Page:An Australian language as spoken by the Awabakal.djvu/177

 with many others, on ti moonlight night, under the hhie canopy of heaven, preparing for the midnight ball to be held on the green sward, with no other covert than a growing bush, with none other blaze than that from the numerous fires kindle<l around the mystic ring in which to trip the light fantastic toe. Then they might be seen reciprocally rouging each other's cheek with pigment of their o^^^l preparing, and imparting fairness to their sable skin on the neck and forehead with the purest pipeclay, until their countenances beamed with rapturous delight at each other's charms. The cumbrous garments of the daj- were laid aside, and in all the majesty of nature they danced as Britons did in days of old.

Orf points of aboriginal honor M'Gill was exceedingly sensitive. "I must go," said he one da^^, " to stand my punishment as a man of honor, though I have done no wrong." The hostile message had been duly sent, and faithfully delivered bj- the seconds ; one of these was an elderly female, who made her verbal communication with all the accustomed vituperation of daring challenge to the offended party ; it was duly accepted ; the weapons named, the cudgel, shield, and spear ; the time was appointed, a certain day when the sun was one quarter high ; the place, a plain in a certain well-kno-mi vicinity attached to our dwelling. Messengers were despatched to gather in the distant tribes, and on the mountain-tops were seen the signal-fires announcing their approach to witness the affair of honor. When the tribes had assembled, a mutual explanation ensued betwixt the parties, and the evening dance and supper of game peacefully tei-minated the business of the day. The course usually pursued when matters take a hostile form is this : the offending party is the first to stoop and offer his head for his antagonist to strike with his weapon ; and, if not disabled or killed by the blow, he rises from his bending posture, shaking the streaming blood from his bushy hair, and then his opponent fairly and honorably bends forward his head, and presents it in return to receive his blow ; and so this reciprocally continues until the assembled parties and the combatants themselves are satisfied. But should either strike dishonorably on the temple, thus showing an intention to kill, or in anj' other way than on the fairly offered cranium of his antagonist, a shower of well-directed spears would instantly be sent against the cowardly assailant, who should dare to be guilty of such a breach of the laws of honor. M'Gill informed me that formerly it was a custom amongst certain of the northern tribes that, when the first blow actually killed the person, the spectators would roast and eat the body of hun who so noblj^ fell in the cause of honor, if he were a young man in good condition of body ; as a matter of taste, M'Gill expressed himself dissatisfied mth the custom, and stated that he thought it had fallen into desuetude, as it tended to no good purpose but to check the spirit of duelling.

Picturesque or alarming as in many instances these scenes were, all have for ever passed away, and the once numerous actors, who used to cause the woods to echo with their din, now lie mingled with the dust, save some few solitary beings who here and there still stalk abroad, soon, like their ancestors, to become as " a tale that is told."

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