Aboriginal Entertainment

The announcement that a number of
aboriginals would perform at the Exhibi-
tion met with general favour. Adelaide
people have not now many opportunities
of seeing a number of natives in the city.
A solitary blackfellow and his lubra come
within the city boundaries once in a
while, but they are generally regarded as
intruders. At any rate the natives
don't feel at home as they used
to do before Adelaide became a
city, and before the white man
took away the land they occupied. Some
months since it was suggested that a
number of blackfellows should attend the
opening ceremony of the Exhibition, but
very little notice was then taken of the
matter. A few weeks ago, however,
arrangements were made with the Ex-
hibition authorities that a number of
natives should see the Exhibition, and
that they should give an entertainment
in it. Accordingly on Saturday last
seventy-seven natives arrived in Adelaide
from the Point Macleay and Point
Pearce Mission Stations-men, women,
and children - forty-six from Point
Macleay and thirty-one from the other
station. The visitors, who are in charge
of Messrs. F. W. Taplin and T. M.
Sutton (the Superintendents of the mis-
sion stations) and Miss Sutton, rank from
various ages, including babes and boys
and girls, the oldest man being between
60 and 70 years of age, and the eldest
woman about 45.
The Old Exhibition Building has
been placed at their disposal for
a camp. On Monday when they
were shown through the Exhibition they
were naturally surprised at the " great
wonders." They were especially in-
terested in the pictures, particularly those
in the eastern annexe. Large mirrors,
too, in various parts of the Exhibition
surprised them perhaps as much as any-
thing. It was probably the first time
they saw themselves in all their beauty
in looking-glasses. Their attention also
was considerably attracted on the display
of weapons and photos in the armament
ball from the Point Macleay Mission
Station. It was first proposed to hold
the special entertainment in the Adelaide
Town Hall, but afterwards the South
Australian Branch of the Royal Geo
graphical Society, under whose auspices
the visitors' programme of engagements
will be carried out, agreed to have the
entertainment in the Exhibition. The
music hall was the place first suggested in
which to hold the concert, but as it was
thought that that building would be too
small to accommodate the public, the
Exhibition officials and others preferred
to have it in the main building. Accor-
dingly on Tuesday afternoon the hall
platform was prepared. A wurley was
erected of evergreens and shrubs in front
of the organ, and the platform was
covered with carpet. Bush mats and
bags, made by the natives, and spears,
boomerangs, waddies, swords, shields,
and other weapons were distri-
buted over the platform, to make
the scene as natural as possible.
Original sketches of natives very cleverly
drawn with a lucifer match by aboriginals
at Port Macleay, and a sketch of houses
at Point Pearce shown on the platform
testified to the natives having been taught
to practically and usefully employ their
leisure. The concert was advertised to
begin at 7.30 p.m., but long before that
time the main hall was crowded, and
during the evening the hall and the
galleries were completely packed. Over
4,600 persons visited the Exhibition in
the evening, and most of them crowded in
the main building. The natives took their
seats in good time, the men and women on
the gallery stairs on the western side of
the organ, and the boys and girls on the
eastern side. Three lubras, as cheerful
and homely as possible, were the first to
come on to the platform. They im-
mediately entered the wurley and started
mat-making, or something of the sort. An
old man followed, and amused the audience
by illustrating the aboriginal method
of making a fire with two sticks.
Six native men, tatooed and in their
native costume, next made their debut in
a tableau illustrating " Savage Life" with
aboriginal singing. This company, who
were assisted in their wordless song-
singing by the women, at once interested
the audience. Each man had two small
sticks with which he "kept time." Of
course none but themselves could under-
stand their one continuous chatter. After
singing for a quarter of an hour their
places were taken by six other men who
were not so savage in their movements,
and did not excite themselves so much.
The second lot were intended to show a
tableau representing " Civilized Life." A
choir of native children next sang " Jesus
Loves Me." The youngsters were very
neatly dressed. All the boys wore
white trousers, and their neat ap-
pearance dispelled any doubts there
might have been as to their clean-
liness. Their singing was distinct
and they evidently felt quite at home.
