ON BATHURST ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 7

ON BATHURST ISLAND

A Farming Instructor to Aborigines “North of the Never Never,” by Patrick 11. Ritchie (Sydney: Angus and Robertson). In 1929, in response to an appeal from the Roman Catholic Mission on Bathurst Island, Mr. Ritchie decided to otter his services as honorary farmer-instructor to the aborigines for one year. lie became interested in the work, and found the response of the natives to his training so satisfactory that he eventually stayed four. The results of his efforts are summed up in “North of the Never Never,” which makes interesting, and in many places exciting, reading. Mr. Ritchie found the natives of Bathurst Island of a higher type than those on the mainland, and was able to make trustworthy friends of several of his “boys.” There are interesting descriptions here of carefully-observed tribal customs, accounts of fights with their accompanying ceremony and preparations, and sidelights on littleknown aspects of the daily life of these people. The author’s attitude throughout is friendly, and informed with a sincere desire to understand the underlying meanings of the ancient ways of these strange people.

With the help of the natives Mr. Ritchie rounded up cattle that had run wild on the island, and in time had a flourishing dairy herd handled by proud and efficient stockmen. He gave instruction in the growing of crops, in fencing and in road-making, of which some results are shown in the excellent photographic illustrations. There is an exciting description of a dugong hunt, also tales of big fish and man-eating alligators, and of many adventurous expeditions inland and to adjacent islands. Mr. Ritchie’s book would be well worth reading for these alone, but its outstanding interest lies in the exceptionally sympathetic picture drawu of native life and tradition.