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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Journals Of Two Expeditions Of Discovery In
+North-West And Western Australia, Vol. 2 (of 2), by George Grey
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Journals Of Two Expeditions Of Discovery In North-West And Western Australia, Vol. 2 (of 2)
+
+Author: George Grey
+
+Release Date: June 29, 2005 [EBook #16145]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNALS OF TWO EXPEDITIONS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Sue Asscher and Col Choat
+
+
+
+
+
+JOURNALS
+
+OF
+
+TWO EXPEDITIONS OF DISCOVERY
+
+IN
+
+NORTH-WEST AND WESTERN
+
+AUSTRALIA,
+
+DURING THE YEARS 1837, 1838, AND 1839,
+
+Under the Authority of Her Majesty's Government.
+
+DESCRIBING
+
+MANY NEWLY DISCOVERED, IMPORTANT, AND
+FERTILE DISTRICTS,
+
+WITH
+
+OBSERVATIONS ON THE MORAL AND PHYSICAL
+CONDITION OF THE ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS, ETC. ETC.
+
+BY GEORGE GREY, ESQUIRE.
+
+GOVERNOR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA;
+
+Late Captain of the Eighty-third Regiment.
+
+...
+
+IN TWO VOLUMES.
+
+VOLUME 2.
+
+...
+
+LONDON:
+
+T. AND W. BOONE, 29 NEW BOND STREET.
+
+1841.
+
+...
+
+
+
+CONTENTS OF VOLUME 2.
+
+
+CHAPTER 1. FROM GANTHEAUME BAY TO THE HUTT RIVER.
+
+WRECK OF THE SECOND BOAT IN GANTHEAUME BAY.
+EXPLORE IN ITS VICINITY.
+ESTUARY AND SCENERY ABOUT IT.
+PROVISIONS DIVIDED.
+START FOR PERTH.
+GEOLOGICAL REMARKS.
+CROSS A DISTRICT OF RED SANDSTONE.
+PLAINS ABOUNDING IN THE WARRAN PLANT.
+SUPERIOR NATIVE PATHS AND WELLS.
+ESTUARY OF THE HUTT.
+DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY AND SCENERY.
+PROGRESS OPPOSED BY NATIVES.
+THE HUTT RIVER.
+FIRST HILLS OF THE SOUTHERN IRONSTONE FORMATION.
+
+
+CHAPTER 2. FROM THE HUTT RIVER TO WATER PEAK.
+
+WILD TURKEYS SEEN.
+DIFFICULTY OF URGING THE PARTY FORWARD.
+THE BOWES RIVER.
+NATIVE HUTS.
+THE VICTORIA RANGE AND DISTRICT.
+THE BULLER RIVER.
+THE CHAPMAN RIVER.
+SEARCH FOR A MISSING MAN.
+SCENE WITH NATIVES.
+RETURN OF PARTY FROM SEARCH.
+THE MAN FOUND.
+THE GREENOUGH RIVER.
+CROSS THE HEADS OF TWO BAYS.
+MORE NATIVE HUTS.
+AUSTRALIND.
+THE IRWIN RIVER.
+SEARCH FOR WATER.
+WATER PEAK HILL.
+BENIGHTED IN RETURNING TO THE PARTY.
+
+
+CHAPTER 3. FROM WATER PEAK TO GAIRDNER'S RANGE.
+
+RETURN TO THE PARTY.
+DESTRUCTION OF USELESS BAGGAGE.
+CRITICAL SITUATION.
+DIVIDE THE PARTY, AND PROCEED WITH THE STRONGEST TO PERTH FOR ASSISTANCE.
+ARRANGEMENTS AT STARTING.
+THE ARROWSMITH RIVER.
+NATIVES.
+MOUNT HORNER.
+GAIRDNER'S RANGE.
+GENEROUS CONDUCT OF ONE OF THE MEN.
+
+
+CHAPTER 4. FROM GAIRDNER'S RANGE TO PERTH.
+
+THE HILL RIVER.
+DISCOVERY OF A NATIVE PROVISION STORE.
+BARREN COUNTRY.
+SUFFERINGS FROM THIRST.
+SMITH'S RIVER.
+LONG AND UTTER DESTITUTION OF FOOD AND WATER.
+UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR WATER WITH KAIBER.
+HIS TREACHEROUS INTENTIONS.
+RETURN TO THE MEN.
+DISTRESSING SYMPTOMS FROM THIRST.
+LAST EFFORTS.
+FORTUNATE DISCOVERY OF A MOIST MUD-HOLE.
+PANGS OF HUNGER.
+RIVER OF RUNNING WATER.
+NATIVE SUPERSTITIONS.
+MISERY FROM RAIN AND COLD.
+PASS THE MOORE RIVER.
+JOYFUL INTERVIEW WITH A FRIENDLY TRIBE.
+NATIVE HOSPITALITY.
+SUPERSTITIONS OF MY MEN.
+ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION AT PERTH.
+
+
+CHAPTER 5. FROM WATER PEAK TO PERTH.
+
+(MR. WALKER'S PARTY.)
+
+PARTY SENT IN SEARCH FROM PERTH.
+RETURN WITH CHARLES WOODS.
+SECOND PARTY IN SEARCH, UNDER MR. ROE.
+ARRIVAL OF MR. WALKER AT PERTH.
+NARRATIVE OF THEIR PROCEEDINGS FROM WATER PEAK.
+EXTREME DISTRESS FROM HUNGER AND THIRST.
+DEATH OF MR. SMITH.
+TIMELY DISCOVERY OF THE REST BY MR. ROE.
+MR. ROE'S REPORT.
+
+
+CHAPTER 6. SUMMARY OF DISCOVERIES.
+
+RIVERS AND MOUNTAIN RANGES DISCOVERED.
+DISTRICTS OF BABBAGE AND VICTORIA.
+MR. MOORE'S VOYAGE TO HOUTMAN'S ABROLHOS AND PORT GREY.
+DISTRICT TO THE NORTH OF PERTH.
+
+
+CHAPTER 7. VOYAGE HOMEWARDS.
+
+NATURAL HISTORY.
+
+
+CHAPTER 8. THE OVERLANDERS.
+
+CLASS OF PERSONS.
+THEIR MODE OF LIFE.
+SUDDEN ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH.
+EFFECTS OF THEIR ENTERPRISES.
+MAGNITUDE OF THEIR OPERATIONS.
+RAPID INCREASE OF WEALTH IN NEW SETTLEMENTS.
+SPREAD OF STOCK STATIONS.
+COURSE OF THE OVERLANDERS THROUGH AUSTRALIA.
+COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
+GENERAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE SPREAD OF COMMERCE AND EMIGRATION.
+
+
+THE ABORIGINES.
+
+CHAPTER 9. NATIVE LANGUAGE.
+
+RADICALLY THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT.
+CAUSES OF A CONTRARY OPINION.
+DIFFERENCE OF DIALECTS.
+EXAMPLES.
+CAUSES OF ERROR IN FORMER ENQUIRERS.
+
+
+CHAPTER 10. THEIR TRADITIONAL LAWS.
+
+ERRORS OF THEORETICAL WRITERS REGARDING THE SAVAGE STATE.
+COMPLEX LAWS OF SAVAGE LIFE.
+CONSIDERATIONS ON THEIR ORIGIN.
+
+
+CHAPTER 11. LAWS OF RELATIONSHIP, MARRIAGE, AND INHERITANCE.
+
+RELATIONSHIP AND MARRIAGE.
+DIVISION OF FAMILIES.
+LAW OF MARRIAGE.
+COINCIDENT INSTITUTIONS AMONGST THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
+ORIGIN OF FAMILY NAMES.
+SECOND COINCIDENCE.
+BETROTHMENTS.
+WIDOWS.
+OBLIGATIONS OF RELATIONSHIP.
+DIFFICULTY OF PURSUING THE ENQUIRY.
+PROPERTY VESTED IN INDIVIDUALS.
+UNIVERSALITY OF THIS CUSTOM.
+LINE OF INHERITANCE.
+CERTAIN LAWS REGARDING FOOD.
+
+
+CHAPTER 12. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.
+
+SUPERSTITIOUS REVENGE OF NATURAL DEATH.
+MURDER.
+STEALING A WIFE.
+BREACH OF MARRIAGE LAWS.
+IMPLICATION OF A MURDERER'S FAMILY IN HIS CRIME.
+ORDEAL AND PUNISHMENT FOR OTHER TRANSGRESSIONS.
+
+
+CHAPTER 13. SOCIAL CONDITION AND DOMESTIC HABITS.
+
+POPULATION.
+TERM OF LIFE.
+CONDITION OF OLD AGE.
+AND OF YOUNG WOMEN.
+AVERAGE PROPORTION OF BIRTHS.
+IDIOTS AND LUNATICS.
+INFLUENCE OF POLYGAMY ON SOCIAL HABITS.
+MODE OF CONVERSATIONAL INTERCOURSE.
+CONSEQUENCES OF JEALOUSY.
+DANCES.
+CEREMONIES ON MEETING.
+
+
+CHAPTER 14. FOOD AND HUNTING.
+
+ERRORS REGARDING SCARCITY OF THEIR FOOD.
+VARIETIES OF IT IN DIFFERENT LATITUDES.
+CAUSES OF OCCASIONAL WANT.
+LIST OF EDIBLE ARTICLES.
+IMPLEMENTS FOR DESTROYING ANIMALS.
+CONTENTS OF A NATIVE WOMAN'S BAG.
+DIFFERENT METHODS OF CATCHING KANGAROOS.
+COOKING A KANGAROO.
+METHODS OF TAKING AND COOKING FISH.
+FEASTING ON A STRANDED WHALE.
