National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-04-04
PrOvidentlal Escape.

In 1910, while the British ship Rattie
snake was lying at Port Albany, on the
eastern shore Of Australia, n remarkable
instance occurred of what seemed n
providential escape. Some Of the ships
company were on shore, shooting, when
they saw, coming toward them, an
individual whom they took to be n gin,
or native woman, presenting the usual
uninviting appearance OF the aboriginal
females. They paid but little attention
to her, and were passing on, when, to
their surprise, she called out in Eng
lish 81 am n white woman, why do
you leave me ?" She was taken off to
the ship in the first boat, deplorable
object. Her appearance is thus de-
scribed "With the exception OF n
narrow fringe OF leaves in front, she
wore no clothing, and her skin was
tanned and blistered with the sun, and
showed the marks OF several large
burns which had been received from
sleeping too near the fire on cold nights I;
besides, she was suffering from opthal-
mia, which had previously deprived her
of tho sight of one eye" AS soon as
the poor creature could tell her story,
she related that, having left Sydney
some four years before, with her hus-
band, in a small cutter, of which he was
owner, the vessel had been wrecked on
reef near the coast, and the three
persons on board, beside herself,
drowned. She was afterwar rescued
by party of natives on n turtling ex-
cnrsion, who, when the gale subsided,
swan on board, and supported her on
shore between two Of their number.
One OF these blacks, Boroto by name,
took possession of tho woman as his
share of the plunder she was compell-
Ell to live with him, but was well treated
by all the men, although many of the
women, jealous of the attention shown
her, for long time evinced anything
but kindness. A curious circumstance
secured for her the protection of one OF
the principal men of the tribe, party
from which had been the fortunate
means of rescuing her, and which she
afterward found to be the Kowrarega,
chiefly inhabiting Muralug, or toe west
person, named Piaquai, acting upon the
belief universal throughout Australia
anl the islands of Torres Strait, SO far
as hitherto known that white people
are the ghosts of the aborlgines, 'fancied
that, in the stranger, he recognized
long lost daughter of the name of Giom,
and at once admitted her to the relation
ship which he thought had formerly
subsisted bet ween them. She was i'm
mediately ack nowledged by the whole
tribe as one of themselves, thus insur-
ing an extensive connection in relatives
of all denominations.
The natives, however, watched her
very closely, to prevent her escape, but
she was often tantalized by the sight of
vessels passing along the straits, and
heard of the former visit of the Rottie-
snake. This second time she had sue
ceeded in persuading the blacks to let
her go "to see the white people, and
shake hands with then," and had
promised to bring them back axes,
knives and tobacco. On these terms
they gave her leave of absence but
repenting soon after, party started in
pursuit of her, and had almost come up
with her when she was rescued by the
boat. Here we quote again from the
narrative "Upon being asked by
Captain Stanley whether she really pre-
ferred remaining with us to accompany
ing the natives back to their island, as
she would be allowed her free choice in
the matter, she was so much agitated
as to find difficulty in expressing her
thankfulness, making use of scraps of
English alternately with the Kowrarega
language, and then, suddenly awaken
to the recollection that she was not
understood, the poor creature blushed
all over, and, with downcast eyes, beat
her forehead with her hand, as if to
assist in collecting her scattered
thoughts. At length, after a pause, she
found words to say, Sir, l am Chris
tian, and would rather go back to my
own friends.
Barbara Thompson-such was the
woman's name-was eventually handed
over to her parents, in Sydney, in ex-
cellent condition.