Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 19] 19
- Our blacks -
Speaking generlly - "our blacks" - as we
called them - were a kindly, good tempered lot -
full of fun and keenly appreciative of a
joke, rarely quarelling amongst themselves
very gentle and kind to their children -
I never saw a child beaten or indeed
punished in any way (The children as a
rule were not weaned before five or six
years of age) - They were very fond of pets, and
often kept tame possums, squirrils and
native bears and or parrots -
They valued their dogs greatly - as well they
might - for they were very useful in assisting
in the capture of the smaller marsupials -
And no doubt they felt a certain amount of
protection from them as watchdogs - for the
blacks were always rather nervous at night
fearing a sudden attack by some hostile
tribe - myalls they called them - Any noise
at night of an unusual or mysterious kind
was enough to stampede a camp and send
them running in all directions -