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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 52

Astronomy

Astronomy.

All the principal stars are named, and many queer stories or legends are told of them, as well as of the sun and moon. Unfortunately I have lost all memoranda on this subject. The Rev. Mr. M'Donald read a most elaborate paper on the astronomy of the blacks before the Royal Society, which is well worthy of persusal.

I once had a man in my employment who had been three years with the blacks at Moreton Bay. He was a "ticket-of-leave man," and had at one time escaped from Moreton Island, in company with two other men. These men, after wandering about for some days, and being in a starving condition, came in sight of a black-fellows' camp. One of them, with the object of obtaining something to eat, walked straight into the camp, and was knocked on the head and killed immediately. The two other men, seeing the fate of their companion, remained quite still, with the intention of escaping during the night. But the blacks had seen them, and page 61 attributing their quietness to etiquette (that is, waiting for an invitation), after some delay advanced towards them, lighted a fire, and gave them something to eat These two men remained some time with the blacks, until one day one of them noticing a bundle of what he at first supposed to be sticks hanging up, but were in reality bones, took the bundle up to examine it, when he also was immediately killed. These severe lessons taught the survivor not to be too inquisitive. He managed to make his escape after a residence of three years with them.

This man, who was a printer and compositor by trade, was most intelligent and well informed. He told me that he could never obtain an insight into their mysteries, and thought there was a great deal more importance attached to them than necessary, that there was really nothing in them, but that the old men purposely mystified many of their doings so as to raise themselves in the opinion of the younger men. They know nothing whatever of a religion.

A similar account was given to me by a man who had been thirteen years amongst them; and, of the many instances where white men have resided for a lengthened period with these blacks, no information or explanation of their supposed mysterious ceremonies has ever been obtained from them; and the question again occurs—is there any real mystery, or is it only a sham?

These savages are not sufficiently refined so as to torture their prisoners as the New Zealanders and other savages are accustomed to do: if they desire to kill a person it is done at once, and effectually.