I was examining the fine muscular structure, and the raised cicatrices, which were numerous over the arms and chest, of one of the natives, (and which he regarded as highly ornamental,) when, puzzled to ascertain the meaning of my curiosity, after I had finished, he whispered to the stock-keeper, if “he white feller gentleman ever see black feller before.” But as for procuring an examination of their phrenological organs, it was a labour of some difficulty, and even danger; for they seemed to regard it as witchcraft, or some magic ceremony: and when they even did submit, they evinced much fear, and preserved a very serious countenance during the operation, as if dreading the result; similar to young ladies, when under Deville’s hands for the same purpose, their secretiveness and caution being overcome in some degree, by curiosity.[90]
The field of wheat at this station being just ripe, a man was obliged to be almost constantly on the watch, to prevent the “white cockatoos” from attacking and destroying it. These birds are named “Wagara,” or “Muruen,” by the aborigines: they were not yet very numerous, as the harvest was earlier than usual; but last year, I was told, the season was later, and the crops were nearly destroyed, for they came in immense flocks; and although many were killed, it did not deter the others from attacking the grain. The reason given, why they were not now so numerous, was, that the young cockatoos were not sufficiently fledged to leave the nest; so the reaper’s song might be, “Fly not yet, little cockies;” for the old birds, rearing their progeny in a way to provide themselves with the necessaries of life, bring them in multitudes to attack a field of corn or grain, and are then so bold, as to be with great difficulty frightened away, although the deaths of hundreds may be the consequence; but, fortunately for the settler, the harvest was this season in a more forward state, and the little cockies not being in “full feather,” there was comparatively but few marauders.
The way “the mob” of these screaming and destructive birds attack a field of grain, (or the cobs of corn in a maize field,) is to fly against, bear down the stalks with their weight, perch upon the fallen ears, and speedily destroy them.[91] Like all the parrot tribe, they construct no nest, but lay their eggs in a hollow branch or “spout” of a tree, clearing it of the rotten wood within, except a small quantity at the bottom, on which the eggs are laid, and the young ones afterwards repose.
It was related to me, that formerly such multitudes of parrots would beset a field of grain, as to oblige a settler to employ a number of men expressly to drive them away; and even then it was done with difficulty. This is now rare: which circumstance is not attributed to any depopulation of the “Polly” tribe, but from cultivation having become more extended; the parrot population being now divided in flocks about the different fields, when formerly they made their formidable attacks upon one or two only, and then in such numbers, that, left undisturbed for only a few hours, it would suffice to destroy the hopes of the settler, at all events for that season. It was computed that thirty or forty thousand of these birds were about the field at one time; and from what I saw, I do not consider the numbers were exaggerated. It is not only ripe grain that suffers from them, but, when it commences to vegetate, they assemble in immense flocks, to root up and devour it. The Loris are said to migrate from the Yas country in the summer, returning in the winter season: whether for food, or from what cause I could not ascertain.
Near this station, (Jugiong,) the Murrumbidgee river takes a peculiar winding course, so as to form an extensive piece of excellent grazing land, almost into an island. By standing on the hill (marked A, in the following diagram,) the river is seen flowing on each side, after having made an extensive circuit.
- A The Hill.
- B Murrumbidgee River.
- C Good grazing land.
- D Jugiong Station.