Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-10-29

-~rrLz ~ ages Of north
western Australia, which appeared
recently. His experiences are al
legged to have covered n period of
nearly thirty years. During that
time Rougemont became practically
king of cannibal tribe. He says he
escaped from his nomadic life and
reached Melbourne in 1895. He ar
rived in England a short time ago,
aud on Friday, September 3, told the
story of his adventures and his re-
turn to civilization at the meeting of
the British Association for the Adj
vancement of Science, at Bristol.
NJ. Rougemonts tale has aroused
unusual interest. 1t is said that his
story has been investigated by famous
geographers like Kettle and Mill, and
found to have every evidence of truth.
1t was probably because of this under
standing that lie received an invita-
zion from so staid and distinguished
body as the British Association. Here
is the story of his wanderings as pre-
pared by M. Rougemont himself.
In the year 1863 1 left home, mere
youth, and engaged in pearl-ishing
venture on board the Dutch schooner
Veielland. Our pearling grounds lay
between the Australian coast and
Dutch New Guinea. After about ten
months the vessel was wrecked on a
small coral island, situated about
thirteen degrees south and 1875 de-
grees east, off the northwest coast of
Australia. 1 was absolutely alone,
save that had the captains dog with
me. On this island, or, rather, sand
spit, I lived for two years and under
went much suffering. At the end Of
that time party of blacks, who had
| been blown out to sea from the Aus
tralian main, were cast upon the
island on native raft, such as is used
in fishing expeditions. After furth-
er period OF six months waiting for
favorable winds, we set out together
IN boat built from the wreck of the
schooner, and landed with my COM
panions on the coast of Australia in
the year 1866-the exact locality was
Cambridge Gulf, on the northwest
coast. OF course, l made many ex.
cursions in various directions, always
with the hope of reaching civilization,
either overland or by sea. Evidently,
however, I drifted into the centre of
the continent, and only reached civil
ization in 1895, after an exile of up
ward of thirty years.
When first landed on the Austria
lian main it may be necessary to bear
in mind that was absolutely destitute
without clothes, tools or instru-
ments of any kind, except harpoon,
q stiletto and steel tomakawk. /
had no book except New Testament
in the French and English language
all maps and charts had been swept
away by the heavy seas that preceded
the wreck. I had no writing materials
whatever; it was therefore impossible
for me, even if at that time had had
the wish, to make any scientific OBJ
servations or to record my wanderings.
For time, however, did make notes
on the blank leaves and margins OF
the Testament, using blood for ink
and quill from a wild boar as a pen.
This book was, unfortunately, lost
after my return to civilization in the
wreck Of the steamer Matura, which
was lost in the Strait of Magellan in
the present year OF 1898.
When I landed on the continent, I
believe vast tracts of it were unex-
plored, and certainly my own knowl-
edge of Australian geography was very
small and vague. If had known
even the exact outline of Australia, it
would have saved me many terrible
journeys and years of suffering As I
have already said, I landed ON the
east side Of Cambridge Gulf, as nearly
as I can now remember, that is to say,
Queens Channel, which was the home
4, Of my native companions, who found
their way back with me from the little
islet by steering by the stars. For
some little time 1 remained in the
camp of their tribe, where was re.
ceived in most friendly way in con.
sequence OF the introduction and
representations of my native wife.
This woman was one of the family
of blacks that had been cast upon my
islet.
When we landed, nearly all the
members of the tribe and many indi.
viduals from other tribes were gathered
to see the first white man they had
ever beheld. They were not so much
surprised, however, at my personal
appearance as at the form of my foot.
prints, which differed very greatly
from theirs, and the few articles I pos.
sessed filed them with amazemeut,
especially my boat. This boat, which
I built on the island from the wreck,
and in which I reached the mainland
with the party of natives, was, unfor.
tunately, lost in an encounter with a
whale, and with it disappeared my
hopes of reaching Somerset, at Cape
York, q settlement of which / had
often heard the pearlers speak. Thus
was obliged to make the attempt by
land, aud started with my wife about
October, 1867, intending to travel due
east to the Queensland coast. After
six or seven months travelling, at first
over q fiat coast land diversified by
isolated hills, and then through al
elevated aud very broken country, !
reached desolate and waterless re.
gion covered with spinifex, where we
both suffered terribly from thirst, and
but for the skill Of my native wife in
finding water and procuring food, l
should probably never have come
through it.
We soon found that we had come
considerably further south than we
intended, and SO we struck due north
and eventually reached flooded river
flowing eastward, which presently led
MS to the sea. This river was proba.
bly, the Ropa, entering the Gulf OF
Carpentaria, C but as did not know OF
the existence of such gulf believed
We had reached the Queensland coast,
and I at once inquired of the tribes
We met for the nearest settlement OF
rUlxnan nok..oa ,.o,o 4, r.