NORA.
WHILE I was pondering over Kingsley's words,--about the blacks of
Australia being "poor brutes in human shape," and too low to take in the
Gospel,--the story of Nora, an Aboriginal Christian woman, whom I myself
actually visited and corresponded with, was brought under my notice, as
if to shatter to pieces everything that the famous preacher had
proclaimed. A dear friend told me how he had seen Nora encamped with the
blacks near Hexham in Victoria. Her husband had lost, through drink,
their once comfortable home at a Station where he was employed. The
change back to life in camp had broken her health, and she lay sick on
the ground within a miserable hut. The visitors found her reading a
Bible, and explaining to a number of her own poor people the wonders of
redeeming love. My friend, Roderick Urquhart, Esq., overcome by the
sight, said, "Nora, I am grieved to see you here, and deprived of every
comfort in your sickness."
She answered, not without tears, "The change has indeed made me unwell;
but I am beginning to think that this too is far the best; it has at
last brought my poor husband to his senses, and I will grudge nothing if
God thereby brings him to the Saviour's feet!"
She further explained that she had found wonderful joy in telling her
own people about the true God and His Son Jesus, and was quite assured
that the Lord in His own way would send her relief. The visitors who
accompanied Mr. Urquhart showed themselves to be greatly affected by the
true and pure Christian spirit of this poor Aboriginal, and on parting
she said, "Do not think that I like this miserable hut, or the food, or
the company: but I am and have been happy in trying to do good amongst
my people."
For my part, let that dear Christlike soul look out on me from her
Aboriginal hut, and I will trample under foot all teachings or
theorizings that dare to say that she or her kind are but poor brutes,
as mere blasphemies against Human Nature! "I thank thee, O Father, Lord
of Heaven and Earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."
It is easy to understand how even experienced travelers may be deluded
to believe that the Aborigines have no idols and no religion. One must
have lived amongst them or their kindred ere he can authoritatively
decide these questions. Before I left Melbourne, for instance, I had met
Nathaniel Pepper, a converted Aboriginal from Wimmera. I asked him if
his people had any "Doctors," _i. e._ Sacred Men or priests. He said
they had. I inquired if they had any objects of Worship, or any belief
in God? He said, "No! None whatever."
But on taking from my pocket some four small stone idols, his expression
showed at once that he recognized them as objects of Worship. He had
seen the Sacred Men use them; but he refused to answer any more
questions. I resolved now, if possible, to secure some of their idols,
and set this whole problem once for all at rest.
At Newstead, on another occasion, I persuaded a whole camp of the
Aborigines to come to my meeting. After the address, they waited to
examine the idols and stone gods which I had shown. Some of the young
men admitted that their "doctors" had things like these, which they and
the old people prayed to; but they added jauntily, "We young fellows
don't worship; we know too much for that!" No "doctors" were, however,
in that camp; so I could not meet with them; but I already felt that the
testimony of nearly all white people that the "blacks" had "no idols and
no worship" was quickly crumbling away.
On returning to Horsham, from a visit to a great camp of the blacks at
Wonwondah, and having purchased, in the presence of witnesses, specimens
of their idols from the Doctor or Sacred Man of these tribes, I informed
my dear friends, Rev. P. Simpson and his excellent lady, of my exploits
and possessions. He replied, "There is a black 'doctor' gone round our
house just now to see one of his people who is washing here to-day. Let
us go and test them, whether they know these objects."
Carrying them in his hand, we went to them. The woman instantly on
perceiving them dropped what she was washing, and turned away in
instinctive terror. Mr. Simpson asked, "Have you ever before seen stones
like these?"
The wily "doctor" replied, "Plenty on the plains, where I kick them out
of my way."
Taking others out of my pocket, I said, "These make people sick and
well, don't they?"
His rage overcame his duplicity, and he exclaimed, "What black fellow
give you these? If I know him I do for him!"
The woman, looking the picture of terror, and pointing to one of the
objects, cried, "That fellow no good! he kill men. No good, no good! Me
too much afraid."
Then, looking at me, she said, pointing with her finger, "That fellow
savvy (knows) too much! No white man see them. He no good."
There was more in this scene and in all its surroundings, than in many
arguments; and Mr. Simpson thoroughly believed that these were objects
of idolatrous worship.
And now let me relate the story of my visit to Nora, the converted
Aboriginal referred to above. Accompanied by Robert Hood, Esq., J. P.,
Victoria, I found my way to the encampment near Hexham. She did not know
of our coming, nor see us till we stood at the door of her hut. She was
clean and tidily dressed, as were also her dear little children, and
appeared glad to see us. She had just been reading the _Presbyterian
Messenger_, and the Bible was lying at her elbow. I said, "Do you read
the _Messenger_?"
She replied, "Yes; I like to know what is going on in the Church."
We found her to be a sensible and humble Christian woman, conversing
intelligently about religion and serving God devotedly. Next Sabbath she
brought her husband, her children, and six blacks to church, all
decently dressed, and they all listened most attentively.
At our first meeting I said, "Nora, they tell me you are a Christian. I
want to ask you a few questions about the blacks; and I hope that as a
Christian you will speak the truth." Rather hurt at my language, she
raised her right hand, and replied, "I am a Christian. I fear and serve
the true God. I always speak the truth."
Taking from my pocket the stone idols from the Islands, I inquired if
her people had or worshipped things like these. She replied, "The
'doctors' have them."
"Have you a 'doctor' in your camp?" I asked. She said, "Yes, my uncle is
the Sacred Man; but he is now far away from this."
"Has he the idols with him now?" I inquired. She answered, "No; they are
left in my care."
I then said, "Could you let us see them?"
She consulted certain representatives of the tribe who were at hand.
They rose, and removed to a distance. They had consented. Mr. Hood
assured me that no fault would be found with her, as she was the real,
or at least virtual head of the tribe. Out of a larger bag she then drew
two smaller bags, and opened them. They were filled with the very
objects which I had brought from the Islands. I asked her to consult the
men of her tribe whether they would agree to sell four or five of them
to me, that I might by them convince the white people that they had gods
of their own, and are, therefore, above the brutes of the field; the
money to be given to their Sacred Man on his return. This, also, after a
time was agreed to. I selected three of the objects, and paid the
stipulated price. And I have the recorded testimony of "Robert Hood, J.
P., Hexham, Victoria, 28th February, 1863," certifying on his honor all
that I am here affirming.
Mr. Hood asked Nora how he had never heard of or seen these things
before, living so long amongst them, and blacks constantly coming and
going about his house. She replied, "Long ago white men laughed at black
fellows praying to their idols. Black fellows said, white men never see
them again! Suppose this white man not know all about them, he would not
now see them. No white men live now have seen what you have seen."
Thus it has been demonstrated on the spot, and in presence of the most
reliable witnesses, that the Aborigines, before they saw the white
invaders, were not "brutes" incapable of knowing God, but human beings,
yearning after a God of some kind. Nor do I believe that any tribe of
men will ever be found, who, when their language and customs are rightly
interpreted, will not display their consciousness of the need of a God,
and that Divine capacity of holding fellowship with the Unseen Powers,
of which the brutes are without one faintest trace.
Poor, dear, Christian-hearted Nora! The Christ-spirit shines forth
unmistakably through thee,--praying for and seeking to save husband and
children, enduring trials and miseries by the aid of communion with thy
Lord, weeping over the degradation of thy people, and seeking to lift
them up by telling them of the true God and of His love to Mankind
through Jesus Christ.