Just found an exceptional archive site of Australian resources, including provincial colonial newspapers, here:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]As a sample of the odd things that turned up, here is some passing casual racism from a Queensland town rag regarding Cetchwayo's visit to London in August 1882...
Warwick Argus (St. Lucia, Qld. : 1879 - 1901): Tuesday 17 October 1882
"The London papers to hand by last mail give long accounts of the doings of Cetewayo and his Zulu chiefs in the English capital
It is related that they were housed in a splendidly furnished mansion in Melbury Road, and that when they were informed the Queen had decided to restore them to their native country, they executed a wild war dance and spent some hours in joyous song. The way Cetcwayo leapt over the couch, stood on his head on the hearth-rug, and turned a somersault over the dining-table, was some= thing to remember. The housekeeper grew alarmed as the dance continued, and the ceiling below began to fall in showers; but she didn't send for the district surveyor until one of the chiefs seized the chandelier, swung himself up into it, and began a few gymnsa- tic feats of the Zuluogical order. Then the good lady thought it time to knock at the door, and say, as the gas was escaping, and the floor had begun to crack, perhaps the royal party would adjourn to the back garden, and continue tbe celebration in honour of the royal restoration there, though perhaps His Majesty wouldn't mind doing his pas seul as far from the centre bed of geraniums as con- venient ."Dagonet" of the Referee, sup- plies the following as a correct translation of
CETEWAYO'S SONG OF JOY.
Boberah wollah and goorah ooh,
Hoopety woopety dooden do .
Nobber no more de black King cry,
Tear him wooley or wish him die.
Gladstone give him his kingdom back ;
D- John Dunny, he get the sack !
Drink old tommy as much as we can
Here's to do helt of de grand old man !
Bangery-wangery, rumpty-roy,
Zulu warrior dance wif Joy;
Turning somersaults dere and here,
Smack In de eye for Bartle Frere.
Little gray man play black King tricks,
But English people dey regular bricks.
So drain old tommy In great big pails
To England's Queen and de Prince ob Wales
The "grand old man" alluded to in the fore going is Mr. Gladstone, the " little grey
man" Sir Bartle Frere.Fix this text
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