When
collected altogether on a little flat, just below our camp, they
must have numbered between thirty and forty, and the uproar was
deafening. With the aid of King, I at last got them all seated
before me, and distributed the presents--tomahawks, knives,
necklaces, looking-glasses, combs--amongst them. I think no people
were ever so happy before, and it was very interesting to see how
they pointed out one or another whom they thought might be
overlooked. The piccaninnies were brought forward by their parents
to have red ribbon tied round their dirty little heads. An old
woman, Carrawaw, who had been particularly kind to King, was loaded
with things. I then divided fifty pounds of sugar between them,
each one taking his share in a union-jack pocket-handkerchief,
which they were very proud of. The sugar soon found its way into
their mouths; the flour, fifty pounds of which I gave them, they at
once called "white-fellow nardoo," and explained that they
understood that these things were given to them for having fed
King. Some old clothes were then put on some of the men and women,
and the affair ended in several of our party and several of the
black fellows having an impromptu "corroboree," to the intense
delight of the natives, and I must say, very much to our amusement.
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