第6章

“Weherefinishedthesupply，andIthensaid，asIcouldnotspeakbefore，”Lookhere，Gibson，youseeweareinamostterriblefix，withonlyonehorse。Onlyonecanride，andonemustremainbehind。Ishallremain；andnowlistentome。Ifthemaredoesnotgetwatersoon，shewilldie；therefore，riderighton；gettotheKegs，ifpossible，to-night，andgiveherwater。Nowthatthecobisdead，there”llbeallthemorewaterforher。Earlyto-

morrowyouwillsighttheRawlinson，attwenty-fivemilesfromtheKegs。Sticktothetracksandneverleavethem。Leaveasmuchwaterinonekegformeasyoucanafford，afterwateringthemareandfillingupyourownbags；and，remember，Idependuponyoutobringmerelief。”

“Gibsonsaidifhehadacompasshethoughthecouldgobetterbynight。Iknewhedidn”tunderstandanythingaboutcompasses，asI

hadoftentriedtoexplainthemtohim。TheoneIhadwasaGregory”sPatent，ofatotallydifferentconstructionfromordinaryinstrumentsofthekind，andIwaslothtopartwithit，asitwastheonlyoneIhad。However，ashewassoanxiousforit，Igaveittohim，andawayhewent。Isentonefinalshoutafterhimtosticktothetracks，andhesaid，”Allright”andthemarecarriedhimoutofsightalmostinstantly。

“Gibsonhadleftmewithalittleovertwogallonsofwater，whichIcouldhavedrunkinhalf-an-hour。AllthefoodIhadwaselevensticksofdirty，sandy，smokedhorse，averagingaboutanounceandahalfeach。

“OnthefirstofMay，asIafterwardsfoundout，atoneo”clockinthemorning，Istaggeredintothecamp，andawokeMr。Tietkinsatdaylight。HeglaredatmeasifIhadbeenonerisenfromthedead。IaskedhimifhehadseenGibson。ItwasninedayssinceI

lastsawhim。ThenextthingwastofindGibson”sremains。Itwasthe6thofMaywhenwegotbacktowherehehadlefttherightline。Aslongashehadremainedontheotherhorses”tracksitwaspracticableenoughtofollowhim，butthewretchedmanhadleftthemandgoneawayinafarmoresoutherlydirection，havingthemostdifficultsand-hillstocrossatrightangles。Wefoundhehadburntapatchofspinifexwherehehadlefttheotherhorses”

tracks。

“Whetherhehadmadeanymistakeinsteeringbythecompassornotitisimpossibletosay；butinsteadofgoingeast，asheshouldhavedone，heactuallywentsouth，orverynearit。

“Iwassorrytothinkthattheunfortunateman”slastsensiblemomentsmusthavebeenembitteredbythethoughtthat，ashehadlosthimselfinthecapacityofmessengerformyrelief，I，too，mustnecessarilyfallavictimtohismishap。

“Icalledthisterribleregion，lyingbetweentheRawlinsonRangeandthenextpermanentwaterthatmayeventuallybefoundtothenorth，”Gibson”sDesert”——afterthisfirstwhitevictimtoitshorrors。

“InlookingoverGibson”sfeweffects，Mr。TietkinsandIfoundanoldpocket-book，adrinking-song，andacertificateofhismarriage。Hehadnevertoldushewasmarried。”

Andnowtoresumemyownnarrative。YouwillrememberthatIhadsettleddownforaconsiderabletimeontheshoresofthelagoon，whereIhadmadeeverythingaroundmeascomfortableaspossible。

Yambahadnodifficultywhateverinkeepinguswellsuppliedwithrootsandvegetables；andaskangaroos，opossums，snakes，andratsabounded，wehadanamplesupplyofmeat，andthelagooncouldalwaysbereliedupontoprovideuswithexcellentfish。Thecountryitselfwasbeautifulintheextreme，withstatelymountains，broad，fertilevalleys，extensiveforests，——and，aboveall，plentyofwater。ThegeneralmodeoflivingamongthenativeswasmuchthesameasthatprevailingamongtheblacksinmyownhomeatCambridgeGulf，——althoughtheselatterwereavastlysuperiorraceinpointofphysique，warweapons，andgeneralintelligence。ThepeopleInowfoundmyselfamongwereofsomewhatsmallstature，withverylowforeheads，protrudingchins，highcheek-bones，andlargemouths。Theirmostnoteworthycharacteristicwastheirextremechildishness，whichwasespeciallydisplayedonthoseoccasionswhenIgaveanacrobaticperformance。

Myskillwiththebowandarrowwas，asusual，anever-endingsourceofastonishment。Iwas，infact，creditedwithsuchremarkablepowersthatallmyingenuityhadsometimestobebroughtintoplaytoaccomplish，ortopretendtoaccomplish，thethingsexpectedofme。IknewthatImustneverfailinanythingI

undertook。

Intheinteriorthenativesneverseemedtogrowveryplump，buthadamoreorlessspare，nottosayemaciated，appearancecomparedwiththetribesnearthecoast。Foronething，foodisnotsoeasilyobtainable，norisitsonourishing。Moreover，thenativeshadtogoverylongdistancestoprocureit。

Besidesthelow，recedingforeheadandprotrudingchinIhavealreadyhintedatascharacteristicoftheinlandtribes，Ialsonoticedthatthesepeoplehadabnormallylargefeet。Also，thebeardsofthemenwerenotnearlysofullorluxuriantasthoseoftheblacksatCambridgeGulf。Theaverageheightofthelagoontribewaslittlemorethanfivefeet。Formyself，Iamaboutfivefeetsevenandahalfinchesinheight，andthereforeIstalkedaboutamongthemlikeagiant。

NowthatGibsonwasdeadIdecidedtomovemyhomefarthernorth，andeventuallysettleddownwithmyfamily(twochildren——aboyandagirl——hadbeenborntomeduringmyresidenceontheshoresofthelagoon)inabeautifulmountainousandtropicalregion200or300milestothenorth。Itwasmyintentiononlytohavemadeatemporarystayhere，butothertiescame，andmylittleoneswerebynomeansstrongenoughtoundertakeanysuchformidablejourneyasIhadincontemplation。Ialsomadethefatalmistakeoftryingtobringmyoffspringupdifferentlyfromtheothersavagechildren。ButImustrelatehereanincidentthathappenedonourjourneynorth。Yambacametomeonedaypositivelyquiveringwithexcitementandterror，andsaidshehadfoundsomestrangetracks，apparentlyofsomeenormousbeast——amonstersofearfulastobequitebeyondherknowledge。

Shetookmetothespotandpointedoutthemysterioustracks，whichIsawatoncewerethoseofcamels。IdonotknowwhyI

decidedtofollowthem，becausetheymusthavebeensomemonthsold。Probably，Ireflected，Imightbeabletopickupsomethingonthetrackswhichwouldbeofusetome。Atanyrate，wedidfollowthetracksforseveraldays——perhapsafortnight——andfoundonthewaymanyoldmeat-tins，whichafterwardscameinusefulaswatervessels。Oneday，however，Ipounceduponanillustratednewspaper——acopyoftheSydneyTOWNANDCOUNTRYJOURNAL，bearingsomedate，Ithinkin1875or1876。Itwasacompletecopywiththeoutercover。Irememberitcontainedsomepicturesofhorse-

racing——IbelieveatParamatta；butthe“LongLostRelative“columninterestedmemost，fortheverymomentIfoundthepaperIsatdowninthebushandbegantoreadthispartwithgreateagerness。

IcouldreadEnglishfairlywellbythistime，andasYambawasalsotolerablyfamiliarwiththelanguage，Ireadthepaperaloudtoher。Icannotsayshealtogetherunderstoodwhatsheheard，butshesawthatIwasintenselyinterestedanddelighted，andsoshewasquitecontenttostaythereandlisten。Youwillobservethatinallcases，theveryfactthatIwaspleasedwasenoughforYamba，whoneveroncewaveredinherfidelityandaffection。

Altogetherwespentsomeweeksfollowingupthesetracks，but，ofcourse，nevercameupwiththecaravanofcamels，whichmusthavebeensomemonthsaheadofus。Yambaatlengthappearedtobeagooddealweariedatmypersistencyinfollowingupthetracksinthisway；butafterall，wasitnotmerelykillingtime？——amildsortofsensationwhichservedtobreaktheeternalmonotonythatsometimesthreatenedtocrushme。

HowItreasuredthatsoiledcopyoftheTownandCountry——asitisfamiliarlycalledinSydney！Ireadandre-readit，andthenreaditalloveragainuntilIthinkIcouldhaverepeatedeverylineofitbyheart，eventotheadvertisements。Amongthelatter，bytheway，wasoneinsertedapparentlybyananxiousmotherseekinginformationconcerningalong-lostson；andthispatheticparagraphsetmewonderingaboutmyownmother。“Well，“Ithought，“sheatleasthasnoneedtoadvertise，andIhavethesatisfactionofknowingthatshemustbythistimebequitereconciledtomyloss，andhavegivenmeupasdeadlongago。”Strangelyenough，thisthoughtquitereconciledmetomyexile。Infact，IthankedProvidencethatmydisappearancehadbeensocompleteandsoprolongedastoleavenottheslightestcausefordoubtorhopeonthepartofanyofmyrelatives。HadIforamomentimaginedthatmymotherwasstillcherishinghopesofseeingmeagainsomeday，andthatshewasundergoingagoniesofmentalsuspenseandworryonmybehalf，IthinkIwouldhaveriskedeverythingtoreachher。

