W. A. Cawthorne

“ Our tribe liv’d on the Wonga plain,
That stretches southward to the main.
“In all good things they richly shar’d,
Sumptuously on dainties far’d;
With bursting nets of game and fish,
In implements surpassing rich.
“We were, of all, the greatest tribe
That in the North or West reside;
Our dire enchantments never fail’d,
Northern sorcerers ’ fore them quail’d.
“Victors in ev’ry hunt and battle,
’Twas enough our spears to rattle;
Our enemies would fly apace,
Though rarely winners in the race. ”

“ Sorcerers can change themselves into any shape or substance, instantaneously. Each tribe regards the other as peculiar adepts in sorcery. This belief in witchcraft exercises a most baneful influence on the native mind. It is the source of nearly all their quarrels and violent deaths.
“Patta tree.”—A kind of gum tree.
“Manurapindoo.”—A mystic curse, used in hunting.
“North.”—The North is regarded by the natives as the great seat of diabolical agency, witchcraft, &c.
“Ngamma.”—A man’s name.
“Nillaro.”—A mountain in the Port Lincoln district. ”

“ All the spears are jagged, and vary in length according to the fish to be taken, from six feet to twelve or fourteen feet; the latter are for the Murray cod.
“Strike him,” &c.—Literal translations of the curses used on such occasions. [34]
“Strike their shields.”—Mode of salutation in war, as well as in peace, and before a battle very striking and picturesque.
“Spirits bad.”—The aborigines have no good spirits.
“Sacred leg.”—Women and children are not allowed to eat the hind leg of a kangaroo—it is sacred. ”

“ PREFACE. The Natives of a certain district of Port Lincoln, when questioned as to the cause of the non-existence of that species of Kangaroo known to the Colonists as the great Red Kangaroo, have the following legend in reference to its extinction:—
“In former times, one of the species, inhabited Port Lincoln, his name was Kupirri, he was of stupendous size, and devoured all those who attempted to spear him. ”

“ When Kupirri they last had met.
“But skilful they in magic art,
They lay the bodies wide apart,
Then conq’ring in spiritual strife,
They slowly raise the dead to life. [26]
“Round their old foe themselves they seat,
Ready his choicest parts to eat.
And thus their just revenge appease,
And with his fat their bodies grease.
“Laden with prey they homeward bend,
Each talking with his late dead friend,
Chatting of surprise and greeting,
That ’wait their unexpected meeting.
“Soon the great Wonga plain appears,
They strike their shields, and raise their spears ”

“ His very appearance inspired the natives with overwhelming terror, so that they lost all presence of mind, even flinging away their midlahs. At last, however, a match was found for the monster Kangaroo, in two renowned hunters, Pilla and Inda, who, falling upon its track near Port Lincoln, on the range stretching to the North, followed and overtook it on Mount Nilarro. Finding it asleep, they at once attacked it, but before they could quite kill it, their spears became blunt ”

“ The song rarely exceeds two lines.
“Cowee.”—Water—the sea.
“Gunya.”—Hut—the same as wurley.
“Heaven’s bridegroom.”—In the native mythology, the sun is a woman, and the moon a man. The former beats the latter till he dies; but dying, he revives, and this goes on for ever hence the phases of the moon. ”

“ NOTES, &c.
“Artful, deep manœuvring.”—The natives have various methods to capture their prey, all indicitive of true huntsmen’s craft. Sneaking the emu, a wary bird, is an instance where, With a screen of boughs before him, the native gradually creeps within spear-range, and soon gains his prize.
“Ancient Curses.”—Such curses are used when hunting. The different kinds of game have different curses.
“Abandoned all.”—When a native throws away his spears, it is a sign of the greatest fear and distress.
“Boston Bay.”—The harbour of Port Lincoln. It is protected by Boston Island. ”

“ The origin of their own species, and their various ceremonies, abound with singular and exotic ideas, and the wildest fancies. The Australian savage has his myths, legends, and poetry, like his brothers of other regions ”

“ Near whaling stations, the ribs of whales are employed as the frame-work, and the divisions filled up with boughs and sea-weed.
“Warpoo.”—A kind of dagger; it is always dedicated, by being drenched in human blood.
“Warra warra.”—Sorcerers.
“Wodlalla.”—A reed.
“Wife, and mother.”—Natives highly esteem the opinion of their mother; this regard is a pleasing trait in their character. [35]
“Winda, or uwinda.”—The largest spear, and generally jagged, from ten to fourteen feet long.
“Yerke.”—A kangaroo rat.
“Yerku.”—A woman’s name.
Ornament.—Kangaroo Teeth. ”

“ Captain Sturt and Sir T. Mitchell bear testimony, that to a naked savage, in a hot climate, it is, and must be, a great luxury. It supples the skin, and prevents it chapping. The fat of all game is used for this purpose. [31]
“Boys in front.”—Descriptive of the order in which, on all public occasions, the natives arrange themselves; the children are invariably placed in front.
“Cape Catastrophe.”—The South point of Port Lincoln district. ”