Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-05


difficult task, chiefly because of the feeling
of opposition on the part of the colonial
government against explorations in that
part of the country inhabited by this
strange people. l sailed as far as Port
Darwin in small schooner, and found,
after much difficulty, eight fine specimens
of aborigines, who consented to go with
me to the United States, but, when on the
point OF embarking, police inspector
frustrated my plans by telling the blacks
they would never return home, which
statement so frightened them that they
ran away into the bush.
II then sailed to Townsville, Queens
land, and chartering another schooner
started on cruise. l took an interpreter
with me. We encountered difficulties and
danger in going among the different tribes.
l offered red handkerchiefs, tobacco and
similar articles for the purpose of propi-
tiating them, and afterward money, if they
would go to the United States. 1t was
several weeks before could gain the con-
sent of the people whom afterward exhib-
tied in America and in Europe.
II took them to Sidney, and while there
was arrested on the charge of kidnapping.
The matter was brought up for discussion
In the parliament of New South Wales, be-
sides being investigated at the same time
in the police court. After several days
delay the charge was dismissed, and was
given permission to take the natives out
of the country, no objection being made on
their part.
"When found them in the bush they
were perfectly nude, and in a most filthy
condition--their normal state. The Aus
tralian aborigines are distinct race OF
people, and represent the lowest type of
humanity. In color they are quite as dark
rs the negro, but far lower in intelligence
and physical development. They subsist
chiefly on roots, herbs, beetles, snakes, fish
and kangaroos, and when they manage to
kill one of those animals will continue
eating, at short intervals, until they have
consumed every piece of the flesh. They
are especially fond of human flesh. fire.
quently talked with my blacks about how
they used to eat their captives when at
home.
Human flesh, they declared, was very
much like chicken meat, but they did not
fancy white mems flesh as much as that of
black men. The former had salty taste,
probably due to the food which white men
eat, but as for the flesh of black men, who
lived like themselves, chiefly on vegetable
food, they said, 'Ah, him very good HUI
man flesh they eat almost always at night.
Such performance is always preceded by
a native dance called the 'corrobboree,'
which takes place in the freight. Before
beginning they decorate themselves with
white and scarlet paint. A favorite pat
tern is the skeleton each rib being
marked by a broad stripe of white paint,
and similar stripe running down the
breast and along the legs and arms, the
70 tod in osx,
The effect produced by this strange pat
tern Is most startling.
illuminated only by the light of the fire,
the black bodies and limbs are scarcely
visible against the dark background, so
that as the performers pass backward and
forward in the movements of the dance
they look exactly like number of skele-
tons endowed with life by magic power.
This effect is increased by the curious
quivering Of the legs, which are planted
firmly on the ground, but to which the
dancers are able to impart rapid vibra-
tory movement from the knees up, while
their clubs and boomerangs are held in
their hands.
"The latter is essentially the national
weapon of Australian aborigines. 1t is
made of hard, heavy and tough wood, is
slightly convex on the upper surface and
fiat below, and is bent at an angle of As
degs. 1t can be thrown distance of from
800 to 800 feet, and always returns to the
thrower.
"In some parts of Queensland the gov
ernment has established sort of native
police force, or black traclzers, as they are
more generally termed. Their familiarity
with the vast unexplored tracts that lie be-
yond the settled districts is remarkable,
and their ability to follow an almost in
discernible trail phenomenal They are
employed to track white men who have
lost their way in the immense bush or for
ests, to track fugitives from justice, follow
captured men or women or guide the
white police to the retreat of desperate
robbers on whose heads price has been
set by the government"
The accompanying photograph shows
three Of Mr.. Cunningham's aborignals--
one woman and two men.
JOHN G. KLEIN.