ButIknewquitewellthatshemusthaveheardofthelossoftheVeielland，andlongagoresignedherselftothecertaintyofmydeath。IcanneverhopetodescribethecuriousdelightwithwhichIperusedmypreciousnewspaper。Ishowedthepicturesinittomychildrenandthenatives，andtheyweremorethandelighted，——

especiallywiththepicturesofhorsesintheraceatParamatta。

Inthecourseoftimethesheetsofpaperbegantogettorn，andthenImadeaprettydurablecoveroutofkangaroohide。ThusthewholeofmylibraryconsistedofmyAnglo-FrenchTestament，andthecopyoftheTownandCountryJournal。

ButIhavepurposelykeptuntiltheendthemostimportantthinginconnectionwiththisstrangely-foundperiodical。Theveryfirsteagerandfeverishreadinggavemeanextraordinaryshock，whichactuallythreatenedmyreason！InaprominentplaceinthejournalIcameacrossthefollowingpassage：“THEDEPUTIESOFALSACEAND

LORRAINEHAVEREFUSEDTOVOTEINTHEGERMANREICHSTAG。”

Now，knowingnothingwhateverofthesanguinarywarof1870，orofthealterationsinthemapofEuropewhichitentailed，thispassagefilledmewithstartledamazement。Ireaditoverandoveragain，gettingmorebewilderedeachtime。“TheDeputiesofAlsaceandLorrainehaverefusedtovoteintheGermanReichstag！““But——

goodheavens！“Ialmostscreamedtomyself，“WHATweretheAlsaceandLorraineDeputiesdoingintheGermanParliamentatall？“I

turnedthematteroverandoverinmymind，andatlast，findingthatIwasgettingworkedupintoastateofdangerousexcitement，Ithrewthepaperfrommeandwalkedaway。Ithoughtoverthematteragain，andsoutterlyincomprehensiblediditappeartomethatIthoughtImustbemistaken——thatmyeyesmusthavedeceivedme。AccordinglyIranbackandpickedthepaperupasecondtime，andthere，sureenough，wasthesamepassage。InvaindidIseekforanysaneexplanation，andatlastIsomehowgotitintomyheadthattheappearanceoftheprintedcharactersmustbeduetoakindofmentalobliquity，andthatImustberapidlygoingmad！EvenYambacouldnotsympathisewithme，becausethematterwasonewhichInevercouldhavemadeherunderstand。Itriedtoputthisstrangepuzzleoutofmyhead，butagainandagaintheaccursedandtorturingpassagewouldringinmyearsuntilInearlywentcrazy。

ButIpresentlyputthethingfirmlyfromme，andresolvedtothinknomoreaboutit。

Itisnotanexaggerationtodescribemymountainhomeinthecentreofthecontinentasaperfectparadise。Thegrassesandfernstheregrewtoaprodigiousheight，andthereweremagnificentforestsofwhitegumandeucalyptus。DowninthevalleyIbuiltaspacioushouse——thelargestthenativeshadeverseen。Itwasperhapstwentyfeetlong，sixteenfeettoeighteenfeetwide，andabouttenfeethigh。Theinteriorwasdecoratedwithferns，warimplements，theskinsofvariousanimals，andlast——butbynomeansleast——the“sword“ofthegreatsawfishIhadkilledinthehauntedlagoon。Thishousecontainednofireplace，becauseallthecookingwasdoneintheopenair。Thewallswerebuiltofroughlogs，thecrevicesbeingfilledinwithearthtakenfromant-hills。IhavejustsaidthatIbuiltthehouse。Thisis，perhaps，notstrictlycorrect。ItwasYambaandtheotherwomen-folkwhoactuallycarriedoutthework，undermysupervision。HereitisnecessarytoexplainthatIdidnotdaretodomuchmanuallabour，becauseitwouldhavebeenconsideredundignifiedonmypart。Ireallydidnotwantthehouse；but，strangelyenough，Ifeltmuchmorecomfortablewhenitwasbuiltandfurnished，because，afterall，itwasasourceofinfinitesatisfactiontometofeelthatIhadaHOMEIcouldcallmyown。Ihadgrownverywearyoflivinglikeananimalinthebush，andlyingdowntosleepatnightonthebareground。Itwasthissameconsiderationof“home“thatinducedmetobuildalittlehutforpoorGibson。

Thefloorofmyhousewastwoorthreefeetabovethegroundinordertoescapetheravagesoftherats。Therewasonlyonestorey，ofcourse，andthewholewasdividedintotworooms——oneasakindofsitting-roomandtheotherasabedroom。TheformerI

fittedoutwithhome-madetablesandchairs(Ihadbecomeprettyexpertfrommyexperiencewiththegirls)；andeachdayfresheucalyptusleaveswerestrewedabout，partlyforcleanliness，andpartlybecausetheodourkeptawaythemosquitoes。Ialsobuiltanotherhouseabouttwodays”trampupthemountains，andtothisweusuallyresortedintheveryhotweather。

NowhereIhaveacuriousconfessiontomake。Asthemonthsglidedintoyears，andIreviewedthewholeofmystrangelifesincethedayswhenIwentpearlingwithJensen，thethoughtbegangraduallytostealintomymind，“WhynotwaituntilcivilisationCOMESTO

YOU——asitmustdointime？Whywearyyourselfanymorewithincessantstrugglestogetbacktotheworld——especiallywhenyouaresocomfortablehere？“Gradually，then，Isettleddownandwasmadeabsolutechiefoveratribeofperhapsfivehundredsouls。

Besidesthis，myfamespreadabroadintothesurroundingcountry，andateverynewmoonIheldasortofinformalreception，whichwasattendedbydeputationsoftribesmenforhundredsofmilesaround。Myowntribealreadypossessedachieftainoftheirownbutmypositionwasoneofevengreaterinfluencethanhis。

Moreover，Iwasappointedtoitwithouthavingtoundergothepainfulceremoniesthatinitiationentails。Myimmunityinthisrespectwasofcourseowingtomysupposedgreatpowers，andthebeliefthatIwasareturnedspirit。Iwasalwayspresentattribalandwarcouncils，andalsohadsomeauthorityoverothertribes。

IadoptedeverydeviceIcouldthinkoftomakemydwellinghome-

like，andIevenjourneyedmanymilesinaNNE。direction，toprocurecuttingsofgrapevinesIhadseen；butImustsaythatthisatanyratewaslabourinvain，becauseIneverimproveduponthequalityofthewildgrapes，whichhadasharp，acidflavour，thataffectedthethroatsomewhatunpleasantlyuntilonegotusedtothem。

WhenIspeakofmy“mountainhome，“itmustnotbesupposedthatI

remainedinoneplace。Asamatteroffact，inaccordancewithmyusualpractice，Itooklongexcursionsindifferentdirectionsextendingoverweeksandevenmonthsatatime。OntheseoccasionsIalwaystookwithmeakindofnut，which，wheneaten，endowedonewithremarkablepowersofvitalityandendurance。SincemyreturntocivilisationIhaveheardoftheKolanut，butcannotsaywhetherthesubstanceusedbytheAustralianaboriginalisthesameornot。Irememberwegenerallyroastedours，andateitaswetrampedalong。InthecourseofmynumerousjourneysabroadI

blazedormarkedagreatnumberoftrees；myusualmarkbeinganoval，inorunderneathwhichIgenerallycarvedtheletter“L。”I

seldommetwithhostilenativesinthisregion，butwhenIdidmymysteriousbowandarrowsgenerallysufficedtoimpressthem。Bytheway，Ineverintroducedthebowasaweaponamongtheblacks，andthey，ontheirpart，nevertriedtoimitateme。Theyareaconservativerace，andareperfectlysatisfiedwiththeirowntime-

honouredweapons。

Wildgeeseandduckswereplentifulinthoseregions，andtherewasaninfinitevarietyofgame。Fromthisyouwillgatherthatourdailyfarewasbothampleandluxurious。

Andwehadpets；IrememberIoncecaughtalivecockatoo，andtrainedhimtohelpmeinmyhuntingexpeditions。ItaughthimafewEnglishphrases，suchas“Good-morning，“and“Howareyou？“；

andhewouldperchhimselfonatreeandattractgreatnumbersofhiskindaroundhimbyhisincessantchattering。IwouldthenknockoverasmanyasIwantedbymeansofmybowandarrows。Atthistime，indeed，Ihadquiteamenagerieofanimals，includingatamekangaroo。Naturallyenough，Ihadampleleisuretostudytheethnologyofmypeople。Isoonmadethediscoverythatmyblackswereintenselyspiritualistic；andonceayeartheyheldafestivalwhich，whendescribed，will，Iamafraid，taxthecredulityofmyreaders。ThefestivalIrefertowasheld“whenthesunwasbornagain，“——I。E。，soonaftertheshortestdayoftheyear，whichwouldbesometimeinJune。Ontheseoccasionstheadultwarriorsfromfarandnearassembledatacertainspot，andafteracourseoffestivities，satdowntoanextraordinarySEANCEconductedbywomen——veryold，wizenedwitches——whoapparentlypossessedoccultpowers，andwereheldingreatveneration。Thesewitchesareusuallymaintainedattheexpenseofthetribe。Theoffice，however，doesnotnecessarilydescendfrommothertodaughter，itbeingonlywomencreditedwithsupernaturalpowerswhocanclaimtheposition。

