The Australian aboriginal / by Herbert Basedow ; with 146 illustrations.

  • Basedow, Herbert, 1881-1933.
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Australian aboriginal / by Herbert Basedow ; with 146 illustrations. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Introduction to an Australian Tribe of our encampment and again squat on the ground, arranging themselves in the same order as they walked in. It is apparent they want us to approach them; and we do so. Statuary could not be more rigid than the persons we behold, upon arriving at the little group. They sit silently, with down¬ cast eyes, and it is not until we address them that they rise to their feet. The old men, for such we now recognize them to be, start a meek conversation, nervously pushing the boy towards us. We are informed that this is an uninitiated boy, a child in fact, a piccaninny in the tribal relationship of son to the speakers. We are implored not to hurt this innocent being, and to extend that friendship to themselves and to all the members of the tribe. It is pointed out that they are unarmed and that this is the guarantee of their goodly intentions towards us, the unknown wanderers. The men now advance and pat us on the chest, and in¬ stinctively we return the compliment—for such it is intended to be—which is akin to any ordinary European method of salutation. The bonds of friendship have thus been sealed, and the men continue to jabber profusely on the more intricate tribal relationships existing between themselves and the rest of their party. When the genealogical explanations have been concluded, the men turn towards their company, who are still squatting in the distance, and call aloud to them to come along: “Pitchai, ngalla pitchai, waipella tami pu!” which in the Wongapitcha dialect stands for “Come along, the white fellow is good.” The invi¬ tation is quickly responded to, and ere many minutes have passed the whole group has arrived, which includes other men as well as women and children. The new arrivals, without hesitation, and with seeming confidence, join in the conversation. So this is our introduction to the aboriginal, the primitive hunting man of Australia, and his family!