STRANGE CUSTOMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1925, Page 3

STRANGE CUSTOMS.

SYDNEY. May 2'.). Era c, l( .|| k‘i. ; v, the Australian native in In- nalural surroundings better than that intrepid adventurer, Captain G. It. Wilkins, who has < onsiderahlv added to his knowledge of them by his recent long sojourn in Northern Australia. lie has h- U .idlcrtim r -j -i----11 ■<-11 ■ of 110 l a and laun.i ill behalf : f tin.- British Mu-ellm. and has just returned I a I'l isl .uie v. here main eases of sl'ocimens laiint to fruitful rc-idts o| his journevings. Some of Captain 'Wilkins’s experiences were outlined by him on Ids return to Bri-liane. .Suite of his time was spent at Crocodile Island, lying off' tin- Meridiem o a-t of \ riiheim baud, (ha: -'|ilai e-s’aaped noslerii arm -d . Gulf oi Carpentaria. lie v.as ae otnpaitied at this time bv a party of uatites, in cl lid iit eg the ‘-king’’ of tintribe and his three wives they were given the title of the “royal ladies"— and these "roval ladies’’ were Captain Wilkins’s best helpers, he -aii'C t hoy brought in more s| ecimens than all the others combined. The native., who visited these areas from the rnainlan were*, in < ;i|»tnin Wilkins’s opinion, tli * lowest type he had seen in Australia. I hey were dwarfed, and -,l low mentality. and their food, which was devoid of necessary fats, encouraged them to indulge in cannibalistic habits. A man who ha-l worked about his camp wa; killed in a duel. Ilis Intdy was

eaten. I. net use it was si fat. These

people had killed several white men. hut ui roue oi these i;ise-- was fin- body

From C-K-'iJile l-Jaud. O.iptain Y\ ilk'in- travelled in a missionary lugger round the const to Gronte Island, in the Gulf itself. Hero lie wav hospitably receive.l bv (liurcli Missionary Society workers. Tlie island did not exhibit tropical conditions: the weather could hardly* be considered tropical as compared with other (ountries of riinilnr latitude. The season was exceptionally wet. and there had been more

than double the amount of ihe userainfall, hut the heat was never intense. and ((»n<liti< ll :s were never uneuiigenial f ir white people. The blacks on Groole Island have been in contact- with Ma-lny fishermen for hundreds of years, and they have adopted many of the Malays' cits*

though there is little evidence of infiisi'jM of Malaysian blood. ihe east of features and habit o! wearing pointed heard.', and the generally lighter colour led to the belief that the blacks have an admixture of western blood, bill there is no evidence d the lank straight hair and peculiar physii at type of the Malay. The Gri ofe Island-

ers are most Mispicious ol ,-trangers, ami ii-alotvs of tlu-ir woman. Although | : 11 1 v mis-inoary worker- have visited the i-laml since l'Mlb and have lived there regularly for im-nths. the natives never allowed their women, to approach the mi-sinn station. Captain A\ ilkin = gain;’:! Hie confidence ' f the men. and lived for manv lays in their < amps, 01-.serviwg their family life. The men greatlv outnumbered the women, and ; lie old men usually had several wives but- the women were of a poor type.

The natives were rarely able to obtain a meal of meat. Tlu-ir food eottdsted of honey, yams, palm hearts and fish. During his stay with them. Captain Wilkins, living on such food as the blacks could provide, found their di.-t wholesome and nourishing.