv which they were travelling capsized in a heavy sea. Constable' Murray swam among the blacks, and prevented them from escaping until the boat was righted.

In his report to the Administrator of the Northern Territory, Constable Murray laconically described his adventures in the Caledon Bay area.

"I left Roper River in a sailing boat chartered from and sailed by Gray, a trepanger," he said. "On arrival at Port Bradshaw'l saw numerous smoke signals and a large number of natives on the beach. A canoe came out to meet us, and its occupants showed no signs of fear. I 'told them who I was and the objects of my visit. The next day I went ashore with police trackers. We were unarmed. The natives were most friendly, and I gave them tobacco, and lollies to the children. I saw one child suffering from yaws, and treated him. ■ Before, we left Port Bradshaw two canoes came out with fish and oysters, and I thanked the natives profusely, but refused to accept anything. ! ■ . "I returned to Port Bradshaw, and again the natives were most friendly. To my surprise I found'that several of them could speak English. Inquiries showed that they had learned their English in Fannie Bay Gaol, Darwin. WANTED MEN HANDED OVER. "I went to the north end of Groote Eylandt, anfl also to the north-east islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Natives there gave me certain information regarding the offenders whom I wished to find. At Groote Eylandt, native canoes approached the boat, heavily loaded. When the . natives came alongside, I found they had with them the wanted men. I took the latter in charge, and immediately one of them jumped in. the water. Without waiting for any command, another native leapt in after the runaway. The wanted men were given up voluntarily. "I then proceeded to Bickerton Island, and there had rather an adventurous day. Firstly, we ran aground on a reef at 8 a.m., but managed to float clear with' the tide. At 3 p.m. a frightful squall caught the boat, and the prisoners and I were washed into the sea. The boat weni over on its side. I managed to swim among the prisoners and prevent them from escaping until the boat had been righted. We were then picked up I again. I returned to Roper River on February 13 with the three wanted men, witnesses, and a leper." Three natives were speared to death in,a fight near Daly River. A fourth native received a spear wound in the stomach. "Black fella talk," the mysterious bush telegraph system of the north, has it that Daly River killings have completed the virtual extinction of the Mulack tribes, once mighty powers in, the land. They have been at grips in a vbitter feud for generations. There were only four men left to wage the battle, but they fought until only one escaped, suffering a ghastly spear wound in his side.

The last survivors have been relentlessly trailing one another through Western Arnhem Land, carrying their fighting spears wherever they went, •and at night building strong stockades behind which to sleep.