THE BLACK POLICE.

NZ Truth, Issue 87, 16 February 1907, Page 7

THE BLACK POLICE.

VALOROUS VOGAN'S VIM. "The Queer Ways of Australia." Blood, Brutality, Balladry. Females Furiously and Ferociously Flogged. The Cruelty of Queensland's Women- Flo ggers.

Vogan, m his book, "The Black Po- ] lice," does • not, as we have said, confine himself to an account of the massacres of the miserable aborigines <; he also, gives accounts of other acts of cruelty by squatters and others. He mentions, for instance, that the flogging of black women by the orders of squatters and their wo-men-folk was, m the palmy days of the Black Police, looked upon as nuite a pastime. In one place m his book we are told that one of the squatiers' women had threatened her black female servant with a flogging if she appears before her mistress without her stockings on ; and, m another place we have the following account of the flogging of two black women as the result of orders given by a', fellow called 'Wilson Giles, who .has- tlie.- two, women, flogged, at the r r.e- . quest of a white woman named Liieth 'MundeHa :-r---"Oh.vou've ; come at last, have •you .?" Mr Giles says, as his, niece sweeps to her chair on the verandah, and she knows hy experience that his bullying air is ' the result of spme- . thine having annoyed or puzzled him, and that probably he will end what he hits to say by asking Her advice. 'But he"r ' uncle must "blow off his steam," as. he sometimes calls.it, on somebody, and a scapegoat must be found before he 'will become quiet e'ribugh to talk sensibly. So Lileth's first apt, is to pacify him m the folIpwing way :'.'.' ; . "Before you begin," she says, "IAV&nt y oii io have. '■ DINA AND LUCY BEATEN. Yoi^ had better have it done at. once, because the Rev. Mr Harley may be here this afternoon. He said he would try and do his circuit m one -month this time." "Oh, you needn't mind Harley," replied Mr Giles; "he , knows better than to interfere with bur ways, Lileth. Besides, he used to 'dress' his wife's: little gin down proper at Groydon last year. Even the squatters* at the hotel ho was stopping at kicked up a row about it. The servant sals told me the little nie'eer's back was pretty well scored. What have the teals been doing now?" "Oh, I don't really think that it is worth while my.; going into the long 'exposition of household arrangements that an explanation would necessitate." Mr Giles looks sideways at the calm dark eyes that are lazily looking upwards, as their owner sits slowly rocking her chair by his side. I'll soon FIX THEIR HASH for them," he growls forth v at last, feeline glad of the opportunity to wreak his anger- on. somebody. Then he whistles upon the boatswain's call, Which had once before that morninrr heralded a punishment, and shortly a big native appears v .whose well-pro-nounced nasal- bones, .proclaim bfnqt toi belong, .. to.. ..a. Cape York or. Torres Straits tribe. The black's oily face is surmounted by an old cabbagetree hat, and he wears trousers and shirt like the other boys ; but healso rejoices m a P P r of Blucher boots of which he is inordinately proud. "Here, Carlo," says Mr Giles, fn the curious pigeon-English already referred to, "you know that urn fellow waddy (that stick) ; him sit down alonger office (it is m the office) ; mine • . ■ BEAT IT BLACK FELLOW (my black fellow beater). You fetch uni along;" The oily face lights up with a smile of anticipation, for he it is that generally acts the pairt of executioner, and "combs down the gals" by Marmie's orders when it' is needed . m the cause of discipline. As a member of an alien tribe, Carlo returns .the hatred . "of the station blacks with interest. The waddy, a long-handled "cat" of six -tails, made of leather, is brought to Mr Giles! "Go and catch Lucy and Dma," says: that gentleman. Both uricl^e and. niece sit m silence till the girls arrive, the two miserable creatures having been found at the i collection of huts close by, known : ;as the native/ camp,, where they had run to hide on seeing Carlo take', the v, "WHIP" TO THE "BOSS." "Don't move till I come back. Won't be long," murmurs the squatter,■■•■rising, and presently the yells arid screams of the two girls are heard down by the stockyard, ' where the boss is standing admiring their graceful, naked bodies ' as they writhe beneath the lash wielded ■by the brawny Carlo. ' Mr Giles returns quite an altered man. Either the enjoyable sight he has witnessed, or a couple of "pegs" of whisky he swallowed medicinally afterwards, has sweetened his soul for the time being . Not the least interesting feature 'of Vogan's "Black Police" is his inclusion, of some old bush songs m his book. One ■■ of these, which is said to go to the air of "King of the Cannibal Islands," is as follows :— "THE QUEER WAYS OF AUSTRALIA. "Dick Briggs, a wealthy farmer's son, To England lately took a run, To see his' friends, and have some fun, For he'd been ten years m Australia. Arrived m England* off he went To his native village down m Kent— 'Twas there his father drew his. rent, And many happy days he'd spent. No splendid fine clothes on had he, But 'jumper' *oots up to the knee, ,With dirty Sydney 'cabbage-tree'— The costume of Australia. Chorus. ! "Now when a fellow takes a run ( ; To England for a bit of fun, He's sure to 'stonish every one With the queer wavs- of Australia. <■ "Now Dick went liomp m this array ; His sister came out, and did say*

fr No, we don't want anything: to-da^. ' To her brother from Australia. Cried he, 'Oh don't you know poor Dick?' They recognised him precious quick ; The 'old man' hugged him like a brick, And there was feasting there that night, For Richard was a welcome sight. For each o ne hailed with great delight The wanderer firbm Australia. Chorus. The blessed cattle on the farm Regarded Dick with great alarm ; His swearing acted like a charm When he gave them a 'touch' of Australia. He could talk 'bullock' and 'no flies,.' And when he blessed poor Straw- ■ b'r/y^s ©yes, v'■ >../■/ .:." ;;■,■-.,; ./^r Shi looked at him with great surprise, * As out of her he. 'took a rise.' 'Fie, fie,' his mother said one day, 'What naughty, wicked words you say.' : •Bless you, mother, that's the way We wake 'em up m Australia,' / ■ . .Ohqrus.' "Dick went to London for a spree, And got drunk there, most gloriously; He gave them a touch" of the "Coo-oo-ee !' , The bush cry of Australia. He' took two ladies to the play, "■-' Both so serene, m dresses gay; He had champagne brought on a • tray, ' , . And said, 'Now, girls come fire away.' ( ,■:■■. They 1 drank' till they could drink no more, • , And then .they both fell on -the floor. Cried- Dick, as he surveyed them o'er, 'You wouldn't do for Australia.' " Chorus. . (Concluded;) '"