THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6496, 27 May 1899, Page 1

THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL.

HOW HE FIGHTS A DUEL. (Windsor Magazine.) Compared with the boomerang, the spear and waddy-stick are of secondary importance. Alithough the latter is regarded as an offensive weapon, it is usually reserved for delicate or " fine " work, such as duels, or the settlement of personal or family quarrels. A duel affords a droll study of physical endurance and natural courtesy. The affaire d'honneur is conducted on orthodox lines : seconds are chosen, and the place of meeting arranged, each party assuring the other that the remembrance of the insult or the casus belli can only b-3 removed with a waddy-stick, casualty mentioning ab the same time the design and weight of his own weapon. The duel then proceeds somewhat on those lines:— The aggrieved one bends forward, hands on knees, and invites his opponent to test the soundness of his club on his, the challenger's, head. Politeness does not demand that the vigour of the blow be modified' by regrets or° remorse ; much less such a reply as, "Not at all, sir; after you." The descent of the dub is remindful of the conundrum, " Should an irresistible force -come .in' contact with an immovable .mass, what is the resullfc ?" In this case a little local warmth is generated. It is now the other fellow's turn, and the game proceeds as before varied by mutual requests to hit a. little harder. Either combatant leaves the field without a stain on his character/and tasting the quintessence of satisfied honour should his opponent's club be broken over His head. . : As an instance 'of. the mental stagnation and inactivity of the race may be mentioned the custom of carrying a piece of burning fuel when shifting camp, to save the trouble ofre-kindli.ng a fire. Some tribes have quite forgotten how to produce lire Nature has not endowed the aborigines with a high appreciation- ojf.art. This fact gives a still greater value to the weird drawings on the rocks at Sydney. Generally ..speaking the blacks take pleasure in music of a kind, and delight in a " corroboree ''' i.e., a meeting. of two tribes for dancing and singing, special attention being given to new works performed for the first time. The name corroboree is also given to the chant or song. In the course of a raid,

friendly or -otherwise, a tribe may hear Biiatches ,of: a. music hall, ditty sung with variation; ; to. suit individual tastes at a minnig camp. The. air .might perhaps 'please the tribe,:; who Avould in their turn alter the same to conform with the unwritten canons of black musical art. Forthwith they; decide that ,so good a thing must be shared :AVith others. Special visits are made to 'distant parts of the country aoid the new cantata is performed nightly ;to "applauding crowds. ' V : Hunting is. the only congenial occupation ■ of 'the native, ..and Avhen he has nothing to huntjhe helps lumself at the huts of settlers. 'A certain chief loiown as King " Billy " had quite_ regal ! ideas concerning the laws of meiuri and teum. It is related, hoAvever, to his credit tba't.he never borrowed a joint of meat or a, blanket without saying to himself,; "Well! Avell!' King Billy needs it. It's-, all ,. King Billy's." This same sable monarch, it is authentically related, had married, a white girl to Avhom he became much attached. Years afterwards, when she died.,' so great was his grief that he' deterxnined her memory should be perpetu-ated;:'-after, the white man's custom. A : tombstone. Avas . procured and erected over her grave. The old gentleman Avas never tired of .exhibiting it to visitors as the most interesting of all his possessions. It bore the. folloAving simple 'and touching inscription— To the Memory ■.■•■■.-.■■ . '■■; . ..'.or.- --:..-: • MI S S SMITH, -... . ; , :. . '..; „. Wife of ,T '•;..- .; . Kjng Billy.