The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-11-17


Correspondence Detroit Free rrcss.
II was q blazing hot day In January,
and !, was reclining laxily on the grass
beneath q shady tree, ON the hank OF
the Clarence river, which is situated
near the northern boundary line of the
colony of New South Wales, Aus
tralia. Twas kept busy in winking
OF the clouds of flies and mosquitoes
which were buxxing around me, when
all at once ! became aware that l wa
not alone. Looking up, discovered
grotesque specimen Of the Australian
native standing in front of me. His
name was sandman, and he was the
chief of tribe Of aboriginals who
were camping In the neighborhood on
the cattle run belonging TO n gentle
man named Whitehead. Sandman
was big and stout for an Australian
black fellow, who, a. q rule, are very
thin. His costume ON this occasion
consisted of q black swallow tailed
dress ooat, which he had buttoncd up
closely, but not another stitch of
clothing did he have on besides. lie
had q gay plume of parrots feathers
stuck in his thick matted hair, which
completed his costume. / compli-
mented him on his gorgeous outfit
and appearance, and asked him what
he wanted. His features relaxed into
the broadcast grin as no replied:
Sandman want to see Misser what
you call um. Misser White Teller -four
bag cobra"
The word ''oobran means head In
English, and Sandman meant to imply
that he wanted to zee Mr.. Whitehead,
the owner of the place. showed him
where Mr.. Whitehead was just then
standing on the veranda, and followed
Sandman TO hear what he had 90 say.
He placed his hand on his stomach,
and, In truly pathetic tone, said:
"Sandiman berry hungry, Misser
White Teller -four bag cobra berry
hungry; s'pose you give Sandman
plenty beef"
Mr.. Whitehead laughed at Sandi-
mans comical appearance and request,
and replied
"Now, Sandman, s'pose you go out
in the bush and cut plenty sheets OF
bark, then give you plenty beet"
Sandman put on more doleful
look and kept reiterating that he
was cherry hungry" Mr.. Whitehead
finally told him to go down 70 the
mems huts and get somo dinner and
then go and get the bark afterwards.
The bark from the tree called the
"stringy bark tree" IL largely used In
Australia for roofing purposes for
sheds, huts, etc., and the natives are
generally employed TO cut IL from the
trees and bring II In,
Sandman gorged himself with bread
and beef until he could eat no more,
and then, native fashion, he stretched
himself on the grass and went 10 sleep,
In this condition Mr.. Whitehead found
him, and, giving him sundry kicks 10
wake him up, asked him If he had cut
the bark yet. Sandman arose, rub
bling his eyes, and replied: mo,
Misser, Sandman too lazy to cut bark
now" and he swaggered off down to
his camp to finish out his interrupted
nap in his own gunyah, I. e., native
hut. The next day Sandman made
his appearance and wanted TO repeat
the programme of the previous day,
MIR. Whitehead had learned lesson,
and Sandman had to cut double al
lowance of bark before he got his din
ner.
AT the mems quarters two or three
hours afterwards Sandman appeared,
and, seating himself on log, said
"S'pose white Teller got um old pair
o trousers to give Sandman me want
to go along o town."
In order to have bit OF fun with
him, one Of the men procured an old
pair Of Trousers belonging to boy Of
about twelve years of age and pre-.
sented them to Sandman. He tried
to put them on, and tugged and pulled,
pulled and painted, used profane lam
guage, but 1t was Of no use, he could
not get them on, and at last they
parted In halves. The comical look
with which he surveyed the frag-
ments set us all of into roars OF laugh
ter. We gave him an old pair OF
trousers which fitted him better, and
he strutted around as proud as pea
cock, and, picking up the small pair
of trousers, said "Me take 'em home
to my picaniny, Moses" Then, after
begging sundry articles Of us, such a.
tobacco, matches, pipes, etc, with
more or less success, he got into his
bark canoe and padded off down the
river.