JOURNEY COMMENCED--OUR NIGHT ENCAMPMENT--WITNESS A CORROBORREE, OR
SKELETON DANCE--NATIVES VISIT US--A MAGICIAN PLAYS OFF HIS TRICKS--
NATIVE SUPERSTITIONS--JOURNEY RESUMED--CURIOUS TREES--CAMP ALARMED BY A
"LAUGHING JACKASS"--HALT FOR THE DAY--EXPEDITION--DISCOVER AN OLD WOMAN
TRYING TO AROUSE THE NATIVES TO ATTACK US--PULLINGO APPEARS TO WARN US--
WE RETREAT--A HURRIED MARCH--A LITTER FORMED FOR EDITH--AGAIN ENCAMP--A
FUGITIVE--SURPRISED BY THE NATIVES--PROVE TO BE FRIENDS OF PULLINGO--THE
MARCH RESUMED.
Having housed in the boat, and hidden such provisions and goods as we
could not take with us, we commenced our journey. We each of us carried
a pack containing ammunition, a pair of shoes, a change of clothing,
flour, biscuit, and preserved meat, salt and other necessaries. My
father had, in addition, his money, which he had saved from the wreck, a
compass, a sextant, a map, and a book or two. Mudge was similarly
loaded. I had my journal; and my mother insisted on carrying her own
clothing, as well as some provisions, and her Bible; while Edith was
quite unhappy till she was allowed to have a small parcel made up for
herself.
Each package was suited to the strength of the person who had to carry
it. It is a very different thing to lift a weight which may appear
perfectly light for a few minutes, and to have to carry it day after day
on one's shoulders, with the addition of a musket, a brace of pistols,
and a stout stick.
Pullingo went ahead with his spears in his hand and his boomerang stuck
in his girdle, fully conscious of his dignity. Paddy Doyle went next to
him, or marched at his side for the purpose of keeping him in good
humour, while he endeavoured to learn his language and teach him
English. Mudge marched next with Tommy Peck; my father and mother
followed, and either Harry or I accompanied Edith and Pierce, who led
the goat between them; while Burton and Popo, with the other men,
brought up the rear. When I was not with Edith, I either walked
alongside Burton or went ahead with Mudge.
After we left the neighbourhood of the river we emerged into a more open
country; that is to say, the trees grew at a sufficient distance apart
to enable us to see a long way between them. We flattered ourselves
that we were not likely to meet with any natives for some time, as we
fancied that all those in the neighbourhood had collected to feed on the
carcass of the whale, and we knew that Pullingo would not lead us
through a country inhabited by any tribes hostile to his own.
I should say that the aborigines of Australia are divided into numerous
separate tribes or families, living entirely apart from each other,
retaining their own hunting-grounds, and so seldom intermixing that in
many instances they are unacquainted with each other's language. We
were led to suppose that Pullingo's tribe was chiefly located in the
region to the south of the river, and that he had come farther north
than usual when he fell in with us; we could only thus account for the
confidence with which he marched on ahead, as if thoroughly acquainted
with the country.
We calculated that we had made fifteen miles, when we encamped for the
night on the border of a thick wood to which Pullingo conducted us. On
looking at the map, however, it seemed as if, after all our walking, we
had made no progress, though the ground over which we had passed had
been perfectly easy; and we knew from the account the bushranger had
given us that we should have a mountainous and rocky region to cross,
when our difficulties would be greatly increased.
"Come, come," said my father, when he heard the remarks some of us were
making; "I must not let you look at the map in future. All we have to
do is to push bravely onward while we are on the move, and to rest at
such spots as will afford us water and an abundance of game."
The next day, having made as good progress as on the first, we had
altogether accomplished thirty miles by sunset. We had thus made half a
degree, which, as Tommy remarked, sounded at all events like something;
and each day we managed to shoot as many parrots or pigeons as we
required for food. Occasionally, too, Pullingo brought some down with
his boomerang.
We had been travelling on for some days, when one evening we encamped
near what was now a rivulet, but it had already fallen considerably, and
we could see by the appearance of the banks that it would probably ere
long be dry. My mother and Edith, though they had walked on without
complaining, were evidently tired, and my father proposed that we should
remain there to rest, or only take a short journey the next day. So our
camp was formed as usual; and our provisions having been cooked, we sat
round the camp-fire to take our supper.
We all shared alike: the food requiring cooking was boiled in our
largest pot, the game and vegetables being cut up into small pieces, and
biscuit or flour being added to it, with pepper and mustard. This was a
favourite dish both for dinner and supper, and very excellent it was.
My father and mother and Edith, with Mudge and I and the other boys,
took our seats on one side, while the men collected on the other.
Pullingo generally squatted down by the side of Paddy, whom he looked
upon as his chief friend. They already managed to understand each other
pretty well, eking out the few words they knew of each other's language
by signs which it would have puzzled the rest of us to comprehend.
This evening, Pullingo, instead of coming to the front, had seated
himself some way behind Doyle, who handed him his basin of soup; and we
had nearly finished our meal when, on looking up, I found that the black
had disappeared. I had fancied, during the pauses in the conversation,
that I heard strange sounds coming out of a thick part of the forest
behind us, but I took but little notice of them. The idea which passed
through my mind was that they were produced by a flock of parrots or
cockatoos retiring late to rest.
Presently I saw Pullingo come back and touch Paddy on the shoulder,
making a sign to him to follow. Paddy got up, taking his gun, which lay
by his side. Being curious to see whatever the black wished to show
him, I took up my gun also, and crept on close behind him. The black
led us in the direction from whence I had heard the sounds proceed, and
which was, I should have said, directly to the south of us, or in the
path we were about to pursue next morning.
