Over the Range

by Ion L. Idriess

Sunshine and Shadow in the Kimberleys.
This is the thrilling record of and expedition Mr Idriess made with the Nor'West mounted police patrol in 1933 into the wild, treacherous country north of the King Leopold Ranges. True tales are recorded of cattle spearers, native outlaws and the manner in which the patrol hunted down the killers.

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Ion Llewellyn Idriess, who won the Order of the British Empire was a prolific and influential Australian author.He wrote over 50 books between 1927 to 1969. Idriess was able to convey an image of Australia that few of its nationals could recognise but that all of them could love and be proud of. From the pearling ships off the port of Broome, to the mighty Inland of Australia where all of Western Europe could fit several times over, Idriess experienced all of these places and attempted to convey to the reader the wonder and love he felt for his wild country.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1937, this book describes a single journey Idriess undertook with Constable Laurie O'Neill of the Western Australian Mounted Police, in the Kimberley area of northern Western Australia four years before in 1933. Specifically the journey covers ground north of the King Leopold Range - thus Over the Range from Derby, the main township in this location.

It is similar in theme to a previous Idriess book Man Tracks, except that that book contains multiple short stories about mounted police in the Kimberley, rather than a continuous narrative. Also in Man Tracks Idriess tells the stories and in this book Idriess is actually on the journey, so shares in the story.

In this book Constable O'Neill (who is referred to once by this title, henceforth as Laurie) shares his extensive knowledge of the local aborigines, their tribal behaviours, laws and ritual, their interactions with the few white settlers, the police and the aboriginal employees - trackers and assistants.

In the course of this journey they discover two murders, apprehend suspects, collect witnesses, take control of aboriginal lepers and the female companions of all these people, and bring them on the expedition to eventually return to Derby.

At the end of the day, it is an adventure story of Australia's wild north-west. It is relatively fast paced, well written, and explains the tactical advantage that the white man has over some aboriginal thinking which leaves them at a disadvantage. For example - at one point when 4 prisoners are chained to a tree overnight, there is a complex escape in which two other prisoners help pick the lock on a prisoner who does in fact escape. Had they picked the lock that linked all four to the tree instead of the lock on the prisoner, they could all have escaped the camp, then smashed the chain with rocks before spitting up, making it hard to capture all four with only the two trackers. Idreiss explains it thus: P267

Though wonderfully adept in natural ways, and showing keen thought when inclination and circumstance force him, the aboriginal seems to utterly lack that urge to carry on to a bigger and better conclusion.

Idreiss doesn't write this to belittle the aborigines, but he is forthright in explaining what he is told and experiences on this journey. Similarly I don't quote it as an example of way the aborigines are portrayed - this book isn't negative toward them, although the main aboriginal characters are mostly murderers. My point is the book and the opinions have balance.

Another quote I enjoyed, which explains the constable Laurie's day to day difficulties with tribal happenings: P194

From start to finish it was a knotty little problem for Laurie. He had to find out about it first [a crime in general, although a murder in this case], then solve it, then catch the outlaws if possible. He had to pierce the veil that shielded the action in one hundred aboriginal minds, then quickly assemble the facts by his aboriginal knowledge, aided by a wide local geography and knowledge of the hard-doer outside blacks and of their country. In addition he had to foresee the action of many as point by point he solved the case. The police officer on patrol has an interesting job, but he must have gained a wide and practical experience of the aboriginal, be blessed with bush-mastery of high order, have initiative, and the aptitude to retain a quick grasp of locality in an imperfectly mapped country.

4 stars.

[Lee Belbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great insights into early Oz