It has been suggested that reserves should be set apart for the dispossessed natives.  This would, in the opinion of those best able to express one, never succeed, for once the white man is established the blacks will collect round him, and though, as I have mentioned, there remains more than half the Kimberley division untouched by whites, forming a reserve ready to hand, yet the natives prefer to live a hand-to-mouth existence where food can be obtained without trouble, rather than retreat into another region where game abounds, and there continue their existence as wandering savages.  Round Hall’s Creek there is always a camp of blacks, varying from twenty to fifty or one hundred, who live as best they can without hunting.

On Christmas Day a hundred or so rolled up to receive the Aboriginal Board’s liberal bounty—­a Board fortunately now reconstructed, for it was continually the cause of much friction between the squatters, the Government, and itself, in the days when it was not controlled by the Government, as it now is.  Six pounds sterling was set aside for the Warden to provide food and raiment for the natives under his jurisdiction.  Six pounds per annum per two thousand aboriginals—­for such is their reputed number—­seems hardly adequate.  Perhaps if the gentlemen responsible for this state of affairs had concerned themselves more about the aboriginals, and less about the supposed barbaric cruelty of the squatters, the objects of their mission would have been better served.  However, whilst the black-fellow must remain content with his scanty allowance, it is found expedient to send an inexperienced youth, fresh from England, from place to place to make a report on the treatment of the aboriginals, at a salary of 500 pounds a year.  And a fine collection of yarns he produced—­for naturally no one could resist “pulling his leg” to the last degree!  However, this question has at last been put into the hands of those best calculated to know something about it; for though the Government is neither perfect nor infallible, yet the colonists are likely to understand a purely local matter better than a Board of gentlemen lately from home.

They were a merry lot of people, the blacks round Hall’s Creek, and appeared to see the best sides of a deadly dull existence.  Their ways and habits are now so mingled with ideas gathered from the whites that they are not worth much attention.  Dancing is their great amusement, and though on Christmas Day we made them compete in running, jumping, and spear-throwing, they take but little interest in such recreations.  Though known to Australian readers, a description of such a dance may prove of interest to some in the old country.

“A corroboree,” Or native dance.

The entertainment begins after sundown, and on special occasions may be kept up for two or three days and nights in succession.  A moonlit night is nearly always made the occasion for a corroboree, to which no significance is attached, and which may be simply held for the amusement the actual performance affords.