BLACKS IN QUEENSLAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2483, 22 March 1882, Page 3

BLACKS IN QUEENSLAND.

Of all the races to whom the contact of civilisation has been fatal, there is none, observes the “ Pall Mall Gazette,” more swiftly or su'ely dyiur out than the Queensland blackfellow. “ Dispersed" by the native police, poisoned by fiery colonial rum, and—if all stories be true—more than occasionally by other potent means, shot down in new country by every white man who sees them, until the survivors are glad of peace at any price, it is no matter for wonder that the strongest tribe is soon reduced to a tithe of its former numbers. And yet before the whites came among them“their life was not an unhappy one, especially in the coast districts, where game is more plentiful than inland, and where they seldom know a day’s hunger. Bach tribe had its own recognised head, who ruled by virtue of his superior fighting qualities, but whose control over tbe rest was but slight. Each tribe had also its own district, out of which they seldom ventured except in time of war, or when attempting to carry off a dameel from a neighboring camp. Each small coll otion of families had their own totem or crest, and scrupulously abstained from killing or eating the animal whose name they bore. Their moral character would then have compared not unfavorably with that of mors civilised nations. Their marriage laws were very strict, and no intermarriage was permitted between members of the same family. They were polygamous, but adultery was almost unknown, and surely punished by death. Honest to each other, pilfering was not one of their vices, and each tribe was almost a small commune. Living in a land of plenty, a very slight exertion was enough to ensure them and their families an abundance of food. Kangaroo and wallaby, opossum and bandicoot, turkeys and wild fowl, are all plentiful and easily got at, and when yams and the large potato like roots of tho water lily are added to the list it will be seen that their diet was by no means to be despised. Did they wish for a chsege they had only to taka to their canoes to be sure of on abundant supply of fish. Their nets, made by tho gins by hand ont of a species of hibiscus, were of immense size and very strong, and were generally common property to three or four families. Their life, indeed, before tho whites came, was as happy an animal existence as could be imagined. Plenty to eat and drink and little oleo to do, a genial climate and few enemies, what more could eny savsge desire P Of a future state of existence they had not the faintest idea. They had laws ; but they knew that if they broke them a blow on the head from a nulla or a spear through tho body would be tho result, so they wisely abstained. Superstitious, like all ignorant races, they hod a sort of idea of some evil power, who sent snakes and crocodiles and similar troubles, but they never went to the length of trying to propitiate him by prayer or sacrifice. One of their modes of execution is curious. When tbe death of a member of the tribe has been determined on by the elders the uncus peering victim is made insensible by a blow on the head, and his kidney fat is taken out through a small slit made between the ribs. He wakes with probably a headache and certainly a sore side, but recovers sufficiently to go about for two or three days, when he dies vomiting incessantly. The blacks who arc notin the secret are told, end believe, that a snake made the cut and got in the body, and so caused death; and as the wretched man is dying the old blackt, who alone are allowed to get rid of their enemies in this fashion, pretend to see the snake coming ont of his mouth. Formerly they used to cremate their dead with considerable ceremony, but now they bury like whites. That they were at one time cannibals there is no reason to doubt ; and in the older days, when white men were not unfrequently surprised and killed, their cooked and half-eaten remains ware repeatedly found in the blacks’ camp by the avenging native police. Of cultivation they are guiltless ; they get their food with lit tle trouble, so have no inducement to work. Now that they are half civilised, their old customs and laws are nearly forgotten ; their marriage lass are no longer kept as of yore, and the few survivors are allowed to follow their inclinations regardless of relationship.