After going some way, I observed the glare of a fire reflected on the
boughs of the trees ahead of us. We got nearer and nearer to it, when
the black stopped behind some thick, low bushes. I saw Paddy stretching
himself on tiptoe, and looking over them; and imitating him, I beheld a
spectacle which sent a thrill of horror through me. Paddy's teeth were
chattering and his limbs shaking, yet he still looked on with a fixed
gaze, as if he could not force himself away. Directly in front of us,
but some distance off, in the dark portion of a forest glade, appeared
some twenty or thirty skeleton forms, every limb in rapid motion,
twisting and turning and leaping,--the legs and arms being thrown out
sometimes alternately, like the toy figures worked by a string for the
amusement of babies and small children. Now they went on one side, now
on the other; now they cast themselves towards the ground, as if they
were about to turn head over heels, in the fashion of boys making a
"wheel" alongside carriages; now up they leaped all together, now one
following the other; till, after a succession of more extravagant
motions than before, they suddenly disappeared. I thought they had gone
altogether, when in another instant they again burst into view and
recommenced the same performances as before.
For the first few seconds--until I had time for reflection--I could
scarcely help fancying that they were skeletons animated by magic power;
and poor Paddy, I saw, fully believed that such was the case. All the
time, a band of native musicians, with their drums, were furiously
beating away directly in front of us, apparently unconscious of our
presence. This convinced me, if I had required other proof, that human
beings had to do with the spectacle I saw; and presently my notion was
fully confirmed by seeing the seeming skeletons advance close to the
fire, when I discovered the substantial black bodies of a party of
natives painted over with white lines to resemble the bones of
skeletons.
They continued their strange, weird dance, twisting and turning, some
with their arms akimbo, others resting on their legs. The groan of
relief given by poor Paddy nearly betrayed our presence, of which I
concluded Pullingo had not made them aware. What their object was it
was difficult to say, or what was Pullingo's in bringing us to see them:
possibly, I thought, aware of our presence in the neighbourhood, they
wanted to frighten us from proceeding; or perhaps they were only
performing a corroborree or native dance for their own amusement.
After we had watched them for some time, I pulled Paddy's arm, and got
him, not unwillingly, to retire from the scene.
"Arrah, Misther Godfrey," he said, "sure they're curious crathurs, them
black nagurs; and I confess, your honour, when I first saw them, that I
felt nigh ready to sink into the ground and turn into a skeleton myself!
But why Pullingo brought us to see them, is more than I can make out."
"It puzzles me also," I said. "Perhaps my father or Mr Mudge will be
able to form a conjecture on the subject."
These remarks were not made till we were well out of hearing of the
natives. Before we had got far, Pullingo joined us, and inquired, Paddy
said, what we thought of the performance.
The information we brought to the camp--of the vicinity of so large a
party of natives--was anything but satisfactory, and made my father
resolve to continue the journey next morning, instead of resting a day,
as he had proposed; and my mother declared that she was perfectly able
to travel, provided we could make a shorter stage than on the previous
days. The account we gave of the curious skeleton dance performed by
the blacks made Mudge, Tom, and Harry determine to go and see it.
Burton offered to accompany them; but the rest of the men, after
listening to the description given by Paddy, seemed to think that there
was something weird and supernatural in it, and showed no inclination to
join them. As for Pullingo, he made no attempt to explain matters, and
I could not help suspecting that he had got up the performance himself
for some purpose of his own. We waited some time for the return of
Mudge and the rest; but they at length came back, saying that they had
not been discovered, and that the skeletons were still dancing away as
furiously as ever.
My father determined that a double watch should be kept during the
night. To set the example, he took the first, with Burton and one of
the men; and I relieved him after a couple of hours. During the whole
time I heard the drums beating in the distance, and I had no doubt that
the natives were keeping up their corroborree, which I suppose afforded
them as much amusement as a ball in England does the young ladies and
gentlemen who attend it. Mudge, who followed me, said that he also
heard the sounds during the whole of his watch; indeed, the natives must
have kept up their festivities, if so they could be called, till the
"laughing jackass"--which performs the duty of a cock in Australia, by
chattering vociferously just before sunrise--warned them to seek repose.
As we were anxious to avoid the natives, we started at daybreak, and
marched nearly four miles before we halted for breakfast, munching only
a little biscuit to stay our appetites. Pullingo led the way as usual,
making us suppose that he had no connection with those who had been
engaged in the corroborree. My father, however, did not entirely trust
him: taking out his compass, he examined it frequently, to ascertain
that he was conducting us on a direct course. We might, indeed, have
dispensed with his guidance, had he not been of so much service in
showing us where springs of water were to be found, as also in pointing
out the trees on which parrots, pigeons, and other birds perched at
night.
After breakfast we rested for a short time, and then again pushed
forward, hoping to keep well ahead of our black neighbours of the
previous night. As it was impossible for my mother and Edith to make so
long a journey as on the previous day, we halted early in the afternoon,
in a wooded region very similar to that in which we had encamped on
former nights, on the southern side of a stream which we had just before
passed. I call it a stream, because water ran through it; but it
consisted merely of a numerous succession of holes more or less deep,
connected by a tiny rivulet, over which we could step without the
slightest difficulty. We could see that in the rainy season the water
had risen many feet, when it must have assumed the character of a
torrent, difficult and often very dangerous to cross.
We lost no time in building a hut for my mother and Edith, and in
arranging shelter for ourselves. Mudge, Doyle, Harry, and I then took
our guns and went out to kill some game for supper, hoping to get as
many birds as would serve also for our breakfast next day. On looking
about for Pullingo, to get him to accompany us, we found that he had
disappeared; but in what direction he had gone no one could tell.
"We can do very well without him," observed Mudge; "only we must take
care not to lose our way."
My father offered to lend us his compass, charging us to be very
careful. Our object had been to shoot cockatoos, parrots, or pigeons,
or indeed any other birds likely to prove good for food. We troubled
ourselves very little about their names or habits; we were, indeed,
sportsmen simply for the pot. We kept our eyes about us, however, in
search of a kangaroo or any other animal; and either Mudge or I had our
fowling-piece loaded with bullets, in case one should cross our path.
We had already shot several beautiful doves and parrots; but even now I
could not help feeling what a pity it was to deprive creatures with so
lovely a plumage of life.
We were walking on when Harry exclaimed, "Look! look! what is that
fearful creature?"
"A small bear, I do believe, by its colour and the way it walks,"
exclaimed Mudge as he ran on. "I hope soon to be better acquainted with
the gentleman."
