On returning to Horsham, 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 to me, she said, pointing with her finger, “That fellow savy (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.
On a later occasion I showed these four objects to Aborigines, with whom I got into intercourse far off in New South Wales. They at once recognised them, and showed the same superstitious dread. They told me the peculiar characteristics and the special powers ascribed to each idol or charm. This I confirmed by the testimony of five different tribes living at great distances from each other; and it is morally certain that amongst all the blacks of Australia such objects are so worshipped and feared in the place of God.
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 the undernoted independent witness attests the transaction:—