The Plant Grew In Depressions
Of The Plains, Where The Boys And Young Men Were Occupied The Whole Day
In Digging For It.
The women went in search of other food; either to the
sea-coast to collect shell-fish, - and many
Were the broad paths which led
across the plains from the forest land to the salt-water - or to the
brushes to gather the fruits of the season, and the cabbage of the palms.
The men armed with a wommala, and with a bundle of goose spears, made of
a strong reed or bamboo (?), gave up their time to hunting. It seemed
that they speared the geese only when flying; and would crouch down
whenever they saw a flight of them approaching: the geese, however, knew
their enemies so well, that they immediately turned upon seeing a native
rise to put his spear into the throwing stick. Some of my companions
asserted that they had seen them hit their object at the almost
incredible distance of 200 yards: but, making all due allowance for the
guess, I could not help thinking how formidable they would have been had
they been enemies instead of friends. They remained with us the whole
afternoon; all the tribe and many visitors, in all about seventy persons,
squatting down with crossed legs in the narrow shades of the trunks of
trees, and shifting their position as the sun advanced. Their wives were
out in search of food; but many of their children were with them, which
they duly introduced to us. They were fine, stout, well made men, with
pleasing and intelligent countenances. One or two attempts were made to
rob us of some trifles; but I was careful; and we avoided the unpleasant
necessity of showing any discontent on that head. As it grew late, and
they became hungry, they rose, and explained that they were under the
necessity of leaving us, to go and satisfy their hunger; but that they
would shortly return, and admire, and talk again. They went to the
digging ground, about half a mile in the plain, where the boys were
collecting Allamurr, and brought us a good supply of it; in return for
which various presents were made to them. We became very fond of this
little tuber: and I dare say the feast of Allamurr with Eooanberry's and
Minorelli's tribe will long remain in the recollection of my companions.
They brought us also a thin grey snake, about four feet long, which they
put on the coals and roasted. It was poisonous, and was called "Yullo."
At nightfall, after filling their koolimans with water, there being none
at their camp, they took their leave, and retired to their camping place
on the opposite hill where a plentiful dinner awaited them. They were
very urgent in inviting us to accompany them, and by way of inducement,
most unequivocally offered us their sable partners. We had to take great
care of our bullock, as the beast invariably charged the natives whenever
he obtained a sight of them, and he would alone have prevented their
attacking us; for the whole tribe were so much afraid of him, that, upon
our calling out "the bullock," they were immediately ready to bolt; with
the exception of Eooanberry and Minorelli, who looked to us for
protection. I had not, however, the slightest fear and apprehension of
any treachery on the part of the natives; for my frequent intercourse
with the natives of Australia had taught me to distinguish easily between
the smooth tongue of deceit, with which they try to ensnare their victim,
and the open expression of kind and friendly feelings, or those of
confidence and respect. I remember several instances of the most
cold-blooded smooth-tongued treachery, and of the most extraordinary
gullibility of the natives; but I am sure that a careful observer is more
than a match for these simple children of nature, and that he can easily
read the bad intention in their unsteady, greedy, glistening eyes.
Dec. 3. - The natives visited us very early in the morning, with their
wives and children, whom they introduced to us. There could not have been
less than 200 of them present; they were all well made, active, generally
well-looking, with an intelligent countenance: they had in fact all the
characters of the coast blacks of a good country; but without their
treacherous dispositions. I started in a north-east direction; and as we
were accompanied by the natives, I led our bullock, by the noserope,
behind my horse. After crossing a plain, we were stopped by a large sheet
of salt-water, about three or four miles broad, at the opposite side of
which a low range was visible; when Eooanberry explained that we had to
go far to the south-east and south, before we could cross the river, and
that we had to follow it down again at the other side. He expressed his
great attachment to his wife and child, and obtained leave of us to
return to his tribe, which had already retired before him. Seeing the
necessity of heading the river, which I considered to be the East
Alligator; the longitude of which was, where we first came to it, 132
degrees 40 minutes according to reckoning; I returned to the forest land,
and travelled along its belt of Pandanus, to obtain a better ground for
our cattle, and to avoid the scorching heat of the forenoon sun.
Observing some singularly formed mountains rising abruptly out of the
plains and many pillars of smoke behind them, I tried to get to them, but
was again prevented by the broad salt water. We now steered for a distant
smoke to the south-east by east, and had travelled fully seventeen miles
on, or along extensive plains, when we perceived seven natives returning
on a beaten foot-path, from the salt water to the forest. We cooeed - they
ran! But when we had passed, and Charley stopped behind alone, they came
up to him, and, having received some presents, they showed us some
miserable wells between two tea-tree groves; after which they hastened
home.
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