American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-07-10
THE LEGEND OF EPOI.

THE LEGEND OF EPOI.
An Australian Story.
On aday of year long past and gone,
an encampment of the numerous tribes
of Epoi dotted the eastern slope of a
hill not far from the winding banks of
the ever-fowing Yarra Yarra.
1t was day of the year when the sun
and the moon gaze upon each other
from opposite edges of the horizon, the
moon for one moment shyly lifting her
pale face, tinted with a maidcn's blush,
at the presence of the sun, in his radi-
ant garb of crimson and gold. He, for
that instant, flashing all his glories
forth in homage to the eastern Queen,
bends low beneath the western hills,
leaving the heavens shawled in purple
and crimson. Orange and scarlet form
a loom, the softer, richer hucs of which
shame those of famed Cashmere.
The encampment consisted of more
than a hundred mia mia, neatly con-
structed of bark. and waterproof, with
matched, dOme-like roofs. Long spears
stood in the ground at the entrance to
each dweliing-the light dart feathered
with grass tree, which it hurled afar,
urged by the ingenious womrah "a
throwing stick, the heavier javelin,
barbed with the teeth of the kangaroo,
and longer than its swift-glancing
brethren.
AS the moments passed, dark forms
glided from the forest successfully into
the circle of the freight, dropping
from hand or shoulder the spoils of the
chase into common heap. The pile
of game grew larger, higher still, show
ing from what noble hunting ground
the Epoi took their prey. Mingled in
discriminatory were the greater and the
lesser kangaroo. the shy, dark wild
duck of the upland creeks, the stately,
gliding swan of the broad, reed-fringed
lakes. The great wingless bird which
rivals the ostrich of the desert was
there, the lesser rodents and marsupi-
ais; while to crown the abundant feast,
some of the dark. 1.-the lads and more
aged men brought in coolamuns brim-
ming over with the luscious honeycomb.
All, save these last, was cast carelessly
upon the heap, to be divided by the
elders of the tribe when the last hunter
returned.
The women, old and young, kept the
fires glowing and the oven stones red
hot. in expectation of the approaching
feast. Naked, dusky children, with
dark-egleaming, eager eyes, gathered
lingering sky-tint from the hidden sun
passed from view. There was one, but
one, hunter missing. 1t was Windaru
the most fearless, the most skillful of
them all. He it was who brought the
richest honey, the longest, strongest
strings of wood duck, the latest emu.
Suddenly, a sound of fast-fying foot
steps was heard, and Windaru bounded
into the camp. Instead of, as was his
custom, proudly throwing from his
shoulders his hunter spoils, he came
empty handed. Driving his spears
fiercely into the earth he stood pant
ing before them. His arched chest rose
and fell with the mechanical sob which
indicates the distress produced by
long-sustained speed. The muscles
clasping his supple form quivcred and
strained as if striving to bear him on
ward in his mad career. His eyes
seemed gazing far away, fastened to the
terror they had left behind. As he
stood beside his tall spears, horror APP
peared to radiate from him. The men
Of the tribe drew silently around,
awaiting the commencement of his
speech. A young girl. tall and 1.-THE,
with startled eyes, glided to him and
seated herself at his feet. Gradually
the heaving breast, the quivering mus
cles, grew calm. His eyes rested sadly
on his people as he thus spoke:
MY brothers. let us sharpen our war
spears and count our fighting men.
We have to fight against an enemy
such as the oldest warrior of our tribe
never gazed upon. l wandered far
to-day. As hunted the lagoons where
the ocean drinks of the waters of the
Yarra Yarra, heard a sound come out
of black cloud which rested on the
salt water. The cloud lowered over a
floating island which had wings like
the flying fox. I hid myself. watched
the island float quickly over the water.
Within spears fight of the shore it
grew still. Its wings were folded, it
sat on the water with three leafess
pines growing upward. Then L saw
two canoes paddle out toward the land
where lay hid. In these canoes were
men: when they landed my head was
filed with n great terror, My brothers!
the men were white! They were tall
and strong; they carried strange weap-
ons in their hands. The sea birds flew
screaming round the heads of these
strange beings. They pointed their
weapons at the birds, fire came forth
out of the ends with mighty noise.
The birds fell dead. Men of Epoi!
these strange warriors have come to
take our land. They will point their
weapons at us; we shall be devoured
by fire as we're the sea birds. When l
saw the birds fall dead far beyond the
reach of our lightest spear, terror seized
me and fled. Let the ancients of the
tribe now say how we shall meet this
terrible foe. The tale of Windaru is
DONE"
The men of the tribe, old and young,
listened with wonder and fear to these
awe-strikiDg tidings. In their faces
was visible the hopeless, withered look
common to men about to engage over
whelmiDg odds. Windaru pulled up
his spears, spoke few words in a low
tone to the girl coiled at his feet, then
walked slowly towards his mia-mia.
When there, he placed the spears erect
at the entrance and sat moodily before
the fire.
The girl followed him. Perceiving
that he did not attempt to address her,
she spoke in the soft, low gutturals of
the Epoi tongue" Shall Oondilla bring
Windaru the bright honey or the young
of the wood duck? The stones of the
oven are hot. He has travelled far and
fast; he must be weary. If these strange
white beings are strong. the bravest