Event #177
around 1840 - involved: 1200 - killed: several

J. W. (John Watts ?), 'Romance of real life in Australia', Colonial Times, 24th may 1850, p. 4

I began to think that I had unintentionally given offence to my gay Lothario, as some time elapsed before I saw him. About three months after this occurrence, I was standing under my verandah, when I saw a black-fellow on the opposite side of the river trying his spears, shield, bomerangs, and nulla nulla together, which he placed on his head: he then took the dry and sapless trunk of a withered mimosa, placed it under his chest, and soon reached the wharf.
I found it was my friend Papoonya, who walked into my quarters in his usual independent manner, shook hands with me, and said that there was to be a “cobora mumcule” (great fight) between the Coast Tribes and the Beppo Jockeroos (Mountain Wild Black- fellows), that Eulopé the chief of his tribe, with all the chosen warriors, would arrive before sun-down, and that the fight would come off on the following day. He did not make any allusion to his lady-love, as they never speak of the dead. I had often heard him boast of the superiority of his tribe, and I knew Eulopé, who had acquired the ’soubriquet’ of Buonaparte, for his daring courage and opposition to the military when they first took possession of Amity Point, to be all that he had represented him, and, as I had never witnessed a ’turn-up’ between the Aborigines, I resolved to accompany them to the scene of action, but did not mention my intention to Papoonya.
Eulopé and his party did not arrive until the following day, when about sixty of them came to my quarters, the remainder of the tribe with the gins and piccaninnies having proceeded by a different route to the spot where the struggle was to take place. I was surprised at the superior stature and great muscular power of this party, whose personal appearance quite eclipsed that of the Light Company of the 39th, which composed the Detachment. I furnished them with plenty of sweet potatoes and maize, and they bivouacked in the open air, in front of my quarters. They were in high spirits, confident of success, and spoke of the Mountain tribes with contempt.
On the following morning I filled their nets with potatoes and maize, and told them that I should go to see them beat the Jockeroos, which greatly pleased them.
Although I was personally known to most of the coast tribes, and many of the mountaineers, whose friendship I had gained by a few trifling but well-timed presents of tomahawks and fish-hooks, I deemed it prudent to see to my arms, having on several occasions come in collision with the Jockeroos in my hunting and botanical trips. I therefore loaded both barrels with ball, and put a pair of pistols into my belt, in case my friends should be defeated, or I should be separated from them. Thus prepared I knew that I was able to cope with any party I might fall in with.
We then started, and after walking for about an hour and a-half, we reached the ridge at the eastern extremity of the plain at the base of Taylor’s Range, when a scene of unbroken and unclouded beauty presented itself, altogether so different to anything I had ever seen, that I was rivetted to the spot. It was one of those magnificent days seen only in Australia. The glorious sun rode triumphantly in all his majesty and splendour, imparting life and health to all around, and his rays tinged the foliage and wild flowers with every diversity of light and shade ; the air was redolent of perfume from the aromatic shrubs with which the skirts of the plain abounded ; the sky was cloudless, and of that deep azure tint peculiar to that beautiful country and the ’sunny south;’ the trees were motionless, and all nature was at rest, except man, who was busily occupied in devising the destruction of his fellow-man, for some fancied insult. The plain was of considerable extent, thinly wooded, and bounded on the west by Taylor’s Range, and on the base of which the Mountaineers had encamped. It was admirably adapted for a battlefield; and I must confess that, when I saw the Jockeroos I began to entertain doubts as to the result of the battle, from their formidable appearance and apparent numerical superiority.
As I was personally known to many of the most celebrated warriors belonging to the Mountain tribes, I resolved on crossing the plain to inspect their preparations for the forth, coming battle; and having apprised Eulopé of my intentions, I proceeded to the Jockeroo camp. They were fully prepared for the deadly struggle, sanguine of success, and much better provided with war spears, which were made of rosewood, and thrown without the wamerah, than my friends. A more formidable looking fellow than Moppe I never saw. He was about forty years old, upwards of seven feet high, beautifully proportioned, and the muscles of his upper arms reminded me of the gnarled trunk of an oak. He spoke with contempt of my friends, and said that he would beat Eulopé and make him carry bungwall like a gin.
After I had gratified my curiosity, I returned to the camp of my friends. During my absence the gins had arrived loaded with bungwall (a fern, blechnum cartilagineum) the root of which, when pounded and baked, is not a bad substitute for bread, but very astringent, guanas, snakes, emus, kangaroos, fish, ducks, turkeys, flying foxes, &c, which were thrown carelessly on the ground. The piccaninnies were running about, looking like so many imps of darkness, and gazed at me with astonishment and terror. The men were busily occupied in painting and adorning their persons, some of whom had a most terrific appearance.