Afterthegreatcorroboreethepeoplewouldsquatontheground，theoldmenandwarriorsinfront，thewomenbehind，andthechildrenbehindthem。Thewholecongregationwasarrangedintheformofacrescent，inthecentreofwhichalargefirewouldbesetburning。Someofthewarriorswouldthenstartchanting，andtheirmonotonoussing-songwouldpresentlybetakenupbytherestofthegathering，totheaccompanimentofmuchswayingofheadsandbeatingofhandsandthighs。Theyoungwarriorsthenwentoutintotheopenandcommencedtodance。

ImayaswelldescribeindetailthefirstoftheseextraordinaryfestivalswhichIwitnessed。Themenchantedanddancedthemselvesintoaperfectfrenzy，whichwasstillfurtherincreasedbytheappearanceofthreeorfourwitcheswhosuddenlyroseupbeforethefire。Theywereveryoldandhaggard-lookingcreatures，withskinslikeshrivelledparchment；theyhadscanty，dishevelledhair，andpiercing，beadyeyes。Theywerenotornamentedinanyway，andseemedmorelikeskeletonsfromatombthanhumanbeings。Aftertheyhadgyratedwildlyroundthefireforashorttime，thechantsuddenlyceased，andthewitchesfellprostrateupontheground，callingoutastheydidsothenamesofsomedepartedchiefs。A

deathlysilencethenfellontheassembledgathering，andalleyeswereturnedtowardsthewreathsofsmokethatwereascendingintotheeveningsky。Thewitchespresentlyrenewedtheirplaintivecriesandexhortations，andatlengthIwasamazedtoseestrangeshadowyformsshapingthemselvesinthesmoke。Atfirsttheywerenotverydistinct，butgraduallytheyassumedtheformofhumanbeings，andthentheblacksreadilyrecognisedthemasoneorotheroftheirlong-departedchiefs——estimablemenalwaysandgreatfighters。Thebasersortneverputinanappearance。

NowthefirsttwoorthreetimesIsawthisweirdandfantasticceremony，Ithoughttheapparitionsweretheresultofmeretrickery。

ButwhenIsawthemyearafteryear，Icametotheconclusionthattheymustbeplacedinthecategoryofthosethingswhicharebeyondthekenofourphilosophy。Imightsaythatnoonewasallowedtoapproachsufficientlyclosetotouchthe“ghosts，“——ifsuchtheycanbetermed；andprobablyevenifpermissionhadbeengranted，theblackswouldhavebeenintoogreatastateofterrortohaveavailedthemselvesofit。

Eachoftheseseanceslastedtwentyminutesorhalf-an-hour，andweremainlyconductedinsilence。Whiletheapparitionswerevisible，thewitchesremainedprostrate，andthepeoplelookedonquitespellbound。Graduallythephantomswouldmeltawayagaininthesmoke，andvanishfromsight，afterwhichtheassemblywoulddisperseinsilence。Bynextmorningalltheinvitedblackswouldhavegoneofftotheirrespectivehomes。Thewitches，asI

afterwardslearnt，livedaloneincaves；andthattheypossessedwonderfulpowersofprophecywasevidencedinmyowncase，becausetheytoldmewhenIcameamongthemthatIwouldstillbemanyyearswiththeirpeople，butIwouldeventuallyreturntomyownkind。Thewarriors，too，invariablyconsultedtheseoraclesbeforedepartingonhuntingorfightingexpeditions，andreligiouslyfollowedtheiradvice。

CHAPTERXVI

AteacherofEnglish——Myselfasablack-fellow——Irestcontent——Anunknownterror——Manufactureofgunpowder——Acuriousfind——Thefieryraft——Inthelairofsnakes——Adangerousenemy——Anexcitingscene——

Aqueersport——Respectforthevictor——Avainhope——Soredisappointment——Yambaindanger——Astrangeduel——Myopponentgreetsme。

Mytwochildrenwereasourceofgreatdelighttomeatthistime，——

althoughofcoursetheywerehalf-castes，thecolouroftheirskinbeingverylittledifferentfromthatoftheirmother。Thewhitenessoftheirhandsandfinger-nails，however，clearlyindicatedtheirorigin。TheywerenotchristenedintheChristianway，neitherweretheybroughtupexactlyinthesamewayasthenativechildren。

ItaughtthemEnglish。Ilovedthemverydearly，andusedtomakeforthemavarietyofgoldornaments，suchasbanglesandarmlets。

Theydidnotparticipateinalltheroughgamesoftheblackchildren，yettheywereverypopular，havingwinningmanners，andbeingveryquicktolearn。Ioftentoldthemaboutmylifeinotherpartsoftheworld；butwheneverIspokeofcivilisation，I

classedallthenationsoftheuniversetogether，andreferredtothemas“myhome，“or“mycountry。”IdidnotattempttodistinguishbetweenFranceandSwitzerland，EnglandandAmerica。

Curiouslyenough，thesubjectthatinterestedthemmostwastheanimalkingdom，andwhenItoldthemthatIhopedsomedaytotakethemawaywithmetoseemygreatcountryandtheanimalsitcontained，theywereimmenselydelighted。Particularlytheywantedtoseethehorse，thelion，andtheelephant。Takingayam-stickaspointer，IwouldoftendrawroughlyinthesandalmosteveryanimalinNature。Butevenwhentheseroughdesignsweremadeformyadmiringaudience，IfounditextremelydifficulttoconveyanideaofthepartintheeconomyofNaturewhicheachcreatureplayed。Iwouldtellthem，however，thatthehorsewasusedforfightingpurposesandfortravel；thatthecowyieldedfoodanddrink，andthatthedogsdrewsledges。Itwasabsolutelynecessarytodwellonlyontheutilitariansideofthings。Beastsofburdenwouldbeincomprehensible。Bothofmychildrenwereveryproudofmypositionamongandinfluenceovertheblacks。

AndreallyIlookedlikeablack-fellowmyselfatthistime——notsomuchonaccountofexposure，asbecausemybodywasconstantlycoatedwiththecharcoalandgreasewhichservesasaprotectionfromtheweatherandfrominsects。Mychildren，youmaybeinterestedtolearn，nevergraspedthefactthatmyexilewasotherthanquitevoluntaryonmypart。

Thechildrenoftheblackscontinuedtointerestmeasmuchasever(Iwasalwaysfondofchildren)；andInevergrewtiredofwatchingthemattheirquaintlittlegames。IthinktheyalllovedmeasmuchasIdidthem，andIwasgladtoseethattheirliveswereonelongdreamofhappiness。Theyhadnoschooltoattend，noworktoperform，andnopunishmenttosuffer。Therearenochildrenlikethechildrenofthebushforperfectcontentment。Theyseldomorneverquarrelled，andwerealldaylongplayinghappilyaboutthecamp，practisingthrowingtheirreedspears；climbingthetreesafterthehoney-pods，andindulginginathousandandonemerrypranks。OftenandoftenIlookedatthoserobustlittlerascals，andcomparedthemsadlywithmyownchildren，whoweredelicatealmostfrombirth，andwhocausedmesomuchanxietyandheartache。

Whenthecombinationofcircumstances，whichisnowwellknowntomyreaders，causedmetosettleinmymountainhome，twoorthreehundredmilestothenorthofGibson”sDesert，IhadnoideathatI

shouldremainthereformanyyears。

Butstrangelyenough，asyearafteryearslippedby，thedesiretoreturntocivilisationseemedtoleaveme，andIgrewquitecontentwithmylot。GraduallyIbegantofeelthatifcivilisation——

represented，say，byalargecaravan——weretocometome，anditsleaderwaswillingnotmerelytotakemeaway，butmywifeandchildrenalso，thenindeedIwouldconsenttogo；butfornootherconsiderationcouldIbeinducedtoleavethosewhowerenowsonearanddeartome。ImayaswellmentionherethatIhadmanychancesofreturningALONEtocivilisation，butneveravailedmyselfofthem。AsIspentthegreaterpartoftwentyyearsinmymountainhome，itstandstoreasonthatitisthispartofmycareerwhichIconsultforcuriousandremarkableincidents。

OnedayagreatdarknesssuddenlycameoverthefaceofNature。

Thesombregloomwasrelievedonlybyastrangeluridglare，whichhungonthedistanthorizonfarawayacrossthatweirdland。Theairwassoonfilledwithfineashes，whichdescendedinsuchquantitiesastocoverallvegetation，andcompletelyhideexposedwater-holesandlagoons。EvenatthetimeIattributedthephenomenontovolcanicdisturbance，andIhavesincefoundthatitwasmostlikelyduetoaneruptionofthevolcanoofKrakatoa。

Thisvisitationoccasionedverygreatconsternationamongthesuperstitiousblacks，whoconcludedthatthespiritshadbeenangeredbysomeoftheirownmisdeeds，andweremanifestingtheirwrathinthisunpleasantway。Ididnotattempttoenlightenthemastoitstruecause，butgavethemtounderstandvaguelythatI

hadsomethingtodowithit。Ialsotoldthemthatthegreatspirit，whoserepresentativeIwas，wasburninguptheland。

Anotherphenomenonthatcausedmuchmystificationandterrorwasaneclipseofthesun。NeverhaveIseenmyblacksinsuchastateofexcitementandterroraswhenthatintensedarknesscamesuddenlyovertheworldatmidday。Theycamecrowdinginstinctivelytome，andIstoodsilentamongthecoweringcreatures，notthinkingitpoliticforamomenttobreakthestrangeandappallingstillnessthatprevailedoneveryhand——andwhichextendedeventotheanimalworld。Thetremblingblackswereconvincedthatnighthadsuddenlydescendeduponthem，buttheyhadnoexplanationwhatevertooffer。

