“Weherefinishedthesupply，andIthensaid，asIcouldnotspeakbefore，”Lookhere，Gibson，youseeweareinamostterriblefix，withonlyonehorse。Onlyonecanride，andonemustremainbehind。Ishallremain；andnowlistentome。Ifthemaredoesnotgetwatersoon，shewilldie；therefore，riderighton；gettotheKegs，ifpossible，to-night，andgiveherwater。Nowthatthecobisdead，there”llbeallthemorewaterforher。Earlyto-
morrowyouwillsighttheRawlinson，attwenty-fivemilesfromtheKegs。Sticktothetracksandneverleavethem。Leaveasmuchwaterinonekegformeasyoucanafford，afterwateringthemareandfillingupyourownbags；and，remember，Idependuponyoutobringmerelief。”
“Gibsonsaidifhehadacompasshethoughthecouldgobetterbynight。Iknewhedidn”tunderstandanythingaboutcompasses，asI
hadoftentriedtoexplainthemtohim。TheoneIhadwasaGregory”sPatent，ofatotallydifferentconstructionfromordinaryinstrumentsofthekind，andIwaslothtopartwithit，asitwastheonlyoneIhad。However，ashewassoanxiousforit，Igaveittohim，andawayhewent。Isentonefinalshoutafterhimtosticktothetracks，andhesaid，”Allright”andthemarecarriedhimoutofsightalmostinstantly。
“Gibsonhadleftmewithalittleovertwogallonsofwater，whichIcouldhavedrunkinhalf-an-hour。AllthefoodIhadwaselevensticksofdirty，sandy，smokedhorse，averagingaboutanounceandahalfeach。
“OnthefirstofMay，asIafterwardsfoundout，atoneo”clockinthemorning，Istaggeredintothecamp，andawokeMr。Tietkinsatdaylight。HeglaredatmeasifIhadbeenonerisenfromthedead。IaskedhimifhehadseenGibson。ItwasninedayssinceI
lastsawhim。ThenextthingwastofindGibson”sremains。Itwasthe6thofMaywhenwegotbacktowherehehadlefttherightline。Aslongashehadremainedontheotherhorses”tracksitwaspracticableenoughtofollowhim，butthewretchedmanhadleftthemandgoneawayinafarmoresoutherlydirection，havingthemostdifficultsand-hillstocrossatrightangles。Wefoundhehadburntapatchofspinifexwherehehadlefttheotherhorses”
tracks。
“Whetherhehadmadeanymistakeinsteeringbythecompassornotitisimpossibletosay；butinsteadofgoingeast，asheshouldhavedone，heactuallywentsouth，orverynearit。
“Iwassorrytothinkthattheunfortunateman”slastsensiblemomentsmusthavebeenembitteredbythethoughtthat，ashehadlosthimselfinthecapacityofmessengerformyrelief，I，too，mustnecessarilyfallavictimtohismishap。
“Icalledthisterribleregion，lyingbetweentheRawlinsonRangeandthenextpermanentwaterthatmayeventuallybefoundtothenorth，”Gibson”sDesert”——afterthisfirstwhitevictimtoitshorrors。
“InlookingoverGibson”sfeweffects，Mr。TietkinsandIfoundanoldpocket-book，adrinking-song，andacertificateofhismarriage。Hehadnevertoldushewasmarried。”
Andnowtoresumemyownnarrative。YouwillrememberthatIhadsettleddownforaconsiderabletimeontheshoresofthelagoon，whereIhadmadeeverythingaroundmeascomfortableaspossible。
Yambahadnodifficultywhateverinkeepinguswellsuppliedwithrootsandvegetables；andaskangaroos，opossums，snakes，andratsabounded，wehadanamplesupplyofmeat，andthelagooncouldalwaysbereliedupontoprovideuswithexcellentfish。Thecountryitselfwasbeautifulintheextreme，withstatelymountains，broad，fertilevalleys，extensiveforests，——and，aboveall，plentyofwater。ThegeneralmodeoflivingamongthenativeswasmuchthesameasthatprevailingamongtheblacksinmyownhomeatCambridgeGulf，——althoughtheselatterwereavastlysuperiorraceinpointofphysique，warweapons，andgeneralintelligence。ThepeopleInowfoundmyselfamongwereofsomewhatsmallstature，withverylowforeheads，protrudingchins，highcheek-bones，andlargemouths。Theirmostnoteworthycharacteristicwastheirextremechildishness，whichwasespeciallydisplayedonthoseoccasionswhenIgaveanacrobaticperformance。
Myskillwiththebowandarrowwas，asusual，anever-endingsourceofastonishment。Iwas，infact，creditedwithsuchremarkablepowersthatallmyingenuityhadsometimestobebroughtintoplaytoaccomplish，ortopretendtoaccomplish，thethingsexpectedofme。IknewthatImustneverfailinanythingI
undertook。
Intheinteriorthenativesneverseemedtogrowveryplump，buthadamoreorlessspare，nottosayemaciated，appearancecomparedwiththetribesnearthecoast。Foronething，foodisnotsoeasilyobtainable，norisitsonourishing。Moreover，thenativeshadtogoverylongdistancestoprocureit。
Besidesthelow，recedingforeheadandprotrudingchinIhavealreadyhintedatascharacteristicoftheinlandtribes，Ialsonoticedthatthesepeoplehadabnormallylargefeet。Also，thebeardsofthemenwerenotnearlysofullorluxuriantasthoseoftheblacksatCambridgeGulf。Theaverageheightofthelagoontribewaslittlemorethanfivefeet。Formyself，Iamaboutfivefeetsevenandahalfinchesinheight，andthereforeIstalkedaboutamongthemlikeagiant。
NowthatGibsonwasdeadIdecidedtomovemyhomefarthernorth，andeventuallysettleddownwithmyfamily(twochildren——aboyandagirl——hadbeenborntomeduringmyresidenceontheshoresofthelagoon)inabeautifulmountainousandtropicalregion200or300milestothenorth。Itwasmyintentiononlytohavemadeatemporarystayhere，butothertiescame，andmylittleoneswerebynomeansstrongenoughtoundertakeanysuchformidablejourneyasIhadincontemplation。Ialsomadethefatalmistakeoftryingtobringmyoffspringupdifferentlyfromtheothersavagechildren。ButImustrelatehereanincidentthathappenedonourjourneynorth。Yambacametomeonedaypositivelyquiveringwithexcitementandterror，andsaidshehadfoundsomestrangetracks，apparentlyofsomeenormousbeast——amonstersofearfulastobequitebeyondherknowledge。
Shetookmetothespotandpointedoutthemysterioustracks，whichIsawatoncewerethoseofcamels。IdonotknowwhyI
decidedtofollowthem，becausetheymusthavebeensomemonthsold。Probably，Ireflected，Imightbeabletopickupsomethingonthetrackswhichwouldbeofusetome。Atanyrate，wedidfollowthetracksforseveraldays——perhapsafortnight——andfoundonthewaymanyoldmeat-tins，whichafterwardscameinusefulaswatervessels。Oneday，however，Ipounceduponanillustratednewspaper——acopyoftheSydneyTOWNANDCOUNTRYJOURNAL，bearingsomedate，Ithinkin1875or1876。Itwasacompletecopywiththeoutercover。Irememberitcontainedsomepicturesofhorse-
racing——IbelieveatParamatta；butthe“LongLostRelative“columninterestedmemost，fortheverymomentIfoundthepaperIsatdowninthebushandbegantoreadthispartwithgreateagerness。
IcouldreadEnglishfairlywellbythistime，andasYambawasalsotolerablyfamiliarwiththelanguage，Ireadthepaperaloudtoher。Icannotsayshealtogetherunderstoodwhatsheheard，butshesawthatIwasintenselyinterestedanddelighted，andsoshewasquitecontenttostaythereandlisten。Youwillobservethatinallcases，theveryfactthatIwaspleasedwasenoughforYamba，whoneveroncewaveredinherfidelityandaffection。
Altogetherwespentsomeweeksfollowingupthesetracks，but，ofcourse，nevercameupwiththecaravanofcamels，whichmusthavebeensomemonthsaheadofus。Yambaatlengthappearedtobeagooddealweariedatmypersistencyinfollowingupthetracksinthisway；butafterall，wasitnotmerelykillingtime？——amildsortofsensationwhichservedtobreaktheeternalmonotonythatsometimesthreatenedtocrushme。
HowItreasuredthatsoiledcopyoftheTownandCountry——asitisfamiliarlycalledinSydney！Ireadandre-readit，andthenreaditalloveragainuntilIthinkIcouldhaverepeatedeverylineofitbyheart，eventotheadvertisements。Amongthelatter，bytheway，wasoneinsertedapparentlybyananxiousmotherseekinginformationconcerningalong-lostson；andthispatheticparagraphsetmewonderingaboutmyownmother。“Well，“Ithought，“sheatleasthasnoneedtoadvertise，andIhavethesatisfactionofknowingthatshemustbythistimebequitereconciledtomyloss，andhavegivenmeupasdeadlongago。”Strangelyenough，thisthoughtquitereconciledmetomyexile。Infact，IthankedProvidencethatmydisappearancehadbeensocompleteandsoprolongedastoleavenottheslightestcausefordoubtorhopeonthepartofanyofmyrelatives。HadIforamomentimaginedthatmymotherwasstillcherishinghopesofseeingmeagainsomeday，andthatshewasundergoingagoniesofmentalsuspenseandworryonmybehalf，IthinkIwouldhaveriskedeverythingtoreachher。
