The morning call., 1892-09-17
PINING FOR THEIR HOMES.
The Australian Black Eel
lows" on Shore.
Dull and Apathetic They Brood in Silence Over
Their Surroundings-Glad to Meet
Bushman In Strange Lands.

"You can't see them. They are under
lock and key" said the clerk Of the Cosmo-
politan Hotel.
That's so. Them's Mr.. Cunningham's
orders and l attend to them" said red
headed man In a carmine coat.
"Wel, when q mans packed his swag'
over a few hundred miles of the Australian
bush it's pretty rough to keep him from
having pitch with backfeller when 1t
comes in his way"
MY word! Come along. thought you
were one of them newspaper chaps. Here
they are down this passage"
A door was unlocked, and in a gloomy
room 10 feet square were PACKED SIX men
and two women sitting moping on eight
little camp bedsteads.
"Good-day. backfeller. This your wur-
Iey?"
The bush slang produced the desired
effect and the company looked up.
How you like this run p"
"Oh, the men all right. put the lubras'
Qhe women want go back"
How long you sit down this country"
But they were doubtful. Two months =?
Three years?" Don't know" were the
answers.
They were all Queensland blacks, and
more or less civilized from long service on
sheep runs and cattle stations.
The men sat huddled up on the ends of
gins or 'lubras' sat with their faces to the
wall, and refused to be comf0rted.
They are prepared to give 'corroboTeeS'-
typical blackfellow dances and exhibitions
in spear and boomerang throwing.
They can't us8 the "w0omera" when
spear-throwinE. II is an accomplishment
peculiar TO the blacks Of North Australia
They are all expert stock-riders ana can
back a buck-1umper in an English saddle.
which is quite different feat 10 sitting in a
Mexican saddle under the same crcum-
stances.
But the 'lubras" are cold. They are
always cold and homesck Like the
''orang outan," they can't be removed from
their native haunts with success. They
none and pine away Till they die.
"You like smell him gumtree againY
Tie whole party vi6rated with hungry
desire.
II any one wants to do them real bit Of
kindness at small cost they should send
few branches Of fragrant eucalyptus to stick
about their room.
What wages you get"
But nobody knew.
They are about as much informed as
cireus-horses upon the business details of
their trip as regards WAGES, time aud SO
forth.
"Y0u give the 'sWan-dauce corroboree' in
Chicago? Blackfellow walk 'hoOh-huh,
| lubra sit down shout bury I'D neeP"
There was a general agitation in the
group; a faint spasm Of enthusiasm seized
| them.
My word, yesl We give swan-dance
corroboree," cried Dick gleefully, adding
despondently. but l think EN- stop our
Dig-fsller fire."
They all looked up nterrogatvely.
IN o fear. You can make number one big
fsller fire in Chicago" said the reporter
with all the grand osity of irresponsibility.
a grunt of satisfaction went around the
group. Even the lubras wriggled their
shoulders.
The whole party were landed from the
Monowai yesterday. Collector Phelps re-
leased them.
Then they were taken TO the Cosmopol-
tan Hotel, where they are locked into q
small room like prisoners.
The general gloom was growing heavily
oppressive.
well 80 long. blackfellers." $50 long,
whitefeller." came collective wall from
the mournful ouicasts.
Then the door was carefully locked upon
them again.