Native dogs—Their tenacity of life—Return to Yas
Plains—The Australian raspberry—Native cherry-tree—The
summer season—Tree hoppers—Their clamour—Gannets—Country
about the Tumat river—Bugolong—The Black range—A
storm—Vicinity of rivers—Native blacks—Their costume and
weapons—Wheat-fields—Destructive birds—Winding course of the
Murrumbidgee.
Three dingos, or native dogs, (the “Warragul” of the aborigines, Canis
Australasiæ, Dem.[86]) were seen about the hills at “Gudarigby,” and the
howling of the kangaroo dogs during the night, was the first indication
of their prowling about; they are the wolves of the colony, and are
perhaps unequalled for cunning. These animals breed in the holes of
rocks; a litter was found near Yas Plains, which the discoverer failed to
destroy, thinking to return and catch the mother also, and thus destroy
the whole family; but the “old lady” must have been watching him, for on
his returning a short time after, he found all the little dingos had been
carried away, and he was never able, although diligent search was made in
the vicinity, to discover their place of removal. The cunning displayed
by these animals, and the agony they can endure, without evincing the
usual effects of pain, would seem almost incredible, had it not been
related by those on whose testimony every dependence can be placed. The
following are a few among a number of extraordinary instances.
One had been beaten so severely that it was supposed all the bones were
broken, and it was left for dead. After the person had walked some
distance, upon accidentally looking back, his surprise was much excited
by seeing “master dingo” rise, shake himself, and march into the bush,
evading all pursuit.—One, supposed dead, was brought into a hut, for
the purpose of undergoing “decortication;” at the commencement of the
skinning process upon the face, the only perceptible movement was a
slight quivering of the lips, which was regarded at the time as merely
muscular irritability: the man, after skinning a very small portion, left
the hut to sharpen his knife, and returning found the animal sitting up,
with the flayed integument hanging over one side of the face.
Another instance was that of a settler, who, returning from a sporting
expedition, with six kangaroo dogs, they met a dingo, which was attacked
by the dogs, and worried to such a degree, that finding matters becoming
serious, and that the worst of the sport came to his share, the cunning
dingo pretended to be dead;—thinking he had departed the way of all dogs,
they gave him a parting shake, and left him. Unfortunately for the poor
dingo, he was of an impatient disposition, and was consequently premature
in his resurrection, for before the settler and his dogs had gone any
distance, he was seen to rise and skulk away, but on account of the rough
treatment he had received, at a slow pace; the dogs soon re-attacked him,
when he was handled in a manner that must have eventually prevented any
resuscitation taking place a second time.
These instances may account for the fact why skeletons of the animals are
not found in places where they have been left supposed dead. I have more
than once been taken where one had been _killed_, as I desired to have
a skeleton; but no remains of the beast were visible in the majority
of instances; and crows and hawks do not devour animals, bones and all,
in this country.[87] The following anecdote proves that the “dingos,”
although cowards when chances are against them, will, like the Chinese,
stand battle when numbers and chance of victory are on their side. A
native dog attacked a calf, which was driven by a man having a kangaroo
dog with him. The hound immediately set upon the dingo, but four more
coming to the assistance of their comrade, they tore the kangaroo dog
very severely; but the man, by aid of shouting and sticks, drove them
away, after much difficulty.
On the 26th of November I returned from “Gudarigby” to Yas Plains, by
a longer but better road than that by which I came; passing through a
fine open forest and luxuriant pasture land, the distance being eight
or nine miles further than by scrambling over the ranges. The _Rubus
australis_, or Australian raspberry, (char, mut’h, mut’h of the Yas
natives,) was abundant. The fruit is small, devoid of flavour, but might,
perhaps, be improved by cultivation. It may also be an interesting
experiment to ascertain how far the _Exocarpus cupressiforme_, or native
cherry-tree, may be made to produce a good edible fruit by grafting or
culture. The greatest elevation I have seen this tree attain has been
thirty to forty feet, and a diameter of a foot to a foot and a half: the
fruit is insignificant, and almost tasteless. There is another species
of _Exocarpus_ abundant about Goulburn Plains, and other parts of the
colony, shrubby, seldom attaining more than five or six feet elevation;
bearing a white, instead of a red fruit, as in the other species just
mentioned. The Eucalypti trees were now covered with a profusion of white
blossoms, attracting multitudes of parroquets, who revel in the sweets
afforded by the nectaries.
