TRIBAL FIGHT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 2

TRIBAL FIGHT

MISSIONARY AVERTS WAR One aboriginal was killed and two others wounded in a fight between the Mabanat and Guri Guri tribes in Arnhem Land on Christmas Day, according to a report which has reached Darwin from the Rev. L. Kentish, director of the Goulburn Island Mission. The tribes occupy territory on opposite sides of the King River, and began to fight after a quarrel about the loss of some weapons. The influence of the mission over the natives prevented the squabble from developing into a war. The tribes, the report explains, had been living peacefully together for a long time, tradifig, and inter-marrying according to tribal law. With the approach of Christmas they moved in a band of about 100 down the river, heading for Goulburn Island, towards which all tribes in the region were converging to take part in the mission festivities.

Travelling by foot and in canoes, the two tribes were in harmony until the river mouth was reached, when the Guri Guri men found that a bundle of their spears had been left behind by the crew of a Mabanat canoe, who had promised to carry them down the river. Infuriated by the oversight, the Guri Guri men became frenzied, and a fight broke out.

The fight ended, after many spears had been thrown when Nariba, an old Guri Guri warrior, fell with a fatal wound in the chest. Mr Kentish made a hurried voyage to the scene in the mission lugger, and found Nariba dead, and the natives prepared for a pitched battle. He averted further killing by taking the principal combatants and the body of Nariba to Goulburn Island, where the natives remained in a state of tension until the patrol vessel Kuru arrived to take the leaders to Darwin.

Fighting was renewed at the mission when a relative of Nariba blamed a member of his tribe for not having killed Jakala, a Mabanat boy, who, the natives say, speared Nariba. Another boy was injured in this affray. Jakala faced a charge of murder in the Darwin Court.

Unable to understand a word of English, he had to plead not guilty on the ground of self-defence through his counsel, Mr A. B. Newell, who was briefed by the Department of Native Affairs.

The leaders of both warring tribes, speaking to a native interpreter, related simply how Jakala, fighting alongside his relatives, slew Nariba with a hook spear only after Nariba had wounded him with a spear-thrust from a womera.

Mangeriang, headman of the Guri Guris, said eight boys took part in the , fight, four of them being Mabanats. Nariba’s first spear pierced Jakala’s leg. He had a second spear and a womera in his hand when Jakala hurled his shaft.

Jakala was committed for trial to the Supreme Court sittings in Darwin next April.