GEORGE: A MIXED CHARACTER 283 



That boy more strong. Knock 'em about like anything. 

 Bi'mby come back he have spear three wire spear long 

 handle. Tchuk 'em spear. Catch 'em Cap'n longa side 

 here. Wire come out nother side here. He earn stay 

 tumble down. Good boy that ; my mate long time. 

 Some fella go alonga house tell 'em Mr Limsee 'That 

 boy bin kill you, fight long a camp. Cap'n catch 'em spear 

 longa inside.' Mr Limsee come down. He say ' Cap'n, 

 my boy, I think you finish now ; me very sorry for you.' 

 Bad place for spear longa side. Hollow inside. Suppose 

 spear go along a leg and arm, no matter. Suppose go 

 inside, hollow place inside, you finish quick. Plenty times 

 me bin see 'em man finish that way. Mr Limsee he very 

 sorry. We catch that boy. Put han'cup behind, lika that 

 way. My word he earn run away now. Chain alonga leg. 

 Mr Limsee bi'mby send 'em down Cooktown. That fella 

 no more come back. He go along Sen'eleena (St Helena 

 penal establishment). Me bin think he bin get two years. 

 Cap'n he earn stay. Two days that fella dead. He bin 

 good mate, me sorry. Mr Limsee he very sorry. Good 

 fella longa boy." 



Once George illuminated his conversation with an 

 aphorism. Describing a battle between the Tully River 

 blacks and those of Clump Point, in which his mate, Tom 

 of Dunk Island (leader of the Clump Point party), had 

 been severely wounded, he said " 'Nother fella boy, from out- 

 side, come up behind Tom. He no look out that way. That 

 boy tchuk 'em boomerang. Boomerang stick in leg belonga 

 Tom. Tom no feel 'em first time. He stan' up yet. Bi'mby 

 when want walk about, tumble down. Look out. Hello ! 

 see 'em boomerang alonga leg. He no more can walk about." 



The boss remarked " Might be long time, Tom feel 'em 

 leg sore." 



George " Ah ! me like see 'em kill alonga head. 

 Finish 'em one time. Danger nebber dead." Whether 

 George wished to enforce the opinion that in battle nothing 

 short of death was glorious, or that Tom though wounded 





