The Gordons have taken upon the unusual role of protecting
and offering a place to live to the Kalchut tribe, a group of about 60
aborigines. They have shielded them from de-tribalization by governments and
missionaries. The Kalchuts are amongst the last tribes in Australia
living a traditional lifestyle.
Old Lacey, a vigorous 70 years old, dominates Karwir clearly
intending to run Karwir until he dies.
Jack Anderson, a stockman for Karwir, disappears while
checking fences during a rare heavy rain. The local police investigation is
unable to even determine if he is dead let alone whether he has been murdered.
Many suspect the Kalchuts as Anderson
has brutally assaulted two members of the tribe and never faced criminal
charges. At the same time all acknowledge that he was disliked by almost
everyone in the area of Opal Town .
Napoleon “Bony” Bonaparte is summoned some months later to
undertake a new investigation. Heedless of time he advises he will take months
if necessary to determine what happened to Anderson .
His knowledge of tracking and keen skills of observation are
well described by Upfield. Yet Bony also embraces modern science. A microscope
is used in the analysis of evidence.
As he patiently determines the facts those involved in Anderson ’s
disappearance grow more worried that he will fulfill his prideful statement
that he has never failed to solve a case.
An interesting aspect of the book for me was the role of
rabbits. For the first time in my reading I specifically learned of the
problems caused by the exploding rabbit population in rural Australia
and how the people coped with them.
At the heart of the book is the interaction between the half
caste Bony and the Kalchut. He dresses, talks and lives the life of white
Australians though only reluctantly accepted by them. Were he not an obviously
gifted investigator he would be marginalized. At the same time he remains
attached to his maternal aboriginal origins. He is conflicted about his mixed
blood. While proud of his skills from his aboriginal ancestry he sees white
society as the modern way.
The title refers to a traditional aboriginal method of
punishment. Barely more than witchcraft for most whites “bone pointing” is a
terrifying and real to aboriginal Australians. The power of the mind is potent.
The language of the book will make current readers
cringe on occasion in how aboriginal people are looked down upon and crudely
dealt with by white Australians. I do not see it often in crime fiction but
there was a female character just as prejudiced as the men.
It was clear to me as I read the book that Upfield had
respect for and appreciation of aboriginal people and culture. Subsequently, in
Arthur William Upfield – A Biography
by Travis B. Lindsey I read from a letter Upfield wrote to J.K. Ewers at the
time he wrote the book in the late 1930’s about his intentions with the book:
I set out to write a readable
book having much aboriginal law centred around the ancient boning of a human
being. The more anthropologists of repute study the Australian abo. the further
they are mystified by the origin of the race, and the more clearly do they come
to think that the race was highly developed when the white and yellow races
were human gorillas. I know that the general idea of the abos., based on the Bulletin drawings and jokes is that they
are half-wits, and here I have tried to make people understand that the reverse
is the truth.
As with most books in the Bony series it could not have been
set anywhere else but Australia .
The plot is so closely tied to the land, the weather, the people and the
cultures of the outback.
It is the best book I have read in the series. It is both
psychological and physical with a subtle interplay between mind and body. (Jan.
20/13)
Upfield, Arthur - (2011) - Cake in the Hat Box; (2011) - The Widows of Broome (2011) - "U" is for Arthur Upfield; (2011) - The Bushman Who Came Back; (2012) - The Will of the Tribe; (2012) - The Battling Prophet; (2012) - "U" is for Arthur W. Upfield
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My earlier posts on Arthur Upfield and his books are:Upfield, Arthur - (2011) - Cake in the Hat Box; (2011) - The Widows of Broome (2011) - "U" is for Arthur Upfield; (2011) - The Bushman Who Came Back; (2012) - The Will of the Tribe; (2012) - The Battling Prophet; (2012) - "U" is for Arthur W. Upfield
Bill - I think you've highlighted two things that Upfield did extremely well. He depicted the lives of the aboriginal people with dignity even while being honest about the prevailing assumptions about them. And that is not easy. He also was I think a master at creating a sense of place and context. The reader really feels the setting - well, this reader anyway.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. I equally believe Upfield did well in the areas you described. I appreciate authors who capture their settings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill for your comment of the book "The bone is pointed"; I am French and live in Paris, and I take a great pleasure reading this book. This takes a long time to me because of the language barrier but the preasure is great, great!!. Sylvie
ReplyDeleteSylvie: Thanks for the comment. I am glad you enjoyed the book and hope to hear from you again.
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