IN DARK AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 23 July 1907, Page 4

IN DARK AUSTRALIA.

ABOKJW.VVI.S iIF FINK FUVSIyUE. I'eitli, July d. The Lite Mi" William Tohin. a member of the (.'.inning exjdor.ilion party, who uas lifil to death at Wodowaua, ill the iutcrinr. been an ollicer in the Mines \\ .U'-t Supply Departiiient lul al.nil two year-, and for the last live or -i\ \ eai - iiad been in charge of burin;: jiartii'-i. lie was a native of Jiuriu (S.A.I .Mr Canning lias completed til" work of exp.oriug the interior, and open <*d up a stuck route, and will reach I'fcrtli almul .Inly IK. lie tele^rapli ; ithat the slock route is as>ured, aud that he has jiat down twenty bores, and did a H°od deal of other work. Oil the return journey th« [tiriy encountered summer rains which spread over a great pai l (II the w.y across the desert. The only serioii- dillieulty was the sad fatality to .Mr Tobin. Hut for that the party are all well. 11l March last Mr 11. S. Trmuman, second in command of the exploration. arrived iu l'ertli from Wyndluun. owing to ail injury to his fool. lie remarked that the natives were superior to those living ill the southern districts, and comparer very favorably with the Kimlx-rley aborigine-, who are noted fur their stalwart physique. They lived on spilliiile\. rats and l*anilieoots. and bunt for them throughout the day. There is certainly nothing rise in the desert for thejji to live upon. J'iiysically they look well. Their only article ol clothing is a loin strap made of the skill of an animal, with human hair attached to it. The trilies they came across numbered 30 to 40 at most, and proved of the greatest service. They were surprised at seeing whites for the first time, but overcame their fears and proved very tractable. They accompanied the party, and guided them to their wells, but rapidly left when verging on districts outside their particular territory. There was only one attempt at treachery, that at Weld SpringSj where camp was made and a couple of men left. The timely arrival of others dispersed the natives, who were preparing for an attack.