Louisiana capitolian., 1880-05-29

whelming odds. Windaru pulled up his
spears, spoke a 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 Oondi}la bring
Windaru the bright honey or the young
of the wood dnck9 The stones Of the
oven are hot. He has travelled far and
fast he must be weary. II these strange
white beings are strong. the bravest
warrior of the Epoi should eat and be
strong to fight with them"
The pleading tones and low, soft voice
had their effect, Windaru was at the
next moon to take Oondilla to his mia
mia. He answered YEARLY: IF Con-
diIIa will bring the honey and the duck,
Windaru will eat and be strong When
Oondilla went for her share, the old
men were dividing the spoils. The
women were permitted to eat of certain
portions of the kangaroo, young wood
duck. bandicoots, opossum and honey ;
the elders ard hunters reserviug to
themselves tie haunch of the kangaroo,
the emu, the black duck and iguanas,
Oondil,a returned to Windaru laden
with honeycomb, plump young wood
duck and pieces cut from the latest
emu. These latter she placed in the
oven, covered with aromatic gum leaves,
heaped over with earth to retain the
heat. Windaru gaZed Oh her sadly.
From time immemorial his primeval
people, when conquered, had forfeited
the flower Of their wOmanllind to the
conquerors- he loved Oondilla as
few of his race had eve: loved.
Sadness brooGed in the air above the
camp. IDs1eal Of the gay, !noessant
chatter Of the women and children, min
Cling with the deeper tones Of the men,
there was monrnful hum as Of q dis
turbed hive of bees. The old women
kept up wailing corroboree chant,
beating with feeble hands the rolled
opossum rugs between their knees. The
old men sat in council-the younger men
taking no part in the debate, but pass
ing to and fro between their OVID fires
and where the grey-beards sat. Some,
in an irresOlute manner, finished halt
made weapons or sharpened ,blunted
spears, hardening their points in the fire.
As the night wore on the encampment
became silent. The fires grew dim. But
the grey hunters and warriors talked
on.
On the morning following the evil
tidings of Windarn the camp of the Epoi
was early astir. A silent meal was made
from the fragments of the evening feast.
As the sun appeared in the east twelve
greybeards of the tribe, headed by Wor-
angou, chief of the Epoi and father of
Windaru, stalked into the open space
reserved in tie centre Of the camp.
Worangou planted his weapon in the
ground, and stood beside it. Then each
of the eleven thrust his spear into the
earth, forming circle round their chief,
every man standing beside his weapon
in the inside Of the ring.
At signal from Worangou, the men
of the tribe drew near to hear the deol-
sion of the wise men in this novel danger.
When all were present the chief spoke:
'My children" he said, "you haye all
heard the tale Of sorrow told by Win
daru. A floating island has approached
our shores, from which have landed men
of different color, covered with skins
of animals unknown to us, and bearing
in their hands weapons which destroy
with fire. How shall our spears sue
ceSsfHlly contend against warriors who
have but to mold forth an arm to destroy
their foes! Legions have reached the
wise men of the Epoi from tribes Oh the
northern shores of the great water.
These l"gions tel. .thas floating islands
appeared many years ago to them. Men,
white in color, and armed with the same
strange weapons, landed and made an
encampment npon their bunting
grounds.
what happened, o! warriors Of the
Epic The tribes Of the northern shore
fell before the white men as leaves be-
fore the great dust storm. They oppos-
ed them in vain. We, if we oppose
them, shall also be destroyed and our
women made nrey, | and nv old