DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-03-13
A CORROBOREE.
Some Facts and Incidents About
the Blacks of Australia.

When Australia was discovered there
was considerable population of natives
scattered along the coast and through
the interior: their numbers were various
" estimated, but whatever they may
have been they were far in excess of the
aboriginal population of the country at
the present day. Like aboriginal people
everywhere, they have suffered greatly
BY contact with civilization, especially
by the use of ardent spirits, of which
they are very fond. At present there
are not more than forty thousand of
them altogether. In the days Of Captain
Cook there were doubtless more than o
hundred thousand, and possibly double
that figure. Their numbers are diminish
Ing yearly and in course Of no very long
time they will follow the fate of the
aboriginals of Tasmania, and disappear
altogether from the face of the earth.
These people are black, but not so
| much so as the negro, and their hair is
| curly, but not crisp and woolly. Among
the Australians they are always men
toned as Yblacks" or "aboriginals, but
- - htS-- a--,,- y - tt- 4.---s
country OF parents who are either
natives or emigrants from other parts
Of the world. The Colonial Govern
ments have tried to civilize the blacks,
but have not been very successful in the
work. Some of the blacks have been
employed as shepherds and in other
work for white men, but their love for
strong drink Is SO great that nearly all
who associate with white men become
drunkards, and spend their money for
rum as fast as they earn any thing. At
one time the Government of New South |
Wales had police force of blacks com
manded by white officers. They were
very useful in following thieves and
others whom the authorities wished to
capture, as they can discover and follow
trail when it is quite invisible to
white man.
one OF their religious beliefs is that
white man is the re-animated soul of
Dlack man. When one of them dies, he
Is buried on the spot where the breath
lelS his body, and the place is never
visited by any of them. The
name OF the dead man is never men
TONED, and anybody who bears a similar
"a name must change it to something else
lhelr belief in regard to the spirit of
'lack man going into the body of a
"hlte one once saved the life of run ;
way convict, and made him chief of
rlOe' Here is his story, which Is lit
rally true: !,
When the convict settlements were es- I
aOilshed In Australia, the natives were s
'lehdly for time, but after awhile {
uarrels arose, and the blacks began ,
illlng every white man who went ,
nong them, with here and there an ex- a
,puoh' In spite of this danger, con- a
V'S used to run away to the interior G
u" ~ Vake their chances rather than sub
~ l, to the cruelty of their masters. Most a
'neh were never heard of after they i
sappeared in the bush. C
one OF these runaways had wandered S
uays without food and was about
"oy 10 lie down and die, when he came t
hewly-made mound, on which few C
'oeS OF meat had been scattered. He D
gerry seized the morsels and devoured S
en-, thus gaining new strength to en- a
10 IN MN to continue his journey. A a
VI IKE long walking-cane was stick o
III the mound and this he took as a a
pport while walking Seeing path W
!, . trall leading into the forest, he a.
lowed it in the hope that it might Sc
~ MN to the hut where possibly one d
MS II fellow-runaways lived. HI
,iter walking few miles he came VI
'ueniy upon an encampment of blacks; fc
would have retreated and concealed tt
nsell' as he knew the murderous in
loes OF these people, but it was too nj
= lor MIN to do so, as they had al ds
ny discovered him, and were rushing W
ward with their spears and other ca
'pons. IN
ne foremost of the men raised their lii
'pons to strike him down, and he al
usht his last hour had come. Sud- in
~ they lowered their spears, con- dr.
'ea with each other, and then came mt
'ara and received him with the
''est respect. What could it all so
n' We
made signs that he was hungry, les
'ney Immediately supplied him with in!
Ihey prepared shelter for him, att