THE BLACKS OF AUSTRALIA.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 24, 1 December 1874, Page 300

THE BLACKS OF AUSTRALIA.

(From the Australasian.) According to the tenth report of the Aborigines Protection Board, the condition of the aborigines was never so prosperous as at the present time. "Useful employments have been found for the adults of both sexes; the children are educated and trained by competent teachers ; and the material interests of both the aged and the young are carefully guarded." The most interesting portion of the report is that relating to the hop-grounds at Coranderrk. It is as follows : —" For many years the Board has conducted experiments at the several stations, with the object of producing crops that would necessitate neither heavy nor sustained labours—labours that the aborigines as a rule are not fitted to undertake—and which would yield a return sufficient at least to pay for the support of the Natives. At Coranderrk a great many different crops have been grown; at one time it was expected that tobacco would yield largely ; grain has been grown; fruits of various sorts have been cultivated; and at some expense an attempt was made to establish a dairy—all these, however, failed to give such results as were satisfactory to the board. It was not until the assistance of Mr. Fred. Search was obtained that any fair prospects presented themselves. He examined the lands at Coranderrk, and recommended that a hop-plantation should be established under the care of a competent hop-grower. _ Owing to his skill and knowledge, and with the assistance of Mr. Burgess—who has proved himself thoroughly competent to manage hopgrounds and prepare the produce for the market —success has at last been achieved. The crop sent to market during the season just passed, 15,244 lbs. in weight, has realized good prices. The first lot was sold at auction for Is. 10-1-d. per lb., and the condition in which it was presented to buyers elicited the highest praise from experts. The gross sum derived from the season's crop was £1,140 6s. 3d. From this has to be deducted commission, discount, &c, and the wages of the hop-pickers, leaving a net sum of £983 ss. lOd. The cost of the experiment has been small. Next year the results will, it is anticipated, be far more satisfactory. The plantation has been extended; and arrangements will be made for drying the hops rapidly, and for sending them earlier to market. Other steps will be taken which, it is hoped, will lead to still greater profits being derived from the labours of the Aborigines. As a rule the Natives labour cheerfully in the hopgrounds ; + .he work is light, and they are paid reasonable sums in proportion to the time they give."

Eor the information of our Maori readers we subjoin a short description of the aboriginal race above referred to:— The blacks of Australia have ever been a wandering, idle, filthy race. They go entirely naked; and deform their bodies with scars, which have an uncommon appearance., . Sometimes the flesh is raised an inch from the skin, and appears as if filled with wind, so that some of them present the most hideous figures imaginable. Some of them perforate the cartilage of the nose, and thrust a large bone through it, an ornament humorously called by the English sailors their sprit-sail yard. They anoint their hair with red gum, and daub their bodies with various colours. They do not cultivate the soil, but continually roam about through the bush, seldom remaining in one spot more than two or three weeks, or a month at most. They subsist on the fruits and roots they can gather, with the fish they catch, together with grubs, snails, opossums, and other abominations. The opossum is a small furry animal, smaller than a cat, which lives generally in the tree tops. The blacks are very skilful in climbing the trees to get them out of the hollow branches in which they take refuge. They cut notches or steps in the trunks of the trees with their tomahawks, as they ascend, to enable them to hold on with their fingers and toes. In this way they ascend trees of 50 or 60 feet high with extraordinary rapidity. Sometimes they set fire to hollow trees, and afterwards collect the "half-roasted opossums, which they devour whole, entrails and all. They eat the flesh of animals and fish nearly raw, only broiling it long enough to scorch the outside. These resources, however, are at best precarious, and they are therefore frequently distressed for provisions. Their canoes are only large pieces of bark tied up at both ends wiih vines; but they manage them admirably, and venture boldly out to sea in them. Their fishing nets and lines are made of the fibre of the flax, and their hooks of the inside of a shell resembling the paua shell. They are also very skilful in spearing fish. They form rude huts of bark, open at one end, and barely large enough for a man to lie at full length in them. They often, however, live in the caverns with which the rocks abound. In some things these people possess great powers of imitation. They can imitate the songs and language of the Europeans almost instantaneously, much better than the latter can imitate theirs by long practice. Their sense of smelling is as acute as that of a dog, and their sight is quick and piercing—they will track a man for miles over a bare rock where no footsteps would be discernible to a European. Efforts have often been made by the Pakehas to civilize them and teach them habits of industry, but always without effect. It is therefore satisfactory to hear that they are, to some extent, imitating the industrious habits of the white man.