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[for p29a. When I first visited Weewaa in 1853, I saw there an old
blackfellow called Charley, who when the squatters first came to the Namoi was
the ringleader of a band who speared their cattle and sought to prevent their settlement.
One day a stockman seeing Charley alone rode after him with a loaded pistol
and endeavoured, but in vain, to shoot him. A short time after this, the same
Stockman was riding unarmed and alone when his horse gave in; He was walking
dragging him when from a clump of (Maiah?) trees Charley jumped into the path
before him, and a dozen other blacks surrounded him. Charley had his enemy in his
power, but instead of taking vengeance, he reminded him of the attempt he
had made to destroy him, and added "first time (I good?) mind to kill you; then
I say No! (bel?) (Bet?) I kill you, (Bel?) (bet?) blackfellow any more (Coola?) against whitefellow,
(bel?) whitefellow any more (coola?) against blackfellow." Having thus made peace,
continued to the last a firm friend of the white man.
A Balun black going with a party of white men from the (Baruan?) to the Balun,
was left at Mooni Creek to watch a wounded dog and bring it on as soon as it
recovered. When the dog recovered the blackfellows went on with him. On his
way a man at whose hut he had (pressed? rested?) the previous night having
(contented?) himself near the path shot at him. The bullet passed through the
fleshy part of his arm without disabling him: And the black rushed upon his
assailant, and wrested the gun from his hands; but with forbearance which
might well astonish the civilized ruffian, the mild savage let him go in peace,
Charly carried the gun with him to the Balun.
Savages are generally very deficient in respect and affection toward the
gentle sex. Civilization, and especially Christian civilization, has raised woman
from the position of a slave to one of just honour. But only two months
ago during the flood of the Macleay an instance of conjugal fidelity
occured which is worthy of record. The fact I learned from Mr Rudder. one of
the deputation who were sent to Sydney to appeal to the Government and to the
Flood Relief Committee for aid to the sufferers. A blackfellow and his wife
were carried down the flood and found in an exhausted state on a field
over which the water spread. The man though himself almost dead still
firmly clasped his companion in his arms, and kept her head above water
until help came. When warmed and fed the man recovered, but his wife whom
he had thus preserved at the risk of his own life xxxxxx? (drooped?) and died.
She was buried by the white people, but when her husband recovered and was joined by
the other members of his tribe they exhumed the body, and buried it again with
their traditional rites.
Except in the camp those who have been corrupted by European (races????) and
European vices, parental affection is very strong in them >
Speaking of the conjugal affection, it is but fair that the public
should know the character borne by William Symes? Lynes?, the blackfellow
married by the Rev. John Reid to an Englishwoman, Elizabeth ?Cutts?.