The Story of the Blacks.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1414, 22 November 1904, Page 6

The Story of the Blacks.

THh: ABOHIGINJiS OF AUSTRALIA. (By Charles White, author ol "Convict Life in New Sduth Wales and Van Diemen'a Land," Australian Buahranging," etc.) (Published by Special Arrangement.) Next morning the messcuecr who had been sent across the river r< tuned at the head ot another tribe, and these approached the tents without ceremony, one of the old wizards beinti recognised amonust tile foremost, allhoim.li he had endeavored to d!syuise himself by coloring black his m-ev head and beard. It then beanie evident that the blacks were only nstrained from violence by the number and compactness of the exploring party, who had all returned lo c.inin. The leader was in a difficulty, fcn.in.r lo furl her advance into the enemy's country, as he observed that Ihe unlabels of the unlives incre.i-rd daily ; and as the c.ur.-e of the Marline- had now been traced for upwards of time 1,11 11, ll>-. I miles he decided that his wisest anil safest course was lo I return, anil this decision lie at on--.' communicated to the party, who hail ,-d il with evident salill'action. Hut scarcely an hour had elapsed since the announcement had hc-n made when a shot was heard at the river, where (he water can icis and tic bullock drivers were employed la,i, u in stores. s|„,js soon followed, 'and it became evident thai a collision I ad ocurr.,l with Ihc li.-hiiie pari v. The, one of the water carrier., ran wound -I and bl.cdiii"- into the camp. His -lonwas thai Kiny fel.-r when w a :ki„'. beside him had suddenly turnul and knocked him down b'v a blow v. it ii his wad.ly. whereupon one of ll.e oiler Kuropeaiis wounded JV(er wiUi a pisl.,l shot, whole (rile rushed forward in tin M,,r, lirine- followed, and on- of the ei,,s with a picaiinin.i- strapped <o ; e ." back fell wounded to the death, as also did a strapping black who was swoiimiiiii- to the 0|,p0.-ilc bank. Ipou this the whole tribe took to lb, river and the water carriers, vith some ol their companions who had run to their assistance, poured a volley into the reireatine; swim is, with what result they did not slop to as certain. Dlll'ille the lliyht the loud wailine of the black Worn, n vaborne across the water to the e-unp. and made mournful music in the <":>■ ol the lairopeans. who. a-aiu.-t their inclinations, had been thus ,-„a----pell.-d to shed blood. One parly of blacks was m.-l wit,\

iimon.j' win,in a '.'Train- varieiv ~i' fi'iitiiri' was observable than had been presented |,y any of (1,,. other i Suinr of tliriii laid straie'hl iiio\'. u liair. anil othirs <*v 11i 11i111 Asi.ni ■ feat ares. somewhat resembling ii,,if-.j <il tin' Hindoo. (lir Imir Ijci no woolh Si\ ini>nt lis afterwards Sir Tli'iinailitrhell undertook another i'\|iii|ition designed to eoinplete tin. <nr\.'y of llii' Dai'liutf. liis in.-1 nutions b. iiej to t ran' tin' j-i \i-r from tlii> j„,lnt where liis last journey terminated to its jimetion with the Murray. and then to follow the .Murrav upward, returning liy way of Vass rlniiK. 'l'lie party consisted of t\\enty-li\<> mi n. most of whom luid been in the work of exploration pivvmib t\ . Hiey took with them a native .mi'.,!,named "l'i| it. ' who proved most useful as an interpreter and a sentinel w hen the |mi to met ai lor^ilies. I\m, da\ s alter leaving the t'auoblas, near Orange, (he e.Yplolers Were infollt"d by some friendly blacks that ihe Myall blaeks were eoniiiio up. "ni'.mv eoola" Hiry anyryl to meet the pedition, of the start o! which lhev appeared to have Ijc-ii apprisi-d ; 'mit (he i'<plorers did not meet with any opposition unlit ihey had ivaeln d I lie Murray. During; this journey in tie l.iielilan country "Piper" sirun-d a wife from one the friendly tiili. - mot with, and two intelligent n.itne boys and a widowed -in with v a . lid 1 at ta.-lied themselves (o the expedition. At on." spot on the route the party eame neross a peculiarly construclcl tomb. Seen from a distaaee. it presented the appearance of a hut. formed In poles and larue shuts of

