From Its Summit Numerous
Hills And Bluffs Can Be Seen; To The South Spinifex Plains And Ridges;
To The South-
East a tabletop between two bluffs; to the West a low line
of stony hills, beyond them a limitless sea
Of sandhills; to the
North-West a broken range of peaks, and, far distant, a large hill
swaying in the haze of heat.
From the foot of the hill a hunting-fire was seen close by. "Gabbi,
gabbi," said the dwarf, greatly excited; and when we turned towards
it "Yo-yo-yo" in approval. As we silently approached we saw two
old hags flitting about, as nimbly as their aged limbs would allow, in
the blazing spinifex - now picking up a dead lizard, and now poking about
with their yam-sticks as if in search of some rat which had been roasted
in his burrow. It is impossible to describe the look of terrific awe on
the faces of these quaint savages. Let us imagine our own feelings on
being, without warning, confronted by a caravan of strange prehistoric
monsters; imagine an Easter holiday tripper surrounded by the fearful
beasts at the Crystal Palace suddenly brought to life! What piercing
shrieks they gave forth, as, leaving their hunting implements, they raced
away, to drop, all at once, behind a low bush, where, like the ostrich,
they hid their heads, and so hoped to escape detection.
It was almost impossible to gain the confidence of the gins: old ladies
seem so very suspicious.
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