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H. J. McCooey part 15

Yowie / Bigfoot

M'Cooey on the Kanaka.
Worker (Brisbane, Qld.)
Date: August 25, 1900
Page Number: 6

(FOR THE WORKER.)
     I've been studying the kanaka for several months, and assert emphatically that he is a fraud, a hypocrite, and a gigantic and patent curse.
     Near Ipswich there is a sugar hell, and much cane is grown in the district. Ninety-five one-hundredths of the farmers of the district are Germans, and, strange to say, also Methodists. Many of them employ kanakas during the cane-cutting season, and some employ them all the year round. About 9s. per week, payable at the expiration of the time they are engaged for—mostly six months—is the average wage. Only among cane, pineapples, and sweet potatoes is the kanaka, according to the bond entered into with the Government by the employer, supposed to be worked ; but said bond is openly set at defiance, and Tommy Tanna is set to work at anything and everything.
     Absolutely unable to tell the difference between the big letter A and the gable end of a stable, T. Tanna, Esq., nevertheless carries and parades an English Bible and Sankey's hymn book. He immediately catches the tone of his employer's religious creed or fad, and straightaway regularly attends his (the employer's) particular Gospel mill. Also, he attempts, frantically, to sing, and horribly grunts and snorts. He even attempts to pray, and when the wretched, pitiful hypocrite stammers out that "Gezat Klite died on clorse to save it me, poor black man," blasphemy in its most virulent and aggravate form is successfully achieved.
     A wretched pretender and hypocrite himself, his employers are equally as hypocritical, or even more so. Encouraged in his shameless blasphemies with ejaculations of "Yes, brother! Praise God for that, brother !" the pitiful and shameless hypocrite glories in the mysterious jargon of words which, parrot fashion, he repeats Sunday after Sunday.
     I'm ineffably disgusted with the kanaka, and regard his introduction to Queensland, as pre-eminently the worst of the innumerable curses (not excepting leprosy and bubonic plague) that ever befell Australia, This black-hided, filthy, foul smelling, malodoriferous hypocrite crowns his infamy by being a servile cringling, a boss's white-headed boy, a sneak and a tattler, even against his own countrymen. He smokes only when his boss's back is turned. He never drinks grog - except when a white man pays for it and the "boss" is not about. In heaven's name when are we Australians going to arise as one man and wipe this odious, smelliferous species of human vermin from the face of this unfortunate country?
     To see one of these kanaka hypocrites— and they know they're hypocrites— returning from a prayer meeting loaded with tracts given him by sentimental skittish school girls, and going direct to the "boss" to have them read and interpreted, is a sight which, by heaven, makes one yearn for a meat-axe to split him down with! Why the kanaka has't been split down in Queensland and Murwillumbah, N.S.W., years ago, is to me a mystery. Will our vaunted Federation send this wretched parasite— this unclean and uncouth monster out of Australia? Australia feverishly awaits the answer.
     The odious, servile kanaka from Australia should immediately go. When is he to go ? When, in God's name, will he go? When will he be shunted ? Hundreds—probably thousands—of genuine Australian workmen are hungrily and hopelessly tramping Australia, wishing and willing—God help them—to work—to work at anything, to live, to subsist—and can't get work, simply because the kanaka has effectually supplanted them. I say this with horror ; but, I say it with truth. If this state of things continue only a few short years longer blood will be spilt—black blood, the blood of the kanaka and all other colours.

H. J. M'Cooey. Brisbane.

Kanaka was the term for a worker from various Pacific Islands employed in British colonies, such as British Columbia (Canada), Fiji and Queensland (Australia) in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

White Society used them as labourers when needed and discarded them when no longer needed: they were coerced and expendable labour

Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission 1992

In fact the poem Tommy Tanna is sub-titled From a White Woman to her Kanaka Swain ... In the 19th century, Kanaks were brought from the South Pacific, mostly against their will, to work in Queensland's cane fields. The poem, published in The Bulletin, must have been controversial: it was quite common, no doubt, for white men to have sex with female Kanaks but quite unthinkable for a white woman to seduce or be seduced by a black male of any description.     SOURCE

Tommy Tanna

I love your strong and brawny arm,
Your glossy hide of ebon,
Your pretty little freehold farm,
Your purse, the dress, the ribbon.
I can endure your charming smell,
For you are still a man a lady can admire quite well,
My darling Tommy Tanna.

