THE LAST OF HIS TEIBE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 5 October 1871, Page 7

THE LAST OF HIS TEIBE.

The death of his Magesty King Paunchey, of the Grange tribe of aboriginals, brings with it (states the "Hamilton Spectator," 16th August) more melancholy reflections. It is in the recollection of the oldest inhabitant that in the year '42 the Grange tribe numbered some 500 individuals, whilst the neighboring tribes, located at Buckley's Swamp, Croxton, and the Wannon, each included about the same number. It was no uncommon circumstance to see 500 warriors, the picked men of these different communities, assemble in all the pride of their war paint to dance a corroboree in the neighborhood where Hamilton now stands. Some thirty years have passed away, and but a handful of these poor people remain. Paunchey, as it was stated, was the sole survivor of his tribe, and only a few miserable and diseased specimes of the other tribes turn up once a year to receive the customary dole of blankets. The particulars of Paunchey's death are sad enough. It appears that he and his mate Peter (belonging to the Wannon) had been paid some wages at the station of Mr. Robert Hamilton, and, accordding to custom, they expended the money in drink. On Friday night they camped in the bush, by the side of a blazing log, and the weather being cold, Punchey insisted on lying down at the leeward instead of the windward side of the fire. Peter, whose senses where not in a brilliant condition, was awoke in the night by the cries of Paunchey, who was literally half .roasted, and too helpless to get up. However, Peter endeavoured to extinguish the burning clothes by smothering them with earth, and this • proving a failure he obtained some water. He attended to the sufferer the best way he could, and on Sunday, when the state of affairs became known, Paunchey was romoved to the hespital. He died a few hours after his admission, his age

being twenty-nine.