The natives of Australia have a very good idea of justice, which they apply in all their transactions among themselves. If, however, at any time, they find that they have been deceived or unfairly treated, their sense of righteousness almost spontaneously turns to revengeful treachery. They are not susceptible to flattery, and do not look for praise or reward for any heroic deeds accomplished; to unnecessarily applaud a man is looked upon as a sign of weakness. On the other hand, when one has committed a wrong, he expects to be reprimanded, if not punished, and is disappointed if he receives neither; in fact, he thinks little of the man who neglects his duty by not making him suffer for his offence or wrongdoing. A native has a remarkable memory; and, if once he has escaped chastisement for taking a liberty with another, he will not think twice of repeating the wrong, because he does not consider him worthy of serious consideration. Even should there be resentment upon a subsequent occasion, he thinks that it needs only a little cajolery, when the fellow is easily won over on account of his proven weak character. In this connection his good sense of humour serves him well; he has a natural gift of being able to contort the serious in such a way as to make it appear comic, and, when he wishes, he has a very persuasive tongue.
Provocation, embarrassment, or terror instinctively and spontaneously solicits an appeal to the obtruder’s sentiment. The best example I can tender in this connection is an experience our party had in the Tomkinson Ranges when it unexpectedly came upon three women who were cooking a snake. On seeing the white men in close proximity, two of the gins scampered off post haste, but the third was so terror-stricken that her legs refused to move her from the spot. In her bewilderment, however, she had sufficient presence of mind to think of seizing her breasts with her hands and squirting fluid in the direction of the strangers to indicate that she was a mother and on that account had a special claim to beg for mercy.
There is no denying it, the swarthy inhabitants of Australia are excellent judges of character, and they seem by instinct able to explore the trend of thoughts running through each other’s brains before they are spoken. This faculty is of fundamental importance to them whilst watching ceremonial dances and other performances; by means of it they are able to appreciate when the outsider fails to understand. Moreover (and this is of considerable importance to the European anthropological investigator), the moment a native under cross-examination grasps the nature of questions which are put to him, he speedily discovers what direction of answer, affirmative or negative, appears to suit the interrogator best; and accordingly he will reply. It is, in consequence, absolutely impossible to decide any matter of importance by soliciting a simple “yes” or “no” in answer to a leading question. The enthusiasm with which a biassed reply is tendered is, further, considerably enhanced by a promised gift or bribe. The significance of these facts, and their possible consequences, will be realized both in a scientific and in a legal sense; erroneous impressions may, in the one case, be gleaned with regard to Australian ethnology, and, in the other, a fellow may be unconsciously incriminating himself in the eyes of our law.
PLATE XXIX
1. Old men introducing a dance during an initiation ceremony, Kukata tribe.
2. Circumcision ceremony, Kukata tribe.
“Beyond themselves with excitement, they lay hands upon the lad and lift him upon the back of two or three of the men who are stooping in readiness to receive him.”