As the summer season was now fully set in, (December,) the previous
silence of the woods was broken by the incipient, shrill, chirping noises
which resounded over them, occasioned by the male _Tettigoniæ_, or tree
hoppers, emerging from the larva into the winged state; the cases the
fly had left, being seen on almost every tree or post. This genus is
remarkable for the instrument with which it cuts grooves in the wood for
the purpose of depositing its eggs. The musical organs, or drums, only
found in the males, are not less interesting; and the best published
account respecting them is that by Reamur, quoted in the very interesting
work, entitled “Insect Miscellanies.” The aborigines call these insects
“Galang, galang,” and formerly used them as food; first stripping off the
wings, they ate them in the raw state; that is, as the native blacks told
me at Yas, “_when no white feller here, and black feller no get bread or
yam_.”
My notice was particularly directed by the natives to the drums in the
male insects, as the means by which they produced their thrilling
sounds; at the same time adding, in their peculiar English, “_Old woman
Galang, galang, no got, no make a noise_;” implying that the females do
not possess these musical instruments. There are several species of this
genus known in Australia. During rain, these insects are silent; but
recommence their clamour on the reappearance of fine weather. The native
blacks at Goulburn Plains told me that the manna produced by one of the
Eucalypti trees, (_E. mannifera_,) was the excrement of this insect:
this, probably, arose in their minds, from these insects appearing on the
trees in the winged state, about the same time that the manna is secreted.
Several gannets had lately been shot, about the Murrumbidgee and Yas
rivers, with plumage of a brownish black colour, bills and legs black:
there was, also, a bird occasionally seen in this part of the colony,
bearing a close resemblance to the swift, but only seen during the months
of February and March, frequenting spots where the grass was on fire, to
catch insects, &c. The aborigines of Yas name it “Kriolon,” or “Kriola.”
On the 7th of December, I left Yas for the purpose of visiting the but
little known country about the Tumat river. The roads were in excellent
condition at this season, and the country around resembled an extensive
park. The grass was luxuriant and verdant, having not yet been parched by
the summer heats; and travelling was now very agreeable. After passing
“Durramgullen,” (a station belonging to Mr. Barber,) and Bowning Hill, or
Mountain,[88] (a conspicuous object from all parts of the Yas Plains,)
I arrived at “Bugolong,” a cattle station, at the distance of thirteen
miles from Yas, belonging to Mr. Hunt, but better known as “Carrol’s
Station,”[89] from the name of the overseer or stock-keeper in charge.
I remained here a short time to refresh the horse, as at this station
there was abundance of fine grass. The roads were now good; but in the
winter season, during wet weather, are almost impassable. The country
in its general appearance is broken, but very picturesque; abounding in
grass, but in most parts too moist for sheep, although excellent for
cattle, which fatten amazingly upon these “runs.” The “Black range”
of mountains was passed at the “gap,” through which the road passes
before arriving at this station. The waters, flowing from the east side
of the “Black range,” fall into the Yas, and those from the west into
the Murrumbidgee river; and the Yas empties or unites itself with the
Murrumbidgee only a short distance from this station. I was soon again
on my journey, being desirous of reaching “Jugiong” by the evening, from
which I was now distant eighteen miles.
Before I had proceeded many miles, some heavy clouds which had collected
from the westward, poured down a deluge of rain, accompanied by violent
peals of thunder and vivid lightning: the electric fluid burst with
such crashing sounds, that I expected to see the trees shattered in ten
thousand pieces by my side. Not having encumbered myself with a cloak,
I was fully exposed to the pelting for nearly half an hour, when wind,
rain, and accompaniments subsiding, the reappearance of the sun soon
dissipated the moisture from the ground, as also from myself; and by
the time I arrived at the end of my journey, my apparel was as dry as
when I set out. Although this would have been in our English climate
an occurrence injurious to health, yet here it is rare that any ill
effects arise from it; the same remark may equally apply to the custom of
sleeping in the bush at night when travelling, from which no traveller
has been known to sustain injury. The road continued excellent as I
proceeded; but during the wet season is probably (being similar to that
before passed over) nearly impassable. The feature of the country was
open forest, abounding in luxuriant grass: occasionally a denser forest
would vary the scene; the hills were thinly wooded, and the declivities
carpeted with verdure.
At last, the gloomy appearance and peculiar growth of the “swamp
oaks” indicated the vicinity of a creek, which emptied itself into
the Murrumbidgee river; and, on ascending the hill near it, the ripe
wheat field, and mud hovel appeared; and large “swamp oaks,” “water
gum,” and other trees, directed my attention to the situation where the
Murrumbidgee river flowed: this was the station named “Jugiong,” the
property of Henry O’Brien, Esq.; and, descending the hill, I arrived at
the dirty hut of the station, my only place of rest for the night, after
a journey of thirty-six miles.
I found in this, as in other instances, more animation and beauty in
the vicinity of a river, than in other portions of the land; imparting
cheerfulness to the traveller, as well as to the whole animal creation.
