RECENT BATTLE AMONGST THE BLACKS OF QUEENSLAND.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 57, 26 May 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

RECENT BATTLE AMONGST THE BLACKS OF QUEENSLAND.

(From the Morclon Bay Courier,) The spirit of the age, in these days of war and rumours of war, has manifested itself in the case of " our fel-low-creatures, 1 ' the blacks of the neighbourhood of Brisbane on the one part, and oa Bribie Island on the other. Some breach of international law provoked dispute in consequence of the lubra-catcbinsf propensities of an adventurous youth, and hostilities were provoked. On Wednesday, according to appointment of the leaders o£ the respective armies, the Birbio Island Blacks encountered their Brisbane enemies at Breakfast Creek, and a fierce fray ensued. As usual in such fights, many were woundad, but few slain ; for, after a hand-to-hand encounter of considerable daring, iv which upwards of three hundred warriors were en- • "aged, three only bit the dust in mot tal 1 agony. The death of one of the three occurred in this wise. Two men agreed to engage in single combat, to exhibit in the presence of our assembled friends, j I after the manner of our Anglo-Saxon forefathers, their individual prowess. Selecting a log, they agreed to fight over it, eacb party being permitted to rest his foot upon, it. > The combat wa»ed fiercely for a considerable time, and the braves assembled in tumulfcous order to witness the result. Great courage and dexterity were displayed on either side, and the result was doubtful. Blows fell thick and loud upon the shield from the murderous waddy, thrust followed thrust, and blood on one side was avenged by blood on the other. The fight thickened as the blows fell faster, and the anxiety of the spectators was deepened in proportion. A catastrophe occurred, however, which gave victory to the one and death to the other. A lubra, from some cause or other unknown, had taken a special interest in the contest, and before it was near its conclusion, seized a tomahawk, and rushing from the midst of the spectators behind the combatants she Btruck the weapon deep into the thick skull and killed him on the spot. There was something suggestive of the old ages of chivalry in the encounter, while the issue smacked strongly of jealousy or revenge, What became ot the three dead bodies we iiave been unable to learn, though we have no doubt they were disposed of according to national custom in the usual way, by roasting and eating.