PRIDE OF RACE 315 



would be more subdued, but when he would be fully 

 equipped, even to the chirpy phrases in which working 

 bullocks are accustomed to be addressed. Then as a 

 vagrant black, when his attire would be nothing at all in 

 camp, and little more than a frowsy blanket when visiting 

 the town. But in all of his characters he had an uncon- 

 strained contempt for Chinese, and delighted in ridiculing 

 and frightening them. In the part of a bullock-driver he 

 drew up his team in front of a store. The manager 

 shouted — " Don't want that load here, Harry 1 You tak 'em 

 to back store. You savee ? " The "savee" touched Harry's 

 dignity. " What for you say savee ? You take me for a 

 blurry Chinaman ? " 



Class distinction prevails even among the race. " Polly," 

 in her own estimation, was highly civilised, and posed 

 haughtily before her uncultured cousins. Looking across 

 to the mainland beach one day, she said — " Whiteman 

 walk about over there, longa beach." Then, gazing more 

 fixedly, and with all possible disdain in her tones — " No ; 

 only nigger ! " 



Nearly all civilised blacks have exalted opinions of 

 themselves. It is told that Marsh, the aboriginal bowler, 

 of Sydney, wanted to join the Australian Natives' Associa- 

 tion, and on being black-balled said — "Those fellows, 

 Australian natives ! My people were leading people in 

 Australia when their people were supping porridge in 

 Scotland or digging potatoes in Ireland." When Marsh 

 and Henry met as rival fast bowlers in a match between 

 Queensland and New South Wales, it was proposed to the 

 former that he should be introduced to the Queenslander. 

 " What ! " he ejaculated — " that myall ? No, thank you. 

 It's quite bad enough to meet him on the field. Why, the 

 fellow would want to go in to tea with me. Give him a 

 'possum." These yarns may be too good to be true, but 

 they at least illustrate a well-recognised phase of aboriginal 

 character. 



