Louisiana capitolian., 1880-05-27
The LEGEND OF EPOI.
AN AUSTRIAN STORY.


gone, an encampment of the numerous
tribe of Epoi dotted the eastern slope
of bill not far from the winding banks
of the ever-nowing Yarra Yarra.
It was a day of the year whom the sun
and the moon gaze Hpon each other
FROM opposite edges Of tho horizon, the
moon for one moment shyly lifting her
pale face, tinted with a maiden's blush,
at the presence of the sun, in his radiant
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 sbawled in purple and crimson.
! Orange and scarlet form loom The
softer richer llues of which shame those
of famed Cashmere.
The encampment consisted OF more
than u hundred mia-lnia, neatly coD-
structcd of bark and waterproof, with
thatchel, dome.like roofs. Lony spears
stood in the ground at the entrance to
each dwelling. The light dart fcathered
with grass tree, which is hurled afar,
urged by the ingenious womrah Ga
throwing stick, the heavier iave|iu,
barbed with the teeth of the Kangaroo,
and longer tLan it's swift S'ancing
brethren.
As the moments passed, dark forms
glided from tho forest successively into
the circle of the freight, dropping
from hand or shoulder the spols of the
chase into q common heap. The pile of
game grew larger, higher still, showing
from what noble hunting ground the
Epoi took their prey. Mingled indis-
criminatciy were the greater and the
lesser Kangaroo, the shy, dark wild duck
of the upland creeks, the stately, glid-
ipg swan of the broad, rced-fringed
lakes. The great winsless bird which
rivals tho ostrich of the desert was
there, the lesser rodents and marsu-
pals whilc to crown tho abundant
feast, some of the dark, 1.-the lads and
more aged men brought in ooolamuns
brimming over with the luscious honey
comb. Ali, save these last, was cast
carelessly upon tho 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-st0nes red
hot in expectation of the approa ching
feast. Naked, dusky children, with dark
cleaning eager eyes, gathered around
tho savory pyramid. The latest linger-
ing sky-tint from the hidden sun passed
from view. There was one, but one,
hunter missing. 1t was Windaru--the
most fearless, the most skilful of them
all, He it was who brought the richest
honey, the longest, strongest strings of
wood duck, tho fattest emu. Suddenly
sound of tast-Nying footsteps was
heard, and Windaru bounded into the
camp. Instead of, as was his custom,
proudly throwing from his shoulders his
hunter -spOil,. he came empty handed.
Driving his spears liercely into the earth,
he stood paating before them His
arched chest rose and fell with the me
cllanical sob which indicates the dis
tress produced by long-staiucd speed.
The muscles clasping his supple form
quiyered and strained as if striving to
bear him onward in his mad career.
His eyes seemed gazing far away, fast
ened to the terror they had left behind
AS he stood beside his tall spears, horror
appeared to radiate from him. The men
of the tribe drew silently around, await
ing the commencement of his speech. A
young girl, tall aud 1.-the, with startled
eyes, glided to him and seated herself
at his feet. Gradually the heaving
breast, the quivering muscles grew calm.
His eyes rested sadly on his people as he
thus spoke:
"My brothers. let ns sharpen onr war
spears and count onr lighting men. We
have to fight against an enemy such as
tho oldest warrior of our tribe never
gazed upon. wandered far to-day.
| As | hunted the lagoons where tho ocean
drinks of the waters of the Yarla Yalra,
heard q sound come out of black
cloud which rested on the salt water.
The cloud lowered over floating island
which had wings like the flying fox. l
| hid myself. / watched the island float
quickly over the water. Within a
spears flight of the shore it grew still.
Its wings were folded, it sat on the
water with three leatiess pines growing
upward. Then | saw two canoes paddle
out toward the land where lay hid. In