A Fire-Water Festival.—At Tea with the Aborigines.—“Black Fellow all Gone!”—The Poison-Gift and Civilization.—The “Scattering” of the Blacks.—The “Brute-in-human-shape” Theory.—The Testimony of Nora.—Nathaniel Pepper and their “Gods.”—Smooth Stone Idols.—Rites and Ceremonies.—“Too much Devil-Devil.”—The Quest for Idols.—Visit to Nora in the Camp.—Independent Testimonies.—Nora’s own Letters.—The Aborigines in Settlements.
Detained for nearly a week at Balmoral by the break-down of the coach on these dreadful roads, I telegraphed to Hamilton for a conveyance; and the Superintendent of the Sunday School, dear Mr. Laidlaw, volunteered, in order to reduce expenses, to spend one day of his precious time coming for me, and another driving me down. While awaiting him, I came into painful and memorable contact with the Aborigines of Australia. The Publicans had organized a day of sports, horse-racing, and circus exhibitions. Immense crowds assembled, and, amongst the rest, tribe after tribe of the Aborigines from all the surrounding country. Despite the law prohibiting the giving of strong drinks to these poor creatures, foolish and unprincipled dealers supplied them with the same, and the very blankets which the Government had given them, were freely exchanged for the fire-water which kindled them to madness.
Next day was Sabbath. The morning was hideous with the yells of the fighting Savages. They tore about on the Common in front of the Church, leading gentlemen having tried in vain to quiet them, and their wild voices without jarred upon the Morning Service. About two o’clock, I tried to get into conversation with them. I appealed to them whether they were not all tired and hungry? They replied that they had had no food all that day; they had fought since the morning! I said,—
“I love you black fellows. I go Missionary black fellows far away. I love you, want you rest, get food. Come all of you, rest, sit round me, and we will talk, till the _jins_ (= women) get ready tea. They boil water, I take tea with you, and then you will be strong!”
By broken English and by many symbols, I won their ear. They produced tea and _damper_, _i.e._, a rather forbidding-looking bread, without yeast, baked on the coals. Their wives hasted to boil water. I kept incessantly talking, to interest them, and told them how Jesus, God’s dear Son, came and died to make them happy, and how He grieved to see them beating and fighting and killing each other.
When the tea was ready, we squatted on the green grass, their tins were filled, the “damper” was broken into lumps, and I asked the blessing of God on the meal. To me it was unpleasant eating! Many of them looked strong and healthy; but not a few were weak and dying creatures. The strong, devouring all they could get, urged me to be done, and let them finish their fighting, eager for the fray. But having gained their confidence, I prayed with them, and thereafter said,—
“Now, before I leave, I will ask of you to do one thing for my sake, which you can all easily do.”
With one voice they replied,—
“Yes, we all do whatever you say.” I got their leaders to promise to me one by one. I then said,—
“Now you have got your tea, and I ask every man and boy among you to lie down in the bush and take a sleep, and your wives will sit by and watch over your safety!”
In glum silence, their war weapons still grasped in their hands, they stood looking intently at me, doubting whether I could be in earnest. I urged them,—
“You all promised to do what I asked. If you break your promise, these white men will laugh at me, and say that black fellows only lie and deceive. Let them see that you can be trusted. I wait here till I see you all asleep.”