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CANNIBALS IN SOUTH
AUSTRALIA.
STRANGE CUSTOMS OF THE
NALYEA TRIBE.
THE WEST COAST MURDER.
Perhaps there is no other aboriginal tribe
in South Australia about whose habits less
is known than the Nalyea tribe, holding
undisputed possession of the territory be
tween the Musgrave Ranges and Oldabinna,
inland from the west coast. Even the Pro-
tector of Aborigines has no published data
concerning them. It is almost startling
to learn that notwithstanding the far-reach-
ing efforts of Christian missions there are
still to be found in South Australia natives
who regularly indulge in the horrible prac-
tice of cannibalism. This charge is laid
against the Nalyea tribe, and is vouched for
by M.C. Donegan, who is in Adelaide from
Fowler's Bay in connection with the mur-
der of a coast native named Sambo—a
crime that will be investigated at the June
criminal sittings. The cannibalistic ten-
dencies of the aboriginals are, on first
thoughts, almost disquieting enough to dis-
courage members of Parliament from un-
dertaking the contemplated trip to the
West coast country next month. Maneating
natives no doubt would be glad of the
change of diet that a good legislative demo-
crat would afford; but it is reassuring, al-
though bad enough in all conscience, to
be able to say that the cannibalism is
limited to the second or third child born
of each lubra. That such is the case M.C.
Donegan has conclusive proof.
—His Guardian Angel.—
It is only within the past 12 months that
the Nalyea tribe have made themselves se-
riously objectionable to civilized folk, and
with a view of learning something regarding
their habits and customs a representative
of The Register waited upon M.C. Donegan
at the barracks on Thursday. That officer
has had over 20 years' experience among
the blacks in various parts of South Aus-
tralia proper and the Northern Territory,
and he seems to be just the man whom the
Commissioner of Police could safely entrust
with the control of an isolated station like
Fowler's Bay, where the trooper is frequent-
ly thrown upon his own resources and
wits. M.C. Donegan was ready enough to
have a chat, but begged that the question
should not be put to him whether the
niggers on the west coast acknowledged a
God or a guardian angel. He explained that
on one occasion when he occupied an out-
back station which brought him in touch
with the natives he received from
a certain society a list of ques-
tions concerning the aboriginals which
it was desired he should answer. The
query whether they acknowledged a God or
a guardian angel was among them, and on
putting it to one blackfellow the man es-
corted the constable to his wurley and laid
his hand on a gun, remarking—"Him's my
guard." That nigger was more practical
than primitive, and the constable had to
tell the society so. The reporter according-
ly promised to steer clear of angelic topics,
and stick strictly to west coast native bar
barities.
—A Curious Custom.—
In the conversation which followed this
intelligent officer, whose full-grown beard
seemed strangely out of place in contrast
with the shaven chins of all his Adelaide
colleagues in barracks, stated that little or
no systematic investigation of the Nalyea
tribe in their own haunts had been made.
They appear to have kept out of the way of
explorers. For the past 10 or 15 years they
have been in the habit of making periodical
visits to the habitations on the west coast.
On such occasions the whole band has com-
prised about 70 able-bodied men and as
many women and children, while it is be-
lieved that the same number of natives
were left at home, where a girdle is the
beginning and end of their wardrobe. The
Nalyea tribe has been greatly thinned out
as a result of the annual killing expeditions
indulged in by their warlike and numeri-
cally superior countrymen who inhabit the
Musgrave Ranges. For some unknown rea-
son the Nalyea aboriginals have been in the
habit of leaving a certain proportion of
their numbers in the inhabited centres of
the west coast on every visit they have
paid to the seaboard. This apprenticeship
to civilization, so to speak, extends over
several years, and then the blackfellows are
recalled to their own regions, and replaced
by others. M.C. Donegan confesses that he
is able to divine no reasonable cause for
this proceeding. At any rate, the custom
is not a bad one from the point of view of
the pale faces, who are thus able to instil
into the dusky ambassadors, and through
them into the whole tribe, a wholesome un-
derstanding of the difference between right
and wrong. Whether the aboriginals have
always listened to conscience is another
point. As a matter of fact they have not,
because during the past six months they
have broken into no fewer than seven
shepherds' huts, and now there is the mur-
der of Sambo to be answered.
