BARTERING OF WOMEN

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3840, 30 November 1936, Page 6

BARTERING OF WOMEN

BY ABORIGINES TO JAPANESE. MISSION PRIEST’S ALLEGATIONS. Sydney, October 2. Extraordinary allegations of exploitation of aboriginal women by Japanese pearlers on Bathurst and Melville Island, North Australia, were made by Monsignor Gsell, principal of Bathurst Island Catholic Mission station. Seventy Japanese-owned luggers anchored along the coast of Bathurst Island every spring tide, Monsignor Gsell said. Aboriginal women swarmed aboard the luggers “like mosquitoes,” and were bartered to the crews by their husbands for food and tobacco. “I understand that certain Japanese are anxious that the Government should prevent the natives from boarding their vessels, but the Japanese encouraged the evil in the first place,” said Monsignor Gsell. “Natives in this area are polygamous. Beeause of the scarcity of bush food, the aborigines force their women to board the boats to obtain flour and tobacco, which they have come to regard as a necessity. “Girls as young as 10 years are sent to the luggers. At first they protest vigorously. One child leapt from a lugger and swam ashore four times in an effort to escape, but eventually was speared in the leg by a native and dragged back to the Japanese. After a time these girls await the arrival of the luggers of their own will, attracted by lucrative gifts—the Japanese give the lubras soap, scent and powder, in addition to food. Monsignor Gsell said that previously he had “bought” baby girls from their parents to ensure their permanent attachment to the mission, but in the last two years natives had refused to let their daughters go to the mission because of the Japanese “trading.” The only aborigines who do not force their women aboard the luggers were the mission “boys.” Monsignor Gsell also described a series of fights between 2000 abori-

gines on Bathurst and Melville Islands as a result of a dispute between two natives over a 12-year-old lubra. Although the conflict has continued spasmodically for nearly two years, the most serious casualty has been the loss of an eye by one aboriginal, who was struck by a spear. The missionaries frequently were compelled to attend to broken limbs and severe lacerations. The fighting lately has become fiercer.

The dispute had its origin in the natives’ marriage laws. An old man died, leaving 15 wives. Normally these would have been annexed by male relatives. Because of the mission influence, the women now dared to demand the right of exercising their own choice in marriage. All sought sanctuary from tribal vengeance at the mission, except one 12-year-old girl. By tribal law, she became the wife of her mother’s son-in-law. This man’s father, displeased with his son, gave her in marriage to a northern native. Fighting between the two “husbands” over the ownership of the girl gradually involved all the inhabitants of both islands, who are intimately related by totemic bonds. The girl, who is now held in the north, has been taken and recaptured at least six times. Meanwhile, fighting continues and may last indefinitely. Describing the combats, Monsignor Gsell said they began between two members of the families concerned. They hurled spears and boomerangs in duel fashion. Others then joined in. These “wars” provided a safety valve for the natives and seldom resulted in fatalities. It was better to allow them to fight within the sight of the mission station, where the missionaries could attend any casualties.