National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-12-27
The Australian Native,

II we may believe Traveller in that 10.
callty, the native Australian in his normal
state Is about as lazy as il Is well possible
iot man TO be; and appears to care for no.
thing but lsod and lodging for the mo.
ment, and smoke and "nipn as tto-
qnently as he can get one.
They are very independent, and will but
seldom do stroke Of woik mless under
Immediate promise Of tobacco or other ar.
tclos valuable in their eyes.
II Is, however, curious that they actual
ly do work well when with parties bert
on pleasure, ana not on business. They
are even hard working out shooting OF fish.
ing iir boats, etc.
Little black boys are frequently EN-.
ployed on stations; and then, il they take
kindly to the place, are Of great use. They
early manage 10 site. On the back Of q
horse, and are thus able to do much In the
way Of getting up horsesfrun the paddock,
and taking short messages. As they Get
| older, they become invaluable as bush
rider1 as they care for nothing; ride at
anything, and apparently never get killed,
even by the most crashing falls. At about
sixteen years Of age they begin to get
sulky, g'te b,ck as good as they get, aud
finally bolt suddenly. They ioin some
tribe that they have heard OF IN the Leieh.
Ihood, and are made men Of by passing
through the mysteries Of the Borer'
The places used by the blacks for this
ceremony are not at all uncommon. A
circle some forty yards in diameter Is sur
rosnded by mound OF earth, through
which there is one outlet by a trench,
which runs in Il straight line for sometimes
more than quarter of mile. The trees
all round about are usually carved and Gu.
IN the most extraordinary fashion. The
chiet visible result Of the performance is
the knocking out Of the two particular
teeth, after which black is considered OF
age; and immediately appropriates to HIM
self ein," or wife, IN fact, he becomes
man OF the tribe, and no longer q child. |
1t is noteworthy that all tie black child. |
ren appear to be greatly under the intiu-
ence OF the gin never daring to disobey
them.
Being a man, lie can now join in the
hunting expeditions; moreover, he gets
" first bites at meals for it i, custom |
OF these gentry FOR the men to seat them
sclNt-, anu e0aW NJ Iutli loOl tlll Satlslleu, |
continually throwing laIf picked bones,
etc, over their shoulders, TO be scrambled
for by the "gins" and the children, who in
their turn pass them on in the same man
rer to the dogs.
Occasionally one meets with other works
OF blacks beside the Borel" camps. In
certain rivers are to be seen vast chains Of
pools, all artificial, in which tribes of
blacks have been wont to catch fish to
supply any special gathering of the tribe,
as, for instance, the festival Of the
" Borcr,"
When in hi, wild state, the black is ex-
ceedingly active, and very sharp in all
bush-lofe. II is thus that he is often OF
great use to those vino are, ior any pnr-
pose, actually in the wild parts. Steady
and continuous work does not suit him
az all; but he i very clever at getting bold
u almost any sort Of animal or bird; be is
a great hand at " tracking" and is ever on
the lookout for the tracks Of everything,
Dt which he take. notice apparently invoI-
lIta!ily.