bark. Tlir structure stood in flu- mitre of a clear space, and was i'ihlo-.- I l.y flir.c rid-.-s. of an elliptical slup-. the surface witliin t|„. .„■,.., hnvi'n ; been mad.' perfectly level anil smooth'. On looking throue-h a crevice, a he. I mad." of rash,-, which | m ,l ,■,..,.„.!,■ 1 > occupied, was s.vii. and fuiilicr observation proved lliat there wis , „M.„1e1,.e below. The natives expl-im ed lliat ill.' rushes were the brother or n.'ar relative of tl„. d.veus.d, x, l„, itiehtly occupied the lu'Kl, until tl„. body became ~uit.' decomposed : i„.t it was alt.t»aids ascertained that onlv tli,. graves of persons «h„ |, a ,| 1 » miird.'ivil were ilms ytiard.il. Hie lull lii'ins; luini.d when tli.' murder had been aveneed. ...When di,. ~„, iv reached tli,. Murr.v they found la.-,, numbers „f ~aliv,s 1.11 111.' water in their l.arl. eanoes and on the bunks, and several of lliein lolloH.il the pai'tv with -teen hoicix. The old men. who seemed to liaw'iin disputed authority. were remnikible on aeeonnt of their tlowitiL' hair aid Inrec. bushy whiskers. The ronfideui .• of the Kuropeuns was liy no men's increased. IloWcVer. when t'h.'V pct'.viv ■ .-d that the-e blacks were their old enemies, the tril.es last seen on tie Darlin-. and they at ou.e called to remembrance the staletneiil made hv the Canoblas blacks that the .M.vaM tribes were eoiiiine- forward to meet the expedition. Din iny the after won -.•vital fresh parties of alioivines ur fixed, and in one of the yroups were notieed two yirls and u liox-. the children of the woman who was Mil. .1 in the encounter on the Dniline i.'ut inn the former expedition. 'I he. an xirly of the explorers inereased with tin' increase in the immljer of th:>se wliotn they now naturally looked up on as foes, and as some of tie blacks manifested an inclination to act rudely it was rcsolvnl to treat them to an exhibition of fisticuffs, in most approved Urilish style, the lad er ••allintr upon (he blacksmith to ret as exhibitor, clumsina- for his -.1 a few of the most forward hbv\s. liiiriii..- his muscular arms the bla'-k----smilli conimeiice.l to sha|)e and flicn to strike, and a general stninncdc of the nearest blacks, not a few of them with bloodv noses, speedily followed. \ear ni-htfull the blacks' sent away their inns—n sure siirn of coini.iit trouble-and bccni) to pilfer. A lill'e lat.r. the tiuide I'iper, who had received instructions to keen his cos and ears well open, reported that hi--wife had overheard the blue! s -..|._ in.? an atleek upon the tents. Vpo" this Sir 'fhomas had the men ell drawn tip In a line, and a rocket l.r.v intr liwii lircd the parly (Hive three cheers and advanced xvith a rush in the direction of the blacks, xvho at one took to their heels in a body, and offered no further m.ilesl.ition that niirlit. nlthoiitrh the party could hear their voices in the bush. Shut Iv after daybreak, however, they were seen advancing, sotting- fire to the lrrass us thev came, and before the pasty could fii'l themselx-es free to ■breakfast thev found it neee-snrv to make a "martial demonstration" and five sham chase at the sound of the | huele.