The numerous feathered tribe welcome him with songs and chirpings, rarely
heard in the less watered and gloomy places, so much abounding in the
colony: a livelier green is seen in the foliage of the trees; pasturage
and flowering shrubs cast a beauty over the soil, and the journey
about such places is less fatiguing, because it is more interesting
and cheering. It was not long since that marked trees alone guided the
traveller to these stations; whereas, now a well-beaten road, passable
even for gigs, has been formed, making travelling upon it very agreeable.
On my arrival at this station, I found a number of the native blacks
collected about, all, even the ladies, in a state of nudity, “naked,
but not ashamed:” some were busily employed in making rude spears, by
sharpening the point of a long stick, which was afterwards hardened in
the fire: they were preparing to hunt their “evening prey.” “Give them,”
the men at the stations observe, “ever so much bread or meat, still they
will hunt opossum and other game.” The spears they used, were twelve or
fourteen feet in length. On a sunny day, when there is little wind, the
water clear, and comparatively tranquil, the aborigines go on the river
in small bark canoes to spear fish, more particularly about the rocky
parts of the river, and usually return with a large quantity: they also
spear the “water-mole,” (_Ornithorynchus_,) if they observe any during
the river excursion. Nothing comes amiss to the blacks for food: they may
be said to devour “every living thing that runs upon the surface of the
earth, or in the waters beneath.”
I was examining the fine muscular structure, and the raised cicatrices,
which were numerous over the arms and chest, of one of the natives, (and
which he regarded as highly ornamental,) when, puzzled to ascertain
the meaning of my curiosity, after I had finished, he whispered to
the stock-keeper, if “he white feller gentleman ever see black feller
before.” But as for procuring an examination of their phrenological
organs, it was a labour of some difficulty, and even danger; for they
seemed to regard it as witchcraft, or some magic ceremony: and when they
even did submit, they evinced much fear, and preserved a very serious
countenance during the operation, as if dreading the result; similar
to young ladies, when under Deville’s hands for the same purpose,
their secretiveness and caution being overcome in some degree, by
curiosity.[90]
The field of wheat at this station being just ripe, a man was obliged to
be almost constantly on the watch, to prevent the “white cockatoos” from
attacking and destroying it. These birds are named “Wagara,” or “Muruen,”
by the aborigines: they were not yet very numerous, as the harvest was
earlier than usual; but last year, I was told, the season was later, and
the crops were nearly destroyed, for they came in immense flocks; and
although many were killed, it did not deter the others from attacking the
grain. The reason given, why they were not now so numerous, was, that the
young cockatoos were not sufficiently fledged to leave the nest; so the
reaper’s song might be, “Fly not yet, little cockies;” for the old birds,
rearing their progeny in a way to provide themselves with the necessaries
of life, bring them in multitudes to attack a field of corn or grain,
and are then so bold, as to be with great difficulty frightened away,
although the deaths of hundreds may be the consequence; but, fortunately
for the settler, the harvest was this season in a more forward state, and
the little cockies not being in “full feather,” there was comparatively
but few marauders.
The way “the mob” of these screaming and destructive birds attack a field
of grain, (or the cobs of corn in a maize field,) is to fly against,
bear down the stalks with their weight, perch upon the fallen ears, and
speedily destroy them.[91] Like all the parrot tribe, they construct
no nest, but lay their eggs in a hollow branch or “spout” of a tree,
clearing it of the rotten wood within, except a small quantity at the
bottom, on which the eggs are laid, and the young ones afterwards repose.
It was related to me, that formerly such multitudes of parrots would
beset a field of grain, as to oblige a settler to employ a number
of men expressly to drive them away; and even then it was done with
difficulty. This is now rare: which circumstance is not attributed to any
depopulation of the “Polly” tribe, but from cultivation having become
more extended; the parrot population being now divided in flocks about
the different fields, when formerly they made their formidable attacks
upon one or two only, and then in such numbers, that, left undisturbed
for only a few hours, it would suffice to destroy the hopes of the
settler, at all events for that season. It was computed that thirty or
forty thousand of these birds were about the field at one time; and
from what I saw, I do not consider the numbers were exaggerated. It is
not only ripe grain that suffers from them, but, when it commences to
vegetate, they assemble in immense flocks, to root up and devour it. The
Loris are said to migrate from the Yas country in the summer, returning
in the winter season: whether for food, or from what cause I could not
ascertain.
Near this station, (Jugiong,) the Murrumbidgee river takes a peculiar
winding course, so as to form an extensive piece of excellent grazing
land, almost into an island. By standing on the hill (marked A, in the
following diagram,) the river is seen flowing on each side, after having
made an extensive circuit.
[Illustration:
A The Hill.
B Murrumbidgee River.
C Good grazing land.
D Jugiong Station.]