Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-02-05

Z the aborgines
CASTING TIE BOOM leaving their
CSC country, but the
English authorities, like those in this
country, do not care TO see great many
things.
A large number OF Chinese were re-
Gently imported into that section as
railroad lsborers, but the railroad
scheme was abandoned and so were the
Chinese. The bushwhacking war be-
tween the Chinese invaders and the
bushmeu is decimating the ranks OF
both. The bushmen fight for double
purpose-to drive away the invaders
and TO get food. The cannibals relish
the dead body of Chinaman much bet
ter than that of a Caucasian, because
the Celestial has not so much salt in his
composition They can stomach opium
laden meat, but abhor salt.
The civilized English and Americans
who dwell along the seacoast have In
troduced tobacco, whisky and other
vices of civilization, and the cannioals,
wearing only a small cloth around their
loins, come in from their jungles to the
ranches and beg tobacco and whisky.
They sell their boomerangs and spears
and purchase these civilizing Influences
They have little idea OF the value OF
money, estimating it according to the
size of the coin, and will give one coin,
big or little, for piece Of tobacco.
Their only baggage and property are
boomerang, spear and shield, and they
20 from place to place as the spirit OF
hunger moves them. They generally
flock in tribes OF 50 or 100, electing a
king. They remain In a section OF coun-
try so long as the game lasts, unless a
rival tribe drives them away. II 1t is a
section Astounding in game and streams
where there is good fishing, they must
fight TO maintain 1t. When food is
scant, they Kill and eat each other. But
this practice is not so common OF late,
since American and English "squatters"
have been flocking into that section
and jumping the best lands. However,
after a battle the vlCtOrs eat the dead:
in their economy Of nature nothing
goes TO waste.
In battle they fight with the spear,
which is about feet in length. pointed
with sharp bone in the shape OF hsh-
hook. Wien the point enters the body,
il cannot be drawn out without tearing
the flesh and increasing the wound.
They stand at a distance OF so or 100
feet and throw the spear. Each warrior
has bundle OF spears on the ground at
his right. As he throws one he hands"
himself another by picking 1t up with
his right foot between the toes and
doubling his leg backward. With his
right hand he reaches around, takes the
smear and throws II. This is necessary,
because he is busy watching the move
ments OF his enemy and looking out Tor
coming spears, which he lodges or
turns aside with his shield, an oval
shaped instrument, which he holds In
his left hand, tltting over the thumb as
an artists easel.
Their small black eyes are quick TO
see, and nothing seems 10 escape their
observation. Their method OF surpris-
ing an enemy is TO wade into a small
stream and ambush" themselves in the
shallow bed among the water lilies.
Sometimes they lie down In the stream,
breaking of the water lily az the roots
and using the stem as breathing tube.
A rival tribe, on approaching the stream
for the purpose Of fghing, would sud-
denly be surprised by seeing these loat-
ing water lilies rise up out OF the water,
and with them they would also see
spears hurled at them.
They can remain under water two or
three hours at time, according TO the
breathing capacity OF the stem. They
also use this strate9em for the abduction
of women from another tribe, but the
more commaa practice is for the man
who wants r wife TO 90 and steal her
while her master sleeps. The Australian
aborigine sleeps as q stone. The aoduc-
tor will take rope made Of native grass,
Green stealthily TO where she lies Sleep
ing nv the side OF her master and cow
boylike. throw the loop OF his rope
around her foot or head. Usually she
does not make an cutlery or resistance,
knowing doubtless that change 10
ownership cannot be for the worse.
Shonld the husband overtake the fleeing
couple a fight to the death takes place,
and the survivor has the woman. This
nerhaDs leads 10 & pitched battle be-
tween the tribes, for II a woman Is
stolen or man killed the tribe TO which
be or she belonged must revenge that
wrong.
A man has as many wives as he can
get and keep and Is continually fighting
10 hold them. While the wives are not
ornamental they are made TO be useful
in doing what little work is necessary in
preparing the game, reptiles, digging
up roots, killing snakes, beetles, etc,
for their daily spread. Snakes are
deemed q rare dish, but they eschew
poisonous snakes. The kangaroo aDd
the emu are their most favored articles
OF diet. The kangaroo is hunted with
the boomerang. and while he thinks be
is safe 10 jungle ana pokes his long
head behind q tree in fancied security,
the boomerang thrower hurls his sharp
uolnted missile almost through its head.
The emu has ver1 long neck, and
When he lengthens il out taking obsery-
ations the bushman frol- behind tree
tkirls the curved instrument, the sharp
edee emitting of the head Of the bird.
On late the bushmen have been
s,kIAearIne" the cattle Of the ''sqstters, "
an1|tbe ssouatters" took the warpath
~ winchester rifles, which will sheet
! fsfther than . boomerang can be