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[Page 181]
ILLUSTRATIONS OF ABORIGINAL LIFE AND CHARACTER.
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When I first went down the Namoi, in 1853, I saw there an old blackfellow named Charley, of whom the early settlers told this narrative:–On the first occupation of that part of the country by squatters, Charley was the leader of a set of blackfellows who greatly annoyed them by spearing cattle. Many attempts were made to cut short Charley's career with a bullet; but he was too active to be overtaken, and too nimble to be made a target of. One day a stockman pursued him a long way with a pistol, but could not get a successful shot at him. Shortly afterwards the same stockman was travelling unarmed through the bush when his horse was knocked up, and he had to dismount and try to drag the weary brute after him. While he was in this plight a number of blackfellows suddenly sprang out of the bushes and surrounded him. At their head was Charley. The stockman thought he was now to die ; but instead of spearing him, Charley addressed him in this manner: "You' member blackfellow, you chase'm with pistol, you try shoot him. I that blackfellow, Charley! Now me say I kill you; then me say bel (not) I kill you; bel blackfellow any more coola (anger) 'gainst whitefellow; bel whitefellow any more coola 'gainst blackfellow! You give me 'bacca." So he made friends with the white men; and from that time was a useful neighbour and often servant to them–protecting their cattle and minding their sheep. Like many a blackfellow who was at first an enemy and afterwards a steady friend, Charley made the settlers know
that his word could be relied on.
One common characteristic of the Aborigines of Australia, which ought not to be unnoticed, is their tender care for the blind, and especially for the aged blind. Dr. Creed (now of Scone) and other travellers on the northern coast of Australia have related instances of the care taken of the blind. They say that these afflicted people were the fattest of the company, being supplied with the best of everything. I also saw an old blind Murri, on the Balonne, who was treated with great attention by his tribe. He held a spear in his hand, and when he wanted guidance stretched it out for some one to take. Seeing him signalling for a guide I took the end of the spear for him; and all his friends joined in an approving laugh as the old man said to me " murruba inda" (good are you).
Many reminiscences of a higher kind might be produced from the several Mission Stations. When the present Bishop of Brisbane, Dr. Hale, then Bishop of Perth, in Western Australia, was coming to attend the General Conference, and to assist in forming the General Synod for the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania, he visited the Mission which he had established more than twenty years ago at Poonindie, Port Lincoln, and gave public and solemn expression to his confidence in the christian character of twenty-nine Aborigines there by administering to them the Communion of the Lord's Supper. The aboriginal congregation testified their gratitude to the Bishop, as the Founder of the Mission, by presenting to him a service of plate, which had cost them over £13.