The animal, which was leisurely pursuing its course, waddling along
something like a fat bear, across the bottom of a slight depression in
the ground, did not perceive us; and Mudge, whose rifle was loaded with
a bullet, soon got sufficiently near to fire. His shot must have
penetrated to the animal's heart, for it rolled over and was dead in a
moment. On examining the creature, which was three feet long, we found
its fur warm, long, and somewhat harsh to the touch, of a grey colour,
mottled with black and white. Its muzzle was very broad and thick. It
was, indeed, very similar to a bear, but it possessed a pouch like the
kangaroo, and its feet were black, and armed with strong claws.
"He is a curious-looking creature," observed Paddy, who quickly came up
with us. "One thing is very certain,--whether it's a bear or a pig of
these parts, it will give all hands a dacent supply of meat for the next
day or two."
Paddy at once set to work to cut up the animal, after which we loaded
ourselves with the portions, I should think it must have weighed fully
forty pounds. It was, I afterwards found, a wombat, or Australian bear,
an animal very common in all parts of the country. It burrows deeply
into the earth; but we were fortunate enough to find this one on a
journey, otherwise we should not have obtained it so easily.
We returned at once with our booty to the camp, when Paddy lost no time
in spitting the wombat, and placing it to roast before the fire. The
spit he used was a long thin stick, which he rested on two forked
uprights before the fire; one end extending like the tangent of a circle
to a sufficient distance, so that a person could keep turning it round
and round without having to sit too close to the fire.
Soon after our arrival Pullingo appeared, accompanied by three blacks,
one of whom he formally introduced to us as Naggernook. He was
apparently, judging by his withered skin and white hair and beard, a
very old man; but he had not lost the use of his tongue, for he
chattered away with extraordinary volubility, as if wishing to impress
some matter of importance upon us--though what it was, of course we
could not understand. The sight of the wombat roasting before the fire
excited his interest, and he inquired of Pullingo how we had obtained
it. Pullingo, pointing to our guns, entered into a long account of the
wonders they were capable of performing; indeed, he himself, though he
had so often seen them fired, seemed still to regard them with
superstitious awe, which it was important for our interests that he
should continue to feel.
As my father was anxious to conciliate the blacks, he waited till one of
the joints of the wombat was sufficiently roasted, and then presented it
to Naggernook; who had no sooner received the present than he began
jumping, and hopping, and skipping about in the most extraordinary
manner, hugging it with delight. Having thus exhibited his
satisfaction, if not his gratitude, he sat himself down on the ground,
and began to devour the meat--taking off huge pieces, which he stuffed
into his mouth in a fashion more honoured in the breach than in the
observance; occasionally throwing a piece, though not without
reluctance, to his two younger companions, who sat by his side,
submissively eating what was thus bestowed on them, much after the way a
couple of dogs would have done while watching their master at dinner.
We had no wish for the society of these unattractive specimens of
humanity, but they, it appeared, had made up their minds to remain, for
the purpose of obtaining whatever we were disposed to bestow on them,--
or perhaps of stealing, if they had the opportunity. However, on that
point we may have wronged them.
As soon as the two lads had scraped every particle of meat off the bone
Naggernook had thrown them, they collected some sheets of bark and put
up a lean-to close to our camp, showing that they had no intention of
going away. Pullingo, when he sat before the fire at supper, gave us,
in a low voice, as if afraid they would overhear him, a long account of
his native acquaintances who had honoured us with a visit; but what it
was we could not clearly make out. One thing was certain,--that a
considerable number of blacks were encamped in our neighbourhood, though
whether we should be troubled by them remained to be seen. Of course we
kept watch as usual, Mudge and I undertaking the charge of the second
watch. We agreed to walk together round and round the camp; or if one
sat down, the other was to move backwards and forwards, and to speak to
him at each turn.
We had been walking up and down for nearly an hour, when, feeling very
tired, I sat down, while Mudge continued pacing up and down. He had
just got to the end of his beat, the light of the fire still enabling me
to watch him, when I saw him bending forward with his hand above his
eyes, as if to peer into the darkness. As I got up and moved towards
him, he stopped. Just then I saw, in an opening of the forest some way
off, what appeared to be a human figure, standing on the summit of a
mound of earth slightly elevated above the surrounding ground. Human
though the figure was, it had a most extraordinary appearance. From the
shoulders floated out, moved by the breeze which blew through the
opening, the ends of a long scarf, with which its body was enveloped,
like the wings of some huge bird of night. A long beard hung from its
chin; while its hair, divided into separate long locks, rose in numerous
points above its head.
Not a sound issued from this extraordinary-looking being, who stood like
a statue--with the exception of its arms, which it continued slowly to
wave up and down in a series of mysterious signs, as if it would bar our
progress in that direction; indeed, if I may not be accused of impiety
by saying so, it reminded me of the angel with the flaming sword,
stationed at the entrance of Eden to prohibit the return of our first
parents,--though I am very certain that the idea must have been original
so far as the Australian necromancer--for such, we concluded, was the
character assumed by the being we saw before us--was concerned. He must
have been a bold fellow, to endeavour thus to practise on the supposed
credulity of the white men, for a shot from one of our rifles might
quickly have put an end to his performances; but, of course, we did not
for a moment think of firing at him.
"What can be the object of that extraordinary-looking character?" I
asked, as I got close up to Mudge.
"A trick of the natives, I conclude, to try and frighten us," he
answered. "Perhaps, as they know that they cannot compete with our
firearms, they are trying to awe us with an exhibition of their magic
powers; and that old fellow there is evidently acting the part of a
sorcerer. I should suspect him to be our friend Naggernook, had I not
seen him fast asleep in his camping-place when I last passed round that
way. Just you go and see whether he is still there, Godfrey, while I
keep an eye on the fantastic-looking personage out there."
Moving cautiously, I made my way towards the spot where our visitors had
gone to rest; and there, to the best of my belief, they were all three
still fast asleep. I returned to Mudge, who had not moved, he being
curious to watch the proceedings of the sorcerer.
"Rouse up Pullingo," he said, "and let us see what account he has to
give when he sees yonder scarecrow."
