The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-03

, ny ~ In this phantom-likc pro.
cession. The dusky, indistinc': nul,
fled forms gliding noiselessly iorwalu
through the midnight woods, some
times entirely lost In the shade OF large
tree. and again emerging, to be 'ost again,
Fears began to take possession OF me. Why
was this singular method OF approaching
the corroborree ground Observer 1 nau
heard OF ceremonies OF dark and secret
character being praeiiced among those
tribes AT which no white man ever was
nresent. Was such one to take pace
now ? Was my life only spared before that IL
might be sacrificed nowg My blood Degan
"a curdle and my flesh to creep. tnougn'
Of fying. forgetting for the moment the
utter impossibility OF getting away from
the nimbie.footed, sharp-eyed sayages. MY
tall friend, however, seemed to divine my
Intentions. for he patted my breast, tneh
nointed 10 himself assuringly, then TO the
large camp OF natives which we were
nearing. and shook his head, splitting witn
apparent disgust, and once more patted
himself and me. | could not exactly tel
what he was driving al, but 1t seemed to IN
dictate friendly intentions toward myself,
and that the other camp was occupied by
hostile tribe. This afterward learned was
the case. We had approached within about
n dozen wards Of the dim fires toward winch
we had been making our way wnen
a similar signal to that already gwen
was uttered by some one in the otnei
camp. Upon this my companions, sun
retaining their bent positions, turned their
faces toward their own camp ana re-
manned waiting, and OF course followed
their example. Another cry succeedeu'
and almost Immediately a bright blaze iol'
lowed, illuminating the dark WOODS IN
rudy circle. FInging of their coverings
and turning simultaneously round, tue
crowd OF blacks about me gave vent 10
general "Ah!" OF wonder and surprise,
not unmixed with surerstltious fear'
understood il all now. The tribe were
being initiated in corroborree they hau
never seen before. At the same time 1t
commenced. A half-circle OF fires burned
brightly ia front of us. Between us and the
fires were seated rows OF women, across
whose knees were lightly stretched their
,possum cloaks. They held boomerangs in
their hands, which they beat together as
they sang, keeping the most exact time,
occasionally varying the accompaniment
by beating on the skins, producing drum
like noise. On the far side Of the fire row
of forked stakes had been driven into the
ground, and poles laid on the forks about
six feet above the ground. About twenty
soyaees, painted IN the most grotesque
fashion, were seated all along this rail.
Their long hair was tied tightly in knot
on the top OF their heads, from the middle
OF which rose a tuft OF cockatoo crests.
The soft white down from the breasts OF
the same bird chung 10 their eyebrows,
moustaches, and boards. A red hllet passed
round the forehead and encircled the head.
Their bodies were painted with pipecay to
initiate skeletons. Boomerangs, stone TOM
ahawks and knives hung from their Cir
dies. Holding their elbows close to their
sides, they moved their forearms and hands
in a segment of circle from their waist
to their ears, first the right, then the LETT,
in time to the barbarous chant. Beyond
these, the chief figures in the assembly,
stood dense crowd OF ferce-eyed sable
warriors, leaning on their spears. Look
inc round [ found the men of my party
had assumed the same attitude. while the
women had taken up position little
apart. In spite OF the feeling OF insecurity
and alarm with which my position tiled
me-ior knew that all present would think
nothing Of knocking me on the head ii the
within seized them-I felt rather amused at
the absurd climax OF their preparations,
and its monotOny soon got tiresome TO
themselves. Jumping down from their
perch, the painted sav2ges cleared away
their posts and rails and commenced one
OF the usual corroborree dances OF the coun-
try, in which they were joined by many
Others who had taken no part in the first
performance.
NV tall friend, spreading his rug on the
ground, planted spear at each corner and
sat down, motioning me to take place be-
side him-all the others followed his exam
pie. The dance was now most vigorously
prosecuted, and it carried with it certain
amount of dramatic effect. Issuing from
the dark background Of solemn gloom. the
mass OF vague dusky shadows danced their
way into the circle illuminated by the fire,
their hands held in front Of their breasts
after the manner Of kangaroos, their
bodies bent, and their feet stamping. AS
they got nearer the fires, which divided
them from the orchestra, the singing and
dancing became more energetic, till at last
a brilliant blaze having been produced by
means OF dry leaves kept on purpose, the
whole eliminated in much stamping, quiy-
ering OF legs, and shaking OF heads, wind
| ing up with an almost instantaneous DIS
appearance OF the whole party into sur
rounding darkness. This was repeated
for hours, and | thought they never
would leave eff. At last all seemed
to weary, and my tall friend and his fol-
lowers returned to their own ground, taking
me with them. Here | found my horse
ready. After good deal more Of talk and
many gestures he signited that might go.
| stripped myself almost naked in making
presents. Then Selling his weapons he
called on friend to accompany him, and
both came with me as an escort. / had
little difficulty in persuading them to pro-
coed all the way, and they were so much
pleased with their treatment that they asked
permission to bring their tribe in. which
they did, and we had no more difficulties
afterward.
THAT was capital fellow, that long mig
GER" said Fitzgerald. "Did you ever find
out why he took fancy to your"
"Ob, that was all mistake on his part
1t seems that when up the river in pursuit
of the tribe which killed poor Donnely he
happened to be among the crowd we at
tackled. He bad hidden himself undera log
upon which / had taken up my position. He
said that kept looking at him, but allowed
him to escape, and it was in gratitude fol
this supposed service that he saved my
life"
"Then you did not know that he was un
der the Logo" asked John.
"Not /. 1t would, am afraid, have beer
| q bad day for both OF us had l."
|