black-tracker

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


an aboriginal employed intracking criminals.

1867. `Australia as it is,' pp. 88-9:

«The native police, or `black trackers,' as they are sometimescalled, are a body of aborigines trained to act as policemen,serving under a white commandant – – a very clever expedient forcoping with the difficulty . . . of hunting down and discoveringmurderous blacks, and others guilty of spearing cattle andbreaking into huts . . .»

1870. `The Argus,' March 26, p. 5, col. 4:

«The troopers, with the assistance of two black trackers,pursued the bushrangers . . .»

1870. Ibid. April 13, p. 6, col. 7:

. . . two members of the police force and a black tracker . . .called at Lima station . . .»

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. xvii. p. 165:

«Get the black-trackers on the trail.»

1893. `The Argus,' April 8, p. 4, col. 3 .

«Only three weeks before he had waddied his gin to death foranswering questions put to her by a blacktracker, and now headvanced to Charlie . . . and said,. . . `What for you come alongablack fella camp?'»

1896. `The Argus,' March 30, p. 6, col. 9:

«About one hundred and fifty horsemen have been out to-day inaddition to the local police. The black-trackers arrived bythe train last night, and commenced work this morning.»

Related Words