I maintained my dignity as far as possible, and proceeded to carry out my part of the curious ceremony.
I tapped the bright-eyed girl on the head, and she immediately fell prostrate at my feet, in token of her wifely submission.

I then raised her up gently, and all the people came dancing round us, uttering weird cries of satisfaction and delight.

Oddly enough, Yamba, far from manifesting any jealousy, seemed to take as much interest as any one in the proceedings, and after everything was over she led my new wife away to the little "humpy," or hut, that had been built for me by the women.
That night an indescribably weird _corroboree_ was held in my honour, and I thought it advisable, since so much was being made of me, to remain there all night and acknowledge the impromptu songs that were composed and sung in my honour by the native bards.

I am afraid I felt utterly lost without Yamba, who was, in the most literal sense, my right hand.
By this time she could speak a little English, and was so marvellously intelligent that she seemed to discover things by sheer intuition or instinct.

I think she never let a day go by without favourably impressing the chiefs concerning me, my prowess and my powers; and without her help I simply could not have lived through the long and weary years, nor should I ever have returned to civilisation.
The very next day after my "marriage," having been still further enlightened as to the manners and customs of the natives, I waited upon Gunda, and calmly made to him the proposition that we should exchange wives.