THE BALD ABORIGINES OF THE BALONNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 119, 3 April 1862, Page 6

THE BALD ABORIGINES OF THE BALONNE.

(From the Sydney Empire, February 19.)

It is now some few years since a report first obtained currency, to the effect that, far in the Western interior, beyond the Balonno River, a tribe of aboriginal natives existed, who exhibited remark-'5 able physical distinctions from those with whom explorers and other colonists have so long been familiar. It was said that the natives in question were entirely destitute of hair, even on the head, which was as bald as a billiard ball. Other remarkable peculiarities were also mentioned ; but, although this, statement was renewed from time to time, aiid various,speculations were hazarded thereupon; the absence of ocular proof led most people to doubt it, and it was pretty generally believed that cither the blacks alluded to were merely suffering from some cutaneous disorder, or the tale was one of those bush '" yarns" which outlying settlers think it no harm to hoax the townsmen withal.

Yesterday, however, we had an opportunity of ascertaining that all the statements on this point, which had been before doubted were perfectly true. Mr. M'Kay, a gentleman just arrived from the Baloune River by way of Kochampton, called at our office with'one of these natives. He is a young man, according to Mr. McKay's belief only about sixteen or seventeen years of age, but certainly looking much older. His head is entirely destitute of hair, nor is there any trace of hirsute honors on his body. There -was a black ingrained appearance on the scalp, as if tlfe roots of the hair remained, but Mr. M'Kay states that this is merely the traces of a 'dirty cloth, which he was in the habit .of wearing on his head. There needed not, however, this remarkable desjitution of hair to show that the individual before us was the type,of a race utterly differing in physical peculiarities from the ordinary aboriginals of Australia. The whole contour vof face, form of the head, expression, colour of the skin, and listless," almost sullen attitude, at once suggested the Mongolian. It was impossible to look at this native of the backwoods, with the least attention and reflection, without feeling convinced of his Chinese extraction. His physical development is farinferior to that of the healthy aboriginal found in, other parts of Australia! The large, rapid eye, thick lips, broadly spread nose, and deep brown skin, were all absent. The peculiarity of'the face was most evidently Chinese, and the eye confirmed this impression. The skin of this interesting stranger is precisely of that deep yellow-brown shade which.might be expected in a descendant from Chinese and aboriginal Australian parents. How long the races have been mingled in the persons of his ancestors it might be hard to say. .The representative before us, however, was assuredly moj-e Chinaman than aborigine. 'The.party to whom he belonged,.for there is no clear reason for calling it a tribe, appeared to inhabit the country to the north-west-ward of the Upper Warrego. Mr. M'Kay had not seen more than six or seven of them at various times, one, at least, of whom was a woman, and one man was much taller and more strongly proportioned than the specimen brought to our office. -.■'.»■•

The whole circumstances of the case render it extremely probable that these remarkable people are the descendants of Chinese fishermen, who having, years ago, landed or been cast away in the Gulf of Carpentaria, or on the Australian coast of the Arafura Sea, have remained with the Australian aborigines, and transmitted the physical peculiarities of their race to . their descendants. We leave it to physiologist to account for the utter absence of hair. The head of the native we-saw presented exactly the appearance of the shaved cranium of a Chinaman. How far the effect of such an appearance on the mother, or how far the action of the sun may taken to "account for the result, we shall not pretend to guess. Mr. M'Kay, we understand, left Sydney with his aboriginal Chinaman last night, for the Hunter. He statesthat he has found him very tractable and useful, and quite satisfied with the change in position and prospects. It is to be hoped,-therefore, that his Honor.the Chief Justice will will not be induced, in consideration of the Anglo-Chinese treaty, to interfere with, the arrangement by habeas corpus, or otherwise. "We understand that Dr. Robertson examined the native yesterday, and that gentleman ■>will probably not object to favor the public with his opinion.