FIERCE TRIBAL FIGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2760, 15 March 1910, Page 5

FIERCE TRIBAL FIGHT.

A SAVAGE ENCOUNTER

United Dress Association— Copyright PORT DiARWIN, March 14.

Mr McPherson, a trader, brings news of the tribal fight, which occurred on January 24th near Junction Bay. McPherson had a beche-de-mer fishing -camp at Rolling Bay, which appears .to be neutral territory between the Junction bay tribe .and the Liverpool river tribe.

On tlie day of tlie fight McPherson observed his Junction Bay natives in .full war paint, with white faces and yellow legs. He was told that a party of Liverpool natives were concealed in a thick jirngle 300 yards- distant. Soon after the day’s work was finished there was a weird, blood-curdling war whoop and between thirty and forty -ghastly white-ipainted figures •dashed into the open from concealment, while a still -greater number of .Junction Bay natives came from the opposite thicket to meet them. The eon--tending parties met on -a clear, o-pen grassy sward. Showers- of spears were exchanged. They were thrown with exceeding skill and strength, while- tlie dexterity with which the spears were d’odged or warded off was amazing. As spears became scarcer one of the McPherson- boys was pierced by a spear. Then the natives came to close quarters, and a ferocious struggle ensued. Tlie Junction Bay natives armed with tomahawks, trepang knives, and pieces of iron, naded in.

One magnificent native, armed with, a hnge club, rushed at an opponent, but to the surprise of McPherson, the Junction Bay boy warded' off the blow, and with a tomahawk cleft his opponent's bead from crown to base. The battle lasted about half an. hour. The advantage swayed from side to side. Gradually the superior weapons of the Junction Bay natives prevailed. The attackers then broke for cover, hotly pursued, and were wounded or backed to death by the victors, eleven being killed. The bodies were heaped together and burnt.