I found our black guide sleeping in his usual place near Paddy Doyle.
While I was waking him, Paddy started up.
"There is an extraordinary-looking character playing off some trick or
other not far from this, and we want to see what the black thinks about
him," I said; "try and make him understand that we are not in the
slightest degree frightened, and only want to know what can be his
object in placing himself there."
"But suppose it is a real ghost? For the love of Heaven, don't be after
offending him," said Paddy in a low whisper; "there are such things in
the old country, and none but a haythen man would think of doubting it.
So do, Masther Godfrey dear, take care what you are about."
Paddy having thus delivered himself, tried to make Pullingo understand
that we had seen something extraordinary near the camp; and not without
some hesitation did he accompany Paddy and me to where I had left Mudge
standing. The effect produced on him upon seeing the figure was far
greater than I had expected: the moment his eyes fell on it he began
trembling all over; and shouting out at the top of his voice, "Karakul!
karakul!" he bolted off towards the camp.
His cries aroused the other natives, who, starting to their feet, fled
away through the forest, uttering the same mysterious word. The noise
they made, of course, aroused every one in the camp; and my father and
Burton quickly joined us, inquiring what was the matter. We had
naturally looked to see what had become of the blacks, and when we
turned our eyes again towards the mound the mysterious figure had
disappeared.
"We must try and find the fellow, and teach him not to play his tricks
before us," exclaimed Mudge, dashing forward. I and most of the party
followed. Harry, however, brave as he was on most occasions, seemed
almost as much frightened as the blacks, and entreated us to let the
ghosts alone.
In vain we hunted round and round the mound; no one could we discover:
indeed, in the darkness, a person well acquainted with the locality
could easily have escaped, and might still be hiding not far off.
"There's no use in looking further for the fellow," observed Mudge; "but
we must let him see that we are not frightened by his tricks."
Returning to the camp, we made up the fire, and then went in search of
Pullingo and his friends. After some time we found them, crouching down
together in the hollow of a tree some way on the other side of the camp.
Either they were very much alarmed, or they pretended to be so: their
teeth were chattering, their limbs shaking, as they all clung together,
holding each other's hands, and looking out of their hole with staring
eyeballs; even their hair appeared to have assumed an upright position,
as if it was standing on end. If not really frightened, they certainly
acted their parts very cleverly. Calling Paddy, who had now recovered,
and seemed rather ashamed of himself, we got him to persuade Pullingo
and his friends to come with us to the fire; round which they sat down
in their usual fashion, as if nothing had happened. I observed,
however, that they looked every now and then in the direction in which
the figure had appeared, and occasionally cast suspicious glances behind
them. But a couple of roast parrots which we divided among them
contributed to restore their spirits.
By dint of cross-questioning Pullingo, we learned from him that the
karakul was, as we suspected, a sorcerer--a being with unlimited power
over the lives of all who offend him. He produces the death of his
victim in a very extraordinary fashion, by means of a small bone
extracted from the body of a dead man, which by his magical power he can
send into the heart of any one whom he wishes to destroy. He obtains
this bone by his enchantments. On the death of a native, he goes to the
grave the night after the funeral, and going through certain magical
performances, he afterwards lies on the top of it. At the precise
moment that a certain star appears in the heavens the dead man comes
forth, summoned by these incantations, and introduces within the skin of
the karakul, without causing him more pain or inconvenience than does
the bite of an ant, a minute bone taken from his own skeleton. The bone
thus obtained remains concealed under the enchanter's skin till the
moment that he requires to use it. He then, by magical power, orders
the mysterious bone to go out of his own body and plant itself in that
of the person he intends to destroy: it immediately enters the heart of
his unhappy victim, who quickly dies in great agony.
The enchanter, however, pretends not only to kill people, but to cure
them. When he cannot do so by his incantations, he tries rubbing and
various passes, much in the fashion of a mesmeriser. When these fail,
he burns the arms and legs of his patients, bleeds them behind the ear,
or hangs them up by an arm to the branch of a tree; if they are wounded,
he covers up their wounds with an ointment of mud. If after the
application of these remedies the patient does not get better, the
karakul declares that it is his own fault, and washes his hands of it.
"We have good reason to stand in awe of these powerful enchanters,"
observed Pullingo; at all events, that was what we understood him to
say, as far as we could comprehend his gestures and words. When I came
to know more about the natives, I found that his account was perfectly
correct. He told us a good many other curious things relating to the
superstitions of his countrymen; but I do not remember all of them. He
told us that the natives are firmly convinced no person ever dies from
natural causes; and that if not killed by his fellow-creatures, or
destroyed by the spells of magicians, he would live on for ever without
growing old or exhausting his physical powers.
"Come, we've had enough of this stuff," said Mudge at last. "Tell your
friends to turn in again and go to sleep; and you do the same, Master
Pullingo, or you will not be fit for your duty to-morrow."
Burton and one of the men relieved Mudge and me; but though they kept a
look-out for the karakul, the magician did not think fit to return to
his post: possibly the gleam of the fire on their muskets as they walked
round the camp may have shown him that the experiment would be
dangerous.
We talked over the matter the next morning, and came to the conclusion
that, for some reason or other, the natives were anxious to prevent us
continuing our journey. Of course, we settled to take no notice; and as
soon as breakfast was over we packed up our traps and got ready to
start, telling Pullingo to lead the way. He hesitated, and finally
declared that he could not venture in the direction where the karakul
had appeared.
"You may go any way you like," observed Mudge; "but we shall go straight
forward, and you may join us on the other side."
Naggernook and his attendants had been watching our proceedings, and
when they saw that we were advancing in the direction of the mound they
bolted off, crying out, "Karakul! karakul!" We replied with shouts of
laughter. Mudge fired a shot ahead to make them understand that that
would clear the way of all foes. It was a hint which they were well
capable of understanding, and, we hoped, would prevent their countrymen
from molesting us. Our great object was to avoid coming into collision
with them, for if blood was once shed we could not tell where it might
end. It was important to show the natives our power, and that we did
not entertain the slightest fear of them.
