his head and said nothing. He persisted in denying any complicity in the murder, stating that it had been done by other blackfellows; of death he professed the utmost indifference, and his belief in futurity yvent to the extent of his being sure that immediately after death he would be transformed into a white.man, and so yvould remain ever after. T h e few hours he passed in bed the night before the execution were frequently broken by short troubled snatches of sleep. H e rose at 6 a.m., and yvas removed from the c o m m o n cell to the reception room, yvhere he was supplied with mutton chops, bread, and tea, of which he breakfasted sparingly. M r . G. A. Robinson, chief of the Aboriginal Protectorate, yvas at the gaol at an early hour, and during an intervieyv yvith him, the prisoner yvas very low-spirited, and sobbed frequently. At half-past seven he yvas taken to something like a butcher's chopping block in the yard, on which his fetters were knocked off, and during the operation he appeared quite composed. AA'hen apparelled, he beckoned Robinson to c o m e to him, and declared it to be a great mistake to think that he killed Codd, for on the day of the murder he yvas away from the place, and so sick that he yvas not able to yvalk; also that some blackfellows yvho yvere allowed to see him in prison, had told him that the two m e n by yvhom C o d d yvas murdered had since died ; as for the yvhite felloyvs they had plenty g a m m o n , but he had none, that C o d d had brought his death on himself for being too free yvith the black "lubras,"[1] several of yvhom he had ill-used, and had killed m a n y of the black m e n . H e also said that he kneyv for a fact that since Codd's death the lives of several of the natives had been taken. Robinson having remarked that he should soon see his ("Roger's") yvife and children, and would tell them all about him, the prisoner's reply yvas, " T h e n there will be plenty of crying yvhen you do." In a few yvords further conversation, Robinson alluded to the prisoner's brother, " Milk-and-AVater," and "Roger" broke out in a loudfitof wailing. H e yvas next taken back to the public room, and a yvhite calico cap was with some difficulty put on through his offering resistance, and it being somewhat tight for his big head. H e tried to speak to Robinson, but his tongue failed ; and though the muscles of the mouth yvere seen to work, vox faucibus hæsit, his eyes lighted up in intense agitation. H e yvas then handcuffed and conducted to the door, outside yvhich a horse and cart yvere drayvn up surrounded by an escort of mounted police and some of the soldiers from the barracks close by. There yvas no minister of religion in attendance, and prayers yvere consequently dispensed with. " Roger" was lifted out of the cart and the handcuffs were taken off and pinions on his arms substituted. Davies, the executioner, took him in charge and led .him up the step-ladder by yvhich the scaffold was reached; but just as the culprit was mounting the third step aloud authoritative voice sung out to them to halt. T h e hangman looked about in amazement, causing the criminal to seat himself, yvhich he did without hesitation. It was rumoured that the hanging of the blackfellow was only a ruse to frighten him, to bring him to death's door as a frightful warning, and then let him off. S o m e of the wise-acres shook their heads, and whispered to their neighbours that they had known all along hoyv it would be. It was all a " dodge " — t h e Government had never intended to have the black hanged, and all this m a k e shoyv yvas to frighten him; and after he had been so warned, he would be turned over to the Protectorate, and alloyved by them after a little further detention to regain his tribe and play up his deadly tricks again on the white population. Absurd as this kind of yarning yvas, it spread rapidly through the assembled thousands, w h o did not at all like being humbugged in this yvay. They yvould not be baulked out of their morning's fun, and "they were darned if they'd stand such tom-foolery." T h e vox populi was about to burst out in unmeasured discontent, when, some quarter of an hour having elapsed, it was ascertained that the cause of the ill-timed delay yvas an unpunctual Sheriff, yvho had either forgotten or overslept himself, and w h o n o w arrived puffing and blowing, and breathlessly tokened the proceedings to be resumed. T h e m a n could not be hanged if the Sheriff was not there ; and n o w that the hangman's administrative superior was on the field "Jack Ketch" was free to continue his so strangely interrupted work. All this time "Roger " remained
- ↑ * It may not be generally known that the word, or name, "lubra" has no place in Australasian vocabularies. It is an imported hybrid, and has no recognition in either the etymology or philology of the colony. Some are under the impression that "lubra" and "gin" are not only native names but that they possess a distinctive meaning of a perfectly orthodox kind. This is true as far as colloquialisms, established by common usage are concerned, but no more: and this view is endorsed by two of the best authorities in the colony—viz., Mr. James Dawson, of Camperdown, and Mr. Edward Curr, Chief Inspector of Stock, Melbourne, both of whom have published works on the subject.
[In answer to a request to that effect Mr. Dawson has kindly permitted the publication of his explanation, as follows:— "Regarding the words 'gin' and 'lubra', I have considered 'gin' to mean a woman and 'lubra' a wife. I do not think, however, either are of aboriginal origin, but have been introduced by the white man from the West Indies or Africa, like many other expressions and names, such as 'merrijig,' 'piccaninny,' 'borak,' etc., etc. I have turned up the vocabulary of names in my book, and find, as doubtless you did, that there is no word in the whole list, under the generic term 'woman,' having the least resemblance to 'gin or 'lubra.' I am, therefore, sorry I cannot assist you."-Ed.]