—Nalyea Diet.—
M.C. Donegan says that the members
of the tribe under review are physically
well developed, and are in splendid condition
as a result of the country back from the
west coast being in great heart. Their mo-
bility is such that they can travel 60 or
70 miles a day. Recently wild turkeys were
so plentiful that they could be knocked
over with waddies. Other common articles
of diet used by the niggers are wild dogs,
wild cats, kangarocos, wombats, emus and
their eggs, grubs, and berries. Asked whether
their taste for wild dog was not a
blessing to pastoralists, the constable said
that apparently the supply is greater than
the demand, because the wild dog pest has
never been more troublesome than it is
at present.
—Wonderful Organization.—
Primitive as they are, the Nalyea tribe
are noted for their complete organization,
as M.C. Donegan discovered when he set
about apprehending the murderers of Sam-
bo. They have their leaders, and so soon
as the body of the deceased was discovered
pickets were placed at intervals of about
10 miles for the whole distance from Yelta
to Denial Bay. So soon as the police went
out word was rapidly passed from picket
to picket, and an officer had no possible
chance of catching up with the tribe. There
are also depots at various spots where men
and old lubras are located. They collect
rations from Government representatives,
stations, and settlers, and pass them out
to their own people. Some of the aborigin-
als are armed with rifles, and are capital
shots. These have been obtained chiefly
from kangaroo camps, and in the execution
of their duty the police find the possession
of firearms by the blacks a great menace
and danger. M.C. Donegan and Constable
Hansbery once came upon a nigger who
levelled a rifle at them. Before he could
fire one of the officers discharged his re-
volver, and the native fled, leaving behind
him two beautiful turkeys and a rabbit
that were roasting.
—A Feud With the Coastal Blacks.—
Like the aboriginals of the Musgrave Ranges
the Nalyea tribe are of a bloodthirsty na-
ture, and have declared their determination
of wiping out the coastal natives, whose
extinction is becoming so rapid that not
one is to be found between Streaky Bay
and the Bight, with the exception of those
now at Yalata. The grievance is that the
coastal men are too friendly with the
whites. The murder of Sambo, a shepherd
on Messrs. Smith & Swan's Yalata Station,
is said to be part of the scheme for ex-
terminating the seaboard blacks.
—The Murder of Sambo.—
Evidence has been secured which points
to Yendinna Jack, Steve Hart, and Yarrie
being responsible for Sambo's death. At
all events a verdict of wilful murder was re-
turned at the inquest. The coastal natives
heard of the designs that their out-back
enemies had upon them, and when their
coming was announced they ran in all di-
rections. The three aboriginals named were
overheard planning the murder of Sambo.
Yarrie, who has accompanied Mr. R. T.
Maurice on several of his expeditions, be-
longs to the Musgrave tribe, and was un-
willing to take part in the tragedy, but he
was coerced into action. Sambo, who had
been shepherding a flock of sheep, suddenly
disappeared last August, but as the coastal
natives are continually on the move not
much notice was taken of his absence. His
fellow-countrymen, however, were convinc-
ed that there had been foul play, and for
six months they engaged in a quiet search.
Their efforts were rewarded last February,
when Sambo's dead body was discovered
partially buried face downwards in thick
titree scrub. There was no doubt concern-
ing identification, which was established
by the fact that one of the hands was
minus the thumb and a finger that the deceased
had had blown off during life, while
the feet were encased in tan boots which
Sambo had obtained on the station. There
was a spear wound in the right side of the
body, the head had been injured by a bar
of iron which the blacks use for digging
out rabbits, while one of the wrists was
badly broken. It is alleged that Yendinna
Jack (now in custody) broke the wrist,
that Steve Hart used the spear, and that
Yarrie inflicted the wound on the head.
The body was carried 100 yards into the thick
scrub, and the tracks of three men were
plainly visible when the crime was dis-
covered. Signs of a struggle, a broken
spear, hair, and the print of two knees
clearly indicated the exact locality of the
murder.
—The Arrest of Yendinna Jack.—
The three accused men got well away be-
fore the body was found, but early this
month M.C. Donegan heard from a resi-
dent that Yendinna Jack proposed to call
for rations at a scrub farm at Nantiby, on
the coast 20 miles from Fowler's Bay. The
officer rode out and watched all night. At
daylight Yendinna Jack emerged from the
scrub, and, covering him with his revol-
ver, the constable arrested him. The native
made a desperate struggle to obtain pos-
session of the revolver. Steve Hart and
Yarrie are still at large. The latter will
probably turn up at the Lake Phillipson
bore or some such place, while it is thought
that Hart, who is a notorious character, will
venture too close to civilization one of these
days. These disturbances have engendered
bad feeling between the blacks and the
white residents, and the natives have
threatened to avenge the capture of Yen-
dinna Jack upon the civilized folk, but
with the exercise of proper care there is
no need for alarm.
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