The planter in his mood of sin
Has still an eye to cast on
A buxom, comely island gin,
To whom he fastens fast on.
And you’re a planter, though you’re black,
You swear your love.
How can a white girl turn on you her back,
Dear wealthy Tommy Tanna.

For you’re the saviour of our land,
Our industry you cherish.
Were you from Queensland ever banned,
The sugarcane would perish.
I love the country. I love you.
Come to my arms Alanna.
You’ll find me constant, leal and true,
My darling Tommy Tanna.

From a poem published anonymously as “From a White Woman to Her Kanaka Swain” in The Bulletin, Sydney, 1895.     SOURCE

Whoa - another side of McCooey...

Australian Snakes and Snakebite.
Worker (Brisbane, Qld.)
Date: August 25, 1900
Page Number: 6

By H. J. M'Cooey.
...
There are two certain cures for snake-bite. The first is the immediate application of tight ligatures above and below the place bitten, incision of the wounded place, and vigorous sucking of the blood from the wound... The other reliable cure for snakebite—and the only one recognised by up-to-date scientists—is hypodermis injections
of serum obtained from an animal previously rendered immune by injections of snake poison. The only formidable objection or drawback to the general use of this genuine antidote is its scarcity and expensiveness.
...

McCooey seems to have abandoned his earlier cure for snake bite - ie placing the affected limb in running water.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT DALBY.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld.)
Date: January 2, 1901
Page Number: 4

(By Telegraph from Our Correspondent.)
DALBY, January 1.
     The well-known naturalist and writer, J. H. M'Cooey, attempted to commit suicide at the Jubilee Sanatorium yesterday morning. He made a most determined attempt to cut his throat, and, failing to sever the jugular vein, he cut a severe gash in his tongue. When discovered he was immediately brought into the general hospital, where he is now in a precarious condition.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY.
THE SONG BIRDS.
Queensland Country Life (Qld.)
Date: March 1, 1902
Page Number: 5

...
And yet, forsooth, the fable exists that our birds are not songsters!!! No libel, fortunately, is more easily disproved, or received by Australians with more just derision. In like manner the absurd belief obtains among a certain class of the wilfully ignorant that our flowers have no perfume! Yet they smell none the less sweetly on this account. Absurd fables of this species die hard. That they ever found believers is what creates most wonder nowadays.

H. J. MCCOOEY, M.L.S., ETC

Sheep and Cattle Eat Poisoned Rabbits.
AN EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT.
Wagga Wagga Advertiser (NSW)
Date: March 22, 1902
Page Number: 4

Mr. H. J. M'Cooey, the naturalist, so lemely avers that hungry sheep and cattle will eat poisoned rabbits. "The scientific truth of this singular fact," he writes, "was first discovered by me in 1887, on the Lower Macquarie River, 60 miles below Warren. Pigs at that time became an absolute nuisance on Hill and Clarke's Batterbone station, and poison was used to attempt their extermination. Sheep and cattle began to die simultaneously with the pigs, and the fact became clearly proved that eating poisoned rabbits was the cause. Out West both in this State and in Queensland, wherever rabbit poisoning is adopted, a marked mortality in sheep and cattle inevitably ensues; so much so, as to oblige the station owners to order the burial or destruction of all dead rabbits. Nor is this all, for fires spring from even the dead bodies of phosphorus poisoned rabbits. If general stock inspectors don't know, and haven't imparted to stock owners, the fact that stock will eat and die of poisoned rabbits they are unqualified to hold the position, and should be promptly reported to headquarters for ignorance, stupidity and remissness."

Australian Natural History.
Queensland Country Life (Qld.)
Date: April 1, 1902
Page Number: 5

...
Bushmen will stare with wonder and admiration at some wax figure in the window of a city barber; but in the wide wild bush they are totally un observant. The three-legged dwarf in the show tent olaims their earnest attention, whereas, the manifold marvels of their own bright wonderland, the bush, awakens only superficial attention, or, more probably, indifference verging upon contempt. Nor does the advance of public instruction modify this state of things; the Australian, with a few brilliant exceptions, is essentially non observant as regards matters connected with bushland his home.

H. J. MoCOOEY. M.L.R.

The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.)
Date: May 10, 1902
Page Number: 1012

Is this our McCooey?

