Savage Life and Scenes in Australia and New Zealand: Being an Artist's Impressions of Countries and People at the Antipodes ...

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Smith, Elder and Company, 1847 - Australia
 

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Page 255 - Howard called to them to fix their bayonets and come to the charge. They, however, kept retreating up the hill, firing as they went. Captain Wakefield, therefore, in order to prevent a further sacrifice of life, ordered the firing to cease, and Captain England and Mr. Howard advanced towards the Maories with a white handkerchief in token of peace. Those in advance of the retreating party, however, still kept up a running fire as they pushed up the hill, which was returned by the natives on the whole...
Page 46 - And give the lips we love unborrowed bread: To see a world, from shadowy forests won, In youthful beauty wedded to the sun ; To skirt our home with harvests widely sown, And call the blooming landscape all our own, Our children's heritage, in prospect long.
Page 300 - ... years he has been playing a nobler part in the great drama of life ; and his conduct has deservedly gained for him a lasting reputation. Some traits may be mentioned to his honour. About the year 1839, the body of a European was discovered on the banks of one of the tributary streams of Hokianga, under circumstances which led to the suspicion that he had been murdered by a native called Kete, one of Nene's slaves. A large meeting was convened on the subject, and, the guilt of Kete being established,...
Page 252 - ... provided their decision pleased him. Mr. Thompson replied that the case must be heard on board the Government brig, whither Rauparaha must accompany him. On Rauparaha's reiterated refusal to comply with this proposal, put in direct terms to him, Mr. Thompson declared he would compel him. Rauparaha said he did not want to fight, but that if the white people fought he would fight too. Mr. Thompson, pointing to the armed men, threatened that he and his party should be fired upon. Sixteen natives...
Page 82 - From North America to Australia. There, says Mr. Angas, one of the surest marks of the low position of the Australian savage in the scale of the human species is the treatment of their -women. The men walk along with a proud and majestic air, while behind them, crouching like slaves and bearing heavy burdens on their backs, with their little ones astride on their shoulders, come the despised and degraded women. They are the drudges in all heavy work, and after their lords have finished the repast...
Page 203 - ... with a large kangaroo slung across his saddle, and their stockwhips curled round their shoulders. They presented admirable examples of full bush costume, in their blue woollen shirts, with appendages of pannikins, tether-ropes, and rifles. We prevailed upon them to accompany us ; and the kangaroos and an emu that we had killed were planted (to use a colonial term) in the boughs of a she-oak tree, to remain in safety until our return. Upon the open scrubby plains and the low grassy hills, we observed...
Page 94 - River we are told that when a person dies " they carefully avoid mentioning his name ; but if compelled to do so, they pronounce it in a very low whisper, so faint that they imagine the spirit cannot hear their voice.
Page 257 - Rangihaeata had wounded his foot by treading on a sharppointed stump, and Captain England, seeing the nature of the wound, took a penknife from his pocket, which Bampton handed to him to cut out the splinter with. Having succeeded in doing so, he offered to return the knife, but Captain England signified that he would make him a present of it. Gold was offered as a ransom, but ineffectually. Two natives then approached Captain Wakefield, and, seizing him, attempted to strip off his coat. Colouring...
Page 73 - great water" to the eastward, and of bark canoes upon a lake : which is probably Lake Hindmarsh. As to their being cannibals occasionally, there appears to be but little doubt. According to the people of the Murray — who themselves kill boys for the sake of their fat, with which to bait their fish-hooks ! — these natives devour their children in times of scarcity.
Page 104 - One had the palyertatta stick sideways upon his head, while the other, in the most wizard-like manner, kept waving it to and fro before him, corresponding with the action of his head and legs. " Then followed a performer distinguished by a long spear, from the top of which a bunch of feathers hung suspended, and all down the spear the mangna was wound ; he held the koonteroo (spear and feathers) with both hands behind his back, but occasionally altered the position, and waved it to the right and...

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