For Goliath of Gath could never have wielded an
instrument as heavy as this with one hand.
It is supposed that the warrior
raises the cumbrous weapon on his shield, and having got within sword's
length of his enemy, lets it drop on his head. This portion of a black's
frame is undeniably hard; but such a blow would crush it like an egg-shell;
and as he may be credited with sufficient sense to know this, it seems
difficult to understand why he should stand still and allow such a
disagreeable operation to be performed. Whether or not the use of these
weapons has been discovered since I left Australia, I am unable to say; but
certainly up to that time we who lived in their neighbourhood were unable
to appreciate the varied excellencies they doubtless possess.
We pursued our way up the Mackay River in hopes of finding some termination
to the thick scrub on the opposite bank, so that we might return to our
boat without having to thread its intricate mazes again; and in this we
were successful, finding a break in the jungle an hour before sunset, which
at once admitted us to the plain, through the centre of which ran the
Macalister, and in due course we reached our camp, where, after having a
glorious "bogey" (the Australian term for bathing) in the river, and
overhauling each other well, to see that no ticks were adhering to our
skins, we had supper, and turned in, having done little good, except
finding a road to the Mackay less tedious than the one we had taken in the
morning.
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