88 AN AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE.
��Reminiscences of liiraban.
An aboriginal of this part of the colony was my almost daily companion for many years, and to his intelligence I am principally indebted for mnch of my knowledge i-especting the structure of the language. Biraban was his native name, meaning 'an eagle-hawk,' l)ut the English called him M'Gill. His likeness was taken at my residence, Lake Macquarie, in 1839, by Mr. Agate, and will be found in the "Nari-ativeof the United States' Exploring Expedition," commanded by Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. The "Narrative," vol. II, page 2.5.3, says : — " At Mr. Threlkeld's, Mr. Hale saw M'Gill, who was reputed to be one of the most intelligent natives ; and his portrait was taken by Mr. Agate. His physiognomy was more agreeable than that of the other blacks, being less strongly marked with tlie peculiarities of his race ; he was about the middle size, of a dark-chocolate colour, with fine glossy black hair and whiskers, a good forehead, eyes not deeply set, a nose that might be described as aquiline, although depressed and broad at the base. It was very evident that M'Gill was accustomed to teacli his native language, for when he was asked the name of anything he pro- nounced the word very distinctly, syllable by syllable, so that it was impossible to mistake it. Tiiough he is acquainted with the doctrines of Christianity and all the comforts and advantages of civilization, it was impossible for him to overcome his attachment to the customs of his peopjle, and he is always a leader in the corrobborees and other assemblies."
Both himself and Patty, his wife, were living evidences that there Avas no " innate deficiency of intellect " in either of them. He had been brought up from his childhood in the Military Barracks, Sj'dney, and he under- Stood and spoke the English language well. He was much attached to us, and faithful to a chivalrous extreme. We never were under apprehensions of liostile attacks when M'Gill and his tribe encamj>ed nigh our dwelling. A murderous black, named 'Bumble-foot,' from his infirmitj', and ' Devil- devil,' from his propensities, had attempted to murder a European by chopping off the man's head with a tomahawk, and had nearly effected this; but the man recovered, and I had to appear at a Court of Justice as a witness ; this dis^jleased ' Bumble-foot, ' and he avowed openly, in the usual manner, that he would slay me in the bush at the first opportunity ; this came to the ears of M'Gill, who immediately applied to me for the loan of a fowling-piece 'to go and shoot that fellow for his +hi'eat'; this was, of course, refused. M'Gill was once present with me at the Criminal Court, Sydney, assisting as interpreter, when he was closely examined by Judges Burton and Willis, in open Court, on the trial of an aboriginal for murder, 1834, in order that M'Gill might be sworn as interpreter in the case ; but, though his answers were satisfactory to the general questions proposed to hina by the Judges, yet, not understanding the nature of our oath in a Court of Justice, he could not be sworn. Patty, his wife, was pleasing in her person, "black but comely, " kind and affectionate in her disposition, and evidenced as strong a faculty of shrewdness in the exercise of her intellectual powers over M'Gill as many of the fairer daughters of Eve, who, without appearing to trespass on the high prerogative of their acknowledged lords, manage their husbands according to their own sovereign will ; this might perhaps have arisen from the circumstance that M'Gill, once, when intoxicated, had shot at his wife, although he deeply deplored this when he became sober ; the injury sustained was not much, but ever afterwards he treated her with much affection, which appeared to be reciprocal. It was a romantic scene to behold the haiapy pair, together
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