ButIknewquitewellthatshemusthaveheardofthelossoftheVeielland，andlongagoresignedherselftothecertaintyofmydeath。IcanneverhopetodescribethecuriousdelightwithwhichIperusedmypreciousnewspaper。Ishowedthepicturesinittomychildrenandthenatives，andtheyweremorethandelighted，——
especiallywiththepicturesofhorsesintheraceatParamatta。
Inthecourseoftimethesheetsofpaperbegantogettorn，andthenImadeaprettydurablecoveroutofkangaroohide。ThusthewholeofmylibraryconsistedofmyAnglo-FrenchTestament，andthecopyoftheTownandCountryJournal。
ButIhavepurposelykeptuntiltheendthemostimportantthinginconnectionwiththisstrangely-foundperiodical。Theveryfirsteagerandfeverishreadinggavemeanextraordinaryshock，whichactuallythreatenedmyreason！InaprominentplaceinthejournalIcameacrossthefollowingpassage：“THEDEPUTIESOFALSACEAND
LORRAINEHAVEREFUSEDTOVOTEINTHEGERMANREICHSTAG。”
Now，knowingnothingwhateverofthesanguinarywarof1870，orofthealterationsinthemapofEuropewhichitentailed，thispassagefilledmewithstartledamazement。Ireaditoverandoveragain，gettingmorebewilderedeachtime。“TheDeputiesofAlsaceandLorrainehaverefusedtovoteintheGermanReichstag！““But——
goodheavens！“Ialmostscreamedtomyself，“WHATweretheAlsaceandLorraineDeputiesdoingintheGermanParliamentatall？“I
turnedthematteroverandoverinmymind，andatlast，findingthatIwasgettingworkedupintoastateofdangerousexcitement，Ithrewthepaperfrommeandwalkedaway。Ithoughtoverthematteragain，andsoutterlyincomprehensiblediditappeartomethatIthoughtImustbemistaken——thatmyeyesmusthavedeceivedme。AccordinglyIranbackandpickedthepaperupasecondtime，andthere，sureenough，wasthesamepassage。InvaindidIseekforanysaneexplanation，andatlastIsomehowgotitintomyheadthattheappearanceoftheprintedcharactersmustbeduetoakindofmentalobliquity，andthatImustberapidlygoingmad！EvenYambacouldnotsympathisewithme，becausethematterwasonewhichInevercouldhavemadeherunderstand。Itriedtoputthisstrangepuzzleoutofmyhead，butagainandagaintheaccursedandtorturingpassagewouldringinmyearsuntilInearlywentcrazy。
ButIpresentlyputthethingfirmlyfromme，andresolvedtothinknomoreaboutit。
Itisnotanexaggerationtodescribemymountainhomeinthecentreofthecontinentasaperfectparadise。Thegrassesandfernstheregrewtoaprodigiousheight，andthereweremagnificentforestsofwhitegumandeucalyptus。DowninthevalleyIbuiltaspacioushouse——thelargestthenativeshadeverseen。Itwasperhapstwentyfeetlong，sixteenfeettoeighteenfeetwide，andabouttenfeethigh。Theinteriorwasdecoratedwithferns，warimplements，theskinsofvariousanimals，andlast——butbynomeansleast——the“sword“ofthegreatsawfishIhadkilledinthehauntedlagoon。Thishousecontainednofireplace，becauseallthecookingwasdoneintheopenair。Thewallswerebuiltofroughlogs，thecrevicesbeingfilledinwithearthtakenfromant-hills。IhavejustsaidthatIbuiltthehouse。Thisis，perhaps，notstrictlycorrect。ItwasYambaandtheotherwomen-folkwhoactuallycarriedoutthework，undermysupervision。HereitisnecessarytoexplainthatIdidnotdaretodomuchmanuallabour，becauseitwouldhavebeenconsideredundignifiedonmypart。Ireallydidnotwantthehouse；but，strangelyenough，Ifeltmuchmorecomfortablewhenitwasbuiltandfurnished，because，afterall，itwasasourceofinfinitesatisfactiontometofeelthatIhadaHOMEIcouldcallmyown。Ihadgrownverywearyoflivinglikeananimalinthebush，andlyingdowntosleepatnightonthebareground。Itwasthissameconsiderationof“home“thatinducedmetobuildalittlehutforpoorGibson。
Thefloorofmyhousewastwoorthreefeetabovethegroundinordertoescapetheravagesoftherats。Therewasonlyonestorey，ofcourse，andthewholewasdividedintotworooms——oneasakindofsitting-roomandtheotherasabedroom。TheformerI
fittedoutwithhome-madetablesandchairs(Ihadbecomeprettyexpertfrommyexperiencewiththegirls)；andeachdayfresheucalyptusleaveswerestrewedabout，partlyforcleanliness，andpartlybecausetheodourkeptawaythemosquitoes。Ialsobuiltanotherhouseabouttwodays”trampupthemountains，andtothisweusuallyresortedintheveryhotweather。
NowhereIhaveacuriousconfessiontomake。Asthemonthsglidedintoyears，andIreviewedthewholeofmystrangelifesincethedayswhenIwentpearlingwithJensen，thethoughtbegangraduallytostealintomymind，“WhynotwaituntilcivilisationCOMESTO
YOU——asitmustdointime？Whywearyyourselfanymorewithincessantstrugglestogetbacktotheworld——especiallywhenyouaresocomfortablehere？“Gradually，then，Isettleddownandwasmadeabsolutechiefoveratribeofperhapsfivehundredsouls。
Besidesthis，myfamespreadabroadintothesurroundingcountry，andateverynewmoonIheldasortofinformalreception，whichwasattendedbydeputationsoftribesmenforhundredsofmilesaround。Myowntribealreadypossessedachieftainoftheirownbutmypositionwasoneofevengreaterinfluencethanhis。
Moreover，Iwasappointedtoitwithouthavingtoundergothepainfulceremoniesthatinitiationentails。Myimmunityinthisrespectwasofcourseowingtomysupposedgreatpowers，andthebeliefthatIwasareturnedspirit。Iwasalwayspresentattribalandwarcouncils，andalsohadsomeauthorityoverothertribes。
IadoptedeverydeviceIcouldthinkoftomakemydwellinghome-
like，andIevenjourneyedmanymilesinaNNE。direction，toprocurecuttingsofgrapevinesIhadseen；butImustsaythatthisatanyratewaslabourinvain，becauseIneverimproveduponthequalityofthewildgrapes，whichhadasharp，acidflavour，thataffectedthethroatsomewhatunpleasantlyuntilonegotusedtothem。
WhenIspeakofmy“mountainhome，“itmustnotbesupposedthatI
remainedinoneplace。Asamatteroffact，inaccordancewithmyusualpractice，Itooklongexcursionsindifferentdirectionsextendingoverweeksandevenmonthsatatime。OntheseoccasionsIalwaystookwithmeakindofnut，which，wheneaten，endowedonewithremarkablepowersofvitalityandendurance。SincemyreturntocivilisationIhaveheardoftheKolanut，butcannotsaywhetherthesubstanceusedbytheAustralianaboriginalisthesameornot。Irememberwegenerallyroastedours，andateitaswetrampedalong。InthecourseofmynumerousjourneysabroadI
blazedormarkedagreatnumberoftrees；myusualmarkbeinganoval，inorunderneathwhichIgenerallycarvedtheletter“L。”I
seldommetwithhostilenativesinthisregion，butwhenIdidmymysteriousbowandarrowsgenerallysufficedtoimpressthem。Bytheway，Ineverintroducedthebowasaweaponamongtheblacks，andthey，ontheirpart，nevertriedtoimitateme。Theyareaconservativerace，andareperfectlysatisfiedwiththeirowntime-
honouredweapons。
Wildgeeseandduckswereplentifulinthoseregions，andtherewasaninfinitevarietyofgame。Fromthisyouwillgatherthatourdailyfarewasbothampleandluxurious。
Andwehadpets；IrememberIoncecaughtalivecockatoo，andtrainedhimtohelpmeinmyhuntingexpeditions。ItaughthimafewEnglishphrases，suchas“Good-morning，“and“Howareyou？“；
andhewouldperchhimselfonatreeandattractgreatnumbersofhiskindaroundhimbyhisincessantchattering。IwouldthenknockoverasmanyasIwantedbymeansofmybowandarrows。Atthistime，indeed，Ihadquiteamenagerieofanimals，includingatamekangaroo。Naturallyenough，Ihadampleleisuretostudytheethnologyofmypeople。Isoonmadethediscoverythatmyblackswereintenselyspiritualistic；andonceayeartheyheldafestivalwhich，whendescribed，will，Iamafraid，taxthecredulityofmyreaders。ThefestivalIrefertowasheld“whenthesunwasbornagain，“——I。E。，soonaftertheshortestdayoftheyear，whichwouldbesometimeinJune。Ontheseoccasionstheadultwarriorsfromfarandnearassembledatacertainspot，andafteracourseoffestivities，satdowntoanextraordinarySEANCEconductedbywomen——veryold，wizenedwitches——whoapparentlypossessedoccultpowers，andwereheldingreatveneration。Thesewitchesareusuallymaintainedattheexpenseofthetribe。Theoffice，however，doesnotnecessarilydescendfrommothertodaughter，itbeingonlywomencreditedwithsupernaturalpowerswhocanclaimtheposition。
