Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1Grey, George
History
Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1
Grey, George
Natural history -- Australia -- Western Australia; Western Australia -- Discovery and exploration
A considerable time had been occupied by these various occurrences, which
to me had been most interesting; but one of a more painful character was
now to follow. It appears that a sister of the native Jenna had been
speared and killed by a man who at present was resident with this tribe;
and, although most of them were on friendly terms with this native, they
conceived that Jenna was bound to revenge her death in fair and open
fight. The old lady (my mother) went up to him and, seizing his merro, or
throwing-stick, told him that the man who had killed his sister was at a
little distance; "and if," said she, "you are not a man, and know not how
to use this, let a woman's hand try what it can do," at the same time
trying to force it from him. All the time that she was thus pretending to
wrench his merro away she indulged in a most eloquent speech to endeavour
to rouse his courage. I do not know enough of the language to translate
it with proper spirit or effect, as I only caught the general meaning: it
had however a great effect on Jenna; and some young ladies coming in at
the conclusion, his mind was instantly made up; indeed the certainty that
bright eyes were to look upon his deeds appeared to have much the same
effect upon him that it had upon the knights of old and, jumping up, he
selected three good spears (all the men being willing to lend him theirs)
and hurried off to an open space where his antagonist was waiting for
him.
NATIVE MODE OF COMBAT.
The combats, one of which was now about to take place, much resemble the
ancient tournaments. They are conducted with perfect fairness. The
combatants fight in an open space, their friends all standing by to see
fair play, and all the preliminaries as to what blows are to be
considered foul or fair are arranged beforehand, sometimes with much
ceremony.
Taking into account the fantastic ornaments and paintings of the natives,
the graceful attitudes they throw themselves into either when trying to
avoid the spears of their enemy, or about to throw their own; and the
loud cries and wild motions with which they attempt to confuse and
terrify their adversaries, I must confess that if any exhibition of this
nature can be considered showy or attractive, this has no ordinary claims
to admiration.
NATIVE DUEL. REVENGEFUL COMBAT AND MURDER PREVENTED.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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