A NOMAD WAS OUR GUIDE

A book by W L Grayden

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Saturday, 15th August 1953

Last night, in the Pass of the Abencerrages, we sat side by side with the desert Wongi, sang with them and joined in their tribal dances.

Learning that we were leaving today, the Aborigines arranged a mock corroboree to farewell us. Through our guides we were asked to attend. In Big Jimmy's words "They have pretend corroboree for you. They want you to go down."

When Stuart and I walked over to the Wongi camp after dark, the "pretend corroboree" had already begun. Only the men were taking part and they were seated with their legs crossed around a small fire. The women and children watched from a larger fire nearby.

An elder of the tribe stepped forward to greet us and politely showed us to a space which had been left for us in the circle of warriors.

Sitting shoulder to shoulder with the lithe desert nomads was an extraordinary and exhilarating experience. Their eyes shone and their naked skins glistened as the light of the mulga wood fire flickered on the background of spinifex, ghost gums and towering ranges.

Led by the Wongi who had first greeted us the men sang in restrained but high-pitched voices. Each song lasted only a few minutes and finished with a "WEEEEEE" that gradually tapered off. A few seconds later the Wongi would commence another song.

After a while the Wongi began dancing to the singing. Crouched in a semi-stooping position with their feet eighteen inches or so apart, they simply progressed in a circle around the fire in a rhythmic jumping movement. With each jump they slapped their thighs. The dances did not vary.

To help add something to the entertainment Stuart and I joined the dancers and attempted to emulate them. Our efforts caused great hilarity. Many of the Wongi doubled up with laughter and had to reel out of the circle and recover before they could take their place again.

Later in the evening, when it became apparent that the Wongi had exhausted their choral repertoire, Stuart and I felt that we should make a further contribution to the entertainment. Although neither of us knew the complete words of any one song, we had a vague idea of some and we sang them to the best of our ability. The Wongi were highly delighted. They picked up the tunes remarkably quickly and towards the end of a song would join in with us. Afterwards some hummed the tunes softly to themselves.



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