Afterthegreatcorroboreethepeoplewouldsquatontheground，theoldmenandwarriorsinfront，thewomenbehind，andthechildrenbehindthem。Thewholecongregationwasarrangedintheformofacrescent，inthecentreofwhichalargefirewouldbesetburning。Someofthewarriorswouldthenstartchanting，andtheirmonotonoussing-songwouldpresentlybetakenupbytherestofthegathering，totheaccompanimentofmuchswayingofheadsandbeatingofhandsandthighs。Theyoungwarriorsthenwentoutintotheopenandcommencedtodance。
ImayaswelldescribeindetailthefirstoftheseextraordinaryfestivalswhichIwitnessed。Themenchantedanddancedthemselvesintoaperfectfrenzy，whichwasstillfurtherincreasedbytheappearanceofthreeorfourwitcheswhosuddenlyroseupbeforethefire。Theywereveryoldandhaggard-lookingcreatures，withskinslikeshrivelledparchment；theyhadscanty，dishevelledhair，andpiercing，beadyeyes。Theywerenotornamentedinanyway，andseemedmorelikeskeletonsfromatombthanhumanbeings。Aftertheyhadgyratedwildlyroundthefireforashorttime，thechantsuddenlyceased，andthewitchesfellprostrateupontheground，callingoutastheydidsothenamesofsomedepartedchiefs。A
deathlysilencethenfellontheassembledgathering，andalleyeswereturnedtowardsthewreathsofsmokethatwereascendingintotheeveningsky。Thewitchespresentlyrenewedtheirplaintivecriesandexhortations，andatlengthIwasamazedtoseestrangeshadowyformsshapingthemselvesinthesmoke。Atfirsttheywerenotverydistinct，butgraduallytheyassumedtheformofhumanbeings，andthentheblacksreadilyrecognisedthemasoneorotheroftheirlong-departedchiefs——estimablemenalwaysandgreatfighters。Thebasersortneverputinanappearance。
NowthefirsttwoorthreetimesIsawthisweirdandfantasticceremony，Ithoughttheapparitionsweretheresultofmeretrickery。
ButwhenIsawthemyearafteryear，Icametotheconclusionthattheymustbeplacedinthecategoryofthosethingswhicharebeyondthekenofourphilosophy。Imightsaythatnoonewasallowedtoapproachsufficientlyclosetotouchthe“ghosts，“——ifsuchtheycanbetermed；andprobablyevenifpermissionhadbeengranted，theblackswouldhavebeenintoogreatastateofterrortohaveavailedthemselvesofit。
Eachoftheseseanceslastedtwentyminutesorhalf-an-hour，andweremainlyconductedinsilence。Whiletheapparitionswerevisible，thewitchesremainedprostrate，andthepeoplelookedonquitespellbound。Graduallythephantomswouldmeltawayagaininthesmoke，andvanishfromsight，afterwhichtheassemblywoulddisperseinsilence。Bynextmorningalltheinvitedblackswouldhavegoneofftotheirrespectivehomes。Thewitches，asI
afterwardslearnt，livedaloneincaves；andthattheypossessedwonderfulpowersofprophecywasevidencedinmyowncase，becausetheytoldmewhenIcameamongthemthatIwouldstillbemanyyearswiththeirpeople，butIwouldeventuallyreturntomyownkind。Thewarriors，too，invariablyconsultedtheseoraclesbeforedepartingonhuntingorfightingexpeditions，andreligiouslyfollowedtheiradvice。
CHAPTERXVI
AteacherofEnglish——Myselfasablack-fellow——Irestcontent——Anunknownterror——Manufactureofgunpowder——Acuriousfind——Thefieryraft——Inthelairofsnakes——Adangerousenemy——Anexcitingscene——
Aqueersport——Respectforthevictor——Avainhope——Soredisappointment——Yambaindanger——Astrangeduel——Myopponentgreetsme。
Mytwochildrenwereasourceofgreatdelighttomeatthistime，——
althoughofcoursetheywerehalf-castes，thecolouroftheirskinbeingverylittledifferentfromthatoftheirmother。Thewhitenessoftheirhandsandfinger-nails，however，clearlyindicatedtheirorigin。TheywerenotchristenedintheChristianway，neitherweretheybroughtupexactlyinthesamewayasthenativechildren。
ItaughtthemEnglish。Ilovedthemverydearly，andusedtomakeforthemavarietyofgoldornaments，suchasbanglesandarmlets。
Theydidnotparticipateinalltheroughgamesoftheblackchildren，yettheywereverypopular，havingwinningmanners，andbeingveryquicktolearn。Ioftentoldthemaboutmylifeinotherpartsoftheworld；butwheneverIspokeofcivilisation，I
classedallthenationsoftheuniversetogether，andreferredtothemas“myhome，“or“mycountry。”IdidnotattempttodistinguishbetweenFranceandSwitzerland，EnglandandAmerica。
Curiouslyenough，thesubjectthatinterestedthemmostwastheanimalkingdom，andwhenItoldthemthatIhopedsomedaytotakethemawaywithmetoseemygreatcountryandtheanimalsitcontained，theywereimmenselydelighted。Particularlytheywantedtoseethehorse，thelion，andtheelephant。Takingayam-stickaspointer，IwouldoftendrawroughlyinthesandalmosteveryanimalinNature。Butevenwhentheseroughdesignsweremadeformyadmiringaudience，IfounditextremelydifficulttoconveyanideaofthepartintheeconomyofNaturewhicheachcreatureplayed。Iwouldtellthem，however，thatthehorsewasusedforfightingpurposesandfortravel；thatthecowyieldedfoodanddrink，andthatthedogsdrewsledges。Itwasabsolutelynecessarytodwellonlyontheutilitariansideofthings。Beastsofburdenwouldbeincomprehensible。Bothofmychildrenwereveryproudofmypositionamongandinfluenceovertheblacks。
AndreallyIlookedlikeablack-fellowmyselfatthistime——notsomuchonaccountofexposure，asbecausemybodywasconstantlycoatedwiththecharcoalandgreasewhichservesasaprotectionfromtheweatherandfrominsects。Mychildren，youmaybeinterestedtolearn，nevergraspedthefactthatmyexilewasotherthanquitevoluntaryonmypart。
Thechildrenoftheblackscontinuedtointerestmeasmuchasever(Iwasalwaysfondofchildren)；andInevergrewtiredofwatchingthemattheirquaintlittlegames。IthinktheyalllovedmeasmuchasIdidthem，andIwasgladtoseethattheirliveswereonelongdreamofhappiness。Theyhadnoschooltoattend，noworktoperform，andnopunishmenttosuffer。Therearenochildrenlikethechildrenofthebushforperfectcontentment。Theyseldomorneverquarrelled，andwerealldaylongplayinghappilyaboutthecamp，practisingthrowingtheirreedspears；climbingthetreesafterthehoney-pods，andindulginginathousandandonemerrypranks。OftenandoftenIlookedatthoserobustlittlerascals，andcomparedthemsadlywithmyownchildren，whoweredelicatealmostfrombirth，andwhocausedmesomuchanxietyandheartache。
Whenthecombinationofcircumstances，whichisnowwellknowntomyreaders，causedmetosettleinmymountainhome，twoorthreehundredmilestothenorthofGibson”sDesert，IhadnoideathatI
shouldremainthereformanyyears。
Butstrangelyenough，asyearafteryearslippedby，thedesiretoreturntocivilisationseemedtoleaveme，andIgrewquitecontentwithmylot。GraduallyIbegantofeelthatifcivilisation——
represented，say，byalargecaravan——weretocometome，anditsleaderwaswillingnotmerelytotakemeaway，butmywifeandchildrenalso，thenindeedIwouldconsenttogo；butfornootherconsiderationcouldIbeinducedtoleavethosewhowerenowsonearanddeartome。ImayaswellmentionherethatIhadmanychancesofreturningALONEtocivilisation，butneveravailedmyselfofthem。AsIspentthegreaterpartoftwentyyearsinmymountainhome，itstandstoreasonthatitisthispartofmycareerwhichIconsultforcuriousandremarkableincidents。
OnedayagreatdarknesssuddenlycameoverthefaceofNature。
Thesombregloomwasrelievedonlybyastrangeluridglare，whichhungonthedistanthorizonfarawayacrossthatweirdland。Theairwassoonfilledwithfineashes，whichdescendedinsuchquantitiesastocoverallvegetation，andcompletelyhideexposedwater-holesandlagoons。EvenatthetimeIattributedthephenomenontovolcanicdisturbance，andIhavesincefoundthatitwasmostlikelyduetoaneruptionofthevolcanoofKrakatoa。
Thisvisitationoccasionedverygreatconsternationamongthesuperstitiousblacks，whoconcludedthatthespiritshadbeenangeredbysomeoftheirownmisdeeds，andweremanifestingtheirwrathinthisunpleasantway。Ididnotattempttoenlightenthemastoitstruecause，butgavethemtounderstandvaguelythatI
hadsomethingtodowithit。Ialsotoldthemthatthegreatspirit，whoserepresentativeIwas，wasburninguptheland。
Anotherphenomenonthatcausedmuchmystificationandterrorwasaneclipseofthesun。NeverhaveIseenmyblacksinsuchastateofexcitementandterroraswhenthatintensedarknesscamesuddenlyovertheworldatmidday。Theycamecrowdinginstinctivelytome，andIstoodsilentamongthecoweringcreatures，notthinkingitpoliticforamomenttobreakthestrangeandappallingstillnessthatprevailedoneveryhand——andwhichextendedeventotheanimalworld。Thetremblingblackswereconvincedthatnighthadsuddenlydescendeduponthem，buttheyhadnoexplanationwhatevertooffer。
