Messengers.

At certain seasons messengers are sent forth, not only to gain any information as to what is taking place beyond the limits of their tribe, but also to convey to others such information as they can afford. Their movements are guided by the blossoming of certain trees and plants, especially the mimosa. This is their only guide as to seasons; the moon affords them little data to work on, except from new to full; they are unable to keep a record of the number of moons. A messenger on this duty passes safely from one tribe to another, even though an unfriendly one; he, on these occasions, is treated with marked civility. His absence occupies a month or more, when he returns well laden with songs and all the scandal and gossip of the districts he has passed through. This messenger acts as fiddler to his companions at the following corrobboree. The despatch of these messengers is regulated by an arrangement understood only by the blacks themselves. A tribe who despatch a messenger one year receive one the next. When a messenger is expected, the tribe assemble at some previously arranged spot; here they wait during the day, not at the camp, but two or three hundred yards away from it. On the messenger's approach they suddenly cease talking and sit perfectly still. He approaches slowly and cautiously. When about 40 or 50 yards off, he sits down, and perhaps for ten minutes or more no movement takes place nor word is spoken. After this pause one of the tribe takes a lighted stick and makes a small fire in front of him. This act is always a sign of friendship and confidence. The conversation commences by degrees; one by one the blacks draw closer to their visitor, when it soon becomes general, all talking at the same time. A day or two after the arrival of one of these visitors, his chaperon brought him to the station where I happened to be, and, introducing him to the owner, asked permission to show his friend over the farm, which permission was at once granted. Everything was pointed out and explained to the visitor.