Theyseemedquiteunfamiliarwiththephenomenon，anditwasapparentlynotoneofthosemanythingswhichtheirforefatherswovesuperstitiousstoriesaround，tohanddowntotheirchildren。

Asthegreatdarknesscontinued，thenativesretiredtorest，withoutevenholdingtheusualeveningchant。Ididnotattempttoexplaintherealreasonofthephenomenon，butasIhadnoparticularendtoserve，Ididnottellthemthatitwasduetomypower。

Neveronce，yousee，didIloseanopportunityofimpressingthesavagesamongwhomIdwelt。Onseveraloccasions，havingalltheingredientsatmydisposal，Iattemptedtomakegunpowder，buttruthtotell，myexperimentswerenotattendedwithverygreatsuccess。Ihadcharcoal，saltpetre，andsulphurreadytomyhand，——

allobtainablefromnaturalsourcescloseby；buttheresultofallmyefforts(andItriedmixingtheingredientsineveryconceivableway)wasaverycoarsekindofpowderwithpracticallynoexplosiveforce，butwhichwouldgooffwithanabsurd“puff。”

NowIwasveryanxioustomakeanEXPLOSIVEpowder，notmerelybecauseitwouldassistmeinimpressingtheblacks，butalsobecauseIproposedcarryingoutcertainblastingoperationsinordertoobtainmineralsandstoneswhichIthoughtwouldbeuseful。ThenetresultwasthatalthoughIcouldnotmanufactureanypotentexplosive，yetIdidsucceedinarousingtheintensecuriosityoftheblacks。Mypowderburntwithoutnoise，andthenativescouldneverquitemakeoutwheretheflamecamefrom。

Asthereseemedtobeanever-endingeagernessonthepartoftheblackstowitnessthewondersofthewhiteman，Ieventriedmyhandatmakingice——acommoditywhichis，ofcourse，absolutelyunknowninCentralAustralia。TheideacametomeonedaywhenI

foundmyselfinaverycoolcave，inwhichtherewasawellofsurprisinglycoldwater。Accordingly，Ifilledsomeopossumskinswiththerefreshingfluid，placedtheminthecoolestpartofthecave，andthencoveredthemwithsaltpetre，ofwhichtherewasanabundance。WhenItellyouthattheexperimentwasquitefruitless，youwillreadilyunderstandthatIdidnotalwayssucceedinmyroleofwonder-worker。ButwheneverIwasdefeated，itonlyhadtheeffectofmakingmesetmywitstoworktodevisesomethingstillmorewonderful——somethingwhichIwascertainwouldbeanassuredsuccess。

Whilsttaking，astrollintheregionofmymountainhomeoneday，myeyes——whichwerebythistimealmostashighlytrainedasthoseoftheblacksthemselves——suddenlyfasteneduponathinstreamofsomegreenishfluidwhichwasapparentlyoozingoutoftherockyground。Closerinvestigationprovedthatthiswasnotwater。I

collectedaquantityofitinakangarooskin，butthistookaconsiderabletime，becausetheliquidoozedveryslowly。

IwouldnothavetakenthistroublewereitnotthatIwasprettycertainIHADDISCOVEREDASPRINGOFCRUDEPETROLEUM。Immediately，andbyakindofinstinct，itoccurredtomethatImightmakeuseofthisoilasyetanothermeansofimpressingtheblackswithmymagicalpowers。Itoldnooneofmydiscovery——notevenYamba。

FirstofallIconstructedasortofraftfromthebranchesoftrees，thoroughlysaturatingeachbranchwiththeoil。Ialsoplacedashallowskinreservoirofoilontheupperendoftheraft，andconcealeditwithtwigsandleaves。Thisdone，I

launchedmyinterestingcraftonthewatersofthelagoon，havingsofarcarriedoutallmypreparationsinthestrictestsecrecy。

WheneverythingwasreadyIsentoutinvitationsbymail-men，smokesignals，andmessagestickstotribesbothfarandnear，tocomeandseemeSETFIRETOTHEWATER！Inparentheses，Imayremark，thatwithregardtosmoke-signals，whitesmokeonlyisallowedtoascendinwreathsandcurls；whileblacksmokeissentupinonegreatvolume。Asbythistimemyfamewasprettywellestablished，thewonder-lovingchildrenofNaturelostnotimeinrespondingtothesummons；andatlength，whenthemysticglowofaCentralAustralianeveninghadsettledoverthescene，agreatgatheringestablisheditselfontheshoresofthelagoon。Onsuchoccasions，however，Ialwayssawtoitthatmyaudiencewerenottoonear。

Butanyhowtherewaslittlechanceoffailure，becausetheblackshadlongsincegrowntobelieveinmeblindlyandimplicitly。

WithmuchceremonyIsetfiretotheraft，hoistedalittlebarksailuponit，andpusheditoff。Itlayverylowinthewater，andastheamazedonlookerssawitglidingacrosstheplacidwatersofthelagoonenvelopedinsmokeandflames，theydidactuallybelievethatIhadsetfiretothewateritself——particularlywhentheblazingoilwasseeninluridpatchesontheplacidsurface。Theyremainedwatchingtillthefiredieddown，whentheyretiredtotheirownhomes，moreconvincedthaneverthatthewhitemanamongthemwasindeedagreatandpowerfulspirit。

But，humannaturebeingfundamentallythesamealltheworldover，itwasnaturalenough——and，indeed，thewonderishowIescapedsolong——thatoneorotherofthetribalmedicine-menshouldgetjealousofmypowerandseektooverthrowme。Now，themedicine-

manbelongingtothetribeinmymountainhomepresentlyfoundhimself(orfanciedhimself)underacloud，——thereason，ofcourse，beingthatmydisplayofwondersfartranscendedanythingwhichhehimselfcoulddo。Somyrivalcommencedaninsidiouscampaignagainstme，tryingtoexplainawayeverywonderfulthingthatI

did，andassuringtheblacksthatifIwereaspiritatallitwascertainlyaspiritofevil。Heneveroncelostanopportunityofthrowingdiscreditandridiculeuponmeandmypowers；andatlengthIdiscernedsymptomsinthetribewhichrendereditimperativelynecessarythatIshouldtakeimmediateanddrasticstepstooverthrowmyenemy，who，bytheway，hadcommencedtryingtoduplicateeveryoneofmytricksorfeats。Igavethemattersomelittlethought，andoneday，whilstoutononeofmysolitaryrambles，Icameacrossacuriousnaturalfeatureofthelandscape，whichsuggestedtomeanoveland，Iventuretosay，remarkablesolutionofaveryserioussituation。

Isuddenlyfoundmyselfonthebrinkofapeculiarbasin-likedepression，which，fromitsobviousdampnessandprofusionofbushandcover，Iatoncerecognisedastheidealabodeofinnumerablesnakes。Imarkedthespotinmymind，andreturnedhome，ponderingthedetailsofthedramaticvictoryIhopedtowin。DaybydayI

returnedtothisdepressionandcaughtnumerousblackandcarpetsnakes。FromeachofthesedangerousandpoisonousreptilesI

removedthepoisonfangsonly；andthen，afterscoringitwithacrossbymeansofmystiletto，Iletitgo，knowingthatitwouldneverleaveaspotsoideal——fromasnake”spointofview。I

operatedonagreatnumberofthedeadlyreptilesinthisway，but，ofcoursethereremainedmanywhowerenotsotreated；whilstseveralofmyqueerpatientsdiedoutrightundertheoperation。

Needlesstosay，ImighthavemetmyowndeathinthisextraordinarybusinesshadInotbeenassistedbymydevotedwife。

Whenwehadfinishedourwork，therewasabsolutelynothingintheappearanceoftheplacetoindicatethatitwasanydifferentfromitsstatewhenIfirstcastmyeyesuponit。

Then，allbeingready，Ichoseaspeciallydramaticmomentatacorroboreetochallengemyrivalinawarsong，thischallengebeingsubstantiallyasfollows：“YoutellthepeoplethatyouareasgreatasI——theall-powerfulwhitespirit-man。Well，now，I

offeryouaformalchallengetoperformthefeatwhichIshallperformonacertaindayandatacertainspot。”Thedaywastheverynextday，andthespot，thesceneofmystrangesurgicaloperationsuponthesnakes。Theeffectofmychallengewasmagical。

Thejealousmedicine-man，boldlyandopenlychallengedbeforethewholetribe，hadnotimetomakeupanevasivereply，andheacceptedthenandthere。Urgentmessagesweredespatched，bythefun-lovingblacks，toallthetribes，sothatwewereprettysureofalargeandattentiveaudience。Itwasaboutmiddaywhentheridgeroundthedepressionwascrowdedwithexpectantblacks，everyoneofwhomdearlylovedacontest，orcompetition，ofwhateverkind。Ilostnotime——forinloveorwarshilly-shallyingisunknownamongtheblacks——butboldlyleapeddownintothehollowarmedonlywithareedwhistle，whichIhadmadeformyselfsolelywiththeviewofenticingthesnakesfromtheirholes。Icastatriumphantglanceatmyimpassiverival，who，uptothismoment，hadnotthefaintestideawhattheproposedordealwas。I

commencedtoplayaslivelyatuneasthelimitednumberofnotesinthewhistlewouldallow，andbeforeIhadbeenplayingmanyminutesthesnakescameglidingout，swingingtheirheadsbackwardsandforwardsandfromsidetosideasthoughtheywereunderaspell。Selectingahugeblacksnake，whoboreunobtrusivelymysafetymark，Ipounceddownuponhimandpresentedmybarearm。