We marched forward in our usual order, and soon left the "sorcerer's
hillock," as we called it, far behind. Whether he and his associates
were following us we could not tell; though, of course, knowing the
country, they might be advancing in the same direction on either side of
us, and still keeping carefully out of sight.
I have not spoken much as yet of the appearance of the country, or the
trees we met with. Near the river, and as far as we could see along the
coast, were groups of magnificent pines known as the Norfolk Island
Pine, a hundred feet in height, with perfectly straight stems, fit for
masts to the largest ships. The most numerous trees were the eucalypti,
or stringy-bark tree, of various species, some of the prodigious height
of a hundred and fifty feet; others were of enormous girth, many from
thirty to forty feet round; and several, hollowed by age, were large
enough to admit the whole of our party. Except for size, they cannot be
called handsome, as the colour of the leaf is harsh and unsightly, owing
to its margin being presented towards the stem, both surfaces having
thus the same relation to light. In the hollows we met with superb
ferns growing on stems some twenty feet in height, and about the
thickness of a boat-oar. It then throws out a number of leaves in every
direction, four or five feet in length, very similar in appearance to
the common fern. Another curious tree had a stem sixteen feet long;
after which it branched out in long spiral leaves which hung down on all
sides, resembling those of the larger kinds of grass. From the centre
of the leaves sprang a foot-stalk twenty feet in length, exactly like
the sugar-cane, and terminating in a spiral spike resembling an ear of
wheat. It yielded a fragrant-scented yellow resin.
Pullingo having lost two of his spears, with which he had attempted to
kill a big forester kangaroo, and which made off with them sticking in
its back, he climbed to the top of several of these trees and cut down
this upper stem. He then hardened them in the fire. On comparing the
new spears with his old ones, we found that they were all of the same
material. We before had been puzzled to know how he had obtained such
straight and slender rods.
Though we believed that Pullingo was attached to us, we were still very
doubtful of the temper of his countrymen, and therefore, when on the
march we kept close together, to be ready to resist any sudden attack.
When we halted at mid-day to rest, we took care not to range to any
great distance in search of game unless we had him with us. We seldom
went more than a couple of days without killing a kangaroo or a wombat,
while we obtained an ample supply of birds,--either cockatoos or parrots
and parakeets, several varieties of pigeons, as also of doves, and now
and then a bustard, or native turkey, a large bird weighing sixteen or
eighteen pounds. Frequently, as we were marching on, we were saluted by
a sound so like the crack of a whip, that Tommy and Pierce declared that
some black boy near at hand must be amusing himself with one; and it was
some time before we discovered that the sound was produced by a small
bird either over our heads or perched on a tree near at hand.
We marched on about ten miles, and again encamped close to one of the
huge eucalypti I have before mentioned. Near at hand was a forest, or
bush, somewhat denser than usual with hilly ground, which confined our
view on that side to narrow limits. A stream of water tempted us to
stop here rather than push on a few miles farther. My mother and Edith
performed the daily journey without feeling any unusual fatigue; but the
great heats had not begun, and the air was pure and exhilarating.
Mudge, Paddy, and I were very successful in a shooting expedition on
which we started, as soon as we had encamped, with Pullingo; Mudge
having killed a good-sized kangaroo, and Paddy and I two dozen
gaily-feathered birds, while Pullingo had brought down nearly a dozen
more with his boomerang. We had intended going in the direction of the
hills, but when he saw us setting off he made signs to us that it would
be of no use; and when we still persevered he placed himself in front of
us, and by the most violent gestures endeavoured to stop our progress.
At length, as we dodged him, he turned back towards the camp and sat
himself down on the ground, as if determined not to accompany us. We
therefore gave up the attempt, and took the way he pointed out, along
the banks of the stream, near which we found most of the birds we
killed.
On our return the men set to work to pluck our feathered prizes, while
Paddy scientifically cut up the kangaroo; after which there was a grand
cooking of flesh and fowl, while some cakes made by my mother were baked
under the ashes. As a rule, the farinaceous food we were able to carry
was reserved for my mother, Edith, and Pierce. We found scarcely
anything in the shape of fruit, but we obtained a sort of wild spinach,
and occasionally heads of cabbage-palms, which served us for vegetables,
and assisted to keep the whole party in health.
Supper was over, and my mother and Edith had just retired to their hut.
Except Mudge and Paddy, who had to keep the first watch, the rest of the
party were about to lie down under the lean-tos, when on a sudden there
burst forth, close to us, a wild, unearthly, and abrupt yell of mocking
laughter, as if uttered by a party of natives who, creeping on us
unawares, had surrounded the camp, and now to their delight found that
we were in their power. We started to our feet and seized our arms,
expecting the next moment to have a shower of spears hurled into our
midst; but when we looked round to see in which direction the enemy
would appear, no one was to be seen.
"Where can that have come from?" exclaimed Mudge.
"The fellows must have retreated, whoever they were. Keep steady, my
lads," cried my father; "on no account leave the camp. Their object
probably is to entice us away, when they hope to destroy us in detail."
My mother had come out of her hut with Edith, who stood trembling by her
side.
"Don't be alarmed," said my father. "The savages, finding that we are
prepared, are not likely to attack us."
"But there is no shelter for them nearer than the neighbouring bush; and
that cry came from a spot close at hand," observed Mudge. "With your
leave, Captain Rayner, I will take two men with me and soon rout them
out of their lurking-place."
"Depend upon it, they are far away by this time," observed my father.
Scarcely had he spoken, when again there came that fearful yell,
sounding like what I could conceive to be the horrible laughter of a
maniac.
"Why, I do believe it comes from some fellow who has climbed into this
very tree," cried Mudge; "and I'll take the liberty of shooting him if
he doesn't come down of his own accord."
I had observed all this time that Pullingo sat very quietly by the fire,
watching what we were about, and merely uttering the word "Gogobera;"
but whether that was the name of the leader of the savages surrounding
us, or of some supposed malign spirit, we could not tell. I now saw,
however, that he was quietly laughing, evidently highly diverted by the
alarm these strange sounds had produced among us.