Theyseemedquiteunfamiliarwiththephenomenon，anditwasapparentlynotoneofthosemanythingswhichtheirforefatherswovesuperstitiousstoriesaround，tohanddowntotheirchildren。
Asthegreatdarknesscontinued，thenativesretiredtorest，withoutevenholdingtheusualeveningchant。Ididnotattempttoexplaintherealreasonofthephenomenon，butasIhadnoparticularendtoserve，Ididnottellthemthatitwasduetomypower。
Neveronce，yousee，didIloseanopportunityofimpressingthesavagesamongwhomIdwelt。Onseveraloccasions，havingalltheingredientsatmydisposal，Iattemptedtomakegunpowder，buttruthtotell，myexperimentswerenotattendedwithverygreatsuccess。Ihadcharcoal，saltpetre，andsulphurreadytomyhand，——
allobtainablefromnaturalsourcescloseby；buttheresultofallmyefforts(andItriedmixingtheingredientsineveryconceivableway)wasaverycoarsekindofpowderwithpracticallynoexplosiveforce，butwhichwouldgooffwithanabsurd“puff。”
NowIwasveryanxioustomakeanEXPLOSIVEpowder，notmerelybecauseitwouldassistmeinimpressingtheblacks，butalsobecauseIproposedcarryingoutcertainblastingoperationsinordertoobtainmineralsandstoneswhichIthoughtwouldbeuseful。ThenetresultwasthatalthoughIcouldnotmanufactureanypotentexplosive，yetIdidsucceedinarousingtheintensecuriosityoftheblacks。Mypowderburntwithoutnoise，andthenativescouldneverquitemakeoutwheretheflamecamefrom。
Asthereseemedtobeanever-endingeagernessonthepartoftheblackstowitnessthewondersofthewhiteman，Ieventriedmyhandatmakingice——acommoditywhichis，ofcourse，absolutelyunknowninCentralAustralia。TheideacametomeonedaywhenI
foundmyselfinaverycoolcave，inwhichtherewasawellofsurprisinglycoldwater。Accordingly，Ifilledsomeopossumskinswiththerefreshingfluid，placedtheminthecoolestpartofthecave，andthencoveredthemwithsaltpetre，ofwhichtherewasanabundance。WhenItellyouthattheexperimentwasquitefruitless，youwillreadilyunderstandthatIdidnotalwayssucceedinmyroleofwonder-worker。ButwheneverIwasdefeated，itonlyhadtheeffectofmakingmesetmywitstoworktodevisesomethingstillmorewonderful——somethingwhichIwascertainwouldbeanassuredsuccess。
Whilsttaking，astrollintheregionofmymountainhomeoneday，myeyes——whichwerebythistimealmostashighlytrainedasthoseoftheblacksthemselves——suddenlyfasteneduponathinstreamofsomegreenishfluidwhichwasapparentlyoozingoutoftherockyground。Closerinvestigationprovedthatthiswasnotwater。I
collectedaquantityofitinakangarooskin，butthistookaconsiderabletime，becausetheliquidoozedveryslowly。
IwouldnothavetakenthistroublewereitnotthatIwasprettycertainIHADDISCOVEREDASPRINGOFCRUDEPETROLEUM。Immediately，andbyakindofinstinct，itoccurredtomethatImightmakeuseofthisoilasyetanothermeansofimpressingtheblackswithmymagicalpowers。Itoldnooneofmydiscovery——notevenYamba。
FirstofallIconstructedasortofraftfromthebranchesoftrees，thoroughlysaturatingeachbranchwiththeoil。Ialsoplacedashallowskinreservoirofoilontheupperendoftheraft，andconcealeditwithtwigsandleaves。Thisdone，I
launchedmyinterestingcraftonthewatersofthelagoon，havingsofarcarriedoutallmypreparationsinthestrictestsecrecy。
WheneverythingwasreadyIsentoutinvitationsbymail-men，smokesignals，andmessagestickstotribesbothfarandnear，tocomeandseemeSETFIRETOTHEWATER！Inparentheses，Imayremark，thatwithregardtosmoke-signals，whitesmokeonlyisallowedtoascendinwreathsandcurls；whileblacksmokeissentupinonegreatvolume。Asbythistimemyfamewasprettywellestablished，thewonder-lovingchildrenofNaturelostnotimeinrespondingtothesummons；andatlength，whenthemysticglowofaCentralAustralianeveninghadsettledoverthescene，agreatgatheringestablisheditselfontheshoresofthelagoon。Onsuchoccasions，however，Ialwayssawtoitthatmyaudiencewerenottoonear。
Butanyhowtherewaslittlechanceoffailure，becausetheblackshadlongsincegrowntobelieveinmeblindlyandimplicitly。
WithmuchceremonyIsetfiretotheraft，hoistedalittlebarksailuponit，andpusheditoff。Itlayverylowinthewater，andastheamazedonlookerssawitglidingacrosstheplacidwatersofthelagoonenvelopedinsmokeandflames，theydidactuallybelievethatIhadsetfiretothewateritself——particularlywhentheblazingoilwasseeninluridpatchesontheplacidsurface。Theyremainedwatchingtillthefiredieddown，whentheyretiredtotheirownhomes，moreconvincedthaneverthatthewhitemanamongthemwasindeedagreatandpowerfulspirit。
But，humannaturebeingfundamentallythesamealltheworldover，itwasnaturalenough——and，indeed，thewonderishowIescapedsolong——thatoneorotherofthetribalmedicine-menshouldgetjealousofmypowerandseektooverthrowme。Now，themedicine-
manbelongingtothetribeinmymountainhomepresentlyfoundhimself(orfanciedhimself)underacloud，——thereason，ofcourse，beingthatmydisplayofwondersfartranscendedanythingwhichhehimselfcoulddo。Somyrivalcommencedaninsidiouscampaignagainstme，tryingtoexplainawayeverywonderfulthingthatI
did，andassuringtheblacksthatifIwereaspiritatallitwascertainlyaspiritofevil。Heneveroncelostanopportunityofthrowingdiscreditandridiculeuponmeandmypowers；andatlengthIdiscernedsymptomsinthetribewhichrendereditimperativelynecessarythatIshouldtakeimmediateanddrasticstepstooverthrowmyenemy，who，bytheway，hadcommencedtryingtoduplicateeveryoneofmytricksorfeats。Igavethemattersomelittlethought，andoneday，whilstoutononeofmysolitaryrambles，Icameacrossacuriousnaturalfeatureofthelandscape，whichsuggestedtomeanoveland，Iventuretosay，remarkablesolutionofaveryserioussituation。
Isuddenlyfoundmyselfonthebrinkofapeculiarbasin-likedepression，which，fromitsobviousdampnessandprofusionofbushandcover，Iatoncerecognisedastheidealabodeofinnumerablesnakes。Imarkedthespotinmymind，andreturnedhome，ponderingthedetailsofthedramaticvictoryIhopedtowin。DaybydayI
returnedtothisdepressionandcaughtnumerousblackandcarpetsnakes。FromeachofthesedangerousandpoisonousreptilesI
removedthepoisonfangsonly；andthen，afterscoringitwithacrossbymeansofmystiletto，Iletitgo，knowingthatitwouldneverleaveaspotsoideal——fromasnake”spointofview。I
operatedonagreatnumberofthedeadlyreptilesinthisway，but，ofcoursethereremainedmanywhowerenotsotreated；whilstseveralofmyqueerpatientsdiedoutrightundertheoperation。
Needlesstosay，ImighthavemetmyowndeathinthisextraordinarybusinesshadInotbeenassistedbymydevotedwife。
Whenwehadfinishedourwork，therewasabsolutelynothingintheappearanceoftheplacetoindicatethatitwasanydifferentfromitsstatewhenIfirstcastmyeyesuponit。
Then，allbeingready，Ichoseaspeciallydramaticmomentatacorroboreetochallengemyrivalinawarsong，thischallengebeingsubstantiallyasfollows：“YoutellthepeoplethatyouareasgreatasI——theall-powerfulwhitespirit-man。Well，now，I
offeryouaformalchallengetoperformthefeatwhichIshallperformonacertaindayandatacertainspot。”Thedaywastheverynextday，andthespot，thesceneofmystrangesurgicaloperationsuponthesnakes。Theeffectofmychallengewasmagical。
Thejealousmedicine-man，boldlyandopenlychallengedbeforethewholetribe，hadnotimetomakeupanevasivereply，andheacceptedthenandthere。Urgentmessagesweredespatched，bythefun-lovingblacks，toallthetribes，sothatwewereprettysureofalargeandattentiveaudience。Itwasaboutmiddaywhentheridgeroundthedepressionwascrowdedwithexpectantblacks，everyoneofwhomdearlylovedacontest，orcompetition，ofwhateverkind。Ilostnotime——forinloveorwarshilly-shallyingisunknownamongtheblacks——butboldlyleapeddownintothehollowarmedonlywithareedwhistle，whichIhadmadeformyselfsolelywiththeviewofenticingthesnakesfromtheirholes。Icastatriumphantglanceatmyimpassiverival，who，uptothismoment，hadnotthefaintestideawhattheproposedordealwas。I
