User:Mifren/Sandbox

Boyle Finniss' Witness account of "Rapid Bay Capt Pete" defending that River Torrens territorial line in what has become the City of Adelaide. From Adelaide City Council Records:

"At this time I was a witness of a fight on the banks of the Torrens in front of Morphett Street. Seeing a number of blacks assembling at that point, I repaired to the spot and was met by my old friend Peter, of Rapid Bay, and his tribe. The tribe was in their war paint, each man carrying shield and spear. Peter endeavoured to explain to me that they came to prevent the northern blacks entering their territory, which seems to have been bounded by the River Torrens. However, Captain Jack, of northern celebrity, had already, with the northern tribes, crossed the river and were engaged in various tactical movements which threatened war. There must have been at least a hundred blacks preparing for the fight. I saw Captain Jack, spear in hand, capering up and down the river flat in front of his myrmidons, talking very loudly and gesticulating violently. Captain Peter retorted in language which I did not comprehend. At last Captain Jack shook his spear, not at any one, but at a pretended foe, and after a few exclamations threw his spear into the ground, apparently in a great rage. This seemed the signal for combat. Captain Peter warned me to retire as the enemy were about to throw their spears. A few spears came. I stood out of the way of the combatants and watched the result. My friend Peter was captain of the southern hosts, evidently the chosen warrior of his tribe.

Rushed to the front and threw himself on one knee, covering himself with his shield in the left hand and balancing his spear at arm's length in the right hand, His warriors followed his example and ranged themselves on his right and left, receding so as to form a wedge, of which Peter was the front and apex. It recalled to mind my school-boy recollections of the Grecian phalanx, described in Polybius, and the Greek wedge formation. A shower of spears came from Captain Jack's party and the wedge grew restive. I could not see if any fell in this short contest, but I presume the northern tribes yielded to their fear of the southern prowess and began to disperse, while Peter rose up with his warriors and again entered into conversation with me, the result being that he was the victor. The northern blacks were tall, lanky figures, very lean and covered with white scales of a scorbutic appearance. I cannot say that they carried shields or that they fought like practised warriors. They were but a mob, while Peter's army were powerful, well-fed blacks, armed with shield and spear, and apparently well trained to use them."