NEW SOUTH WALES ABORIGINES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 14 March 1910, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES ABORIGINES.

A TRIBAL KIOHT.

[Press Association—Copyright.]

SYDNEY, Sunday,

A tribal fight is reported from Junction Bay. Fifty natives of the latter place were attacked near the seashore by a band of Liverpool River braves, and a ferocious hand-to-hand fight ensued. There are no details. FURTHER. DETAILS. A BATTLE IN FULL WAR PAINT. A FURIOUS STRUGLE. (Received 8.45 a.m.) PORT DARWIN, Monday. Mr McPherson, a trader, brings news of the tribal fight which occurred on Jan. 24th. Mr McPherson had a. beche-de-mer fishing camp at Rolling Bay. which appears to be neutral territory between the Junction Bay tribe and the Liverpool River tribe. On the day of the fight Mr McPherson observed that his Junction Bay natives were in full war paint with white faces and yellow legs, and he was told that a party of Liverpool natives were concealed in the thick jungle 300 yards distant.' Soon after the day's work was finished there was a weird and bloodcurdling war whoop, and between 30 and 40 ghastly white-painted figures dashed into the open from concealment, while a still greater number of Junction Bay natives came out of an opposite thicket to meet them.

The contending parties met upon n clear open grassy sward, showers of spears being exchanged. They were thrown with exceeding ekill and strength, while the dexterity with which spears were dodged or warded off was amazing. As spears became scarcer one of Mr McPherson's boys was pierced by a spear, and then the natives came to close quarters, and a ferocious struggle ensued. The Junction Bay boys, armed with tomahawks, trepan knives, and pieces of iron, waded in. One magnificent native armed with a huge club rushed at an opponent, but to the surprise of Mr McPherson, the Junction Bay boy warded off the blow, and with his tomahawk cleft his opponent's head from crown to base.

The battle lasted about half-an-hour, and the advantage swayed from side to side, but gradually the superior weapons of the Junction natives prevailed. The atackers broke for cover, hotly pursued, and their wounded were hacked to death by the victors. Eleven! were killed, and their bodies were heaped together and burnt.