EXPERIENCE WITH BLACKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 June 1925, Page 8

EXPERIENCE WITH BLACKS.

CAPTAIN WILKINS RETURNS. “What was the most exciting feature in your tour?” "Finding myself surrounded by aparty of blacks, who, with raised spears, were staring at tne as T reclined on my bunk.” Captain G. H. Wilkins, the explorer, began an interview in this manner recently. This was the most thrilling time he had hadg In daylight a number of blacks deserted his camp, and on two occasions during the night they stealthily era wed near to his mosquito net. with their spears raised in a throwing attitude. “] n I ways that Australian natives would not attack an nnaggiefisive white man.” he added, “and in this case I had an opportunity of testing it .although I could have done little else than lie still and pretend to he asleep while the men stood over me wit lisoears. They were afraid to use their weapons, and sneaked off as quietlv as they came; but in the morning tlie.v approached again, their spears similarly raised, and stood within 30 yards of me on either side. This time I spoke to them, and they dropped their spears and bolted for about half a mile. I followed, _ nn<l then they stood at bay. still in a threatening manner. However, they soon realised my friendly attitude, and came into the camp, and became agreeable companions.” After exploring almost unknown regions of Northern Australia for about eight months. Captain Wilkins returned to Urisbane. His arrival was unheralded. and lie buried himself in the basement of the Queensland 5 fuse urn. where lie laboured over his valuable specimens of native fauna.