AN OUTBACK REVUE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12075, 14 October 1933, Page 9

AN OUTBACK REVUE

A USTR ALLAN NAT IV VS

mimicry

p.V THE FTP FLIGHT

While, city people were seated in theatres or picture shows, the Adelaide University anthropological P ar ' |y at Ernahella- last-month witnessed much more spectacular entertainments in a. more picturesque setting.' Twice during thoir stay the natives arranged' mmas, or “phri about’’ ceremonies, tor their entertainment, Paddy, one of the . amP interpreters, was entrepem-ur, director, stage-manager, song leader, and general factotum.' and the stage was a gla.de 1.00 yards long, and 30' yard* vine, on a plain si milled with gum trees and ruulgn. Tlie. I not lights were blazing fires spaced at intervals of 30 or 4l) yards, and rnp|enjsi«;d as they harm. down. Tbe audience, men. women, youths, children, and dogs—the inevitable cam]) iollowort of a native tribe—.sat at oiu: cud m the gfiulc grouped about; tiny lin'S.

As is customary wi'h native ceremonials, even- those in light 'mu* Paddy’s c.iumyainment opened with a long and wearisome preliminary sing-song. It was an Arunia Performance from Charlotte A\ ateig, about 200 miles away, which Baddy and others wore taking tlvongli ih' 1 ' coumry to the south like amlm 1 laird-, and much of it was uniamiliar to the Pit-jantarns and Vanlwmjarjarns in camp. FORGOTTEN REPERTOIRE. According to Paddy..he had "«*h two, three, four”—and so on, up x° I t songs, but after he had sung t-m fivsi, of three or four Hues for mnrt tha.n an hour he confessed rimt he had forgotten ’be other U Tbe oiW lie know was ahoni an “mu. and ’> received a cold shoulder front 1 menfolk of iho earnp. only one o'* two assisting him in the chorus. B f ‘ had better support from the women, but even they fell away .on occasions. The reception might have, discouraged a less enthusiastic .performer. ' but Paddy was made ‘4 stern stuff, and launched into his recita] again and again " it-h icrip. Vigorously beating time with, a shoit stick, he and his chorus raised •' cloud of dust, which mingled with smoke to Partially hide tlie pcrio'm-

Hovcver, his enthusiasm was not infectious, and his efforts received distinct setback- when a dog fight started at one onu r, i 'he group.

Tn a flash the ">ghi was fille' 1 with shrill cries from women and childron. harsh commands from ihe men. and "yelps from the r-oinh.il an ns in a enmmunitv bout.

Still Paddy continued after rile group had reassembled, and anally introduced his star turns. I bey "er followed hy a single actor witii a remarkable headdress and a stave. al><> coloured with blood, about six **-ct long and an inch in diameter. Bis headgear was snectneulnr. On -I foundation of dry grass hound into a boat-shaped object about three led it: height, llwue had been worked a design ot blood-soaked shavings aid down which made a wonderful picture in the firelight. SPECTACULAR CLIMAX. His successor hor.- an object aho 11 ! Jive feet long, similar to an elongated. spindle, made of the same material, and hearing decorations closely- resembl'iig those of the head ornament. Progressing from fi-rc io fire with a slow, lolling movement, lie paused for 10 or In seconds at each, swinging the spindle lo and fro across Ill’s body. The performance came hi a close with the appearance- o' an eldeiiT man who held tlio stage longer than the others Carrying in 1 1 is hand r * six-loot lon o- stave coloured with blood ho walked slowly Irani fire t° lire, spearing the stick into the ground several times while, lie paused in tlie gleam. In the circle of light- cast, by the last lire had been placed an object similar to that carried by the previous performer. As he approached the fi-i'e the actor cavorted from side to side of 'he object. approached it and retreated from it. spearing the ground the while but always missing the object, and behaving as il unaware of its presence. Alley that had continued for almost a- minute, he thrust Hi© speay into tile earth, leaving it .standing upright, and seized the object.