AUSTRALIA'S WILD MEN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 118, 17 May 1909, Page 2

AUSTRALIA'S WILD MEN.

jgf.The report of the first mission sent to North-western Australia, a Roman Catholic one, has just been published. Wild natives were first met with near the junction of the Barton andDrysdale Rivers. "We espied a native in the distance," says Father Planus, "in a lonely, immovable position. I despatched two of our camp natives to bring to us this solitary stranger. They did so, and recognising that it was a female, I sent a dress to cover her naked body. In camp we offered her the best food we had. She took it, but would not eat. She kept up a whining, moaning chant, as if her last hour had come. Regaining her liberty, and loaded with spoils, she immediately recovered her speech, and danced and Sang, and was full of melody. We left her alone in her glory and went on. Father Nicholas and the others had dropped considerably behind, when one of our natives came in great hurry and excitement, crying out: "Plenty of wild natives" come up, surround Father Nicholas. They want to fight." We hastened. back, and found things confused. The natives i^had put down their spears and seemed quite reconciled to us ; but one agitator was all the time uneasy and anxious for mischief. He gained over one, then another, to his side, and then the savage blood grew hot. Murder and slaughter could be read in every glance and gesture. The spears began to fly, and things did not look too bright for us. One spear struck the ground close to my foot' Presenting an undaunted front, we tried in every way to pacify them, and after some anxious exchanges we got them

to lay down their spears. While they were discussing we quietly retired, and then ran and walked until night came. We camped in strict silence, and all night we heard the yells and cries and corroborrees of our pursuers in the distance."