Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-09-14
THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
Explorers Remarkable Journey
Treachery of the Natives.

Having spent most of an adventure
ous life in the exploration OF the
"back" of western Australia. A. w.
Canning. tall. bronZed. now IN MS
nrime, has come to London to enjoy
q we'll merited holiday. In April Oh
this year Mr.. Canning successfully
concluded his task of making a stock
route across $50 miles of unknown
country. extending from the southwest
to the northeast Of western Australia
Having toiled for months in tenn
nerature of 12O degrees in the shade
and been forced to place his trust in
treacherous natives, the returned en-
plorer, SAYS the London Standard mas
now the satisfaction Of having ac-
complished not only what had peeh
hitherto declared impossible in finding
sufficient water right across Australa
to supply both man and beast put ne
has opened to the white man couh-
trv which in ten years time VIII he re-
garded as among the most valuable IN
the cmpicr.
The result of the expedition was
complete vindication of the theory
held by the explorer before he start
ed that there must be supplies or wa
ter at easy stages right across lhe
country. Aborigines were known 10
exist in the center, he argued ana
how could they live without wafer
therefore Mr.. Canning, with seven
white men. started from Wilma, III
the south. in May, 1906. To find the
water springs the party had 10 rely
unon the natives. One man would De
attained from one tribe or family 10
take the expedition about ilfty mlies
until another native who could give
information of the water in the new
district was forthcoming. The ma
tiyes we're fairly friendly, though
treacherous and hostile at times. There
was little fear of danger II the party
travelled quickly, as the natives WHO
were in every way exceptionally Gun
ming, were anxious to talk the matter
over among themselves before max
ing an attack.
1--WE lost one of our men on the pre-
liminary expedition" pursued the eX,
plorer. This poor fellow was named
Tuhin. He had gone to speak to ma
tive bv one of the wells with regard 10
the water and had told him that we
were very friendly and wished nm
no harm. The native agreed 10 zen
him what he wanted to know. bu.
while Tobin was talking he happened
to look away for an instant ana at
that moment the native thrust spear
into the side of his face. Poor Iopln
fell but though daZed was able 10
fire his gun. Instead of aiming at the
native. however, he Intentionally ilred
over his head to frighten him. me
native ran away. ana Toplh scraiiip''"
to his feet and followed.
"Nhcn | heard the report L was
about half mile away without II,
fe. | ran toward the two men ana
shouted to Tobin to halt, as | noticed
the native had his spear poised Ionih
could not have understood and cOntln-
ued chasing the native. suddenly
Tuhiu stopped. realizing his pnSlti"l;
and put his rifle to his shoulder ana
fired. As he did so the nativ" hurIeu
his spear. which tore its way rlGnt
through our comrades chest. Toblh
died next day. Strangely enough. aS
he was struck by the spear he pul!ed
the trigger of his rifle and the native
dropped dead"
when Mr.. Canning again visited
the Sp0t-574 miles from any town
he carried with him marble cross
inscribed in memory of his uniortu-
nate colleague and erected it over the
spot where the body was buried.
Other experiences of the treacher-
Gus nature of the natives were recalled
by Mr. Canning. Once he craWlcu
with Il guide into Il narrow cave III
search of water when he discovered
that the native was evidently trying
TO wrigglc back to the entrance APP
parently for the purpose OF cloSihE
i'm the exit. The explorer pr"ventt'
this by Selling the natives foot ana
forcing his guide before him until the
water was found.
The remarkable characteristics
about the natives of Central Australia |
Mr.. Canning discovered. was their
ability to track by footmarks ma
tive could tell 10y whom f"otmark |
had been made. even though its pos
SCISSOR had not been seen by him for
wears On one occasion band of
natives had discovered the footprints
Of the exploring party and. fully arm
ed. awaited the appearance OF MT.
Canning. accompanied by his guide. at
one of the natural springs. F"rtu-
nately the guide discovered that the
armed band were members of his own
tribe. After considerable parlcy they
hcsitant as to the attitude
they should adopt toward the eX-
plorer.