GEORGE: A MIXED CHARACTER 285 



Not much. Too fright. Bi'mby that gin go down below. 

 Groun' shut 'em up. All day down below. Come up 

 night time. Cam come up alonga sun. Soft fella that. 

 Suppose come up alonga sun, sun kill 'em. Too sof 

 altogether." 



Cooktown blacks, according to George, use a much 

 lighter sporting spear than that in vogue in these parts. 

 Instead of a slender sapling (preferably of red mangrove), 

 straightened and toughened patiently over the fire, he 

 would provide himself with the scape of a grass tree 

 {Xanthorrhea arborea), true and straight as a billiard cue, 

 light, and 8 or 10 feet long. Into a socket in the 

 thicker end he would insert a single J-inch steel point, 

 18 inches long, or three pieces of No. 8 wire, with the 

 sharpened points slightly spread. 



The merit of his weapon was the subject of frequent 

 debate, the Dunk Island natives arguing in favour of a 

 heavier spear, but George showed that his was effective as 

 well as economic. During a discussion, George told the 

 following story, which, it will be noticed, has in some 

 details, its parallel in a tragic incident in the history 

 of England. No attempt is made to refine George's 

 language : — 



"This fella spear kill plenty. Kangaroo, wallaby, 

 fish — kill 'em all asame. He go ri' through longa 

 kangaroo. One time me see 'em catch one fella boy. 

 Brother belonga me — Billy — strong fella that. One time we 

 go after kangaroo. Billy walk about close up, me sit 

 down alonga rock ; me plant me'self 'Nother boy close up. 

 He plant. We no see that fella. Bi'mby me see little fella 

 wallaby feed about. Me bin whistle alonga my brother. 

 ' Here wallaby. Come this way ; quiet ! ' my brother 

 come up. 'Tchuk spear, miss wallaby, catch 'em that 

 other fella boy, here. He bin sing out — cry like anything. 

 My brother fright. That boy sing out — ' Billy, you ; what 

 for you spear me.' Billy run away, that boy sing out — 

 'Billy. No, you run away. Come up ; pull out spear, 

 quick fella ! ' Billy run away. Me sit down quiet. No 



