PRIMTIYE REVENGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18267, 7 December 1922, Page 9

PRIMTIYE REVENGE.

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES.

REVERSION TO TRIBAL LAW.

MURDER OF A • " BONE-POINTER," [FEOM OtJB OWN COBRESrONDENT.] SYDNEY. Nov. 30. An example has just been given in Queensland of the primitive idea of the aborigines of justice—"An eye for an ey3; a tooth for a tooth." Armed with spears and other weapons of tribal war, the aboriginals of Barambah settlement gathered at the corroboree ground for the purpose of inflicting retribution on four aborigines. They, it is alleged, murdered " George Tyson," a fullblooded native, whose body was found in Barambah Creek, near the headquarters of the settlement.

The blacks were stern in their resolve to spear the alleged murderers to death. They had four of them in charge. Another had escaped to the bush. At the point of the spear and the threat of death, one of the blacks is said to have confessed to having, with four others, murdered George Tyson. The death of Tyson indicates a tragic ending of a story of reversion to tribal custom. Tyson was a man of about 60 years of age,, and, according to what has been learned from a number of aborigines, he was known a s a "doctor," or "spirit man," well versed in the superstitious craft of the old days. Several deaths having occurred, no doubt from natural causes, the superstitious natives attributed these deaths to the wicked charm of the old black fellow. They alleged that he pointed tho "death-bone" at the men who had died.

In the tribal days when the wise men decided to- get rid of a troublous man in the tribe, they ordered him to die, which order was given effect to by pointing a "death-bone" at the condemned man. His death invariably followed. Tyson, a harmless, good-tempered blackfellow, was accused of being the "bone-poin.ter," and the relatives of the men who had died vowed vengeance. For over 12 months Tyson's life was in danger through plots and sinister intrigue. He managed to escape the designs of his intended skyers for a long time, but he knew they would have his life some day when he was unaware.

According to information received one night, about a week before the body was found, Tyson visited a friend's hut. The "friend" played him false. He was enticed to come inside by welcome words and signs. When he stepped inside he was seized by five men, thrown 'to the ground, and while four of them held him the other one throttled him. The "bonepointer" was dead. No more would he work his allegedly evil machinations. With stout cord the murderers bound his lifeless body to a pole, and carried it to "he water.

The natives, in their superstition, believed they had done no wrong. It was an open secret among the blacks that Tyuon had been murdered. They knew it was going to happen, and when it did happen they were not surprised. About a week after the tragedy the body floated. to the surface. The natives held their silence when the body was viewed by thtv police, who, after furnishing the necessary report, gave an order for burial. There appeared to be no suspicious circumstances. But the blacks knew better. Rumblings of discontent were heard in the camp. The more civilised aborigines revolted against what they said was a cruel crime. The discontent grew stronger. The blacks became determined to bring the offenders to justice. The whole camp rose in war-like manner. The lust i'or vengeance had been aroused. At the poiit of the spear, they forced one of the allrged culprits to make a confession.

The polite have now the matter in hand. Five arrests have been made. The concluding chapter of the story of the death of the "bone-pointer" will probably be told in the white man's Court of justice.