commencedtoplayaslivelyatuneasthelimitednumberofnotesinthewhistlewouldallow，andbeforeIhadbeenplayingmanyminutesthesnakescameglidingout，swingingtheirheadsbackwardsandforwardsandfromsidetosideasthoughtheywereunderaspell。Selectingahugeblacksnake，whoboreunobtrusivelymysafetymark，Ipounceddownuponhimandpresentedmybarearm。
AfterteasingthereptiletwoorthreetimesIallowedhimtostrikehisteethdeepintomyflesh，andimmediatelythebloodbegantorun。Ialsopermittedseveralotherfanglesssnakestobitemeuntilmyarmsandlegs，breastandback，werecoveredwithblood。Personally，Ididnotfeelmuchtheworse，asthebitesweremerepunctures，andIknewtheselectedreptilestobequiteinnocuous。Several“unmarked“snakes，however，manifestedaneagerdesiretojoininthefun，andIhadsomedifficultyinescapingtheirdeadlyattentions。Ihadtowavethemasidewithastick。
Allthistimetheblacksabovemewereyellingwithexcitement，andIamundertheimpressionthatseveralwerelamentingmymadness，whilstotherswereturningangrilyuponmyrival，andaccusinghimofhavingbroughtaboutmydeath。AtafavourablemomentIrusheduptheridgeofthehollowandstoodbeforethehorrifiedmedicine-
man，who，inresponsetomytriumphantdemandtogoanddolikewise，returnedafeebleandtremulousnegative。Evenhe，I
think，wasnowsincerelyconvincedthatIpossessedsuperhumanpowers；butitwouldhavebeenawkwardhadhecomealongwhenIwaslaboriouslyandsurreptitiouslyextractingthepoisonfangsfromthesnakes，andplacingmy“hallmark“uponthem。
Hisrefusalcosthimhisprestige，andhewasforthwithdrivenfromthetribeasafraud，whilstmyfamerosehigherthanever。Theblacksnowwishedmetotakeovertheofficeofmedicine-man，butI
declinedtodoso，andnominatedinsteadayouthIhadtrainedfortheposition。Itmaybenecessaryheretoremarkthattheblacks，undernocircumstances，killamedicine-man。Mydefeatedrivalwasamanofveryconsiderablepower，andIknewquitewellthatifI
didnotgetthebestofhimhewouldhaveMEdrivenoutofthetribeandperhapsspeared。
Mentionofthesnakeincidentremindsmeofaverypeculiarandinterestingsportwhichtheblacksindulgein。Irefertofightsbetweensnakesandiguanas。Thesecombatscertainlyaffordveryfinesport。Thetwocreaturesarealwaysatmortalenmitywithoneanother，butasaruletheiguanacommencestheattack，nomatterhowmuchbiggerthesnakemaybethanhimself；orwhetheritispoisonousornot。Ihaveseeniguanasattackblacksnakesfromsixfeettotenfeetinlength，whilsttheythemselvesrarelymeasuredmorethanthreeorfourfeet。Asaruletheiguanamakesasnappingbiteatthesnakeafewinchesbelowitshead，andthelatterinstantlyretaliatesbystrikingitsenemywithitspoisonousfangs。Thenanextraordinarythinghappens。Theiguanawillletgohisholdandstraightwaymakeforakindoffern，whichheeatsinconsiderablequantities，theobjectofthisbeingtocounteracttheeffectsofthepoison。Whenhethinkshehashadenoughoftheantidoteherushesbacktothesceneoftheencounterandresumestheattack；THESNAKEALWAYSWAITSTHEREFORHIM。
Againandagainthesnakebitestheiguana，andasoftenthelatterhasrecoursetothecounteractinginfluencesoftheantidote。Thefightmaylastforupwardsofanhour，buteventuallytheiguanaconquers。Thefinalstruggleismostexciting。Theiguanaseizesholdofthesnakefiveorsixinchesbelowthehead，andthistimerefusestoletgohishold，nomatterhowmuchthesnakemaystruggleandenwraphiminitscoils。Overandoverrollthecombatants，butthegripoftheiguanaisrelentless；andthestrugglesofthesnakegrowweaker，untilatlengthheisstretchedoutdead。Thenthetriumphantiguanastealsslowlyaway。
Thespectatorswouldneverdreamofkillinghim，——partlyonaccountoftheiradmirationforhisprowess，butmoreparticularlybecausehisfleshistaintedwithpoisonfromtherepeatedsnakebites。
Thesecuriousfightsgenerallytakeplacenearwater-holes。
Ihavealsoseenremarkablecombatsbetweensnakesofvariousspeciesandsizes。Asmallsnakewillalwaysrespondtothechallengeofamuchlargerone，thischallengetakingtheformofrearingupandhissing。Thelittlesnakewillthenadvanceslowlytowardsitsopponentandattempttostrike，but，asarule，thebigonecrushesitbeforeitcandoanyharm。Ihadoftenheardofthejokeabouttwosnakesofequalsizetryingtoswallowoneanother，andwas，therefore，themoreinterestedwhenIcameacrossthisidenticalsituationinreallife。Oneday，rightinmytrack，laytwoverylargesnakeswhichhadevidentlybeenengagedinaveryseriousencounter；andthevictorhadcommencedswallowinghisexhaustedadversary。Hehaddisposedofsomethreeorfourfeetofthatadversary”slengthwhenIarrivedonthescene，andwasevidentlyrestingbeforetakingintherest。Ieasilymadeprisonersofboth。
NotlongafterthisincidentadelusivehopewasheldouttomethatImightbeabletoreturntocivilisation。Newswasbroughtonedaythatthetracksofsomestrangeandhithertounknownanimalshadbeenfoundtothenorth，and，accompaniedbyYamba，I
wentofftoinspectthem。Ifoundthattheywerecameltracks——forthesecondtime；andasYambainformedmethat，fromtheappearanceofthetrail，therewasnoonewiththem，Iconcludedthatinallprobabilitythecreatureswerewild，havinglongagobelongedtosomeexploringpartywhichhadcometogrief。
“Hereatlength，“Ithought，“isthemeansofreturningtocivilisation。IfIcanonlyreachthesecreatures——andwhyshouldInotwithsomuchassistanceatmydisposal？——Iwillbreakthemin，andthenstrikesouthacrossthedesertswithmywifeandfamily。”Ireturnedtothecamp，andtakingwithmeapartyofthemostintelligenttribesmen，setoffafterthewildcamels。Whenwehadbeenseveraldayscontinuouslytrackingwecameupwiththebeasts。Therewerefourofthemaltogether，andrightwildandvicious-lookingbrutestheywere。Theymarchedclosetogetherinaband，andneverpartedcompany。ThemomentIandmymentriedtoseparateandheadthemoff，theleaderwouldswoopdownuponuswithopenmouth，andtheresultofthisappallingapparitionwasthatmyblackassistantsfledprecipitately。AloneIfollowedthecamelsforseveraldaysinthehopeofbeingableultimatelytodrivethemintosomeravine，whereIthoughtImightpossiblybringthemintoastateofsubjectionbysystematicstarvation。Butitwasavaineffortonmypart。Theykeptinthetrackofwater-
holes，andwanderedonfromonetotheotheratconsiderablespeed。
AtlengthIabandonedhopealtogether，thoughnotwithoutafeelingofsoredisappointment，asIwatchedthecurious，ungainlycreaturesdisappearingovertheridgeofasand-hill。OfcourseI
tookgoodcarenottotellanyofthenativestherealreasonofmydesiretopossessacamel，——thoughIdidtrytoexplaintothemsomeoftheusestowhichpeopleinotherpartsoftheworldputthesewonderfulanimals。
IneverlostanopportunityofleavingrecordswhereverIcould。
AsIhavesaidbefore，Iwasconstantlyblazingtreesandevenmakingdrawingsuponthem；andIwouldhaveleftrecordsincairnshadIbeenabletomakeanywritingmaterial。Talkingaboutthis，Iwasforalongtimepossessedwiththedesiretomakemyselfakindofpaper，andIfrequentlyexperimentedwiththefibresofacertainkindoftree。ThismaterialIreducedtoapulp，andthenendeavouredtorollintosheets。Hereagain，however，Ihadtoconfessfailure。Ifoundtheordinarysheetsofbarkmuchmoresuitableformypurpose。
PensIhadinthousandsfromthequillsofthewildswanandgoose；
andImadeinkfromthejuiceofacertaindark-colouredberry，mixedwithsoot，whichIcollectedonthebottomofmygoldcooking-kettle。Ialsothoughtitadvisabletomakemyselfplatesfromwhichtoeatmyfood——notbecauseofanyfastidiousnessonmypart，butfromthatever-presentdesiretoimpresstheblacks，whichwasnowmystrongestinstinct。InthecourseofmyramblingsinthenorthernregionsIcameacrossquantitiesofsilver-lead，whichIsmeltedwiththeobjectofobtainingleadtobeatoutintoplates。Ialsowentsomehundredsofmilesforthesakeofgettingcopper，andfoundgreatquantitiesoforesofdifferentkindsintheKimberleydistrict。
