The New York herald., 1870-11-08

A "csrroboree', In New South Waies-Quceu
yirtoria's birthday Internationally ysiic
Rifes-A Native King and His Subjects--
Gunyahs and ihcir Inmates.
A correspondent describes corroboree which
was held recently at Stroud. New South Wales, IN
the following words and With tine eiiect:--
II is a dark very dark night, ana the village OF
Stroud New South Wales, Is wrapped In the mourn
ful stiffness characteristic Of bush settlements.
The hour is last approaching midnight, and the
waited through the groves OF ueighboring gum
trees. sound, net Of angels Whispers nor OF
fairy songs, but a5 OF lends broke loose from
warmer place than the winds OF Terra Austrais,
but whose geographical position It IL needless to
describe here What can this hulabaoO t'making
night hideonsnl SIGNIFY? moment = reflection tells
us. The Gath was The Queens birthday ana many
aporigines have been camped IN the neighborhoou.
since then. They are having corroboree OF
course. We are Two "new chums" T" lalelv imported
from London, and wishing to see the noble say.
apen In all his glory. few minutes walk through
the bush brings us 10 the scene oil action Imagine,
gente reader, or II you can't imagine take u for
granted, q clear space OF about nfty yards long by
forty wide surrounded by gum trees what place IN
New South Wales ~ not surrounded by gum treessi
In the centre oil winch IS huge ire large enough TO
roast herd Of cattle at once, for wood being plent
ful ~ the eighborhuod-Stroud not being likely 10
run short Of that useful domestic necessity lor
considerable number OF centuries-.he children of
tie forest have lied on the agony with VIII.
we are now within the rustic arena ana we stand
wondering spectators OF the scene. what strange
sight Dantes '.mIerDo" ana VirgL's descent 10
the lower req ons with numerous other helllsh lni-
aginings Dotn ancient and modern, crowd upon our
heated Imagination; Tor We have taken up our posi-
ti0n close 10 Inc fire. There are gunyas 10 Tue
right of US, gunyahs TO the left Of us, gunyals IN
front and gunyans behind, and IN front 0l each gun
van there Ii Il small FIRE. SO that looking at this
strange picture In fiery light and with an eye 20
science and a wink at astronomy the large centre
Hfe may be considered as a planet and the small
nfes dotted around It's attendant satellites, tne
blacks Of course, innabitng the said planet on the
.'outsider but we are in TIE midst Of n primitive
people ana must not draw scientific COMPARISONS.
Seated around the centre ire are the women
ana children OF the tribe, the Former IN
dulgiug n snort pines and the latter employed as
black children usually arc. they arc strange look.
ing beings these aboriginal women OF Australia,
with iner heavy round features, hat noses and wide
sensual looking mouths. IneyAtre even uglier fnan
ther lords. But stay there one pretty child among
the group, a girl of some ten summers, with oval
features, finely cut lips delicaely pencilied eye
brows and dark beamng eyes, Thou art wlns0me
enid Of the forest, yo,ingster; there Is dash oi
white blood beneath thy tinted skin.
Now the mystic iJcs begin ana the bright fires cast
ftiu glare around and light up the Enthusiastically
signed by Gustave DOre. In the distance groups OF
uusky figures come Ike phanioins and depart under
the trees, whence occasionally shont issues, anu
burst of namc from fire stick is seen. These
are the performers decorating themselves for the
dance -Four figures now approach, and, sGuatting
down near the centre fire, beat time with Sucks
10 a low monotonous chant. All the spectators
men, women and childlen-slt down on the ground,
some beating time with sticks whilst others assume
an air OF mute astonlshmeni The dancers-all
men--now appear, most OF them in state or
nudity, while others wear small cloth Gnded
and down the legs with broad White lines, and in
their hands are "waddes' aud spears, wlicn they
flourish about in all directions. The dancers now
move in a compact body 10 within short distance
o the spectators. After standing for lew minutes
In silence they suddenly burst out into deep, ter
rife yell, and the leader OF the Dance tail, gentle
man y-looking savage. with no clothes on, steps
forward and commences stamping, the rest all oin-
ing In and keeping time with the singers. gradually
increasing the violence OF their movements until
the scene assumes character which words fail to
convey.
'tbora Ia .sDia EinO Jnmmia with hracc
badge IN the shape OF crescent Sung over his right
sho uder and winch tells you that its owner once
possessed q territory larger than many a German
principalify. See hlm now IN all his native glory,
dyested OF ''whiIe felah's clothesi and dOing his
war uahce 10 the music oil TWO urleu SUCKS There
was time when his war cry made tho Welkin ring,
but his voice Is weak now anu pipes with age, and
MS martial spirit has given way 10 The spirit oi rum.
The once savage chlei,aln 5noW a British subject
often wears a Newmarket ecat and IS proud OF his
ineXpessbles. But glance at the other dancers.
There ~ one very tall and OF stately mien who
goes through his steps with the Underwriting correct
ness OF an accomplished dancer This is "Charlie,"
ana TINS same Charlie mas been to England aud
played at Lords against the All England Eleven. lie
II the conlest OF tbe batch escheWs clothes ON this
occasion and wears pocket handkerchief IN lieu or
an apron. On his right Is u man OF most ieroclous
aspect with A mouth OF lnordlnate proporfons,
into which Is thrust short clay pipe, which he
smokes with the most perseverlng energy, as he
goes through The strange gyraions OF the corrob0ree
dance, now JumpIl. IN The air with a wild yell,
making hideouS faces at the spectators, VINO ap-
plaud his activity by loud laughter.
Hut look, there Is another tail savage. OF giant
like proportions quite IN an ~ ,eScO state, his oaly
attempt at ornalnentati0n being string OF glass
beads worn round HIS neck. There Is a scro-comic
eX preston Of countenancc observable IN THIS giant
OF The tribe he steps forward TO execute his dance
and there Is general Utter audible around. See
his large glaring eyes and face turn beavenward at
the pale round moon That sheds her iustIe upon his
sable brow, Is lie Yields his war clab IN the air,
dan eng fran, n,tlcally the while To the monoton0us
chant oil his companions. There Is q pause. lie
face jumps ioto the air, anu with Wild ''whoop"
into tue darkness oil The bush.
Lei us turn to the interior Of the gunyahs. In the
first Is stretched at full length dirty blanket
neCrepit looking old man, whose hair the snow or
age has made wnite lie sleeps with his face within
q few inches OF the fire; his corroboree days are
gone and he cannot have many more .'moons 10
count in this world. Hark there are voices IN the
next gunyah, where four ''gns'' sit smoking, one
against the other like lmeklns. They invite us 10
he seated, but we decline the invitation with the
jocose assurance that we will return shortly. We
Will turn, however to the last Of these strange hab-
iatons in front o! which the irc burns with glow
ing ustrc. IL is tDipty No a handsome child,
about two years Old, lies stretched upon the damp
floor. sleeping the Tranquil sleep OF innocence, It's
breast exposed to the dews OF heaven ana ITS little
arm resting on the green sward. Il new blanket the
glf OF her Majesty the queen, covers the lower part
OF It's body, wniie a large Kangaroo hound lies
with its sagaciouS-looking head resting upon the
infants shoulder. What Il contrast Is this. Be-
hind the wild cOfroboree dance Is Stil going on
fast and furious, while In front of us picture
that Landseer wonld love TO paint. From this We
pleasant night with some Of the remaining abort
gincs OF New South Wales.
ARRESTED f03 SNEAK TREy!Nc
An Unlu wfui Police Practice.