HOW THE BLACKS FIGHT ALLIGATORS.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume IX, Issue 90, 23 February 1905, Page 3

HOW THE BLACKS FIGHT ALLIGATORS.

Of late years alligators seem to be acquiring a bad habit of prowling about- our harbour foreshores at Port Darwin. At dusk, recently, an aboriginal, rejoicing in the name of Mubbleburra, employed on a pearling lugger, divested himself of his scanty attire with the intention of having a dip. He was swimming, and was about mid-way between the shore and the boat, when a huge alligator suddenly arose alongside of him. The reptile struck Mubbleburra on the side of the head with one of his fore paws, one of the claws inflicting a severe injury. In the next instant it seized its victim in his jaws and inflicted some terrible wounds in the man’s shoulder and back. Any white man similarly circumstanced would probably have yielded up the ghost forthwith. But Mubbleburra comes from a district where rivers teem with alligators, and whose natives have, from time immemorial, waged ceaseless warfare against these reptiles. HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES. Probably some old tribal stories of hair-breadth escapes from similar tight corners flashed through his mind. In any case with great coolness and courage, he w-riggled himself round and managed to insert his thumbs in the eye-sockets of the alligator with such farce and effect that the brute let go its hold and beat a temporary retreat. Mubbleburra, torn and bleeding as he was, immediately dived to the bottom and struck out in the direction of the boat. Coming up occasionally for breath, he appears to have dodged the alligator and succeeded in scrambling into the clingy. As he did so, the brute, which had been following him, made a rush and bit through and broke the painter of the boat—a new lj-inch rope—within six inches of the stem. Mubbleburra broke a limb from one of the overhanging mangrove trees and packlled himself ashore. Questioned concerning his adventure later, Mubbleburra said : .“My word, suppose that one you strong pfeller alligator, me die quick, that one old pfeller—no more too much strong quick pfeller." Mubbleburra is in a fair way towards complete recovery after his unique, or at least, sensational experience ; bu£ until he is planted away in some tree in his final bark envelope, he will be able to show scars on his person attesting The truth of his tale.