AfterteasingthereptiletwoorthreetimesIallowedhimtostrikehisteethdeepintomyflesh，andimmediatelythebloodbegantorun。Ialsopermittedseveralotherfanglesssnakestobitemeuntilmyarmsandlegs，breastandback，werecoveredwithblood。Personally，Ididnotfeelmuchtheworse，asthebitesweremerepunctures，andIknewtheselectedreptilestobequiteinnocuous。Several“unmarked“snakes，however，manifestedaneagerdesiretojoininthefun，andIhadsomedifficultyinescapingtheirdeadlyattentions。Ihadtowavethemasidewithastick。

Allthistimetheblacksabovemewereyellingwithexcitement，andIamundertheimpressionthatseveralwerelamentingmymadness，whilstotherswereturningangrilyuponmyrival，andaccusinghimofhavingbroughtaboutmydeath。AtafavourablemomentIrusheduptheridgeofthehollowandstoodbeforethehorrifiedmedicine-

man，who，inresponsetomytriumphantdemandtogoanddolikewise，returnedafeebleandtremulousnegative。Evenhe，I

think，wasnowsincerelyconvincedthatIpossessedsuperhumanpowers；butitwouldhavebeenawkwardhadhecomealongwhenIwaslaboriouslyandsurreptitiouslyextractingthepoisonfangsfromthesnakes，andplacingmy“hallmark“uponthem。

Hisrefusalcosthimhisprestige，andhewasforthwithdrivenfromthetribeasafraud，whilstmyfamerosehigherthanever。Theblacksnowwishedmetotakeovertheofficeofmedicine-man，butI

declinedtodoso，andnominatedinsteadayouthIhadtrainedfortheposition。Itmaybenecessaryheretoremarkthattheblacks，undernocircumstances，killamedicine-man。Mydefeatedrivalwasamanofveryconsiderablepower，andIknewquitewellthatifI

didnotgetthebestofhimhewouldhaveMEdrivenoutofthetribeandperhapsspeared。

Mentionofthesnakeincidentremindsmeofaverypeculiarandinterestingsportwhichtheblacksindulgein。Irefertofightsbetweensnakesandiguanas。Thesecombatscertainlyaffordveryfinesport。Thetwocreaturesarealwaysatmortalenmitywithoneanother，butasaruletheiguanacommencestheattack，nomatterhowmuchbiggerthesnakemaybethanhimself；orwhetheritispoisonousornot。Ihaveseeniguanasattackblacksnakesfromsixfeettotenfeetinlength，whilsttheythemselvesrarelymeasuredmorethanthreeorfourfeet。Asaruletheiguanamakesasnappingbiteatthesnakeafewinchesbelowitshead，andthelatterinstantlyretaliatesbystrikingitsenemywithitspoisonousfangs。Thenanextraordinarythinghappens。Theiguanawillletgohisholdandstraightwaymakeforakindoffern，whichheeatsinconsiderablequantities，theobjectofthisbeingtocounteracttheeffectsofthepoison。Whenhethinkshehashadenoughoftheantidoteherushesbacktothesceneoftheencounterandresumestheattack；THESNAKEALWAYSWAITSTHEREFORHIM。

Againandagainthesnakebitestheiguana，andasoftenthelatterhasrecoursetothecounteractinginfluencesoftheantidote。Thefightmaylastforupwardsofanhour，buteventuallytheiguanaconquers。Thefinalstruggleismostexciting。Theiguanaseizesholdofthesnakefiveorsixinchesbelowthehead，andthistimerefusestoletgohishold，nomatterhowmuchthesnakemaystruggleandenwraphiminitscoils。Overandoverrollthecombatants，butthegripoftheiguanaisrelentless；andthestrugglesofthesnakegrowweaker，untilatlengthheisstretchedoutdead。Thenthetriumphantiguanastealsslowlyaway。

Thespectatorswouldneverdreamofkillinghim，——partlyonaccountoftheiradmirationforhisprowess，butmoreparticularlybecausehisfleshistaintedwithpoisonfromtherepeatedsnakebites。

Thesecuriousfightsgenerallytakeplacenearwater-holes。

Ihavealsoseenremarkablecombatsbetweensnakesofvariousspeciesandsizes。Asmallsnakewillalwaysrespondtothechallengeofamuchlargerone，thischallengetakingtheformofrearingupandhissing。Thelittlesnakewillthenadvanceslowlytowardsitsopponentandattempttostrike，but，asarule，thebigonecrushesitbeforeitcandoanyharm。Ihadoftenheardofthejokeabouttwosnakesofequalsizetryingtoswallowoneanother，andwas，therefore，themoreinterestedwhenIcameacrossthisidenticalsituationinreallife。Oneday，rightinmytrack，laytwoverylargesnakeswhichhadevidentlybeenengagedinaveryseriousencounter；andthevictorhadcommencedswallowinghisexhaustedadversary。Hehaddisposedofsomethreeorfourfeetofthatadversary”slengthwhenIarrivedonthescene，andwasevidentlyrestingbeforetakingintherest。Ieasilymadeprisonersofboth。

NotlongafterthisincidentadelusivehopewasheldouttomethatImightbeabletoreturntocivilisation。Newswasbroughtonedaythatthetracksofsomestrangeandhithertounknownanimalshadbeenfoundtothenorth，and，accompaniedbyYamba，I

wentofftoinspectthem。Ifoundthattheywerecameltracks——forthesecondtime；andasYambainformedmethat，fromtheappearanceofthetrail，therewasnoonewiththem，Iconcludedthatinallprobabilitythecreatureswerewild，havinglongagobelongedtosomeexploringpartywhichhadcometogrief。

“Hereatlength，“Ithought，“isthemeansofreturningtocivilisation。IfIcanonlyreachthesecreatures——andwhyshouldInotwithsomuchassistanceatmydisposal？——Iwillbreakthemin，andthenstrikesouthacrossthedesertswithmywifeandfamily。”Ireturnedtothecamp，andtakingwithmeapartyofthemostintelligenttribesmen，setoffafterthewildcamels。Whenwehadbeenseveraldayscontinuouslytrackingwecameupwiththebeasts。Therewerefourofthemaltogether，andrightwildandvicious-lookingbrutestheywere。Theymarchedclosetogetherinaband，andneverpartedcompany。ThemomentIandmymentriedtoseparateandheadthemoff，theleaderwouldswoopdownuponuswithopenmouth，andtheresultofthisappallingapparitionwasthatmyblackassistantsfledprecipitately。AloneIfollowedthecamelsforseveraldaysinthehopeofbeingableultimatelytodrivethemintosomeravine，whereIthoughtImightpossiblybringthemintoastateofsubjectionbysystematicstarvation。Butitwasavaineffortonmypart。Theykeptinthetrackofwater-

holes，andwanderedonfromonetotheotheratconsiderablespeed。

AtlengthIabandonedhopealtogether，thoughnotwithoutafeelingofsoredisappointment，asIwatchedthecurious，ungainlycreaturesdisappearingovertheridgeofasand-hill。OfcourseI

tookgoodcarenottotellanyofthenativestherealreasonofmydesiretopossessacamel，——thoughIdidtrytoexplaintothemsomeoftheusestowhichpeopleinotherpartsoftheworldputthesewonderfulanimals。

IneverlostanopportunityofleavingrecordswhereverIcould。

AsIhavesaidbefore，Iwasconstantlyblazingtreesandevenmakingdrawingsuponthem；andIwouldhaveleftrecordsincairnshadIbeenabletomakeanywritingmaterial。Talkingaboutthis，Iwasforalongtimepossessedwiththedesiretomakemyselfakindofpaper，andIfrequentlyexperimentedwiththefibresofacertainkindoftree。ThismaterialIreducedtoapulp，andthenendeavouredtorollintosheets。Hereagain，however，Ihadtoconfessfailure。Ifoundtheordinarysheetsofbarkmuchmoresuitableformypurpose。

PensIhadinthousandsfromthequillsofthewildswanandgoose；

andImadeinkfromthejuiceofacertaindark-colouredberry，mixedwithsoot，whichIcollectedonthebottomofmygoldcooking-kettle。Ialsothoughtitadvisabletomakemyselfplatesfromwhichtoeatmyfood——notbecauseofanyfastidiousnessonmypart，butfromthatever-presentdesiretoimpresstheblacks，whichwasnowmystrongestinstinct。InthecourseofmyramblingsinthenorthernregionsIcameacrossquantitiesofsilver-lead，whichIsmeltedwiththeobjectofobtainingleadtobeatoutintoplates。Ialsowentsomehundredsofmilesforthesakeofgettingcopper，andfoundgreatquantitiesoforesofdifferentkindsintheKimberleydistrict。

AverystrangeexperiencebefellYambanotlongafterIhadsettleddownamongtheblacksinmymountainhome；anditservestoillustratethestrictnesswithwhichthelawsagainstpoachingareobserved。TheincidentIamabouttorelateconcernedmeverynearly，andmighthavecostmemylifeaswellasmywife。Well，ithappenedthatYambaandIwereonedayreturningfromoneofthemany“walkabouts“whichwewereconstantlyundertakingaloneandwithnatives，andwhichsometimesextendedoverseveralweeksandevenmonths。Wehadpitchedourcampfortheafternoon，andYambawentoff，asusual，insearchofrootsandgamefortheeveningmeal。ShehadbeengonesomelittletimewhenIsuddenlyheardherwell-known“coo-eey“andknowingthatshemustbeintroubleofsomekind，Iimmediatelygraspedmyweaponsandwentofftoherrescue，guidingmyselfbyhertracks。

