THE BLACK CANNIBALS OF NEW HOLLAND
On the morning after my capture by the black cannibals of New Holland,
at daybreak, I was driven, out of the gunyah in which I had passed the
night, to be looked at by the tribe, who had now collected in great
numbers, and who encircled me with a ring of hazel eyes. Their
complexion was black, their hair woolly, and many of them were quite
naked, as though they lived in a state of brute nature. There did not
appear to be anyone in recognized authority among them, for they all
talked their outlandish jargon at the same time, and, presently, they
began to search me for such small articles of personal property as I
possessed. My engraving tools and a sailor's sewing kit, given me by
Anna, were taken from me, but to my great good fortune they did not rob
me of my dagger-knife, or my flint and steel which lay concealed in the
inner pocket of my leathern belt, nor of a lock of Anna's hair which I
carried in a silken bag round my neck; and in the possession of which I
found much comfort in my present predicament. My clothes did not
interest my captors, and I was thankful not to be deprived of them.
I was now startled to observe that some of the natives carried at their
girdles a human skull, but I subsequently learned that these trophies
were not, as I had at first supposed, the result of a massacre, but
were the drinking-cups of these people, who appeared to be the most
debased in the scale of humanity I had ever encountered.
During the morning, although I could see that a watch was kept upon me,
I was allowed my liberty, and, in spite of my wretched plight, I became
interested in observing the natives at their daily occupations, one of
which consisted in the capture of wild-fowl from a lagoon close to the
camp by the ingenious method of floating upon their quarry submerged up
to their necks in water, their heads covered by a mass of weeds and
bulrushes. When among the birds they suddenly drew some of them under
the surface without appearing to disturb the others.
And now a loud noise made by the beating of spears and waddies
attracted my attention, when I came to the conclusion some tribal
ceremony was in progress, and shortly afterward a number of youths were
led in procession through the camp. These young men presented a strong
and muscular appearance. Their naked bodies bore evidence of ill-usage;
purple weals and open sores upon their backs and shoulders appeared to
have been inflicted by the severe and long-continued stroke of the
lash.
After a dirge-like song had been sung, a number of the elder warriors
stepped forward, and with a piece of quartz formed a deep incision in
the nape or the neck of each youth, cutting broad gashes from shoulder
to hip, all the while repeating rapidly the following curious
incantation:
"Kangar-marra--marra,
Kano-marra-marra,
Pilbirri-marra-marra."
A bunch of green leaves was then fastened round each middle and above
this a girdle of human hair. They then blackened with charcoal, and
their wounds plastered with clay in order to form the hands of gristle
which they regard as an ornament upon their flesh. During this
performance the lads showed no sign of pain, although their sufferings
must have been very severe. Further ceremonies then took place, in
which the women played a part too degrading to be here set down.
That night a feast was held, with dancing, in honour of the morning's
ceremonies. The night was warm and the moon shone with a wonderful
brilliancy, casting deep shadows upon the earth. In the distance rose a
pillar of sparks and fire, which marked the place where the performers
were preparing for the corroboree, a name given to their dancing by
these savages, and presently 200 men and 60 boys in nudity came from
among the forest trees. Each dancer was provided with a bunch of leaves
fastened above the knee, which, as they stamped in unison, made a loud
switching noise. These natives were painted from shoulder to hip, with
five or six stripes rising from the breast, their faces streaked with
white perpendicular lines, making it appear as the dancing of dead
men's bones. For some time the dancers continued to stamp to and fro,
and then, assembling at a fire that burned close by, they
simultaneously sat down. Other dancers then took their places, dressed
in fur cloaks, and wearing white and yellow feathers in their hair,
their black visages rendered hideous by fish-bones stuck through the
cartilage of the nose above their thick lips. These singular beings
stamped their way backward and forward, giving vent to yells of
excitement, and causing their bodies to tremble and twitch in the most
surprising manner. The last act of this strange drama represented the
warriors sitting cross-legged round the fire, when suddenly they
simultaneously stretched out their right arms as if pointing to some
distant object, at the same time displaying their teeth and rolling
their eyes, and then, springing to their feet, they uttered a shout
that echoed for miles over the surrounding country.
And now the preparations for a feast began. A number of women and young
girls brought baskets of fish, roasted birds, and prepared bulrush
root, whilst some very large eggs, such as I had never seen the like
before, with green shells were stacked upon the grass. Strange-looking
animals also, together with snakes and lizards, were stewed in clay
vessels, while the savages gathered round in gloating anticipation of
this repulsive food. When all was prepared one of the women gave a
peculiar cry, when there came from among the trees the young men who
had that morning undergone the baptism of initiation, each carrying
upon his shoulder a bundle wrapped in reeds and bulrushes. Arrived in
front of one who now acted as chief, much laid down his burden,
exposing the contents--the body of a native child!--half roasted and
drawn--the "long pig" of the cannibals!
Overcome by what I had seen, I sought my gunyah, where I passed the
night a prey to the most dismal forebodings. Next morning I became ill,
with violent pains and headache, which incapacitated me for some days,
during which time a lubra named Moira sat beside me, apparently anxious
to do what lay in her power to ease my sufferings.
Helped by the words I had learnt in my former intercourse with savages
at the islands we had visited in the early part of the voyage, I was
soon able to make myself understood to Moira, and to understand what
she said when I confided to her my desire to escape to the sea coast At
first she would only shake her head, but I became so insistent that at
length she consented to help me. A tribal ceremony was very shortly to
be celebrated, so Moira informed me, when the night would be favourable
for the success of our project, since the tribe would then be assembled
at the camp fires. On that night, moreover, there was no moon until
late, and we trusted to be able to slip away in the darkness
unobserved.
I had always been impatient of my captivity, but now that escape was in
sight I could scarcely control my desire to be rid of these savages. I
counted the days, dreading lest some change in the manner of my
captivity might prevent the carrying out of the plan we had formed; but
all went well until the time came when Moira whispered to me our chance
had come.
The tribe were assembled at the camp fire, engaged in one of their many
rites to propitiate the evil spirits whom alone they worship. Beyond
the glow, darkness complete and compelling hung like a pall. The stars
were hid by a curtain of clouds.
"Come," I whispered to Moira, and reckless of consequences, we fled
into the pitch black of the scrub.