The Confessions of a Beachcomber E-Book

E.j.banfield

• Herausgeber: E. J. Banfield
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Edmund James "Ted" Banfield (4 September 1852 – 2 June 1923) was an author and naturalist, best known for his book Confessions of a Beachcomber.

Leseprobe

The Confessions of a Beachcomber

E. J. Banfield

Table of Contents

Part I

Introduction

Chapter I

The Beachcomber’s Domain

Official Landing

Our Island

Early History

Satellites and Neighbours

Plans and Performances

Chapter II

Beachcombing

Tropical Industries

Some Differences

Island Fauna

Chapter III

Birds and Their Rights

A Census

The Daybreak Fugue

The Megapode

Swamp Pheasant

“Go-Bidger-Roo!”

Bully, Swaggerer, Swashbuckler

Eyes Aflame

The Nestful Tree

“Stately Face and Magnanimous Minde”

White Nutmeg Pigeon

Fruit-Eaters

Australia’s Humming-Bird

“Moor-Goody”

The Flame-Tree’s Visitors

Red-Letter Birds

Casual and Unprecise

Chapter IV

Garden of Coral

Queer Fish

The Warty Ghoul

Burra-Ree

Four Thousand Like One

The Bailer Shell

A Rival to the Oyster

Sharks and Skippers

Gorgeous and Curious

Turtle Generally

The Mermaid of to-Day

Beche-De-Mer

Chapter V

The Tyranny of Clothes

Single-Handedness

A Butterfly Reverie

The Serpent Beguiled

Adventure with a Crocodile

The Arabs Precept

Chapter VI

In Praise of the Papaw

The Conquering Tree

The Umbrella-Tree

The Genuine Upas-Tree

The Creeping Palm

Mauve, Green and Grey

Stealthy Murderers

Tree Grog

Chapter VII

“The Lord and Master of Flies”

A Tragedy in Yellow

Colour Effects

Musical Frogs

Acts Well its Part

Green-Ant Cordial

Wooing with Wings

The Greed of the Snake

A Swallowing Feat

Part II

Stone Age Folks

Chapter I

Passing Away

Turtle and Suckers

A “Kummaorie”

Weather Disturbers

A Dinner-Party

Black Art

A Poisonous Food

Message-Sticks

Hooks of Pearl

Wild Dynamite

A Cavern and its Legend

A Soulful Dance

A Song Without Words

Origin of the Southern Cross

Crocodile Catching

Suicide by Crocodile

Disappearance of Blacks

Chapter II

George: A Mixed Character

Yab-Oo-Ragoo, Otherwise “Mickie”

Tom: His Wives — His Battles

“Little Jinny”: In Life and In Death

The Language Test

Last of the Line

Chapter III

Attributes and Anecdotes

Common and Individual Rights

The “Debil-DeBIL”

Clothing Superfluous

Brother and Sister

The Rainbow

Swimming Feats

Smoke Signals

Thunder Factory

The Oracle

A Real Letter

A Black Degenerate

Jumped at a Conclusion

Pride of Race

“Yankee Charley”

Myall’s Baking

Everything for a Name

The Knightly Growth

Honour and Glory

Fire Jump up

Slop Teeth

A Fascinated Boy

Awkward Cross-Examination

The Only Rock

Saw the Joke

Zebra’s Vanity

Laura’s Traits

Royal Blankets

His Daily Bread

Human Nature

An Apt Retort

Missis’s Trousers

Dull-Witted

Strategy

Literal Truth

Magic that Did Not Work

Anti-Climax

Little Fella Creek Sailor

A Fateful Bargain

Excusable Bias

The Trial Scene

A Reflection on the Horse

Triumph of Matter Over Mind

The Ruse that Failed

The Big Word

Mickie’s Version

Honourable Johnny

The Transformation

Money-Making Trick

Honourable Chastisement

“And You Too”

Paradise

Chapter IV

And this Our Life

Part I

Introduction

Does the fact that a weak mortal sought an unprofaned sanctuary — an island removed from the haunts of men — and there dwelt in tranquillity, happiness and security, represent any just occasion for the relation of his experiences — experiences necessarily out of the common? To this proposition it will be for these pages to find answer.

Few men of their own free will seek seclusion, for does not man belong to the social vertebrates, and do not the instincts of the many rule? And when an individual is fain to acknowledge himself a variant from the type, and his characteristics or idiosyncrasies (as you will) to be so marked as to impel him to deem them sound and reasonable; when, after sedate and temperate ponderings upon all the aspects of voluntary exile as affecting his lifetime partner as well as himself, he deliberately puts himself out of communion with his fellows, does the experiment constitute him a messenger? Can there be aught of entertainment or instruction in the message he may fancy himself called upon to deliver? or, is the fancy merely another phase of the tyranny of temperament?

We cannot always trust in ourselves and in the boldest of our illusions. There must be trial. Then, if success be achieved and the illusion becomes real and transcendental, and other things and conditions merely “innutritious phantoms,” were it not wise, indeed essential, to tell of it all, so that mayhap the illusions of others may be put to the test?

Not that it is good or becoming that many should attempt the part of the Beachcomber. All cannot play it who would. Few can be indifferent to that which men commonly prize. All are not free to test touchy problems with the acid of experience. Besides, there are not enough thoughtful islands to go round. Only for the few are there ideal or even convenient scenes for those who, while perceiving some of the charms of solitude, are at the same time compelled by circumstances ever and anon to administer to their favourite theories resounding smacks, making them jump to the practical necessities of the case.