"The black knows something about it," I sang out. "I shouldn't be
surprised if, after all, it was one of those necromancers he was telling
us about playing off his tricks. Paddy, do you try and get him to tell
us who has been making those hideous noises."
Pullingo quickly understood Paddy, and getting up, went towards the
branch of the tree at which Mudge and several others were looking up.
Taking out his boomerang, he stepped a few paces back; then away it flew
till it took a course upwards and penetrated amid the boughs, and the
next instant down came a large bird, with a black head and a peculiarly
strong beak.
"Dat make laughee," he observed composedly.
We found that our nocturnal visitor was no other than that well-known
member of the feathered tribe, the "laughing jackass;" more
scientifically denominated the "giant kingfisher." When I saw the bird,
I was very sorry that it had been killed; for, notwithstanding its
discordant voice, it is a remarkably sociable and useful creature, as we
afterwards discovered. It destroys snakes, which it catches by the
tail, and then crushes their head with its powerful beak; it also
renders an essential service to the settlers who want to get up early,
by shouting out its strange notes to welcome the approach of dawn--from
which peculiarity it is also called the "settler's clock." We soon
discovered that _gogobera_ was the name given to it by the natives.
They, at all events, have no superstitious feeling regarding it; for
Pullingo, plucking the bird, soon had it roasting before the fire; and,
to the best of my belief, he had devoured the whole of it before the
morning.
"I hope we shall have no other disturbance during the night, and so I
advise all hands to turn in," said my father.
We quickly followed his advice. Probably, had the black not killed the
poor gogobera, we should have been aroused betimes in the morning; as it
was, the man who was on watch at that time did not think it necessary to
call us till the sun was above the horizon.
My father, I found, after consulting with Mudge, determined to remain
where we were for the day, as our camp was well situated near water, and
there was evidently an abundance of game to be obtained in the
neighbourhood. Pullingo, who had over-eaten himself during the night
with the gogobera, on hearing this showed no inclination to get up, but
rolled himself over and went to sleep again.
Mudge and I had been curious to know what sort of country lay beyond the
hills in the direction Pullingo had been so unwilling we should take on
the previous day. We determined, therefore, to set off as soon as
breakfast was over.
We did so, taking Paddy Doyle and Popo with us to carry our provisions,
and armed with our fowling-pieces and pistols. As Pullingo was still
fast asleep, we settled not to interrupt him. We set off, therefore,
without waiting for the black, and at once made our way to the westward,
through the forest. Soon reaching the top of the hill, we descended
into the valley, which was still more thickly wooded than the country we
had left. On we went, without seeing any birds at which to fire, till,
as we happened to be standing without speaking, I fancied I heard the
sound of voices coming from a distance. I told Mudge, who, on
listening, was convinced that I was right.
"Still, we will go on," he said. "If the voices are those of natives,
we can but retire; and the very fact of our doing so will show them,
should they discover us, that we have no ill-feeling or hostile
intentions towards them."
We went on and on through the thick forest, which afforded us ample
shelter. The voices we had heard grew louder and louder, and we saw
that we were approaching an opening, when just at the edge of it we
found a thick belt of bushes, which completely concealed us from any one
beyond, though we managed to look through it. The scene which presented
itself induced us to remain instead of retiring. In the centre, on the
top of a mound, stood a tall, gaunt old woman, her long white hair
streaming behind her back in the wind. In her left hand she held a long
stick, which she flourished above her head, while with the other she was
making the most vehement gestures. Around the woman, and densely packed
together, were collected a number of men of all ages, and a few women--
as we supposed, from seeing several sturdy infants rolling about on the
grass by their sides. The eager faces of her audience were intently
fixed upon her as she poured forth a torrent of words, the meaning of
which was beyond our comprehension. So intently were they listening,
that we ran but little chance of being discovered, unless she should
happen to turn her eyes in the direction of the spot where we lay
hidden.
For several minutes she went on, eloquently addressing the assembly and
wildly gesticulating, apparently in the endeavour to arouse them to some
mode of action which she was advocating. From some of the words which
reached our ears, we at length could not help suspecting that she was
speaking about us, and advising the warriors of her tribe to put a stop
to our progress through the country. The longer she went on the more
convinced we became of this, and we could not help dreading that they
would suddenly start up to rush towards our camp, and discover us.
Mudge touched me on the shoulder, and made a sign to me to retreat while
there was time. I passed it on to Paddy and Popo, who were on the other
side. Just at that moment, on looking round, I saw the countenance of a
black close behind me. Had our enemies surrounded us? If so, we should
have to fight hard for our lives. Great was my satisfaction, when a
second glance showed me that the new-comer was no other than Pullingo,
who had crept cautiously up to us. He did not speak, but his gestures
proved that he wished us to retreat as silently as he had approached.
As this was undoubtedly the wisest thing we could do, we moved
noiselessly away from the bush, stooping down as he was doing, so that
we might escape being seen by the old witch on the top of the mound.
Happily at that time her head was turned away from us, while she was
addressing those on the further side of the circle.
Pullingo led on without stopping for a moment, or venturing even to look
back, probably fearing that he might be discovered, and bring down the
vengeance of his countrymen upon himself. At all events, the fact of
his having followed us, knowing the danger in which we might place
ourselves, was a convincing proof of his fidelity. With unerring
sagacity he led the way through the forest, and not till we had passed
over the first range of hills did he stop to allow us to take breath.
"Bad!--mighty bad, Paddy!" he said, turning round to his friend, and
speaking with the accent he had learned from the Irishman. "If get
killed, others say Pullingo did it. Bad!--mighty bad, Paddy!" he
continued repeating, his limited stock of words not allowing him to
express his opinion of our proceeding in any other way.
"But if we had not gone, we should not have found out that the blacks
were thinking of attacking us," answered Doyle. "They might have been
down upon us during the night, and killed every mother's son among us
before we were awake in the morning; so you see, Mr Pullingo, our
journey has been of more use than you're inclined to suppose. And pray
how comes it, if you knew they were there, that you didn't tell us?"