AverystrangeexperiencebefellYambanotlongafterIhadsettleddownamongtheblacksinmymountainhome；anditservestoillustratethestrictnesswithwhichthelawsagainstpoachingareobserved。TheincidentIamabouttorelateconcernedmeverynearly，andmighthavecostmemylifeaswellasmywife。Well，ithappenedthatYambaandIwereonedayreturningfromoneofthemany“walkabouts“whichwewereconstantlyundertakingaloneandwithnatives，andwhichsometimesextendedoverseveralweeksandevenmonths。Wehadpitchedourcampfortheafternoon，andYambawentoff，asusual，insearchofrootsandgamefortheeveningmeal。ShehadbeengonesomelittletimewhenIsuddenlyheardherwell-known“coo-eey“andknowingthatshemustbeintroubleofsomekind，Iimmediatelygraspedmyweaponsandwentofftoherrescue，guidingmyselfbyhertracks。
AquarterofamileawayIcameuponascenethatfilledmewithamazement。TherewasYamba——surelythemostdevotedwifeaman，civilisedorsavage，everhad——strugglinginthemidstofquiteacrowdofblacks，whowereyellingandtryingforciblytodragheraway。AtonceIsawwhathadhappened。Yambahadbeenhuntingforrootsovertheboundaryofterritorybelongingtoatribewithwhomwehadnotyetmadefriends；andasshehadplainlybeenguiltyofthegreatcrimeoftrespass，shewas，accordingtoinviolablenativelaw，confiscatedbythosewhohaddetectedher。Irusheduptotheblacksandbegantoremonstratewiththemintheirowntongue，buttheywerebothtruculentandobstinate，andrefusedtoreleasemynowweepingandterrifiedYamba。Atlastweeffectedacompromise，——Iagreeingtoaccompanytheparty，withtheircaptive，backtotheirencampment，andtherehavethemattersettledbythechief。Fortunatelywehadnotmanymilestomarch，but，asI
anticipated，thechieftookthesideofhisownwarriors，andpromptlydeclaredthathewouldappropriateYambaforhimself。I
explainedtohim，butinvain，thatmywife”strespasswascommittedallunknowingly，andthathadIknownhistribewereencampedinthedistrict，Iwouldhavecomeimmediatelyandstayedwiththemafewnights。
AsshowingwhataremarkablepersonIwas，Iwentthroughpartofmyacrobaticrepertoire；andevenmypooreagerBruno，whoevidentlyscentedtrouble，beganonhisownaccounttogiveahurriedandimperfectshow。Hestoodonhisheadandtumbledbackwardsandforwardsinalamentablylooseandunscientificmanner，barkingandyellingallthetime。
Idonotknowwhetherthewilychiefhadmadeuphismindtoseemoreofusornot；butatanyratehelookedatmeveryfiercelyasthoughdeterminedtocarryhispoint，andthenrepliedthattherewasbutonelaw——whichwasthatYambashouldbeconfiscatedforpoaching，whetherthecrimewasintentionalonherpartornot。SoemphaticallywasthissaidthatIbegantothinkIhadreallylostmyfaithfulcompanionforever。Asthisawfulthoughtgrewuponme，andIponderedovertheterriblepast，ImadeupmymindthatifnecessaryIwouldlosemyownlifeinherdefence，andtothisendIadoptedaveryhaughtyattitude，whichcausedthechiefsuddenlytodiscoverakindofby-lawtotheeffectthatinsuchcasesasthisonethenearestrelativeoftheprisonermightwinherbackbyfightingforher。This，ofcourse，waswhatIwanted，aboveallthings——particularlyastheoldchiefhadnotasyetseenmeusemywonderfulweapons。AndasIfeltcertainhewouldchoosethrowingspears，Iknewthatvictorywasmine。Heselected，withacriticaleye，threewell-madespears，whilstIchosethreearrows，whichIpurposelybrandishedaloft，soastogivemyopponenttheimpressionthattheywereactuallysmallspears，andweretobethrown，assuch，javelin-fashion。Theoldchiefandhisblackslaughedheartilyandpityinglyatthisexhibition，andridiculedtheideathatIcoulddoanydamagewithsuchtoyweapons。
Thedemeanourofthechiefhimselfwaseloquentofthegood-
humouredcontemptinwhichheheldmeasanantagonist；andadistanceoftwentypaceshavingbeenmeasuredout，wetookourplacesandpreparedforthedramaticencounter，uponwhichdependedsomethingmoreprecioustomethanevenmyownlife。Althoughoutwardlycoolandevenhaughty，Iwasreallyinastateofmostterribleanxiety。Ifixedmyeyesintentlyuponthesparebutsinewychief，andwithoutmovingamuscleallowedhimtothrowhisspearsfirst。Theformidableweaponscamewhizzingthroughtheairwithextraordinaryrapidityoneaftertheother；butlongexperienceoftheweaponandmyownnimblenessenabledmetoavoidthem。ButnosoonerhadIsteppedbackintopositionforthethirdtimethan，withlightningdexterity，IunslungmybowandletflyanarrowatmyantagonistwhichIhadpurposelymadeheavierthanusualbyweightingitwithfullyanounceofgold。Naturallyhefailedtoseethelittlefeatheredshaftapproach，anditpiercedhimrightinthefleshypartoftheleftthigh——exactlywhereI
intended。Thechiefleapedfromthegroundmoreinsurprisethanpain，asthoughsuddenlypossessedbyanevilspirit。Hiswarriors，too，werevastlyimpressed。Asbloodwasdrawninthisway，honourandthelawwerealikesupposedtobesatisfied，soYambawasimmediatelyrestoredtome，tremblingandhalfafraidtocreditherownjoyfulsenses。
Myreaderswill，perhaps，wonderwhythesecannibalsavagesdidnotgobackontheirbargainandrefusetogiveherup，evenafterI
hadvanquishedtheirchiefinfairfight；butthehonourablecoursetheyadoptedisattributablesolelytotheirowninnatesenseoffair-play，andtheiradmirationforsuperiorprowessandskill。
Why，whenthechiefhadrecoveredfromhisastonishmenthecameuptome，andgreetedmewarmly，withouteventakingthetroubletoremovemyarrowfromhisbleedingthigh！Webecametheverybestoffriends；andYambaandIstayedwithhimforsomedaysashisguests。Whenatlengthwewereobligedtoleave，hegavemequiteanimposingescort，asthoughIwereapowerfulfriendlychiefwhohaddonehimagreatservice！
CHAPTERXVII
Mosquitoesandleeches——Iexplainpictures——Anawkwardadmission——
Mygreatportrait——Thestomachasadeity——Theportraitasuccess——
Acolossalstatueof“H。R。H。”——Fishwithouteyes——Asadreflection——Astrangeillusion——Agravedanger——Isinkawell——
“Universalprovider“——Asignificantphenomenon——Brunoasaccomplice——IfindBrunodead。
ImustsayIwasnotverymuchtroubledwithmosquitoesinmymountainhome，andasIhadendureddreadfultormentsfromtheseinsectswhilstatPortEssingtonandotherswampyplaces，Ihadgoodreasontocongratulatemyself。WhilstcrossingsomelowcountryononeoccasionIwasattackedbythesewretchedpests，whosebitepenetratedeventheclaycoveringthatprotectedmyskin。Eventheblackssufferedterribly，particularlyabouttheeyes。I，however，hadtakentheprecautiontoprotectmyeyesbymeansofleavesandtwigs。AtPortEssingtonthemosquitoeswereremarkablylarge，andofagreyishcolour。Theyflewaboutliterallyinclouds，anditwaspracticallyimpossibletokeepclearofthem。
Thenativestreatedthebiteswithanointmentmadefromakindofpenny-royalherbandpowderedcharcoal。Talkingaboutpests，insomepartstheantswereevenmoreterriblethanthemosquitoes，andIhaveknownonevariety——areddish-brownmonster，aninchlong——toswarmoverandactuallykillchildrenbystingingthem。
Anotherpestwastheleech。Itwasratherdangeroustobatheinsomeofthelagoonsonaccountoftheleechesthatinfestedthewaters。OftenincrossingaswampIwouldfeelaslightticklingsensationaboutthelegs，andonlookingdownwouldfindmynetherlimbssimplycoatedwiththeseloathsomecreatures。Theremarkablethingwas，thatwhilsttheblacksreadilyknewwhenleechesattackedthem，Iwouldbeignorantforquitealongtime，untilI
hadgrownpositivelyfaintfromlossofblood。Furthermore，theblacksseemedtothinknothingoftheirattacks，butwouldsimplycrushthemontheirpersonsinthemostnonchalantmanner。
Sometimestheyscorchthemofftheirbodiesbymeansofalightedstick——akindofficewhichYambaperformedforme。Theblackshadveryfewrealcuresforailments，andsuchastheyhadweredistinctlycurious。Onecureforrheumatismwastorollintheblack，odourlessmudattheedgeofalagoon，andthenbaskintheblazingsununtilthemudbecamequitecakedupontheperson。
ThequestionmaybeaskedwhetherIevertriedtotellmycannibalsabouttheoutsideworld。Myansweris，thatIonlytoldthemjustsomuchasIthoughttheirchildishimaginationswouldgrasp。HadItoldthemmore，Iwouldsimplyhavepuzzledthem，andwhattheydonotunderstandtheyareapttosuspect。
Thus，whenIshowedthempicturesofhorse-racesandsheepfarmsinthecopyoftheSydneyTownandCountryJournalwhichIhadpickedup，Iwasobligedtotellthemthathorseswereusedonlyinwarfare，whilstsheepwereusedonlyasfood。HadIspokenabouthorsesasbeastsofburden，andtoldthemwhatwasdonewiththewoolofthesheep，theywouldhavebeenquiteunabletograspmymeaning，andsoIshouldhavedonemyselfmoreharmthangood。
Theyhadideasoftheirownaboutastronomy；thefundamental“fact“