Resuming- their march, the p.,,(v wain came to tlw Jimmy, and ihen, found the backs assembled , m „„, bank.,, the discovery also ,„,-, ,„„,,,. that u portion „f tli,. tribe ] m ,| h1!i ,.,, up n position liuther cm t|„. ljull , which iho explorers intended lo follow. 'J he position „f ,|ie ~x,,|..„v i. s now became, critical, aiuj they u ,, rc rV'r. l ' V " r ™>> w \i*«l that ,be Ah alls had oieamscd („ „„,., ,| us some „f the | IM .„| |,| U cks ,1,.,.! „, J that llie.r hostile coiinlry.nen did llot belong to thai pan, |,„t |,a,l ~„„„ there to drive back the As the inarch prociedi-d the w loliowid by vnsl numbers of ■,,!■- like blacks who shouted furiously, ami made tin- country resound witll tij.-i.-delimit cries. Sir Thomas saw thai prompt measures to cluck the hostile advance were nece-saiy, and prepared to draw th,. party on „ hill n |,:,.|, tliry were approiK-hiiiL', when -hots at th,' roar announced that hoslili: io had .-011.JH.-11.-.-.1. Th.- in,.., „|,„ „..,„ acioinpniiyinir th.- carts at. 0n,,. M 'i/'. ,d their arms and run buck to th. support of their comrades in t|,« rrar. and the liriiitr bccami. ucncral and so eliective that while „ few ~f the blacks were made to bite tl„. ; dust, the remainder ihd j„ , lv .,i | alarm to the river, n .piarler of a I mile distant, and plunein- into the ! broad slrcaiu mwuii lo the other ,idc | Ibil the temper of the Ktn-opcans had been roused, and thev followed Hie retreatine- eroud and .-hot scleral of the blacks as they Wele I across. includine; one who had been particularly noticeable <huin>. thu march for his forwardness. )( a .,. peared that the lirst shot hail been lircd by one of the men a- he notieed a black poisinif his spear for throwiiil/. I Tlir lays afterwards the eyj.l.ncs came within ,-i w ht of th,. Dai'line, and , the lirsl tribe they ciicouuleii'd the,,, I manifest,,! considerable alarm. sli.i.,'my and wrineine; their luuids, until I'iper and his grin Miccci-dcd in mlo converse willi them, after which thev ijiiiilcd down, and appeared to become very friendly, accompany!up; ; the pally oil (lid inarch for sonic dislane, one lite u | either K i,!e of the. I parly. At this time Sir Thomas was prccedine. the carts, ami liuviii", (nru,d round and obsei vine- that the blacks were more numerous than was desirable he called out to the men to be walcliful and cautious. His sudd-ii mole t and loud voice alarmed the blacks, who at once hurriedly retreated, and ilk-ii the interpreter and U.'nt explained that an nllark had ben preconcert,.d. it linvinir Ihvii arraueed that six ~r ci»ht bW.-l,s should s.i/e each wliile man and overcome him, it bciic-/ their impression that the clothes worn by the straiiLie visitors wele. proof injuri-l

s|>e:ir thi'iisls. Afli-t- li'iivinu' Hi.' Murray m'lir its jiiiic-l 14in with ihi- Darliiiy. tin- imitv smi.l, ;, >„,nl,.rly .our,,'. ,-i-..ssi„ lf tl„ilivhliiiL' lamr in what i- now the Slut.- .»' Victoria, ami tom-hiiia the 1.1.11.'11.'. whi.-l, til. \ followi-il l„ its mould. Thru till' llolll.'Ual'il jolll'.l.'V .■oinm.-n,'..!. ami th.-y r.-tuni.il to Sviltirv iil'l.'f an alisi-nc- of .-i • lit mouths, havin- ar.-ompli,h„l u ,i„,.iiic.v of Xitin milis. Aii in\r4iu'.i'. i'lii Mas h.-1.l iil'lrr tin- r.-t.irii 1-oiii'i.i'iiiiiy th- nli'rnv on 1 In- llnrlinjj, it ,| (h.. Pally «.-!.■ li.l.i.KL'l-*! LUillh-< of WTon-j-iloinir. it hiiii- Hrurlv -Imwn that th.v ha.l ii.-t.-l onlv in m-U----.1.'1'.'1,'.'. '||„. (n|,M nu-t itfl.T \wi\iii-j; ill.' Darling all prowl |,,.a.vfttl. .-x.'ti tinii.l. anil Sir Thomas iA| oi'U"i.o! , w ' miiih' ililliriiliv in (ijit'iiiiiu .(iiiimiinii'.t' tioll Willi (lillll. In I MO. tin. Syiln.'V l..vi>liitiir.- \ ol .-,1 C'-Hlllll to (l.'l'rav tin- .Appiis.-s of an i'V|.r<liti,„i 1,.«| l',v Sir Thomas JJit■•h.'ll to o|..'ii up on ..wrlaml rout.from Sy.ln.'y to th.' (iilll of Carp-U----taria. Th.- party .-.,iisi>-(.-<l ~f (w.-.uy-ii-ht prr-ons, l !,.■ majority of 111..111 ll'illL' plis, IS of til.' Crouii In lili'.-r- ---■ ■ill stasis of proliatloii. with ipiit" an .lal.orali' ('.|iiipiiii']ii of ilravs. raits, boats. I.ulloi-Ks, hois.-, „,'„| pro. I .-ions to la-t tw.'lv.. n th,. iii.'lii'liiia 110.-l. of l!.V» shr.p. Th.' rout.' of tin- party al first lay ill (hi' (lill-rlioll pill'sll..l IIV tin- tAjil'- ■ lition of Kia. ami at lln'> .-Lis,' of tin- lir.-t month's mar.h a nuiiilirr of th.- Booan blacks «,.,-,. ~,„-„i„it-ivil. who at i.i.i-.' lrroirni.-i'il Sir Tlioinux, an.l mlmi. as mis s<ilisi-,|<t<-ntly u--<r-laiii.-il, hail h.-'ii s.'iil forward to uat.'h th- im.v.-ini'tit- of tin- .Apl.r.rs. On January I. IMC. th- -i.uty

