Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/23

 INTRODUCTION. xiii was as represented by Eyre, the Narrinyeri tribe must have been particularly exposed to its influence, and it must have left its traces amongst them. Mr. Taplin, however, makes no mention of it, and he would scarcely be likely to pass over such a circumstance if it existed. The natives of some tribes suffer from a sort of leprous or scrofulous disease, which exhibits many of the characteristics mentioned by Eyre, but this disorder seems to afflict individuals and not families. Gason, speaking of the Dieyerie tribe, describes a disease which produces large boils under the arms, in the groin, and on the breast and thighs, varying in size from that of a hen’s egg to that of an emu’s. It lasts for months and sometimes for years before it goes away. One complaint may thus have been, and not improbably was, mistaken for the other. A friend first called the attention of the writer to the existence of this malady. At the same time he mentioned what would seem to be a certain cure for it. He was present at Canowie when a flock of sheep was being dipped for scab. A number of blacks congregated to witness the performance, and to get tobacco or whatever else could be obtained from the station. One of them was in a deplorable condition of suffering from this disease. By way of a joke, it was suggested that the blackfellow should be dipped like the sheep. He seemed delighted at the proposal, at once agreed to it, and was dipped accordingly. The dipping mixture was composed of water, soft soap, tobacco, and arsenicthe last in the proportion of one ounce to the gallon of water. After his bath, the patient left with his companions. In a short time he became ill, then worse, and finally so bad that it was doubtful whether he could survive, He lost his hair and his finger and toenails. By-and-bye he grew better, and then his skin came off. He was described as presenting the appearance of a magpie during the time the process of decortication was going on. Eventually he got quite well, and when he revisited the station was in sound health. His hair had grown, and his skin was as smooth and as glossy as marble. He was completely cured. Other blacks who had heard of the circumstance came to Canowie and Mr. P. Marchant, formerly of Arkaba,