beingthattheearthwasperfectlyflat，theskybeingproppedupbypolesplacedattheedges，andkeptuprightbythespiritsofthedeparted——who，sothemedicine-mansaid，wereconstantlybeingsentofferingsoffoodanddrink。TheMilkyWaywasakindofParadiseofsouls；whilstthesunwasthecentreofthewholecreation。
IhadoftenpuzzledmybrainforsomemethodwherebyIcouldconveytothesesavagessomeideaofthemagnitudeoftheBritishEmpire。
IalwayshadtheBRITISHEmpireinmymind，notonlybecausemysympathiesinclinedthatway，butalsobecauseIknewthatthefirstfriendstoreceivemeonmyreturntocivilisationmustnecessarilybeBritish。OverandoveragaindidItellthechildishsavagesgroupedaroundmewhatamightyrulerwastheSovereignoftheBritishEmpire，whichcoveredthewholeworld。
AlsohowthatSovereignHADSENTMEASaSPECIALAMBASSADOR，todescribetothemthegreatnessofthenationofwhichtheyformedpart。ThusyouwillobserveIneverletmyblackssuspectIwasamereunfortunate，castintotheirmidstbyaseriesofstrangechances。Imentionedthewholeworldbecausenothinglessthanthiswouldhavedone。HadIendeavouredtodistinguishbetweentheBritishEmpireand，say，theGerman，Ishouldhaveagaingotbeyondmyhearers”depth，sotospeak，andinvolvedmyselfindifficulties。
Halfinstinctively，butwithoutmotive，IrefrainedfrommentioningthattheruleroftheBritishEmpirewasAWOMAN，butthisadmissiondroppedfrommeaccidentallyoneday，andthen——whatafallingoffwasthere！IinstantlyrecognisedthemistakeIhadmadefromthecontemptuousglancesofmyblacks。AndalthoughI
hastenedtosaythatshewasamightychieftainess，uponwhosedominionsthesunneverset；andthatshewasactuallythedirectruleroftheblacksthemselves，theyrepudiatedherwithscorn，andcontemnedmeforsingingthepraisesofamerewoman。Ihadtoletthisunfortunatematterdropforatime，butthesubjectwaseverpresentinmymind，andIwonderedhowIcouldretrievemyposition(andherMajesty”s)withouteatingmywords。AtlengthonedayYambaandIcameacrossacuriousruggedlimestoneregion，whichwasfullofcaves。Whilstexploringthesewecameuponahuge，flat，precipitoussurfaceofrock，andthen——howorwhy，Iknownot——theideasuddenlyoccurredtometoDRAWAGIGANTICPORTRAIT
OFHERMOSTGRACIOUSMAJESTYQUEENVICTORIA！Atthisperiod，I
shouldmention，Iwasarecognisedchief，andperiodically——onceeverynewmoon——Igaveakindofreceptiontomypeople，andalsototheneighbouringtribes。AtthisinterestingfunctionIwouldalwayscontrivetohavesomenewwondertounfold。Myvisitorsneveroutstayedtheirwelcome，andIalwaysmanagedtohaveanabundanceoffoodforthem。
Well，IcameuponthecaveregionafewweeksaftermyunfortunateblunderabouttheQueen；andIdeterminedtohavemygreatportraitreadyforthenextreceptionday。Takingsomeblocksofstoneofhandysize，Ifirstwettedthesurfaceoftherockandthencommencedtorubit，untilIhadaprettysmoothfacetoworkupon。
Thistooksometime，butwhilstIwasdoingitYambagotreadythenecessarycharcoalsticksandpigmentssuchastheblacksdecoratethemselveswithatcorroborees。Ihadaslightknowledgeofdrawing，andclimbinguponsomeprojectingstonesIcommencedtodrawinbold，sweepingoutline，whatIventuretodescribeasthemostextraordinaryportraitofQueenVictoriaonrecord。Thefigure，whichwasinprofile，wasperhapssevenfeetoreightfeethigh，andofmorethanequallyextravagantproportionsinotherrespects。Ofcourse，thefigurehadtoberepresentedentirelywithoutclothing，otherwisetheblackswouldsimplyhavebeenpuzzled。NowtodescribetheportraitasmuchindetailasIdare。
Thecrownwascomposedofrarefeatherssuchasonlyaredoubtableandcunninghuntercouldobtain；anditincludedfeathersofthelyre-birdandemu。Thesceptrewasastupendousgnarledwaddyorclub，suchascouldbeusedwithfearfulexecutionamongstone”senemies。Thenosewasverylarge，becausethisamongtheblacksindicatesgreatendurance；whilstthebicepswereabnormallydeveloped。Infact，IgaveherMajestyasmuchmuscleaswouldserveforhalf-a-dozenprofessionalpugilistsor“strongmen。”Thestomachwasmuchdistended，andwhenIstatethisfactIamsureitwillexcitemuchcuriosityastothereasonwhy。
Well，asthestomachispracticallythegreatestdeitythesesavagesknow，andasfoodisoftenveryhardtoobtain，theyarguethatapersonwithaveryfullstomachmustnecessarilybeadaringandskilfulhunter，otherwisehewouldnotbeabletogetmuchfoodtoputintoit。
Thisextraordinaryportraitwasfinallydaubedanddecoratedwithbrilliantpigmentsandglaringsplashesofyellow，red，andblue。
Ialsousedakindofvividreddyeobtainedfromthesapofacertaincreeperwhichwasbruisedbetweenheavystones。Ispentperhapsaweekorafortnightonthisdrawing(Icouldnotgivealldaytoit，ofcourse)；andtheonlypersonswhoknewofitsexistenceweremyownchildrenandwomen-folk。Afterthecompletionofthegreatportrait，Iwentaway，andwaitedimpatientlyformynextreceptionday。Whenthewonder-lovingblackswereagainbeforemeItoldthemthatIhadaremarkablepictureofthegreatBritishQueentoshowthem，andthen，fullofanticipationandchildishdelight，theytroopedaftermetothespotwhereIhaddrawnthegreatpictureontherocks。Itisnoexaggerationtosaythatthecrowdofcannibalsstoodandsquattedinfrontofmyhandiworksimplyspeechlesswithamazement。
Eventuallytheyburstoutintocriesofwonderment，makingcuriousgutturalsoundswiththeirlips，andsmackingtheirthighsintokenoftheirappreciation。Ipointedouteverydetail——theimmensesizeofthegreatQueen，andthevariousemblemsofherpower；andatlast，steppingbackfromtherock，Isang“GodsavetheQueen，“
thebeautifulnationalhymnofGreatBritain，whichIhadlearnedfromthetwoill-fatedgirls，andwhich，youwillremember，hasthesameairasthatofaSwisssong。
Thegeneraleffectnotmerelyremovedanybadimpressionthatmighthavebeencreatedwithregardtomydamagingadmissionaboutthesexofthegreatruler；itmorethanre-establishedmeinmyoldposition，andIfollowedupmysuccessbyassuringthemthatherMajestyincludedinherretinueofservantsagreaternumberofpersonsthanwasrepresentedinthewholetribebeforeme。
Furthermore，IassuredthemthatwhilstthemountainhomeIhadbuiltwasverylarge(judgedbytheirstandard)，thehouseofQueenVictoriawasbigenoughtoholdawholenationofblacks。
InordertogiveyousomeideaofthenervoushorrorIhadoflosingprestige，Imaytellyouthat，farfrombeingsatisfiedwithwhatIhaddonetovindicatethegreatSovereignwhosespecialambassadorIwassupposedtobe，Isoondecidedtogiveyetanotherdemonstrationwhichshouldimpresseventhosewhowereinclinedtocavil——ifanysuchexisted。IpointedoutthatwhilsttheQueen，greatandpowerfulandbelovedrulerthoughshewas，couldnotleadherwarriorsintobattleinperson，yetshewasrepresentedinwartimebyhereldestson，whowasamostredoubtablewarriorandspear-thrower，andactedonbehalfofhisillustriousmotheronalloccasionswhenshecouldnotappear。ButasmentionofthePrinceofWalescalledforademonstrationofHISpersonalityalso，I
determinedtomakeanotherexperimentinportraiture，——thistimeinthedirectionofsculpture。Ithinkitwashavingcomeacrossaverydampcountry，aboundinginplasticclay，thatputthisideaintomyhead。Firstofall，then，Icutdownastoutyoungsapling，which，proppedupintheground，servedasthemainstayofmystatue；andfromitIfastenedprojectingbranchesforthearmsandlegs。
RoundthisframeworkIbuiltupmyfigurewithblocksofclay；andatlength，after，perhaps，threeorfourweeks”industriousmodelling，IcompletedastatueofhisRoyalHighnesswhichmeasuredaboutsevenfeetsixinchesinheight。Thebodyandlimbswereofabnormaldevelopment，muchonthelinesofmyrepresentationofhisaugustmother。Fullerdetailswouldbeinteresting，buthardlyedifying。ThisstatueI“unveiled“atanotherofmymonthlyreceptions，and，judgedbyitseffect，itwasevenagreatersuccessthanthecolossalportraitoftheQueen。A
monstercorroboreewasheldalongsidethePrinceofWales”sstatue，but，unfortunately，hewenttopiecesinadayortwo，whenthefiercesunbeatdownupontheclay，andcrackedit。Thisgradualdisintegrationofthegreatruler”sdeputyvastlyamusedtheblacks，andIeventuallyhadtohastenthePrince”send，lesttheirmirthshouldcompromisemydignity。
YouwillhardlybesurprisedwhenItellyouthattheblackslookedtomeforeverything。Iwasjudge，wonder-worker，andarbitrator。
