Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/157

 CAPTAIN JACK. 91 23rd November. To-day Henry, the brother of Captain Jack, became ill. His two sisters also are ill. A sick family. 24th. Henry is raving this morning. He was bitten by a small snake on Friday evening, but took little notice of it. He is now in dreadful agonies. Lockjaw has set in, and he is convulsed all over. I fear there is no hope for him. His friends have given him up. 25th. Poor Henry died this morning. He leaves a widow and child. I am very sorry. He was a fine, intelligent young fellow. I had great hopes of him, as he was of such an inquiring disposition with respect to religion. I have had some very interesting conversations with him, which he himself began. 28th. This morning Louisa Tuparinyeri, Henry’s sister, died. Her death was, perhaps, hastened by the shock of his sudden end. She was a great favourite, and one of whom I cherished hopes of salvation. 29th. They are drying the bodies of Henry and Louisa. It is such a horrible violation of the sanctity of death. Captain Jack and his relations were crying almost all last night from sorrow at their loss. Poor Louisa! how many times has she sat and listened to the teaching from my lips, and from, those of my wife. She drank in instruction eagerly, and, I trust, savingly. From the commencement of the Mission I was brought into intimate acquaintance with a very notorious blackfellow named Captain Jack. He was a great warrior and sorcerer in his tribe, and a man with much natural ability. If he had lived in a civilised community, and had been educated, I have no doubt he would have distinguished himself. He had gained some celebrity among the Narrinyeri from the belief that he had once seen and had intercourse with Brupithat is, the devil. This gave him great influence. He was a man of undoubted courage and acuteness. He had suffered severely in the battles which he had fought; his head, arms, and legs bore the sears of many wounds. He greatly enjoyed telling of the various fights in