"I tell by-and-by if dey come," answered Pullingo. "Now, on again;" and
once more moving forward, he led the way to the camp. He either took a
shorter route, or we got over the ground very much faster than when we
were going, as we arrived considerably sooner than I expected.
The account we gave my father made him hesitate about remaining where we
were. We had still four hours of daylight, and by pushing on we might
put a distance of ten miles or so between ourselves and the blacks.
From what we had seen, and the few words we had understood, we gathered
that the old hag, for some cause or other, was instigating her tribe to
attack us. Pullingo was consulted on the subject; and when he
understood that we proposed moving away, he advised that we should do so
without delay.
My father had been anxious to allow my mother and Edith time to rest:
the strength of my little sister, indeed, was severely tried with the
long walk she had taken every day since we had commenced our journey.
"But, sure, we can carry the young lady," exclaimed Paddy. "I, for one,
will willingly lend my shoulder. Sure, she's as light as a feather!"
"And so will I," said Mudge. "I only wish we had thought of it before."
Burton also, and one of the other men, volunteered to carry her. My
mother thanked them, and declared that, so far as she herself was
concerned, she was ready to proceed any distance which might be thought
necessary. We accordingly at once set to work to construct a sort of
palanquin. Several of the trees I have described, which have long
foot-stalks above their leaves, from which the natives make their
spears, were growing near, and from these two long poles were speedily
cut. They were tough and light, and sufficiently strong to bear my
sister's weight. Some cross-pieces were secured to them, and the
intervals filled up with the long spiral leaves from the same tree. On
the top of this network a piece of bark was fastened; thus, in less than
five minutes a very suitable litter was constructed.
Having quickly packed up our traps, we placed Edith on it and set out;
Paddy declaring, with true Irish politeness, that his own pack felt all
the lighter for having the young lady to balance it. Pullingo was
evidently astonished at seeing the pains we took with the little girl,
as his own wife and daughters would have had to carry any property they
possessed, while he trudged ahead, laden only with his spears and
boomerang,--not, by the way, that the Australian natives ever are the
possessors of many weighty articles, dispensing, as they do when
travelling, with houses or clothing or cooking utensils, or indeed any
of the requirements of civilised beings. While acting as our guide,
however, he seemed anxious to imitate us in all respects, and now
marched ahead wearing the trousers and shirt which had been given him;
looking upon them, however, more as an honourable distinction than as
articles of necessity.
The appearance of the country varied but little from that we had passed
over. It was sufficiently level to allow of Edith being carried without
difficulty, though in some places undulating, and covered pretty thickly
with trees; generally, however, the country was thoroughly park-like,
and I could not help expecting to see a herd of deer start up and go
bounding away before us. In lieu of them, we occasionally caught sight
of three or four kangaroos, and sometimes of solitary individuals,--
which, however, made their escape before we could get a shot at them.
They are wary animals; and it is difficult to approach them unless where
the cover is thick, and the sportsman is on the alert. But even when
feeding they keep a watchful eye round on every side, to give notice of
their two enemies, the natives or the dingos, as they approach.
"Well, after all, this is a very jolly life," observed Tommy to me, as
he and Harry and I brought up the rear, having been ordered to keep a
look-out on every side, as well as behind us, lest any natives should be
following our trail. "I only wish those black fellows would take
themselves off and not interfere with us."
"Perhaps they may be saying the same thing of us," I observed. "We must
remember that we are the trespassers; and they, by right of previous
occupation, consider the country their own, and are naturally not
pleased at seeing us killing the animals on which they subsist."
"But there must be enough for both of us," said Tommy, "judging from the
number of birds we see overhead. And it is very foolish in them to
attempt to interfere with the white men: the weakest must always go to
the wall."
"That may be," I observed: "but they have to learn that lesson; and in
the meantime they fancy that they can drive us out of the country. We
have, of course, a perfect right to come here; but we are bound to treat
them with humanity, and to take every pains not to injure them or
deprive them of their means of subsistence."
"That, I am sure, is very right," observed Harry. "It is not their
fault that they are ignorant savages; and we must think of what we
should have been ourselves if we had not been instructed. I never can
forget what I might have become had I been left with those dreadful
people from whom you rescued me. I should have known nothing of God or
of his love for man, or of his desire that man should be reconciled to
him through his own appointed way, and come to live with him in the
glorious heaven he has prepared, for ever and ever."
"Then why is it that thousands and tens of thousands of savages, in all
parts of the world, are allowed to live and die without ever hearing of
him?" asked Tommy.
"That is one of the many mysteries which man has failed to solve," I
observed. "We cannot understand His plans; with regard to them, all we
know is how He deals with us: for that we know through the Bible, where
all seems to me perfectly clear."
"I am sure it is," observed Harry; "I have been certain of that since
your mother and Edith have read the book to me, and have taught me to
read it for myself. It seems to me that people are ignorant because
they will not read the book, or seek for grace to understand it."
I was very glad to hear Harry say this, for it showed that my mother's
instruction had not been thrown away on him. Indeed, besides being
thoroughly guileless and honest, he possessed as much natural
intelligence as anybody I ever met.
We talked about many other things, and Harry was always ready to listen
for the sake of gaining information. He delighted especially to hear
about England, as well as other countries, and the numberless wonders of
which he formerly had no conception.
That day's march--to us, who had been out all the morning--was a very
fatiguing one. We had, too, as I have said, to be constantly on the
watch, especially when passing near thickets--so I will call them--of
ferns or other closely-growing trees, which might afford concealment to
the blacks. We knew that, cunning as they were, they were just as
likely to appear ahead or on one side of us as behind. My father had
given directions that, should we be attacked. Edith was to be placed on
the ground, when we were to gather round her, forming a hollow square,
in the same way that infantry are arranged to receive cavalry; but that
no one was to fire until he gave the word. He always entertained a hope
that the blacks, on seeing us well-prepared, would not venture to attack
us.
I was very thankful when at length, just as the sun was setting,
Pullingo called a halt by the side of a wood. It was somewhat in a
hollow, for the sake of a water-hole which existed at the bottom. Our
camp, however, was pitched on a slope where the ground was dry. Around
the spot grew some enormous ferns, as large as ordinary trees in the
northern parts of the world. We lost no time in making preparations for
passing the night: our huts were quickly put up and a fire kindled--the
grass surrounding the place being first carefully cut down, so as to
prevent any risk of it blazing up and setting the trees in flames.
