The Southern journal., 1846-02-21

ated.
Mr.. Sniyeile was rather at loss to COM
municate his wishes TO these Aborigines-
and very original, he thought certainly
they were; but, seeing that he. could not
speak their language, and they could not
speak his, he was unable to communicate
his ideas by speech; but he remembered
that the language of signs is UNIVERSAL
He opened his mouth and initiated the &C.
ton Of chewing with the greatest of
energy.
Wirriwarriwow comprehended him per-
fectly; with the willingness to oblige, ma
tural TO her sex, she Immediately present.
ed the stranger with the bit Of fern root
which her husband had but half eaten.-
The stranger took it, smelled it, pared it
with knife which he took from his pocket,
tasted it, and shook bis head.
The chief looked at the strangers knife,
and his mind was troubled with strange Vi
sions. He stretched out his hand for it !;
took it; felt its edge; gave little chuckle
in his throat which resembled the gobbling
Of turkey, and secreted it in corner
Mr.. Snive'le was charmed with this in.
stance of native ingenuoueness.
The chief invited him by signs to a
great feast. Mr.. Snivelle being very
hungry, accepted the invitation with the
most energetic readiness. One of his
wiies was despatched to give intelligence
10 the tribe that Ia white stranger had ar
rived, so fat as 10 be valuable personally land
exhibiting sundry foreign qualities, curious
and entertaining.
The feast prepared, an old and digniied
chief, the superior of the tribe, presided. =
Having had the advantage OF several COM
munications with Europeans, the great
man was well acquainted with the man-
ners and customs of the white people; and
wishing to show off on the occasion, he
commanded that things should be prepared
with sumptuousness suitable TO the occa-
sion. The steam of the earth-ovens arose
on all sides.
Ia due time the assembly sat down TO
table; that is 10 say, the natives tucked
their legs under them and sat on the ground,
while their wifes brought 10 the dinner
The dress of the great chief was magnlf
cent in the extreme. He wore on that oc-
casion drummer's jacket, which being
too small for him was necessarily open in
front; around his loins was tied blue ap.
ron, which had belonged to ships but.
cher. On his head he wore Judges wig
intended for dgnitary in New South
Wales, but which having been repudiated
by that functionary, had been barlered b,
a trader with native for a hog, and had
been seized by the great chief as an orna
ment too great for any other head than his
own. AT the top of the wig he had placed
a cooked hat. His admiring subjects
gazed at him with sort Of awe. Mr..
Snivelle looked out anxiously for the din.
ner.
The first dish was baked young woman
II was borne in with great ceremony. A
the bottom was stewed dog. There was
a cold boiled missionary as a middle dish.
At the sides were two piccaninny pies, with
their toes appetitishiy displayed through
the crust. e
He detached with his fingers delicate
piece of the top dish for his guest, with Q
cut Of the centre one, which he accom-
plished with his tomahawk, and pointed
out the piccaninny's Toes as the most deli
cate morsel. But Mr.. Snivelle turned
very pale, and felt very sick. The Grea1
Chief was pleased to take notice o.
his indisposition. He. pointed to the ban.
quet.
Mr.. Snivelle shook his head, and en-.
deavored to make his dusky friend under
stand that he was not hungry.
The natives regarded him with pity
and amazemeat! The feast was deli
They talked themselves and pointed al
the stranger; and they regarted him, he
began to think, lovingly. They said some
words to the Great Chief; fortunately that
distinguished individual was able to speak
lew words in English. With polileness