AquarterofamileawayIcameuponascenethatfilledmewithamazement。TherewasYamba——surelythemostdevotedwifeaman，civilisedorsavage，everhad——strugglinginthemidstofquiteacrowdofblacks，whowereyellingandtryingforciblytodragheraway。AtonceIsawwhathadhappened。Yambahadbeenhuntingforrootsovertheboundaryofterritorybelongingtoatribewithwhomwehadnotyetmadefriends；andasshehadplainlybeenguiltyofthegreatcrimeoftrespass，shewas，accordingtoinviolablenativelaw，confiscatedbythosewhohaddetectedher。Irusheduptotheblacksandbegantoremonstratewiththemintheirowntongue，buttheywerebothtruculentandobstinate，andrefusedtoreleasemynowweepingandterrifiedYamba。Atlastweeffectedacompromise，——Iagreeingtoaccompanytheparty，withtheircaptive，backtotheirencampment，andtherehavethemattersettledbythechief。Fortunatelywehadnotmanymilestomarch，but，asI

anticipated，thechieftookthesideofhisownwarriors，andpromptlydeclaredthathewouldappropriateYambaforhimself。I

explainedtohim，butinvain，thatmywife”strespasswascommittedallunknowingly，andthathadIknownhistribewereencampedinthedistrict，Iwouldhavecomeimmediatelyandstayedwiththemafewnights。

AsshowingwhataremarkablepersonIwas，Iwentthroughpartofmyacrobaticrepertoire；andevenmypooreagerBruno，whoevidentlyscentedtrouble，beganonhisownaccounttogiveahurriedandimperfectshow。Hestoodonhisheadandtumbledbackwardsandforwardsinalamentablylooseandunscientificmanner，barkingandyellingallthetime。

Idonotknowwhetherthewilychiefhadmadeuphismindtoseemoreofusornot；butatanyratehelookedatmeveryfiercelyasthoughdeterminedtocarryhispoint，andthenrepliedthattherewasbutonelaw——whichwasthatYambashouldbeconfiscatedforpoaching，whetherthecrimewasintentionalonherpartornot。SoemphaticallywasthissaidthatIbegantothinkIhadreallylostmyfaithfulcompanionforever。Asthisawfulthoughtgrewuponme，andIponderedovertheterriblepast，ImadeupmymindthatifnecessaryIwouldlosemyownlifeinherdefence，andtothisendIadoptedaveryhaughtyattitude，whichcausedthechiefsuddenlytodiscoverakindofby-lawtotheeffectthatinsuchcasesasthisonethenearestrelativeoftheprisonermightwinherbackbyfightingforher。This，ofcourse，waswhatIwanted，aboveallthings——particularlyastheoldchiefhadnotasyetseenmeusemywonderfulweapons。AndasIfeltcertainhewouldchoosethrowingspears，Iknewthatvictorywasmine。Heselected，withacriticaleye，threewell-madespears，whilstIchosethreearrows，whichIpurposelybrandishedaloft，soastogivemyopponenttheimpressionthattheywereactuallysmallspears，andweretobethrown，assuch，javelin-fashion。Theoldchiefandhisblackslaughedheartilyandpityinglyatthisexhibition，andridiculedtheideathatIcoulddoanydamagewithsuchtoyweapons。

Thedemeanourofthechiefhimselfwaseloquentofthegood-

humouredcontemptinwhichheheldmeasanantagonist；andadistanceoftwentypaceshavingbeenmeasuredout，wetookourplacesandpreparedforthedramaticencounter，uponwhichdependedsomethingmoreprecioustomethanevenmyownlife。Althoughoutwardlycoolandevenhaughty，Iwasreallyinastateofmostterribleanxiety。Ifixedmyeyesintentlyuponthesparebutsinewychief，andwithoutmovingamuscleallowedhimtothrowhisspearsfirst。Theformidableweaponscamewhizzingthroughtheairwithextraordinaryrapidityoneaftertheother；butlongexperienceoftheweaponandmyownnimblenessenabledmetoavoidthem。ButnosoonerhadIsteppedbackintopositionforthethirdtimethan，withlightningdexterity，IunslungmybowandletflyanarrowatmyantagonistwhichIhadpurposelymadeheavierthanusualbyweightingitwithfullyanounceofgold。Naturallyhefailedtoseethelittlefeatheredshaftapproach，anditpiercedhimrightinthefleshypartoftheleftthigh——exactlywhereI

intended。Thechiefleapedfromthegroundmoreinsurprisethanpain，asthoughsuddenlypossessedbyanevilspirit。Hiswarriors，too，werevastlyimpressed。Asbloodwasdrawninthisway，honourandthelawwerealikesupposedtobesatisfied，soYambawasimmediatelyrestoredtome，tremblingandhalfafraidtocreditherownjoyfulsenses。

Myreaderswill，perhaps，wonderwhythesecannibalsavagesdidnotgobackontheirbargainandrefusetogiveherup，evenafterI

hadvanquishedtheirchiefinfairfight；butthehonourablecoursetheyadoptedisattributablesolelytotheirowninnatesenseoffair-play，andtheiradmirationforsuperiorprowessandskill。

Why，whenthechiefhadrecoveredfromhisastonishmenthecameuptome，andgreetedmewarmly，withouteventakingthetroubletoremovemyarrowfromhisbleedingthigh！Webecametheverybestoffriends；andYambaandIstayedwithhimforsomedaysashisguests。Whenatlengthwewereobligedtoleave，hegavemequiteanimposingescort，asthoughIwereapowerfulfriendlychiefwhohaddonehimagreatservice！

CHAPTERXVII

Mosquitoesandleeches——Iexplainpictures——Anawkwardadmission——

Mygreatportrait——Thestomachasadeity——Theportraitasuccess——

Acolossalstatueof“H。R。H。”——Fishwithouteyes——Asadreflection——Astrangeillusion——Agravedanger——Isinkawell——

“Universalprovider“——Asignificantphenomenon——Brunoasaccomplice——IfindBrunodead。

ImustsayIwasnotverymuchtroubledwithmosquitoesinmymountainhome，andasIhadendureddreadfultormentsfromtheseinsectswhilstatPortEssingtonandotherswampyplaces，Ihadgoodreasontocongratulatemyself。WhilstcrossingsomelowcountryononeoccasionIwasattackedbythesewretchedpests，whosebitepenetratedeventheclaycoveringthatprotectedmyskin。Eventheblackssufferedterribly，particularlyabouttheeyes。I，however，hadtakentheprecautiontoprotectmyeyesbymeansofleavesandtwigs。AtPortEssingtonthemosquitoeswereremarkablylarge，andofagreyishcolour。Theyflewaboutliterallyinclouds，anditwaspracticallyimpossibletokeepclearofthem。

Thenativestreatedthebiteswithanointmentmadefromakindofpenny-royalherbandpowderedcharcoal。Talkingaboutpests，insomepartstheantswereevenmoreterriblethanthemosquitoes，andIhaveknownonevariety——areddish-brownmonster，aninchlong——toswarmoverandactuallykillchildrenbystingingthem。

Anotherpestwastheleech。Itwasratherdangeroustobatheinsomeofthelagoonsonaccountoftheleechesthatinfestedthewaters。OftenincrossingaswampIwouldfeelaslightticklingsensationaboutthelegs，andonlookingdownwouldfindmynetherlimbssimplycoatedwiththeseloathsomecreatures。Theremarkablethingwas，thatwhilsttheblacksreadilyknewwhenleechesattackedthem，Iwouldbeignorantforquitealongtime，untilI

hadgrownpositivelyfaintfromlossofblood。Furthermore，theblacksseemedtothinknothingoftheirattacks，butwouldsimplycrushthemontheirpersonsinthemostnonchalantmanner。

Sometimestheyscorchthemofftheirbodiesbymeansofalightedstick——akindofficewhichYambaperformedforme。Theblackshadveryfewrealcuresforailments，andsuchastheyhadweredistinctlycurious。Onecureforrheumatismwastorollintheblack，odourlessmudattheedgeofalagoon，andthenbaskintheblazingsununtilthemudbecamequitecakedupontheperson。

ThequestionmaybeaskedwhetherIevertriedtotellmycannibalsabouttheoutsideworld。Myansweris，thatIonlytoldthemjustsomuchasIthoughttheirchildishimaginationswouldgrasp。HadItoldthemmore，Iwouldsimplyhavepuzzledthem，andwhattheydonotunderstandtheyareapttosuspect。

Thus，whenIshowedthempicturesofhorse-racesandsheepfarmsinthecopyoftheSydneyTownandCountryJournalwhichIhadpickedup，Iwasobligedtotellthemthathorseswereusedonlyinwarfare，whilstsheepwereusedonlyasfood。HadIspokenabouthorsesasbeastsofburden，andtoldthemwhatwasdonewiththewoolofthesheep，theywouldhavebeenquiteunabletograspmymeaning，andsoIshouldhavedonemyselfmoreharmthangood。

