1844

( 127 ) December 23rd, 1844.
Towards evening a number of indigenous people came into the city, among whom were Punalta and Kunka's both sons, Tyilkelli and Indelli*. The greater number of them, however, were foreign to me: Yernga*, Manga*, Mulpi*, Wambi* and so on. They had hardly encamped next to the natives in front of them when a violent quarrel arose, accompanied by mad running back and forth with filled spears and other signs of anger. Thinking that a fight would break out immediately, I went to them and warned them not to start a fight in the city, because the white people would take offense and drive them all away. They gave me to understand, however, that they did not wish to quarrel, but only to show their anger against the Battaragurarri* [rubber tree men], one of whom, namely Tyingalta*, had recently speared Pilgalta* in the knee, who was lying lame in his camp. But they let my ideas persuade them to stop the noise. But no sooner had everything calmed down than Tynkalta started a new argument with his wife and Yutalta's young wife, who is related to him, because she had given him no wheat, or what he thought was too little wheat. He speared his own wife ( 128 ) in the back and tried to throw Yutalta with a wirri. However, he did not immediately find the opportunity to do this because she avoided him and someone tried to hold him. Finally he hit her over the hand, whereupon she made a loud howl and Yutalta, who until then had seemed to be watching things quite unconcerned, took up the argument. After exchanging a pair of wirris, both of whom skillfully parried with their weapons, they came close to each other and struck blows on each other's heads. Yutalta was obviously at an advantage because of his length and covered his opponent's head with wounds, so that one side was completely covered with blood. At the same time they said the worst insults so close to each other's faces that their noses seemed to touch, and in a voice as loud as their throats would allow. As some others ran up and held up their weapons, Yutalta suddenly ran away in the direction of the police office to get police officers, but his own wife ran after him to prevent this. I then went to his wife and examined her wound, when Tynkalta suddenly seized a club and gave her a blow. This impudence annoyed me, so I grabbed him and shook him, but he didn't have the courage to touch me, loud-mouthed as he was. He then went away, but soon came back and wanted to renew the quarrel, which, however, did not work. Immediately after this interlude ( 129 ), the newcomers exchanged some skins with the old city customers, which seems to be a sign of mutual friendship among the original inhabitants. About 5 or 6 men on each side formed a dense group, then approached each other and pushed forward those who were carrying the skins and who had hitherto been at the rear; They then stood close together, held the skins, which were tightly wrapped together, between them, one on top of the other, and finally, with much effort and much talk from those around them, each took the skin that had until now belonged to the other. Before this exchange, the newcomers offered to choose a skin for me, but our old friends recommended this again. The rest of the evening was spent in a dance, for which they decorated