TRIBAL BATTLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22998, 28 March 1938, Page 12

TRIBAL BATTLES

NORTH AUSTRALIA CONSTABLE'S ADVENTURES SENSATIONAL ARRESTS [fkom our own correspondent] SYDNEY, March 17 A secret patrol to the wilds of Arilhem Land, North Australia, has been made h,v Constable •Murray, of Boper River, to investigate recent tribal buttles among aborigines, during which several men were killed. Constable Murray has arrested three aborigines, and he will take them to Darwin. They were surrendered to him voluntarily by other blacks. When the constable was returning

with his prisoners, a boat in which they were travelling capsized iu a heavy sea. Constable Murray swam among the blacks, and prevented them from escaping until the boat was righted. In bis report to the Administrator of the Northern Territory, Constable Murray laconically described his adventures in the Calcdon Bay area. Cordial Welcome by Natives

"I left Bo per River in a sailing boat chartered from and sailed by Gray, a trepanger," 110 said. "011 arrival at Port Bradshaw, I saw numerous smoke signals and a large number of natives on the beach. A canoe came out to meet us, and its occupants showed 110 signs of fear. I told them who I was and the objects of my visit. "The next day I went ashore with police trackers. We were unarmed. The natives were most friendly, and I gave them tobacco, and lollies to the children. I saw one child suffering from yaws, and treated him. Before we left Port Bradshaw two canoes came out with fish and oysters, and I thanked the natives profusely, but refused to accept anything. "I returned to Port Bradshaw, and again the natives were most friendly. To niv surprise i found that several of them could speak Knglish. Inquiries showed that they had learned their linglish in Fannie Bay Gaol, Darwin. Wanted Men Surrendered

"1 wont to the north end of Grooto Eylandt, ami also to the north-east islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Natives there gave me certain information regarding the offenders whom L wished to find. At Groote Eylandt, native canoes approached the boat, heavily loaded. "When the natives came alongside, f found the.v had with them the wanted moil. I took the latter in charge, and immediately one ot them jumped in the water. Without waiting for any command, another native leaped in aiter the runaway. The wanted men were given up voluntarily. "1 then proceeded to Bickerton Island, and there had rather an adventurous day. Firstly, we ran aground on a reef at* 8 a.m., but managed to float clear with the tide. At 3 p.m. a frightful squall caught the boat, and the prisoners and 1 were washed into the sea.

Captives Prevented lrom Escaping "The boat went over on its side. I managed to swim among the prisoners and prevent them from escaping until the boat had been righted. We were then picked up' again. 1 returned to Ropor River on February 1 •' i with the three wanted men, witnesses, and a leper." Three natives were speared to death in another fight near Daly .River. A fourth native received a spear wound in the body. "Black fella talk," the mysterious bush telegraph system of the north, has it that Daly River killings have completed the virtual extinction of the Mulack tribes, once , mighty powers in the land. They have been at grips in a bitter feud for generations. There were only four men left to wage the battle, but .they fought until only one escaped, suffering a ghastly spear wound in his side. These last survivors have been relentlessly trailing one another through Western Arnhem Land, carrying their fighting spears wherever they went and at night building strong stockades to .sleep behind.