Theyhadideasoftheirownaboutastronomy；thefundamental“fact“

beingthattheearthwasperfectlyflat，theskybeingproppedupbypolesplacedattheedges，andkeptuprightbythespiritsofthedeparted——who，sothemedicine-mansaid，wereconstantlybeingsentofferingsoffoodanddrink。TheMilkyWaywasakindofParadiseofsouls；whilstthesunwasthecentreofthewholecreation。

IhadoftenpuzzledmybrainforsomemethodwherebyIcouldconveytothesesavagessomeideaofthemagnitudeoftheBritishEmpire。

IalwayshadtheBRITISHEmpireinmymind，notonlybecausemysympathiesinclinedthatway，butalsobecauseIknewthatthefirstfriendstoreceivemeonmyreturntocivilisationmustnecessarilybeBritish。OverandoveragaindidItellthechildishsavagesgroupedaroundmewhatamightyrulerwastheSovereignoftheBritishEmpire，whichcoveredthewholeworld。

AlsohowthatSovereignHADSENTMEASaSPECIALAMBASSADOR，todescribetothemthegreatnessofthenationofwhichtheyformedpart。ThusyouwillobserveIneverletmyblackssuspectIwasamereunfortunate，castintotheirmidstbyaseriesofstrangechances。Imentionedthewholeworldbecausenothinglessthanthiswouldhavedone。HadIendeavouredtodistinguishbetweentheBritishEmpireand，say，theGerman，Ishouldhaveagaingotbeyondmyhearers”depth，sotospeak，andinvolvedmyselfindifficulties。

Halfinstinctively，butwithoutmotive，IrefrainedfrommentioningthattheruleroftheBritishEmpirewasAWOMAN，butthisadmissiondroppedfrommeaccidentallyoneday，andthen——whatafallingoffwasthere！IinstantlyrecognisedthemistakeIhadmadefromthecontemptuousglancesofmyblacks。AndalthoughI

hastenedtosaythatshewasamightychieftainess，uponwhosedominionsthesunneverset；andthatshewasactuallythedirectruleroftheblacksthemselves，theyrepudiatedherwithscorn，andcontemnedmeforsingingthepraisesofamerewoman。Ihadtoletthisunfortunatematterdropforatime，butthesubjectwaseverpresentinmymind，andIwonderedhowIcouldretrievemyposition(andherMajesty”s)withouteatingmywords。AtlengthonedayYambaandIcameacrossacuriousruggedlimestoneregion，whichwasfullofcaves。Whilstexploringthesewecameuponahuge，flat，precipitoussurfaceofrock，andthen——howorwhy，Iknownot——theideasuddenlyoccurredtometoDRAWAGIGANTICPORTRAIT

OFHERMOSTGRACIOUSMAJESTYQUEENVICTORIA！Atthisperiod，I

shouldmention，Iwasarecognisedchief，andperiodically——onceeverynewmoon——Igaveakindofreceptiontomypeople，andalsototheneighbouringtribes。AtthisinterestingfunctionIwouldalwayscontrivetohavesomenewwondertounfold。Myvisitorsneveroutstayedtheirwelcome，andIalwaysmanagedtohaveanabundanceoffoodforthem。

Well，IcameuponthecaveregionafewweeksaftermyunfortunateblunderabouttheQueen；andIdeterminedtohavemygreatportraitreadyforthenextreceptionday。Takingsomeblocksofstoneofhandysize，Ifirstwettedthesurfaceoftherockandthencommencedtorubit，untilIhadaprettysmoothfacetoworkupon。

Thistooksometime，butwhilstIwasdoingitYambagotreadythenecessarycharcoalsticksandpigmentssuchastheblacksdecoratethemselveswithatcorroborees。Ihadaslightknowledgeofdrawing，andclimbinguponsomeprojectingstonesIcommencedtodrawinbold，sweepingoutline，whatIventuretodescribeasthemostextraordinaryportraitofQueenVictoriaonrecord。Thefigure，whichwasinprofile，wasperhapssevenfeetoreightfeethigh，andofmorethanequallyextravagantproportionsinotherrespects。Ofcourse，thefigurehadtoberepresentedentirelywithoutclothing，otherwisetheblackswouldsimplyhavebeenpuzzled。NowtodescribetheportraitasmuchindetailasIdare。

Thecrownwascomposedofrarefeatherssuchasonlyaredoubtableandcunninghuntercouldobtain；anditincludedfeathersofthelyre-birdandemu。Thesceptrewasastupendousgnarledwaddyorclub，suchascouldbeusedwithfearfulexecutionamongstone”senemies。Thenosewasverylarge，becausethisamongtheblacksindicatesgreatendurance；whilstthebicepswereabnormallydeveloped。Infact，IgaveherMajestyasmuchmuscleaswouldserveforhalf-a-dozenprofessionalpugilistsor“strongmen。”Thestomachwasmuchdistended，andwhenIstatethisfactIamsureitwillexcitemuchcuriosityastothereasonwhy。

Well，asthestomachispracticallythegreatestdeitythesesavagesknow，andasfoodisoftenveryhardtoobtain，theyarguethatapersonwithaveryfullstomachmustnecessarilybeadaringandskilfulhunter，otherwisehewouldnotbeabletogetmuchfoodtoputintoit。

Thisextraordinaryportraitwasfinallydaubedanddecoratedwithbrilliantpigmentsandglaringsplashesofyellow，red，andblue。

Ialsousedakindofvividreddyeobtainedfromthesapofacertaincreeperwhichwasbruisedbetweenheavystones。Ispentperhapsaweekorafortnightonthisdrawing(Icouldnotgivealldaytoit，ofcourse)；andtheonlypersonswhoknewofitsexistenceweremyownchildrenandwomen-folk。Afterthecompletionofthegreatportrait，Iwentaway，andwaitedimpatientlyformynextreceptionday。Whenthewonder-lovingblackswereagainbeforemeItoldthemthatIhadaremarkablepictureofthegreatBritishQueentoshowthem，andthen，fullofanticipationandchildishdelight，theytroopedaftermetothespotwhereIhaddrawnthegreatpictureontherocks。Itisnoexaggerationtosaythatthecrowdofcannibalsstoodandsquattedinfrontofmyhandiworksimplyspeechlesswithamazement。

Eventuallytheyburstoutintocriesofwonderment，makingcuriousgutturalsoundswiththeirlips，andsmackingtheirthighsintokenoftheirappreciation。Ipointedouteverydetail——theimmensesizeofthegreatQueen，andthevariousemblemsofherpower；andatlast，steppingbackfromtherock，Isang“GodsavetheQueen，“

thebeautifulnationalhymnofGreatBritain，whichIhadlearnedfromthetwoill-fatedgirls，andwhich，youwillremember，hasthesameairasthatofaSwisssong。

Thegeneraleffectnotmerelyremovedanybadimpressionthatmighthavebeencreatedwithregardtomydamagingadmissionaboutthesexofthegreatruler；itmorethanre-establishedmeinmyoldposition，andIfollowedupmysuccessbyassuringthemthatherMajestyincludedinherretinueofservantsagreaternumberofpersonsthanwasrepresentedinthewholetribebeforeme。

Furthermore，IassuredthemthatwhilstthemountainhomeIhadbuiltwasverylarge(judgedbytheirstandard)，thehouseofQueenVictoriawasbigenoughtoholdawholenationofblacks。

InordertogiveyousomeideaofthenervoushorrorIhadoflosingprestige，Imaytellyouthat，farfrombeingsatisfiedwithwhatIhaddonetovindicatethegreatSovereignwhosespecialambassadorIwassupposedtobe，Isoondecidedtogiveyetanotherdemonstrationwhichshouldimpresseventhosewhowereinclinedtocavil——ifanysuchexisted。IpointedoutthatwhilsttheQueen，greatandpowerfulandbelovedrulerthoughshewas，couldnotleadherwarriorsintobattleinperson，yetshewasrepresentedinwartimebyhereldestson，whowasamostredoubtablewarriorandspear-thrower，andactedonbehalfofhisillustriousmotheronalloccasionswhenshecouldnotappear。ButasmentionofthePrinceofWalescalledforademonstrationofHISpersonalityalso，I

determinedtomakeanotherexperimentinportraiture，——thistimeinthedirectionofsculpture。Ithinkitwashavingcomeacrossaverydampcountry，aboundinginplasticclay，thatputthisideaintomyhead。Firstofall，then，Icutdownastoutyoungsapling，which，proppedupintheground，servedasthemainstayofmystatue；andfromitIfastenedprojectingbranchesforthearmsandlegs。

RoundthisframeworkIbuiltupmyfigurewithblocksofclay；andatlength，after，perhaps，threeorfourweeks”industriousmodelling，IcompletedastatueofhisRoyalHighnesswhichmeasuredaboutsevenfeetsixinchesinheight。Thebodyandlimbswereofabnormaldevelopment，muchonthelinesofmyrepresentationofhisaugustmother。Fullerdetailswouldbeinteresting，buthardlyedifying。ThisstatueI“unveiled“atanotherofmymonthlyreceptions，and，judgedbyitseffect，itwasevenagreatersuccessthanthecolossalportraitoftheQueen。A

monstercorroboreewasheldalongsidethePrinceofWales”sstatue，but，unfortunately，hewenttopiecesinadayortwo，whenthefiercesunbeatdownupontheclay，andcrackedit。Thisgradualdisintegrationofthegreatruler”sdeputyvastlyamusedtheblacks，andIeventuallyhadtohastenthePrince”send，lesttheirmirthshouldcompromisemydignity。

