Nourlangie Safari Camp, Episode 20

Nourlangie Safari Camp, here is 9SLK
Is anybody listening? (My radio code)
From the Diaries of Flemming Jensen 1968-1969

Wednesday, February 26th

I was afraid I had crashed the Nissan. The cooling system was not working. It boiled and seized after just one kilometre drive. It appeared however to be the belt that had fallen off so there was something to watch before I went on a hunt.
Patra was unfortunately the one who saw our only buffalo first. It disappeared with Patra in heels. It is in such moments that I say that it is the last time that Patra is on the hunt.
On the way home we met the puppies but it was not the only agony. I had at a critical point on the road filled knee deep holes with palm trunks and then put a tin plate over them. I took them from where the Holden and later the Nissan had sunk in.
When I barely got through I had to admit that it would be some time before I could run through here again. It would simply be too risky.
When I got home I changed the battery in the Nissan to charge the second one so that I could hear the radio. However there were no telegrams and the water pump would still not start.
If I can fall asleep with the noise I will go early to bed tonight. The dogs are barking with the slightest noise and the frogs are croaking.
If the weather permits I will get up early and get the ’buff’ in the morning as I have no more biscuits for the dogs and they look at me with hungry eyes.

Thursday, February 27th

I was up early and took off. Now there should be something. Unfortunately there were no buffalo but after a hectic and exciting hunt we got a hit on a huge wild boar. What teeth it had.
It was only wounded in the first game and then took refuge in the dense shrubbery. We had to have it out of there and that was something Patra took care of but that it chose to attack me I had not quite expected.
Luckily I was ready and sent it the last shot as it came rushing towards me. In a few seconds there was excitement as this black long brushed monster with foam at the mouth and with these fearsome teeth sticking out of his jaw set the course for me.
Once again an example of how dangerous and erratic a wounded animal is. Fearless and desperate. Luckily it was so close that I could barely avoid hitting it straight in the head and he ended his days on his stomach just in front of me.
I came on a hard task when I had to cut him up. I had never before tried to cut up a wild boar and in many places there is a thick layer of fat which makes it no easier.
I had to walk twice as far today than I used to because I could not drive as far from the camp as before I started the hunt.
When I got home there was plenty to do. The old girls should have their rations and a piece of meat of course. A dish for the last few days and then just make sure to hang the meat up and clean. A little breakfast I should have also. When everything was over I took a little nap, a well-deserved nap.
When I woke up I baked oatmeal cakes which I’m about to eat now. Of course at dinner the menu was pork meat. It is nice with a little change.

Friday, February 28th

When the lawn mower is not working and the grass grows as hell, I have restricted myself to only cut the grass with the scythe where I walk, up to the hut, over to the toilet and so on. The dogs do not get much exercise so I have decided to take them all out on a long hike. Up to the airstrip where the shelter is knocked down after the last couple of days of fierce storms.
From here we continued deep into the forest where they were given ample opportunity to run around after wallabies. In the middle of the woods I spotted a fire. As I got closer I saw that Laura was sitting by it. She did not wear any clothes but as I approached, she put a little skirt on.
Civilization had despite everything made an impression on her modesty.
She was surrounded by a lot of dogs but not dingoes, but at any time just as dangerous. They are ferocious and can attack anytime.
So in a way we can say that they take care of Laura. She did get the dogs away so we could talk together. Her dog had caught a few small wallabies, goannas, bandicoot and others unknown to me, little four-legged hairy animals from the forest.
They were now being prepared. Some were roasted over the fire while others lay in neat order and wait while flies and ants seem to get their share of the meal.
She told me where I could find buffalo when I said I would try to find new hunting locations. She is however not easy to understand and I offered her ’bon appétit’ and left. Luckily I was not invited to dine with her. It would have been embarrassing to refuse such an offer.
This small meeting describes probably the closest you can get when talking about primitive people and especially the Aborigines. It’s fun to imagine in relation to this reality that we will soon send people off to the moon.
I was not fooled for a good dinner on the way home. Along the swamp the dogs tracked down a couple of small piglets. I hit one in the front leg and then the dogs ended it. I took the three legs and let the dogs take the rest.
Unfortunately one foreleg was bloodshot of the shoot so it was not worth taking. Grill roast suckling pig thighs tonight and again tomorrow is simply a treat.

Reproduced with permission: Kakadu National Park Cultural Heritage & Biodiversity Management Unit.