Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-06-03
Savage COurtship.

In nothing is the. brutality of the
aboriginal blacks of Australia more clearly
shown than In their treatment of their
/ females. amongst them women are con-
sidered as an inferior class, and are used
only as beasts of burden, so that it is not
at I'll uncommon to meet huge black
fellow travelling merriK along with no load
but his spear or w1lr-cEib, whilst his ull-
/ fortunate leubra is painting under the
weight of their goods and chattels, which
she is compelled to carry from camp to
camp. Courtship, as the precursor, to
marriage, Is unknown amongst them
When young warrior IS desiri0us of
procuring wife, he generally obtains
one by giving in exchange for her
a sister or some other female rela-
tive of his own, but if there should
happen to be no eligible damsel olsen
gagged in the tribe to which he
belongs, then he hovers round the en-
campment of some other blacks until he
gets an opportunity of seizing one of their
leubras whom, perhaps, he has seen and
admired when attending one of the feasts
Or corrobories. His mode of paying his
addresses in simple and efficacious. With
a blow Of his mulla-nllla twar-club) he
stuns the object of his Affections and
drags her inscnsible body away to some
retired spot, whence, as soon as she re-
covers her senses, he brings her home to
his own. gunyah in triumph
Sometimes two join in an expedition
for the same purpose, and then for
Several days they watch the movements of
their intended victims, using the utmost
skill il coneealing their presence. When
they HAZE obtained the knowledge they
require, they wait for dark, windy night
then, quite naked, and carrying only their
long jag-spears, they crawl stealthily
through the bush until they reach the I'M
mediate vicinity of the camp fires, in front
of which the girls they are in search of
are sleeping. Slowly and silently they
creep close enough to distinguish the
figure of one of these leubras. Then one
of the intruders stretches out his spear,
and inserts its barbed point amongst her
thick, flowing locks, turning the spear
slowl v round some of her hair becomes
speedily entanglcd with it then, with a
sudden jerk, she is aroused from her slum-
Der, and as her eyes open, she feels the
point OF another weapon pressed against
her throat. She neither faints nor
screams; she knows well that the slightest
Sttempt at escape or alarm viii cause her
instant d2ath so ike a sensible woman, she
makes a virtue of necessity, and rising
silently, she follows her eapt0rs. They
lead her away to a considerable distance,
tie, her to tree, and return to ensnare
their other yictim in like manner Then,
whenthey have accomplished their design, |
they hurry off to their own camp, where
they are received with universal applause,
end highly honored for their chivalrous
exploit. Occasionally, an alarm is given,
but even then the wife-stealers easily |
escape amidst the confuson, to renew their
attempt at some future period.
When distinguished warrior carries |
of a bride from a strange tribe he will |
frequently volunteer to undergo the tri- |
al OF spears, in order to prevent the |
necessity of his people going to. var in |
his defence then both of the tribes meet
and ten OF their smartest and strongest |
young men are picked out by the ag-
grieyed party. These are each provided |
with three red-speers, s.nf 4 wommera, or
throwing -stick; and the offender, armed |
ealy with his heiliman, Ia bark shield, |
eighteen inches long by six wide, is led |
out in front and placed at distance of |
forty yards. Then at given signal, the |
thirty spears are launched at him in
rapid succession; these he receives and |
parties with his shield, and 50 skillfull |
are the blacks in the use Of tbeir own
weapons that very seldom is any wound |
inflicted. Having successfully passed |
through this ordeal, the warrior Is Qoiisid- |
cred to have fairly earned his leubra, and |
to have atoned for his offence IN carrying |
her off; so the ceremony genGrally con-
cludes by the two tribes feasting together
in perfect harmony. =