This, in dry weather, is the chief danger to be guarded against when
travelling in Australia.
Edith thanked her carriers for having saved her so much fatigue.
"Sure, it's the pleasantest thing I've done for many a day, Miss Edith,"
answered Paddy, with a flourish of his straw hat; "and of course I just
speak the sentiments of all the rest."
Mudge, who was not in the habit of paying compliments, smiled; but he
told Edith he was very glad to have been able to carry her, and that he
should propose making a litter for Mrs Rayner, and letting Harry, and
Tom, and Popo, and me act as her bearers for another day.
Scarcely had we sat down to supper when we were saluted with the same
discordant, laughing cry which had startled us on the previous evening;
but this time, knowing from whence it proceeded, we felt no alarm;
though I believe that, had not Pullingo killed the gogobera, we should
not have been convinced that a bird could have produced such sounds.
Of course, we kept a watch; but the night passed away without any event
to disturb our rest. Even before the sun was up, our friend the
"laughing jackass" woke us with his strange cries. Pullingo would have
killed him with his boomerang, had we not begged his life; and soon
after the sun was up, I observed him flying away to a place of safety,
disturbed by seeing so many people moving about.
As our rest had been cut short at the last place, my father settled to
remain here till past noon, and to make only half a day's journey, so
that we might start at dawn the next day and make some progress during
the cool hours of the morning. We therefore sat quiet after breakfast,
enjoying the rest we all more or less needed.
Though I have not before mentioned it, my father, I should have said,
invariably called all the party together for prayers, both morning and
evening, and either he or my mother read a portion of the Bible to us.
After this had been done, Mudge and I took our guns, in the hope of
shooting some birds for dinner, which we intended to take before
starting. We killed as many as we required; and finding it very hot, we
agreed to rest under the shade of a huge fern, while we sent the game
back by Popo, who had accompanied us, to be got ready for cooking.
Mudge leaned back against a tree and lighted his pipe, while I sat close
to him, enjoying the comparative coolness which the shade afforded.
We had not been resting many minutes when we heard a rustling sound in
the bushes; and supposing that it was caused by a kangaroo, I lifted my
gun, ready to fire. At that instant a native burst from the cover; but
on seeing us, with a look of astonishment and terror he sprang on one
side, and continued his course at headlong speed, passing some thirty
yards from us, and being quickly lost to sight. I was thankful that I
had not fired, as I was nearly doing, before I discovered that it was a
human being, rushing through the forest, and apparently, from some cause
or other, flying from his foes. Had he merely been hunting, he would
have retreated, as he would have known that the animal of which he was
in chase was not likely to have passed us.
"It proves, at all events, that the natives are timid beings, and that
we have very little cause to fear them, or that fellow would not have
been so frightened at seeing us," observed Mudge.
Some time passed by, when Mudge looked at his watch. "I should think
that the parrots must now be properly done; and we may as well return to
the camp," he observed. "But, really, I feel very little inclination to
get up."
Just as he spoke I saw Pullingo close to us. He had approached so
noiselessly, that, had he been an enemy, he might easily have surprised
us.
"Not good here; too far from camp," he said in a low voice.
Scarcely had he said this when I heard a rustling in the direction from
whence the native had appeared, and immediately afterwards seven dark
forms--some with spears, others with axes or clubs, in their hands--came
rushing forth into the sunlight, looking about in every direction, as if
in eager search of some one or something. Concealed as we were by the
high grass and the trunks of the trees, they did not at first perceive
us, and earnestly I hoped that they might pass by without doing so.
Pullingo crouched down, eagerly watching them, but without uttering a
word. Mudge's hand moved towards his pistols; and I kept my finger on
the trigger of my gun, ready to fire should they appear to have any
intention of attacking us. They were more savage-looking fellows than
any we had before seen--their countenances distorted with rage, and
every action exhibiting the fury which animated them. Eagerly they
looked about on every side; but not discovering the object of their
search, were about to rush onward, when one of them caught sight of us.
On finding that we were discovered, we both sprang to our feet with our
guns ready to fire, determined to sell our lives dearly should they
attack us, as we had no doubt they would; while with terrific shrieks
they came bounding towards us, some with their spears ready to dart,
others flourishing their axes and clubs.
"I'll pick off the leading fellow, and you fire at the next," cried
Mudge; and I was on the point of obeying him, when Pullingo started up
and uttered some words in his own language, the meaning of which we
could not understand.
The natives stopped, and Pullingo cried out to us, "Don't shoot! don't
shoot!" He was but just in time. "Dey not enemy," he said.
He now advanced and exchanged a few hurried words with the natives, who,
I had very little doubt, were in pursuit of the black we had previously
seen; but, of course, we did not let them know that he had passed us.
Having exchanged a few more words with Pullingo, they continued their
course in the direction the fugitive had taken, while we returned with
Pullingo to the camp.
On the way he told us that the fugitive had committed a murder or some
other crime, and that the avengers were following him to take his life.
Alas! for him, poor wretch! there was no city of refuge in the land; and
unless he could exhibit more cunning and endurance than his seven
pursuers, his fate was sealed, and probably ere the sun had set he would
be numbered with the dead.
We were thankful for our escape, for had we killed one of them in our
ignorance of their intentions, the others would have set upon us; and we
should either have been compelled to shoot the whole of them, or have
been pierced through and through with their lances. It was, at all
events, fortunate that Pullingo had come up just at the right moment.
Before we reached the camp he resumed his shirt and trousers, which, for
some reason or other which he did not explain, he had hidden away in the
bush. I could not help fancying that he knew his countrymen might pass
by that way; and having found out where we were, he had come to warn us
of our danger.
We narrated the adventure to my father and the rest of the party; and
after the description we gave of the blacks, they expressed a hope that
we should not fall in with them.
Our game, as we had expected, was ready for taking off the spits; and as
soon as we had discussed it, we prepared for our departure.