AUSTRALIAN TRIBAL FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 339, 15 March 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN TRIBAL FIGHT.

A FEROCIOUS STRUGGLE. ELEVEN KILLED. By Cable.—Pre&s Association.—Copyright Port Darwin, March I*. A trader named M'Pherson brings news of flie tribal fight which occurred on January 24. M'Pherson had a merch de mar fishing camp at Rolling Bay, which appears to be neutral territory between Junction Bay tribe and the Liverpool River tribe. On the day of the fight M'Pherson observed his Junction Bay natives in full war ,p». it, with white faces and yellow legs'. He was told that a party of Liverpool natives was concealed in a thick jungle 300 yards distant. Soon after the day's work was finished there was a weird blood-curdling war whoop, and between thirty and forty ghastly white painted figures dashed into the open from concealment, while a still greater number of Junction i*ty natives' came from an opposite thicket to meet them. The contending p»iv >s met on a clear open grassy sward. Showers of spears were exchanged. They were thrown with exceeding sfcill and strength, while the dexterity with which the spears were dodged or warded off was amazing. As the- spears became scarcer, one of M'Pherson's boys was pierced by a spear. Then the natives came to close quarters, and a ferocvous struggle .ensiied. The Junction Bay boys, armed with tomahawks, trepang knives and pieces of iron, waded in. One magnificent native, armed with a huge club, rushed at an opponent, but to the surprise of M'Pherson the Junction Bay hoy warded the Wow, and with his tomahawk cleft his opponent's head from crown to base. The battle lasted about half an hour. The advantage s'wayed from side to side, but gradually the superior weapons of the Junction Bay natives prevailed. The attackers broke for cover, hotly pursued, and were wounded and hacked to death by the victors. Eleven were killed, and the bodies were heaped together and burnt.