CHAPTER XV 



THE PASTORALIST AND THE NATIVE 



In almost every country where members of a white 

 race have visited or settled they have been received 

 by the indigenes with cordiality and without suspicion. 

 Where unfriendliness has been shown, it is because 

 previous visitors had acted unworthily and prejudiced 

 the natives against foreigners. Only in rare instances 

 does this idyllic state continue. It is quickly succeeded 

 by a state of open warfare or veiled hostility. This 

 may linger through years. Or it may be ended by a 

 decisive defeat. Then the tribe may submit, and in 

 due time come in and work peaceably and usefully 

 for the squatters, who, during this period, may lose 

 numbers of their sheep and cattle and some of their 

 shepherds. 



The Australian natives rendered essential services 

 to the pioneer colonists, such as few savage peoples have 

 rendered to their conquerors and the invaders of their 

 country. This was doubtless due in large measure to 

 the nature of the pioneers' pursuits. The blacks could 

 have given little aid to the agriculturalist or the in- 

 dustrialist, but they could and did abundantly help 

 the pastoralists, whose occupations, moreover, did not 

 collide directly with the activities of the blacks. Several 

 blackboys were employed on every run, especially in 

 Northern Queensland ; on Naraigin station, occupied 

 by Murray Prior, there were three, his daughter tells us. 

 As stockmen they were invaluable. Herds were kept 

 together by their untiring skill in tracking, and the 



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