Volltext Seite (XML)
18 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. They have no idea of poisonous plants, and consider all deaths as the results of sorcery. The diseases they suffer from are chiefly of a scrofulous nature, dysentery, and brain fever. They have likewise skin diseases, fistulas, itch, &c. Sulphur is one of their specifics ; the wattle-bark and gum are also much used. They likewise suffer from influenza. There is no doubt that they were visited with small-pox before the Europeans arrived, of which numbers died, and many more bore the marks. Their doctors use incantations and apply pressure to the affected parts. They also employ the vapour bath, obtained by putting wet water-weeds on heated stones and covering the patient with rugs. The poison revenge is a dreadful visitation. A spear-head is plunged into a putrid corpse, and with feathers so dipped in the fat a wound is inflicted on an enemy, who dies in dreadful agony, similar in effect to blood-poisoning from dead animals amongst ourselves. To possess this poison is the old natives’ object; they therefore often oppose the burial of the dead. They appear to have a talent for extempore productions. When Sir G-. Grey’s party Was in a hopeless condition for want of water and food, the native Kaiber sat shouting to himself native songs. Thither, mother, Oh ! I return again, Thither, Oh ! I return again. Whither does that lone ship wander ? My young son I shall never see again. Whither does that lone ship wander ? Very pathetic. Their feelings are very strong, as may be seen by Warrup’s account of the discovery of Smith’s remains, one of Sir George Grey’s companions, which were found stretched on a high rock, where he lay down and died. Away, away, we go— I, Mr. Roe, and Kinchela— Along the shore, away ! Along the shore, away ! We see a paper, the paper of Morlimer and Spofforth. Away we go, we see no fresh water, Along the shore, Away, away, away, we go along the shore ! Away, away, away, a long distance we go ! I see Mr. Smith’s footsteps ascending a sand-hill, Onward I go, regarding his footsteps. I see Mr. Smith dead, we commence digging the earth ; Two sleeps had he been dead ; Greatly did I weep, and much I grieved, In his blanket folding him, We scrape away the earth. We scrape the earth into the grave, We scrape the earth into the grave, A little wood we place in it, much earth we heap upon it, Much earth we throw upon it, no dogs can dig there. The sun had just inclined to the westward, As we laid him in the ground.—Grey. The following is a specimen of their extempore composition on sight of a railway train " You see the smoke in Kapunda, The steam puffs regularly, Showing quickly it looks like frost, It runs like running water, It blows like a spouting whale.” A settler who frequently employed aboriginal labour, having heard some complaint of their illtreating a white man, ordered the tribe instantly to decamp. He was somewhat surprised at one of their number appearing before him quite naked, ornamented with pipeclay, and carrying two nullas. The black asked the gentleman to fight, offering one of the nullas. The gentleman, however, determined to choose his own weapon, and produced his gun, which he loaded with ball in presence of the champion, and, pointing to the dial of his watch, said, “ If you are not out of this stockyard in ten minutes, I will shoot you.” The black champion watched the hands of the watch, and when the time had nearly expired, he gracefully said, “ Good evening, massa,” and disappeared. As an instance of their fidelity, a squatter in the north, whose house was surrounded by blacks threatening assault, had a domesticated native, who had got mixed up with the savage tribe. He watched his opportunity and seized a horse, and, with a piece of stringy-bark for a bridle, galloped several miles to