Oftentheywouldpickuponeofmypossessions，and，whilstnotexactlycovetingit，theywouldaskforonelikeit。
Take，forexample，thereedfluteswhich，whenplayedbyme，weresuchasourceofjoytotheblacksandtheirchildren。Well，Iwassooncalledupontomakeflutesforthenatives，whichIdidoutoflongreeds；buttheseinstrumentsonlyhadtwoholesinthematfirst，astheblackscouldnotplaythemwhenotherholeswereadded。Thegreatdrawbacktothesefluteswasthatthereeddriedveryquicklyandbecameuselessformusicalpurposes；soIwaskeptprettybusy，moreespeciallyasIdidnotwanttocreatejealousybyrefusingsomeandgratifyingothers。
AlthoughtheimmediatecountryinwhichIestablishedmyhomewasfertileandextremelyrichintropicalvegetation，theadjoiningrangeswereinstrikingcontrasttoit；manydistrictsbeingruggedandslatyandpainfullydifficulttotraverseonfoot。Therewere，however，manyinterestingnaturalcuriositieswhichbeguiledthetimeintravelling。
OnceIcameacrossacertainkindofspider，whosewebwassostrongandthickthatitonlybrokeunderconsiderablepressurefromthefinger。Thespideritselfwasfullytwoinchesorthreeincheslong，andhadformidableclaws。Inlandfishing，too，I
foundextremelyinteresting。Ofcourse，theinlandblackshaveaverydifferentmethodoffishingfromthatadoptedbythecoasttribes。Oftentheinlandpeoplewouldbuildafireonthebanksofthelagoon，andthrowsomethingintothewatertoattractthefishtothesurface。Whenthefishrosetheywouldpromptlybespeared。
Someofthemweighedasmuchastenpounds，andprovedexcellenteating。Theblacksthemselvesneverinquiredhowthefishcameintotheseinlandholes；itwasenoughforthemtoknowtheywerethereandweregoodeating。Theusualfish-hookswereofbone；andalthoughIexperimentedwithhooksofgoldandcopperIfoundthempracticallyuseless，and，inthelongrun，revertedtoarticlesofnativemanufacture。Inacertainlimestonecountry，whichIstruckinthecourseofmywanderings，Idiscoveredsomeextraordinarycaveswithwater-holes，inwhichblindfishexisted。Theycertainlyhadindicationsofeyes，butthesewerehiddenbeneathakindofpermanentskincovering。Inanycasetheywouldhavehadnouseforeyes，becausethewater-holesweresituatedinthemostprofounddarkness。InothercavesIdiscoveredquantitiesofextraordinaryanimal-bones，probablyofprehistoricorigin。
IfIhaveomittedtomentionBrunoinconnectionwitheveryincidentrelatedinthesepages，itmustnotbesupposedthatmyfaithfulcompaniondidnotplayanimportantpartinmydailylife。
Hewasalwayswithme；butitmustberememberedthathewasnowgrowingold，andthenativesaroundmewerebynomeanssokeentopossesshimasthetribesofCarpentariahadbeeninthedaysgoneby。
Allkindsofextraordinaryincidentsbefellmewhilstonthe“walk-
about。”ManyatimehaveIbeendeceivedbymirage。OnemostcompletedeceptionbefellmeonedaywhilstYambaandIweretrampingoverastretchoflow，sandycountry。SuddenlyIfanciedIdescriedtheboundlessoceaninthedistance，andwithmyusualimpetuosityrushedfranticallyforwardinthefirmbeliefthatatlastwehadreachedthecoast。Yambaexplainedthatitwasonlyamirage，butIwouldnotstaytolisten，andmusthavegonemilesbeforeIgaveupindisgustandreturnedtomypatientwife。Thisbringsmetoanotherandperhapsstillmoreextraordinaryillusion。
OnedaywhilstYambaandIwerepassingthroughoneofthoseeternalregionsofsand-hillsandspinifexwhicharethedespairoftheAustralianexplorer，IsuddenlysawinthedistancewhatIwascertainwasAFLOCKOFSHEEP。Theretheywereapparently——scoresofthem，browsingcalmlyinadepressioninafertilepatchwheremostprobablywaterexisted。
Inaninstanttheolddesiretoreturntocivilisation，whichIhadthoughtburiedlongago，reasserteditself，andIdashedforwardatfullspeedyellingbacktoYamba，“Sheep，sheep——wheresheepare，menare。Civilisationatlast！“WhenatlengthIhadgotnearenoughforthecreaturestonoticeme，youmayimaginemydisgustanddisappointmentwhenquitealittleforestoftallheadswenthighintotheair，andAFLOCKOFEMUSracedoffacrossthecountryatfullspeed。Thesehugebirdshadhadtheirheadsdownfeeding，andnotunnaturally，inthedistance，Ihadmistakenthemforsheep。
IthinkeveryoneisawarethatprolongeddroughtsareofverycommonoccurrenceinCentralAustralia，andaremainlyresponsibleforthemigratoryhabitsoftheaborigines——particularlythoseoftheremotedesertsintheinterior。ThemostterribledroughtI
myselfexperiencedwhilstinmymountainhomewasonethatextendedoverthreeyears，wheneventhelagooninfrontofmydwelling，whichIhadthoughtpracticallyinexhaustible，driedup，withthemostappallingresults。Justthink——neveradropofrainfallingforoverthreelongyears，withascorchingsundartingdownitsraysalmosteveryday！Duringthisterribleperiodtheonlymoisturetheparchedearthreceivedwasintheformoftheheavydewsthatdescendedinthenight。Eventhese，however，onlybenefitedthevegetationwhereanycontinuedtoexist，anddidnotcontributeintheslightestdegreetothenaturalwatersupplysonecessaryforthesustenanceofhumanandanimallife。Theresultswereterribletowitness。Kangaroosandsnakes；emusandcockatoos；lizardsandrats——alllayabouteitherdeadordying；
andinthecaseofanimalswhohadsurvived，theyseemednolongertofeartheirnaturalenemy，man。
DaybydayasIsawmylagoongrowgraduallysmaller，IfeltthatunlessItooksomestepstoensureamorepermanentsupply，mypeoplemustinevitablyperish，andIwiththem。Naturallyenough，theylookedtometodosomethingforthem，andprovidesomerelieffromtheeffectsofthemostterribledroughtwhicheventheyhadeverexperienced。Almostdailydiscouragingreportswerebroughttomeregardingthedryingupofallthebetter-knownwater-holesallroundthecountry，andIwasatlengthobligedtoinviteallandsundrytousemyownallbutexhaustedlagoon。AtlengththingsbecamesothreateningthatIdecidedtosinkawell。
Choosingalikelyspotnearthefootofaprecipitoushill，IsettoworkwithonlyYambaasmyassistant。Confidentlyanticipatingthebestresults，Ierectedacrudekindofwindlass，andfitteditwithagreen-hideropeandabucketmadebyscoopingoutasectionofatree。Mydiggingimplementsconsistedsolelyofahome-madewoodenspadeandastonepick。Yambamanipulatedthewindlass，loweringandraisingthebucketanddisposingofthegravelwhichI
senttothesurface，withthedexterityofapractisednavvy。Whatwiththeheat，thescarcityofwater，andthefactthatnotoneofthenativescouldbereliedupontodoanhour”swork，itwasaterriblyslowandwearyingbusiness；butYambaandIstucktoitdoggedlydayafterday。
AttheendofaweekIhadsunkanarrowshafttoadepthoftwelveorfourteenfeet，andthentomyinfinitesatisfactionsaweveryindicationthatwaterwastobefoundalittlelowerdown。InthecourseofthefollowingweekIhituponaspring，andthenIfeltamplyrewardedforallthetroubleIhadtaken。Evenwhenthelagoonwasperfectlydry，andonlyitsparchedsandybedtobeseen，thesupplyfromourlittlewellcontinuedundiminished；anditprovedmorethanenoughforourwantsduringthewholeofthedrought。Ievenventuredtoprovidethedistressedbirdsandanimalswithsomemeansofquenchingtheirinsupportablethirst。A
fewyardsfromthewellIconstructedalargewoodentrough，whichIkeptfilledwithwater；andeachdayitwasvisitedbythemostextraordinaryflocksofbirdsofeverysizeandvarietyofplumage——
fromemusdowntowhatlookedlikehumming-birds。Hugesnakes，tenandfifteenfeetlong，bustledthekangaroosawayfromthelife-givingtrough；andoccasionallythecrowdwouldbesoexcessivethatsomeofthepoorcreatureswouldhavetowaithoursbeforetheirthirstwassatisfied，——andevendieontheouterfringeofthewaitingthrong。Irememberthatevenatthetimethescenestruckmeasanamazingandunprecedentedone，fortherewasIdoingmybesttoregulatethetraffic，sotospeak，sendingawaythebirdsandanimalsandreptileswhosewantshadbeensatisfied，andbringingskinsfullofwatertothosewhohadfallendownfromexhaustion，andwereinafairwaytodie。Asarule，thecreaturestooknonoticewhateverofme，butseemedtorealiseinsomeinstinctivewaythatIwastheirbenefactor。OfcourseIhadtocoveroverthetopofthewellitself，otherwiseitwouldhavebeensimplyswampedwiththecarcassesofeageranimalsandbirds。
