BLACK TRACKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 40

BLACK TRACKERS.

Although the natives of Australia must be *called untutored savages, they are by no means wanting in intelligence and quick powers of perception. Their boomerang is an ingeniously constructed weapon, their mode ol making a fire by rubbing two sticks of light wood together, and theic power of sight in tracking animals, are evidences of a mind that should have been better influenced by contact with the superior intelligence of the white man. Many attempts have been made to domicile certain tribes, but the native prefers the wilds of the bush, with the canopy of heaven for his roof, to the covered artificial structure of bricks and mortar. Gratitude is with them an undeveloped virtue. Like children, they place no permanent value on your presents and gifts. What amuses them to-day is to-monow cast away

or broken and forgotten. But though we may be mistaken in their motives, and deprecate many of their actions, we cannot withhold a tribute of admiration

to their wonderful powers of endurance, skill, and patience when upon the trail. Many instances could be given of their important services in tracking criminals, and causing them to be brought to justice. Only recently an instance occurred which may interest the members of the Boys' Field Club. A black tracker named Billy, from the ranks of the native police at Alice Springs, who accompanied me upon a journey to the western interior of Australia, and whose skill in tracking I had many opportunities of witnessing, was brought to Adelaide by me as a reward for his valuable services on that expedition. While he wa3 staying at my house in one of the suburbs an unexpected opportunity presented itself for proving his ability in tracking. One Friday morning a neighbour discovered that he had been robbed of some prize fowls, and on the following Sunday morning he asked me if I would allow Billy to track the robbers. Upon my explaining the affair to Billy he did not think there was much chance of following tracks two clays' old on a well-used macadamised c road, but he decided to try. For a long time he wandered about the premises and the immediate neighbourhood apparently in the most aimless and unsystematic manner, and at midday returned to my house to lunch when I thought that the search was to be abandoned, but to my surprise Billy told me that it was " All right. I'll catch him." I then walked back with him to renew the search, when he stated that there were three men, and described the peculiarities of their boots, but he was undecided as to which of the owners of the boots had the fowls. As may be imagined, the hard footpaths and metalled road retained no traces or footprints after a couple of days' exposure to the perambulations of the residents of a large suburban village. Much time was therefore devoted to the closest scrutiny, and after a very long and patient search the tracks were seen in the water table to leave the road and go towards a grass paddock. The paddock was now entered, and about the middle of it Billy said the three men had separated; and he pointed out the spot to me, saying " One fellow go that way ; the other one go over here." Close by Billy picked up a very small feather, which was the only tangible evidence I had so far seen. After following the tracks of each man for a little distance Billy returned to the place in the middle of the paddock and closely examined the spot again. He now set off upon the trail of the man who he thought had carried the fowls, and very soon picked up some more small feathers, showing that we were on the right track, but beyond the feathers my unpractised eyes could detect nothing that could be taken for a footprint. The unerring skill of the black was, however, never at fault, and after following the trail down a small street Billy pointed out the side gate of a house,

through which he said the man had gone. Looking over the fence we noticed some fowls in a coop. We then returned for the owner of the missing birds, and he at once identified them. The following morning the thief was in custody, and for this and another offence is now serving a long sentence in the Stookade. Billyreceived ahandsome present as a reward for his skill, although I do not think that he at first thought he would be successful. He stayed in Adelaide a few weeks, but as he was anxious to return to his people at Charlotte Waters be left by train for the Peake, the remainder of the journey being performed by a camel caravan. — W. H. T., in the Adelaide Observer.