The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-23
copyrighted. 1sos, by :. :. Mcclure Co.

a
the alligator, 1 removed my dwelling place
TO the top of a beadaud on the other side
of the bay. some twenty miles away,
where / thought ] could more readily dis
Germ any sail passing by out at sea. The
blacks, who were well aware of my hopes
of getting back to my own people. had
themselves suggested that ] might hnd
this a more likely place for the purpose
than the low-ying coast on which their
tribe was then encamped. They also
pointed out to me, however, that l should
find it much colder living in so exposed a
position But the hope of seeing passing
sails decided me, and one morning I took
my departure, the whole nation of blacks
coming out in fun force to bid US adieu.
1 think the last thing they impressed
upon me, in their peculiar native way,
was that they would always be delighted
and honored to welcome me back among
them. Yamba, of course accompanied
me, as also did my dog, and we were es-
corted across the bay by a host of my
native friends in their cantamarans
pitched upon a fine bold spot for our
dwelling place, but the blacks assured me
that we would find it uncomfortably cold
and windy, to say nothing about the
loneliness. which 1 could not help but
feel after so much Intercourse with the
friendly natives. I persisted, however
and we at length pitched our encampment
on the bleak headland. Occasionally some
of our black friends would pay US a visit,
but we could never induce them to locate
their village near US.
Bitter disappointment.
Day after day, day after day. I gazed
wisfully over the sea for hours at a time
without ever seeing a sail, and at last /
began TO grow somewhat respondent and
sighed for the companionship of my black
friends once more. Yamba was unremit-
ting in her endeavors to make life pleas
ant for me and keep me well supplied
with the best Of food, but l could see
that she, too, did not like living on this
exposed and desolate spot. So, after a few
weeks experience of life there,I decided to
return TO my bay home, and later on make
preparations for a journey overland 10 a
point on the Australian coast, where 1
learned ships frequently passed The
blacks were delighted to see me on my re-
turn, and 1 remained with them several
months before attempting my next jour
ney. They were keenly anxious that l
should join them in their lighting expedi-
tons but 1 always declined, on the
The fact of the matter was that I could
never hope to throw a spear with any
thing like the dexterity they themselves
manifested, and as spears were the princi-
pal wagons used in warfare / was afraid
l would not show up well at a critical mo-
ment. Moreover, the warriors defended
themselves so dexteriously with shields
as to be all but invulnerable whereas, l
had not the slightest idea of how to
handle shield. And finally, for the sake
of my ever indispensable prestige, I could
not afford to make myself ridiculous in
their eyes. l always took good care to
3 let the blacks see me performing only
those feats which 1 felt morally certain l
could accomplish, and accomplish to their
amazement.
My Mysterious "FIying Spear"
So far 1 had won laurels enough with
my mysterious arrows or flying spears
as the natives considered them, and my
proves with the harpoon and tomahawk
was sung in many tribes. And not the
least awkward thing about my position
was that l dared not even attempt a little
quiet practice in spear throwing for fear
the blacks should come upon me suddenly
when l would most certainty lose caste
] must tell you that the blacks when
drinking at a river or water hole, inVa-
riabiy scoop up the water with their hands
and never put their mouths right down
close to the surface of the water One day
/ was guilty Of this soleeism. l had been
out on hunting expedition, and reached
the water hole with an intense, burning
thirst. My mentor was not with me- l fell
on my knees and fairly buried my face in
the hfe-giving fluid tapping it like an ami
mai. Suddenly ! heard murmurs behind
me. turned presently, and saw a party
of my blacks regarding me with horror
They said l drank like a kangaroo. But
Yamba soon came to the rescue and ex-
planned away the dreadful breach of Ell
quette. and solemnly cautioned me never
10 do il againl
The months passed slowly away, and l
was still living the same monotonous life
among my blacks-accompanying them up
on their hunting expeditions joining in
their sports and making periodical trips
inland with Yamba, in preparation for the
great journey proposed to make overland
to Cape York. When / spoke to my devoted
companion about my plans, she told me she
was ready 10 accompany me wherever ]
went-to leave her people and be forever
by my side. Right well l knew that she
would unhesitatingly do these things. Her
dog-lke fidelity to me never wavered and
I know she would have laid down her life
for me at any time.
DOg-hlSe Fidelity.
Often told her of my own home beyond
the seas and when l asked her whether
she would come with me she would reply
Your people are my people, and youI
friends my friends. l win go with you
wherever you take me-"
At length everything was ready, and
paid a final farewell, as l thought to my
black friends in Cambridge gulf They
knew / was venturng long journey
overland TO another part of the country
many miles distant in the hope of beins
able to get into touch once more with my
own people, and, though they realized they
should never see me again, they thought
my departure a very natural thing We hat
very affectionate ieave-tal1ing and a body
Of natives escorted us for the first 1N
miles or so of our trip. AT last, however
Yamba, myself and the faithful dog wer,
left to continue our wanderings alone. Tit
reliance l placed upon this woman. by tn,
way was absolute and unquestioning.
knew that alone / could not live day II
the awful wilderness through which W,
were TO pass, nor could any solitary whit
man. BY This time. however. ! had ha.