AN ABORIGINAL OF TORT ESSINGTON. 155 



his hand prepared by himself^ and so well done too^ 

 that it was added to the collection. I could give 

 many other instances of his sagacity^ his docility^ 

 and even his acute perception of character^ — latterly^ 

 he seemed even to read my very thoughts. He 

 accompanied me in the Fly to Torres Strait and 

 New Guinea^ and on our return to Port Essing'ton 

 beo'o»ed so hard to continue with me that I could 

 not refuse him. He went with us to Singapore^ 

 Java^ and Sydney^ and from his g'reatgood humour 

 became a favourite with all on board^ picking up the 

 English language with facility^ and readily conform- 

 ing himself to our habits^ and the discipline of the 

 ship. He was very cleanly in his personal habits^ and 

 paid much attention to his dress^ which was always 

 kept neat and tidy. I was often much amused and 

 surprised by the oddity and justness of his remarks 

 upon the many strange sights which a voyage of this 

 kind brought before him. The Nemesis steamer under 

 weigh puzzled him at first — he then thoug'ht it was 

 " all same big cart^ only got him shing'les* on 

 wheels !" He always expressed gTeat contempt 

 for the dulness of comprehension of his countrymen^ 

 '' big fools the}^^/' he used often to say^ ^' black fel- 

 low no good." Even Malays^ Chinamen^ and the 

 natives of India, he counted as nothing' in his in- 

 creasing admiration of Europeans^ until he saw 

 some sepoys^ when he altered his opinion a little^ 

 and thought that he too^ if only big enough, would 



* Wooden '' tiles" generally used for coveriua; the roofs of 

 houses in Australia. 



