ADVENTURE AMONG AUSTRALIAN CANNIBALS.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 144, 10 May 1879, Page 3

ADVENTURE AMONG AUSTRALIAN CANNIBALS.

Mr Peter Wilson, a well-known Queenslander, met with an alarming adventure in the Granite range, near Norm an by, while on a prospecting trip recently. He was making a short cut into Normanby ' when,' he says ' to my surprise I came slap bang into a blacks' camp ; retreat I could not, for there was a young gin who saw me and gave the news to the others, so I thought retreat was useless, and I advanced further in. when I did not see any more coming out, thinking they might be all out hunting, which proved correct. When I entered. O ! horror of all horrors, there was an old gin totally blind, like a tigress, tearing the leg of a half-roasted piccaninny. There were altogether in the camp three very old black fellows three of them crippled, and one I think blind, and two gins and one little girl about six or seven years old, so I advanced further in to examine it , better, not being frightened, seeing what I had to contend with, and haying a revolver too. The camp itself was one of those umbrel'a rocks or overhanging ledges that was worn away from the effects of strong whirlwinds and time, and a very secure place from rains or sun. On the left as I entered there were about 500 spears, and other weapons that I have never seen with the blacks. There were some old picks, tin dishes, and a bell, hung by a string from the roof. While I was examining those things there was one of the old blacks and the blind gin kept up a continual screaming and yabbering. Whether they were trying to frighten me away or calling to the other blacks, I don't know. B M .t I soon found out, for as I came out in front of the cave and looked towards the track I came up, there I beheld a mob of blacks coming up the very track I came in a h\v minutes before. Run they could not, for they seemed to be loaded with something or other. Time was too precious then ; I didn't wait to look what they had, but made-tracks to the opposite side of hill as quiek as I could. .But I did not go

far until I came in sight of another lot coming un from the opposite side : then I was obbged to take down on the west side with all speed, as the last mob had seen me raid immediately gave chase. Well, I tried to run ; but run was out of the question : it was one continual tumble and ris< j until j came to a large chasm, which I thought would afford me shelter from the cannibals until dark, which proved correct. I was not long in this place of safety when I heard the yells over me on the ledge I was under. But they did not stop long there as they thought I got farther away and started in pursuit. And O! if ever I watched for night it was that evening. But what travelling. It was daylight before I reached the foot of the range on the right branch of the old Normanby side. And if ever I am caught making a short cut over the Big Granite Range it will he when our member will have a railway running over it. This place would be w T ell worth visiting by any party that would like to see one of the blacks strongholds.