The aborigines of Tasmania / by H. Ling Roth ; assisted by Marion E. Butler and Jas. Backhouse Walker ; with a chapter on the osteology by J.G. Garson.

  • Henry Ling Roth
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The aborigines of Tasmania / by H. Ling Roth ; assisted by Marion E. Butler and Jas. Backhouse Walker ; with a chapter on the osteology by J.G. Garson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    been fulfilled, the women squatted on their heels, and from that moment appeared to abandon themselves without reserve to the liveliness of their dispositions, all speaking at once, all questioning us at the same time, appearing often to criticize us and to be laughing at our expense; making, in a word, a thousand gestures and contortions as singular as they were varied. Bellefin began to sing, and accompanied himself with lively and animated gestures; the women were immediately silent, observing his gestures with as much attention as they seemed to give to his songs. As soon as a couplet was finished, some applauded by loud shouts, others laughed to splitting, while the younger, and no doubt more timid girls, remained silent, showing nevertheless, by their actions and the expression of their faces, their surprise and their satisfaction. Two or three young girls, of from 15 to 16 years of age, had in the expression of their countenances something most artless, affectionate, and sweet, as if the better qualities of the soul must exist, even in the midst of the savage tribe of the human race, as the especial appanage of youth. Amongst the elder women, some had a coarse and ignoble face; others, fewer in number, a wild and sullen look; but, in all, one observed that air of uneasiness and dejection which misfortune and servitude imprint on the forehead of every being who bears the yoke. One only had, among all her companions, preserved great confidence, with much cheer- fulness and gaiety. After Bellefin had finished his song, she began to imitate his gestures and his tone of voice in a very original and funny way, which greatly amused her companions. The deference we showed these women, and perhaps also the fresh charms which we owed to their cares, seemed to increase their goodwill and their confidence in us ; but nothing, however, could decide them to approach any nearer. At the least movement which we made, or seemed to make, to break the conditions imposed, they all jumped up in a hurry, and took to flight : in order, therefore, to enjoy their presence longer, we were obliged to conform entirely to their wishes. After having loaded them with presents and caresses [sic] we judged it time to return to the landing place ; and our V. D. Landers, appearing to be about to go in the same direction, the two troops started ; but we were still obliged to give in to these inexorable women, and were condemned to walk along the flat shore, while they marched over the parallel sand-hills. Our route all the time was not less lively than our interview ; and from the top of the sandhills many pleasantries and enticements were sent to us, to which we endeavoured to respond as expressively as was possible. All at once, one of the women uttered a loud cry, which the others repeated with fright: they had discovered our small vessel and our companions. We tried to calm their fears ; it was all useless, and the troop was already plunging into the forest, when the woman, who almost alone had borne the responsibility of our interview, appeared to alter her mind. At her voice there was a movement of hesitation; she spoke for a moment or two to the others ; but being, as it seemed to us, unable to persuade them to follow her, she descended alone from the sand-hills, and walking along the shore at some distance in front of us, with much assurance, and even * These women blackened the faces of their visitors.