We want go alonga town. This no good place.' Sargen' laugh little bit.
He say--'No, my boy, you no fright. All right here. You dance alonga
that fella gin--good nice gin.' Me go up. Me feel 'em fright. Feel 'em
cold inside. Too much fright. My word; han' belonga that fella gin--cold
like anything. That gin say--'Where you from?' Me say--'Me come from
alonga town.' That gin say--'What you look out?' Me say--'Me look out
bullocky, musser 'em cattle. Tail 'em up. Look out weaner alonga
paddick. Plenty hard work.' Me dance little bit alonga that gin. Not
much. Too fright. Bi'mby that gin go down below. Groun' shut 'em up. All
day down below. Come up night time. Carn come up alonga sun. Soft fella
that. Suppose come up alonga sun, sun kill 'em. Too sof' altogether."
Cooktown blacks, according to George, use a much lighter sporting spear
than that in vogue in these parts. Instead of a slender sapling
(preferably of red mangrove), straightened and toughened patiently over
the fire, he would provide himself with the scape of a grass tree
(XANTHORRHEA ARBOREA), true and straight as a billiard cue, light, and 8
or 10 feet long. Into a socket in the thicker end he would insert a
single 1/4-inch steel point, 18 inches long, or three pieces of No.
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