.-ros-e.i in., neutral ui'.iiinil lictween the wi stem s.puttters and the a'xirtrin.s, and h.-iv. in the shu|>e of burnt ate) broken huildiiiys, riiiiujl st.i■■'>yards, ami hichwu. s kiowii with urns-, ih.-v received abundant pr vifs that the Whites had be.ll eoll!|«'lie<l to eiv wax before the bla.ks. and tie no less formidable foe of droimht. The .'Xplolels tllelllselv, S at this p.lillt suft-rcl (fruit Iv from want of w.it t, and advanced couriers hud to return to tli.. dvavs with small barrels -4 the precious lluid. which they had discoveieil iii some small ponds far ahead, the bands beine earried before them on their horses. It was fortunate for the exp,-dilion that the natives in the locality were not hostile, for had they disputed the aeros- the country they eotd.l Icive held the partv at their niercv. Alter Ibis experience |he leader decided Hit to move from one wnterine place until another had been found within comparatively easy distance: „nd liudinu that there was not sitflbi.-nt f" wal,i in the farther readies of lis.) liouati to justify the party in pr.ice •,!- inn aloittj its banks, the iadcr ehaiueil the route. At n stream culli-d by the blacks t'annonbur (which name has been retained) a halt was mad" for a forlniuht. as many of the men were suti'.-riiiif from ojitlinlniiii. nnd the draxs were much damaeed by lie heat, while the cattle were considerablv from the same cause. The diseox'erv of several kettles, a spade, a liotiian balance, and ..tier articles, lyint; at the bottom of one, of the wat.Tholes, proved that soma adxenluroiis spirit had attempted to "s'pial" on this sp.it. but had not been proof mraiiiht the prowess of lb., blacks. An old woman of tic tribe located mar informed the inter. preter that three white men had been killed when the station had b. "ii abandoned. tine niorniii'.r three blacks up|il'.>i< lied the camp, and for some time stood amoiur the carts and tents, tni/bit; with astonishment at the dilf ill strain;., thinys they saw. They lu»<l no weajions. and were neither comtons or troublesome, possessillif "u niiinlv openness of countenance, and a look 'of .rood sense." A lake I he.V called Tiiraniniyn : a river, liii" »n and a hill 'foluin!.«. 'lis lel'l'itory reeeixel the name of the I'il/rox-' Downs, and before Iciiviiiif it the party was joined by .''milt nbornines, who nave them tie ilnliics of the hills and creeks surrouudim.'- Tlicm' men were all members of the « lainilv-liilliiT and sex en sons-xvciv all colored with 1-.-.1 ochre wore the feuthers of a while cockatoo in their hair and beards, and were posscs-cd of remarkablv line rows of t"'tli. which tli.-y st'ioHcd oil' to advii'lllje in their laughter nnd '•oiix. r. alioii.