At various periods the children sang
other songs - "A New Name" and
"Follow On." The last contribution
brought forth applause from every quarter
of the building- Walter Salisbury, a
native lad, gave a solo from the cantata
" Robinson Crusoe," and had to respond;
and " Do they Pray for Me at Home,"
sweetly and correctly sung by Susie
Wangeneen, surprised the listeners, and
she had to respond to an imperative
encore. The natives apparently did
not understand an encore, but in-
structed and prompted by Mr. Sutton
and Mr. Taplin, they acknowledged
the compliments. Two native girls,
Leah Unaipon and Ada Koolmatere,
sang "Over the River" with very good
taste, and Frank Blackmore, who is very
clever and is said to be able to give recita-
tion after recitation, recited "The British
Flag." The recitation was given very well
indeed, the emphasis and pronunciation
being especially commendable. The re-
citer was rather too fast, however, to be
well understood, but he earned the pro
longed applause of the audience. The
singing altogether showed that the
natives have been well trained and
that they appreciate good music.
Unfortunately they are unable to
sing as loudly so their white brethren,
or to blend their voices so harmoniously,
but they are entertaining in their way,
and understand what they are singing.
The children used hymnbooks, but they
seemed so well acquainted with the song
that the books were almost unnecessary.
Miss Sutton played the piano accompani-
ments. After the National Anthem the
aboriginals adjourned to the esplanade,
where arrangements had been made for a
sham fight. The people stood around the
esplanade and crowded the balconies.
About 9 o'clock several natives with
spears and shields rushed into the
enclosure from the western part of
the crowd, and treated the spectators
with a sham fight-such as it was. The
rattling of shields and the tossing and
tumbling of the aboriginal soldiers caused
considerable merriment. At first only
six natives engaged in the affray-three
on each side-and, unusual for warriors,
when they got tired they thought it wise
to rest awhile. Presently the ranks were
strengthened, but for a long time it was
difficult to tell whether the attacking or
defending force had the best of the con-
test. The wooden spears flew about in
every direction, and there was a regular
quarrel, and at last a man on each
side was carried off the field,
supposed to have been killed.
The aboriginals finished their entertain-
ment by singing " God Save the Queen."
Throughout the utmost good humour
prevailed, and nothing objectionable or
obscene occurred. It should be men-
tioned that these natives themselves
object to corroboree. Having been
brought under the influence of civiliza-
tion they feel that it is degrading to resort
to their old bush life, and on the mission
stations corroborees are entirely dis-
couraged on account of the immoral
tendencies. A little dancing was intro-
duced by the natives in their ex-
citement, but nothing to speak of.
The people of Adelaide could see
for themselves on Tuesday evening the
great alterations made in the manners and
customs of the aboriginals, and if the
blacks can thus be brought to comparative
civilization, it seems desirable that every
effort should be made to extend mission
work amongst them.
On Wednesday evening the special
feature was a repetition with slight
variations, of the aboriginal entertain-
ment as given on the previous
night. It is unusual to open the
Exhibition on Wednesday evenings, but
by special request the authorities agreed
to allow the public to once more see the
natives before they returned to the mission
stations. The programme in the main
hall was much the same as on the
previous evening. The same songs
were contributed, with a song, "Mother
is Dead," by a native woman,
and two others, "Merry Dick" and
"Learn to say no." Both the tableaux
and the singing evoked considerable ap-
plause. The almost unnatural chattering
of the natives caused considerable merri-
ment all round, and the audience evi-
dently appreciated the novel proceedings.
On the esplanade a sham fight took place
after 9 o'clock, in which the aboriginals
not only amused the spectators but them-
selves. By means of the electric light
and blue lights the affray was witnessed
to advantage, and the crowd had a
splendid opportunity of seeing the natives
engage in some of their most frantic
actions. The aboriginals will, no
doubt, return pleased with their visit
to Adelaide and the Exhibition.