YouwillhardlybesurprisedwhenItellyouthattheblackslookedtomeforeverything。Iwasjudge，wonder-worker，andarbitrator。

Oftentheywouldpickuponeofmypossessions，and，whilstnotexactlycovetingit，theywouldaskforonelikeit。

Take，forexample，thereedfluteswhich，whenplayedbyme，weresuchasourceofjoytotheblacksandtheirchildren。Well，Iwassooncalledupontomakeflutesforthenatives，whichIdidoutoflongreeds；buttheseinstrumentsonlyhadtwoholesinthematfirst，astheblackscouldnotplaythemwhenotherholeswereadded。Thegreatdrawbacktothesefluteswasthatthereeddriedveryquicklyandbecameuselessformusicalpurposes；soIwaskeptprettybusy，moreespeciallyasIdidnotwanttocreatejealousybyrefusingsomeandgratifyingothers。

AlthoughtheimmediatecountryinwhichIestablishedmyhomewasfertileandextremelyrichintropicalvegetation，theadjoiningrangeswereinstrikingcontrasttoit；manydistrictsbeingruggedandslatyandpainfullydifficulttotraverseonfoot。Therewere，however，manyinterestingnaturalcuriositieswhichbeguiledthetimeintravelling。

OnceIcameacrossacertainkindofspider，whosewebwassostrongandthickthatitonlybrokeunderconsiderablepressurefromthefinger。Thespideritselfwasfullytwoinchesorthreeincheslong，andhadformidableclaws。Inlandfishing，too，I

foundextremelyinteresting。Ofcourse，theinlandblackshaveaverydifferentmethodoffishingfromthatadoptedbythecoasttribes。Oftentheinlandpeoplewouldbuildafireonthebanksofthelagoon，andthrowsomethingintothewatertoattractthefishtothesurface。Whenthefishrosetheywouldpromptlybespeared。

Someofthemweighedasmuchastenpounds，andprovedexcellenteating。Theblacksthemselvesneverinquiredhowthefishcameintotheseinlandholes；itwasenoughforthemtoknowtheywerethereandweregoodeating。Theusualfish-hookswereofbone；andalthoughIexperimentedwithhooksofgoldandcopperIfoundthempracticallyuseless，and，inthelongrun，revertedtoarticlesofnativemanufacture。Inacertainlimestonecountry，whichIstruckinthecourseofmywanderings，Idiscoveredsomeextraordinarycaveswithwater-holes，inwhichblindfishexisted。Theycertainlyhadindicationsofeyes，butthesewerehiddenbeneathakindofpermanentskincovering。Inanycasetheywouldhavehadnouseforeyes，becausethewater-holesweresituatedinthemostprofounddarkness。InothercavesIdiscoveredquantitiesofextraordinaryanimal-bones，probablyofprehistoricorigin。

IfIhaveomittedtomentionBrunoinconnectionwitheveryincidentrelatedinthesepages，itmustnotbesupposedthatmyfaithfulcompaniondidnotplayanimportantpartinmydailylife。

Hewasalwayswithme；butitmustberememberedthathewasnowgrowingold，andthenativesaroundmewerebynomeanssokeentopossesshimasthetribesofCarpentariahadbeeninthedaysgoneby。

Allkindsofextraordinaryincidentsbefellmewhilstonthe“walk-

about。”ManyatimehaveIbeendeceivedbymirage。OnemostcompletedeceptionbefellmeonedaywhilstYambaandIweretrampingoverastretchoflow，sandycountry。SuddenlyIfanciedIdescriedtheboundlessoceaninthedistance，andwithmyusualimpetuosityrushedfranticallyforwardinthefirmbeliefthatatlastwehadreachedthecoast。Yambaexplainedthatitwasonlyamirage，butIwouldnotstaytolisten，andmusthavegonemilesbeforeIgaveupindisgustandreturnedtomypatientwife。Thisbringsmetoanotherandperhapsstillmoreextraordinaryillusion。

OnedaywhilstYambaandIwerepassingthroughoneofthoseeternalregionsofsand-hillsandspinifexwhicharethedespairoftheAustralianexplorer，IsuddenlysawinthedistancewhatIwascertainwasAFLOCKOFSHEEP。Theretheywereapparently——scoresofthem，browsingcalmlyinadepressioninafertilepatchwheremostprobablywaterexisted。

Inaninstanttheolddesiretoreturntocivilisation，whichIhadthoughtburiedlongago，reasserteditself，andIdashedforwardatfullspeedyellingbacktoYamba，“Sheep，sheep——wheresheepare，menare。Civilisationatlast！“WhenatlengthIhadgotnearenoughforthecreaturestonoticeme，youmayimaginemydisgustanddisappointmentwhenquitealittleforestoftallheadswenthighintotheair，andAFLOCKOFEMUSracedoffacrossthecountryatfullspeed。Thesehugebirdshadhadtheirheadsdownfeeding，andnotunnaturally，inthedistance，Ihadmistakenthemforsheep。

IthinkeveryoneisawarethatprolongeddroughtsareofverycommonoccurrenceinCentralAustralia，andaremainlyresponsibleforthemigratoryhabitsoftheaborigines——particularlythoseoftheremotedesertsintheinterior。ThemostterribledroughtI

myselfexperiencedwhilstinmymountainhomewasonethatextendedoverthreeyears，wheneventhelagooninfrontofmydwelling，whichIhadthoughtpracticallyinexhaustible，driedup，withthemostappallingresults。Justthink——neveradropofrainfallingforoverthreelongyears，withascorchingsundartingdownitsraysalmosteveryday！Duringthisterribleperiodtheonlymoisturetheparchedearthreceivedwasintheformoftheheavydewsthatdescendedinthenight。Eventhese，however，onlybenefitedthevegetationwhereanycontinuedtoexist，anddidnotcontributeintheslightestdegreetothenaturalwatersupplysonecessaryforthesustenanceofhumanandanimallife。Theresultswereterribletowitness。Kangaroosandsnakes；emusandcockatoos；lizardsandrats——alllayabouteitherdeadordying；

andinthecaseofanimalswhohadsurvived，theyseemednolongertofeartheirnaturalenemy，man。

DaybydayasIsawmylagoongrowgraduallysmaller，IfeltthatunlessItooksomestepstoensureamorepermanentsupply，mypeoplemustinevitablyperish，andIwiththem。Naturallyenough，theylookedtometodosomethingforthem，andprovidesomerelieffromtheeffectsofthemostterribledroughtwhicheventheyhadeverexperienced。Almostdailydiscouragingreportswerebroughttomeregardingthedryingupofallthebetter-knownwater-holesallroundthecountry，andIwasatlengthobligedtoinviteallandsundrytousemyownallbutexhaustedlagoon。AtlengththingsbecamesothreateningthatIdecidedtosinkawell。

Choosingalikelyspotnearthefootofaprecipitoushill，IsettoworkwithonlyYambaasmyassistant。Confidentlyanticipatingthebestresults，Ierectedacrudekindofwindlass，andfitteditwithagreen-hideropeandabucketmadebyscoopingoutasectionofatree。Mydiggingimplementsconsistedsolelyofahome-madewoodenspadeandastonepick。Yambamanipulatedthewindlass，loweringandraisingthebucketanddisposingofthegravelwhichI

senttothesurface，withthedexterityofapractisednavvy。Whatwiththeheat，thescarcityofwater，andthefactthatnotoneofthenativescouldbereliedupontodoanhour”swork，itwasaterriblyslowandwearyingbusiness；butYambaandIstucktoitdoggedlydayafterday。

AttheendofaweekIhadsunkanarrowshafttoadepthoftwelveorfourteenfeet，andthentomyinfinitesatisfactionsaweveryindicationthatwaterwastobefoundalittlelowerdown。InthecourseofthefollowingweekIhituponaspring，andthenIfeltamplyrewardedforallthetroubleIhadtaken。Evenwhenthelagoonwasperfectlydry，andonlyitsparchedsandybedtobeseen，thesupplyfromourlittlewellcontinuedundiminished；anditprovedmorethanenoughforourwantsduringthewholeofthedrought。Ievenventuredtoprovidethedistressedbirdsandanimalswithsomemeansofquenchingtheirinsupportablethirst。A

fewyardsfromthewellIconstructedalargewoodentrough，whichIkeptfilledwithwater；andeachdayitwasvisitedbythemostextraordinaryflocksofbirdsofeverysizeandvarietyofplumage——

fromemusdowntowhatlookedlikehumming-birds。Hugesnakes，tenandfifteenfeetlong，bustledthekangaroosawayfromthelife-givingtrough；andoccasionallythecrowdwouldbesoexcessivethatsomeofthepoorcreatureswouldhavetowaithoursbeforetheirthirstwassatisfied，——andevendieontheouterfringeofthewaitingthrong。Irememberthatevenatthetimethescenestruckmeasanamazingandunprecedentedone，fortherewasIdoingmybesttoregulatethetraffic，sotospeak，sendingawaythebirdsandanimalsandreptileswhosewantshadbeensatisfied，andbringingskinsfullofwatertothosewhohadfallendownfromexhaustion，andwereinafairwaytodie。Asarule，thecreaturestooknonoticewhateverofme，butseemedtorealiseinsomeinstinctivewaythatIwastheirbenefactor。OfcourseIhadtocoveroverthetopofthewellitself，otherwiseitwouldhavebeensimplyswampedwiththecarcassesofeageranimalsandbirds。