A NEW SNAKE.
Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW)
Date: May 30, 1902
Page Number: 29

Mr. H. J. M'Cooey, the naturalist, describes in the Narandera Ensign on Friday a new venomous snake, recently discovered by him in North Queensland. The reptile he dedicated to the Right Hon. Edmund Barton, under the name of "Queenslandia Bartoni." The dedication reads as follows : — "I make no apology, and expect neither favour nor censure, for dedicating this new and unique ophidian to the Right Honourable Edmund Barton, Prime Minister for the Commonwealth of Australia." The dedication is minute and lengthy, and it is described by Mr. M'Cooey as a new genus, as well as a new species.

Sir Edmund (Toby) Barton
(1849-1920)
Federationist, first prime minister and judge

Queenslandia Bartoni

NEW SPECIES OF SNAKE.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW)
Date: June 4, 1902
Page Number: 8

Mr. H. J. M'Cooey, the naturalist, is in Narrandera, having come from Brisbane a few weeks ago. A black snake 8ft 4in. long, has been given him, which he insists is a new species, and which he has named and described under the name of "Pseudechis Hopetouni." in honor of the Governor-General. Mr. M'Cooey says that this reptile will revolutionise snake literature in Australia. The specimen Mr. M'Cooey will give to the Australian Museum, Sydney. Several unique specimens of aboriginal stone axes have been given to the naturalist, who has done so much for zoological and ethnological science in this State.

Pseudechis Hopetouni

seventh Earl of Hopetoun
(1860-1908)
Governor-general

Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW)
Date: June 21, 1902
Page Number: 13

J H McCooey, the naturalist crank, claims to have discovered a new venomous snake, and has dedicated it to Toby Barton, and named it "Queenslandi Bartoni." He writes : "I make no apology, and expect neither favor or censure, for dedicating this new and unique ophidian to the Right Hon. Edmund Barton." Does he insinuate that the "right honorable" is a reptile ?

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW)
Date: June 27, 1902
Page Number: 5

NARANDERA, Thursday
     A highly successful social, inaugurated by the fire brigade to raise funds for the purchase of an extra reel and hose, took place this evening. The proceeds were £12. Mr H. J. M'Cooey, naturalist, addressed the audience, and signified his intention to deliver a lecture on Australian snakes and snakebite for the fire brigade. A vote of thanks to Mr. M'Cooey was carried by acclamation.

"QUEENSLANDIA BARTONI."

Evening News (Sydney, NSW)
Date: July 9, 1902
Page Number: 8

Mr. H. J. M'Cooey (Narrandera) writes:—In your recent interesting and judicious sub-leader in re a new Queensland snake ("Queenslandia Bartoni," M'Cooey, "Narrandera Ensign," May 30, 1902), you state, inter alia, that the wording of my dedication, was unnecessary, inasmuch as, in dedicating the ophidean to Premier Barton I intended to pay him a high and lasting compliment. In this connection I desire, with your kind permission, to make my position, and attitude also absolutely clear. In naming this reptile after Mr. Barton I chose him as a medium through which the snake could be brought into public prominence, and by this means perhaps attract zoological collectors' attention to it, with the possible result of having more of the species forwarded by someone to the Museums. As to whether I was conferring an honour or otherwise on Mr. Barton by dedicating the new reptile to him I never once considered, and as to his attitude in connection therewith, I do not care a brass farthing what or how he thinks. He won't send me a cheque to enable me to further prosecute my much hampered scientific investigations. If I have not honored Mr. Barton by my dedication to him of a new and absolutely unique venomous snake, I have by a mere, stroke or two of my pen conferred upon him scientific immortality—an immortality, I conceive, which his legislative and administrative career as first Premier of the Australian Commonwealth is eminently unlikely to achieve for him. Zoology in Australia, though an eminently progressive, is emphatically not a popular science. And to insure popularity scientific discoverers are often obliged, much against their innate inclinations, to immortalise even mediocre Premiers in-order to achieve for their discoveries popularity. Verbum sat sapienti.

THE RABBIT PEST AND ITS CURE.
Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW)
Date: August 8, 1902
Page Number: 27

...
Every school boy knows that the cardinal mistake in this connection was to ever treat the rabbit at all as a pest. It is, and was from its introduction, an exceedingly valuable asset.
...
It would be the height of unreason to expect effective legislation from men whose incapacity is patent to a mere schoolboy, or an intelligent aboriginal...

I am, &c.,
H. J. M'COOEY.
Wagga Wagga, August 4.