My usual introduction--A serious entertainment--The power of the bow--Repulsive blacks--Mysterious spears--Waterless wastes--Abattle with snakes--More prestige--Rubies thrown away--Quarrying extraordinary.
Occasionally one of the tribes would display hostility towards us at first sight, but I generally managed to ingratiate myself into their good graces by the exercise of a little diplomacy--and acrobatics.Curiously enough, many of these tribes did not display much surprise at seeing a white man, apparently reserving all their amazement for Bruno's bark and the white man's wonderful performances.
I may here remark that, in the event of our coming across a hostile tribe who fought shy of my friendly advances, I would, without ceremony, introduce myself by dashing into their midst and turning a few somersaults or Catherine-wheels such as the London GAMINSdisplay for the benefit of easily-pleased excursionists.This queer entertainment usually created roars of laughter, and set every one at his ease.
I remember once being surprised by the sudden appearance over the crest of a hillock of about twenty blacks, all well armed and presenting rather a formidable appearance.The moment they caught sight of Yamba and myself they halted, whereupon I advanced and called out to them that I was a friend, at the same time holding out my passport stick.By the way, the efficacy of this talisman varied according to the tribes.Yamba could make neither head nor tail of these people; they jabbered in a language quite unintelligible to either of us.I then reverted to the inevitable sign language, giving them to understand that I wished to sleep with them a night or two; but they still continued to brandish their spears ominously.Yamba presently whispered in my ear that we had better not trouble them any further, as they were evidently inclined to be pugnacious.This was a very exceptional rencontre, because I usually induced the natives to sit down and parley with me, and then I would produce my mysterious stick.In the event of this proving of little account, both I and Bruno would without a moment's hesitation plunge into our performance.It always began with a few somersaults.Bruno needed no looking after.He knew his business, and went through his own repertoire with great energy and excitement.The accompanying barks were probably involuntary, but they were a great help in astonishing and impressing the natives.
Even in this instance I was unwilling to retire defeated; so suddenly pulling out one of my little reed whistles capable of producing two notes, I commenced a violent jig to my own "music."The effect on the scowling and ferocious-looking blacks was quite magical.They immediately threw down their spears and laughed uproariously at my vigorous antics.I danced till I was quite tired, but managed to wind up the entertainment with a few somersaults, which impressed them vastly.
I had conquered.When I had finished they advanced and greeted me most heartily, and from that moment we were friends.I had completely done away with their enmity by my simple efforts to amuse them.For the most part, this was my invariable experience.
The natives were the easiest people in the world to interest and amuse, and when once I had succeeded in winning them in this way, they were our warmest friends.This band of warriors took us back to their camping-ground, some miles away, and actually gave a great feast in my honour that evening, chanting the wonderful things they had seen until far into the night.The place where I met these blacks was a broken, stony, and hilly country, which, however, abounded in roots and snakes--especially snakes.My hosts had evidently had a recent battue, or fire hunt, for they had a most extraordinary stock of food.So completely had I won them over, that I actually hung up my bow and arrows along with their spears before retiring to rest.The expression "hung up" may seem curious, so I hasten to explain that the natives tied up their spears in bunches and placed them on the scrub bushes.
Next morning I brought down a few hawks on the wing with my bow and arrows, and then the amazement of the natives was quite comical to witness.Shooting arrows in a straight line astonished them somewhat, but the more bombastic among them would say, "Why I can do that," and taking his woomerah he would hurl a spear a long distance.Not one of them, however, was able TO THROW A SPEARUPWARDS, so I scored over even the most redoubtable chiefs.It may be well to explain, that birds are always to be found hovering about a native camp; they act as scavengers, and their presence in the sky is always an indication that an encampment is somewhere in the vicinity.These birds are especially on the spot when the blacks set fire to the bush and organise a big battue.At such times the rats and lizards rush out into the open, and the hawks reap a fine harvest.
My natives are referred to as "blacks," or "black-fellows," but they are not really BLACK, their hue being rather a brown, ranging from a very dark brown, indeed, to almost the lightness of a Malay.
I found the coast tribes lightest in hue, while the inland natives were very much darker.Here I may mention that after having been on my way south for some months, I began to notice a total difference between the natives I met and my own people in the Cambridge Gulf district.The tribes I was now encountering daily were inferior in physique, and had inferior war implements; I do not remember that they had any shields.