On approaching Eulopé, I found that he had finished his toilet. His body was lubricated with emu oil and pounded charcoal, a rush was thrust through the cartilage of the nose, his long hair was carefully tied up in a knot, into which a bunch of the yellow feathers of the white cockatoo was inserted ; his breast, arms, and thighs, had been anointed with the gum that exudes from the eucalyptus, and then covered with the most brilliant feathers of the red shoulder, king, and blue mountain parrots; and as he stood before me with his contan (shield) on his left arm, his war spears in his right hand, and nulla nulla and bomerangs in his belt, his tout ensemble was strikingly grand and imposing. On the slightest motion, his great muscular power was fully developed; he trod the earth with the air of a conqueror, and was ’the observed of all observers.’ I felt that the fate of the battle rested on him. My friend Papoonya came up at this moment, and presented me to his sister, a young and very pretty gin. She was evidently delighted with what was going on, and as much excited as her brother, whose person was unadorned; he wore his long hair loose, which reached to the waist.
I chatted with them for a few minutes, and then went to Eulopé, and told him what Mappe had said. He looked incredulously at me said nothing, but poised a war spear in his hand, which he shook with great violence, and his appearance at that moment was quite demoniacal. The brave old Duke of York, the chief of the settlement tribe, Bribe and Molrooben had arrived with their warriors during my absence. They probably mustered 500 fighting men, exclusive of the kippers and gins; and Moppe’s force consisted of at least 700 approved men. Understanding that the Pine River and Black Rock River tribes were expected, I suggested to Eulopé and the other chiefs that it would be prudent to defer the combat until they arrived; but they treated the suggestion with scorn. As soon as they had completed their arrangements, Eulopé formed them into line two deep, and they marched into the centre of the plain, shouting their war cry, which reminded me of the discordant cry of the laughing jack ass ; they sat down with their legs crossed under them, and continued silent and motionless, watching the movements of the Mountaineers. The kippers followed in the rear, but the gins and piccaninnies remained on the ridge where they had encamped.
In a few minutes after their arrival, the leaders of the Jockeroos marshalled their warriors in a similar manner, and advanced to meet their foes, shouting the war cry wah-ha! wah-ha! wah-ha! ha! ha! hoo! and when about fifty yards from them they sat down in the same silent and motionless manner. The deathlike silence that followed the terrific shouts of the Jockeroos, had a singularly depressing effect – not a whisper could be heard on either side – the gins and children being equally silent as the warriors. At this moment a mighty black eagle, which had probably been disturbed in his Eyrie on the mountains by the shouts of the hostile parties, soared majestically aloft, occasionally uttering a shrill, piercing cry until he disappeared. I felt instantaneous relief when I heard the noble bird, and my excitement returned.
They continued motionless for some time, but at length six kippers came from the rear of the Settlement Tribes, and approaching within twenty yards of the Jockeroos, they applied the vilest epithets to them, and threw their spears and bomerangs at the Mountain warriors, who warded them off with the most sovereign contempt, without condescending to notice them. The kippers then retreated behind the line of warriors, and the same ceremony was performed by the other party, which was treated with the like indifference by Eulopé and his warriors.
Eulopé then rose, and shouting his war cry drew a bomerang from his belt, and threw it with such force at a gigantic Mountaineer that it split his shield [Note : Their contnars, or shields, are made of the bark of the urtica gigas (stinging tree). They are shaped like the shields of the ancient chivalry of Europe, cover the body, and are impervious to spears], and wounded him so severely in the head that he fell senseless to the earth. A shower of spears and bomerangs followed, which was kept up for some time without any apparent advantage on either side. Eulopé having thrown all his missiles drew his nulla nulla from his belt, and rushed into the thickest of his foes dealing death and destruction around him ; and he was so ably seconded by the brave old Duke of York, Molrooben and Bribe, that the Jockeroos gave way, notwithstanding the desperate efforts of Moppe and Gorowamba, the chief of the Peak Mountain tribe, whose daring courage and noble bearing astonished me : but although the Jockeroos retreated before the impetuous attack of Eulopé and his brave followers, yet the havoc made by Moppe and Gorowamba soon inspirited them, – they rallied round their leaders, and fought with such skill and determination that the Settlement tribes began to retreat, notwithstanding the indomitable bravery and almost superhuman efforts of Eulopé, whose voice was heard above the din of battle, shouting his war cry as he felled to the earth some unfortunate Mountaineer who had dared to oppose him he seemed to possess the attribute of ubiquity, and to restore confidence to his flying and disheartened followers wherever they were most pressed. At length the Jockeroos drove them across the plain to the foot of the ridge where they had encamped, and the shrieks of grief and despair of the gins, as they slung their children at their backs, and the shouts of exultation of the excited Jockeroos caused the most conflicting emotions. I felt deeply interested in the fate of Eulopé and Papoonya, the latter of whom during the mêlée had fought with as much energy and determination as the most approved warrior; and fearing that the Jockeroos would drive my friends into the Settlement, and capture most of the gins, I resolved on shooting one or two of the most daring of the assailants, when at that moment Eulopé crossed the gigantic Moppe, upbraided him for his contemptuous message, and dared him to the combat.
As if by mutual consent the warriors around them ceased fighting, and stood resting on their nulla nullas, confident in the skill and prowess of their respective chieftains. When I saw the great disparity in the size of the two heroes, I must confess, that I feared the result would be anything but favorable to Eulopé, who appeared to little advantage as he confronted the gigantic Mountaineer. They were covered with sweat and dust, their personal ornaments were disfigured or lost, and they were evidently suffering from their great exertions during the battle. Yet when they stood opposed to each other, and saw around them, spectators of the combat, the best and bravest of the Coast and Mountain tribes, it had an instantaneous effect on both, and their prostration and exhaustion vanished, with the hope of adding to the fame they had acquired by the defeat of their renowned adversary. A few seconds elapsed before a blow was struck, when Moppe made a feint at the arm of Eulopé (a ruse to put him off his guard) and instantly put in an overhand blow at his head with such prodigious strength that it split his shield asunder, and alighted on his shoulder. Eulopé, though staggering from the effects of the blow, returned on the head of the giant, which caused the blood to flow freely; but either from his previous exertions, or the effect of the blow he had received, through his shield failing him, it was not effective. I now felt assured of the defeat of Eulopé, as he fought at great disadvantage against his Herculean opponent ; but I was agreeably deceived: he changed his system of fighting, acted entirely on the defensive, and parried every blow with his nulla nulla with such skill and dexterity, that Moppe lost his temper, and rushed on him as if to bear him to the earth by his superior strength ; he did not appreciate the skill of the brave man opposed to him, whose coolness and self-possession, under such trying circumstances, never left him, and proved him worthy of the high opinion entertained of him by his compatriots. In closing, Moppe attempted to put in a tremendous blow, which Eulopé avoided by stepping aside, and before he could recover himself. Eulopé struck him so fair and forcibly on the head, swinging his body to give effect to the blow, that he fell to the earth to all appearance a dead man. The shouts of joy and exultation of the Settlement tribes were deafening; and a desperate struggle took place for the body of the fallen chieftain, which Gorowamba succeeded in obtaining. The Jockeroos, dispirited by the fall of their brave leader, gave way before the excited and desperate followers of Eulopé, and retreated across the plain. The gins, who had witnessed the defeat of Moppe, joined in the pursuit, and did good service with their bungwall sticks, which they handled like quarter-staves, and made the heads of many of the retreating Jockeroos rattle.
During the pursuit, Papoonya covered himself with glory, and through which he was made a ’black fellow’ (warrior) much sooner than he otherwise would have been. His sister Putchinba, who was particularly active in annoying the fugitives, at length attracted the attention of one of them, who turned on her with the most deadly intentions. The pretty maiden defended herself admirably, but must soon have fallen a victim to her temerity, when I called Papoonya’s attention to her dangerous situation. He bounded like a kangaroo to the rescue, and placing himself before his sister, upraided the warrior for thus fighting with a wyah gin (young girl), and challenged him to fight. As the youth stood before the warrior, his figure and attitude were exceedingly beautiful – his eyes sparkled – his nostrils were dilated, his chest was violently upheaved, and his nerves were strung to their extreme tension he was the beau ideal of a youthful hero. The grim warrior looked with scorn and contempt on the beardless youth, and would fain have left him, to join his retreating friends; but Papoonya prevented him. Annoyed at what I have no doubt he considered the presumption of a boy, he attacked Papoonya with great violence, showering blow on blow with a rapidity truly astonishing, evidently thinking to kill him off-hand; but the activity and skill of the youth was more than equal to the superior strength of the mountaineer, who vexed at being foiled by a boy, incautiously exposed himself, when Papoonya struck him an overhand blow on the back of the head, and he fell dead at his feet. I shall never forget the convulsive agony with which the dying warrior grasped the shrubs around him. It was the last effort, and all was still and motionless. Papoonya shouted with joy and exultation over his lifeless foe, and then joined in the pursuit, which was kept up until they had driven the Jockeroos across the mountain. On their return, they plundered the enemy’s camp of the towrows (nets) and provisions, and returned in triumph to their encampment.
As the sun was sinking beneath the horizon, when I returned to the camp, I resolved on remaining until the morning, to witness their conduct and bearing after the glorious struggle. The gins were occupied in bringing in the wounded and the dead. They then made fires and fetched water for their lords, when the wailing for the dead commenced. The camp at this time presented one of the most extraordinary spectacles ever witnessed. The warriors were lying in small parties round their fires, prostrate and toil-worn, discussing the events of the battle. The old gins formed a circle round about the camp, and held tea tree bark torches in their hands, by the light of which the young gins were seen beating their heads with stones and cutting their bodies with shells, to denote grief for the dead, and shrieking and yelling in the most frantic and extraordinary manner. As I lay by my fire, watching the dark figures of the poor gins, their frantic movements and unearthly yells almost made me fancy I was in Pandemonium.
Day at length broke, and dispelled the illusions of fancy. I shook hands with both Eulopé and Papoonya, and gave the latter a pocket-knife for his sister Putchinba, who was in a shocking condition, from her self-inflicted wounds, and proceeded to the settlement, highly pleased with the extraordinary spectacle I had witnessed.

	wounded only
	1 or 2 killed
	3 to 9 killed
	10 killed or more
	unknown

	surprise attack
	pitched battle spontaneous clash
	campaign
	unknown

Casualties

Type of engagement