+KILLING WILD DOGS.
+TURTLE.
+BIRDS.
+OPOSSUMS.
+FROGS.
+SHELLFISH.
+GRUBS, AND WALLABIES.
+EDIBLE ROOTS AND SEEDS.
+MODE OF COOKING AND PREPARING THEM.
+FUNGI.
+GUMS.
+COMMON RIGHTS IN CERTAIN FOOD.
+
+
+CHAPTER 15. SONGS AND POETRY.
+
+GENERAL PRACTICE OF SINGING.
+SONG OF AN OLD MAN IN WRATH.
+POETS.
+TRADITIONAL SONGS.
+NATIVE OPINION OF EUROPEAN SINGING.
+EXAMPLES OF SONGS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS.
+INFLUENCE OF SONGS IN ROUSING THE ANGRY PASSIONS OF THE MEN.
+
+
+CHAPTER 16. FUNERAL CEREMONIES, SUPERSTITIONS, AND REMARKABLE CUSTOMS.
+
+DEATH AND BURIAL OF A NATIVE NEAR PERTH.
+BURIAL OF A NATIVE IN THE LESCHENAULT DISTRICT.
+CUSTOM OF LACERATING THEMSELVES, AND WATCHING AMONG THE GRAVES.
+THE BOYL-YAS OR NATIVE SORCERERS.
+KAIBER'S ACCOUNT OF THEM.
+THEIR OPINION OF THE NIGHTMARE.
+VENERATION FOR CRYSTAL STONES.
+CIRCUMCISION.
+OTHER CUSTOMS.
+
+
+CHAPTER 17. CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES.
+
+MIAGO'S IMAGINARY SPEECH AS GOVERNOR.
+WARRUP'S ACCOUNT OF HIS JOURNEY WITH MR. ROE.
+TRANSACTIONS WITH THE NATIVES IN A CASE OF POTATO STEALING.
+JUDICIAL CASE OF ASSAULT.
+
+
+CHAPTER 18. INFLUENCE OF EUROPEANS ON THE NATIVES.
+
+CAUSES WHY IT HAS NOT HITHERTO BEEN BENEFICIAL.
+WRETCHED STATE OF THE NATIVE POPULATION.
+PREJUDICES AGAINST THEM.
+EVIL EFFECTS FROM THEIR FEROCIOUS CUSTOMS REMAINING UNCHECKED.
+PLAN FOR PROMOTING THEIR CIVILIZATION.
+
+...
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+1. Native of Western Australia.
+Captain Grey, delt. G. Foggo, Lithographer. M. and N. Hanhart,
+Lithographic
+Printers.
+
+2. Mount Victoria and Mount Albert.
+
+3. Glaucus, Sp.
+
+3a. Janthina.
+
+4. Cymothoa, Sp.
+
+5. Stenopteryx, Sp.
+
+6. Form of basaltic dykes at Gregory's Valley, St. Helena.
+
+7. Geological Section from Gregory's Valley, St. Helena.
+
+8. Crossing Cattle over the Murray, near Lake Alexandrina.
+Drawn on stone by George Barnard from a sketch by G. Hamilton, Esquire.
+M. and N. Hanhart, Lithographic Printers, 64 Charlotte Street, Rathbone
+Place.
+
+9. Basaltic Rocks, Campaspi River, near Port Phillip.
+Drawn on stone by George Barnard from a sketch by G. Hamilton, Esquire.
+M. and N. Hanhart, Lithographic Printers, 64 Charlotte Street, Rathbone
+Place.
+Published by T. & W. Boone, London.
+
+REPTILES AND AMPHIBIA.
+
+10.1. Ronia catenulata (Gray).
+
+10.2. Aprasia pulchella (Gray).
+
+10.3. Delma fraseri (Gray).
+
+11.1. Lialis burtonii (Gray).
+
+11.2. Soridia lineata (Gray).
+
+12.1. Moloch horridus (Gray).
+
+13.1. Elaps gouldii (Gray).
+
+13.2. Elaps coronatus (Schlegel).
+
+13.3. Calamaria diadema (Schlegel).
+
+13.4. Lialis burtonii (Gray).
+
+14. Hydraspis australis (Gray).
+
+15. Chelodina oblonga (Gray).
+
+16.1. Hyla binoculata (Gray).
+
+16.2. Hyla adelaidensis (Gray).
+
+17.1. Breviceps gouldii (Gray).
+
+17.2. Helioporus albo punctatus (Gray).
+17.2.a. fore foot.
+17.2.b. hind foot.
+
+INSECTS.
+
+18. INSECTS 1. Brachysternus (E.) lamprimoides.
+
+19.1. INSECTS 2. Biphyllocera kirbyana.
+
+19.2. INSECTS 2. Biphyllocera fabriciana.
+
+20. INSECTS 3. Helaeus echidna.
+
+21. INSECTS 4. Bardistus cibarius.
+
+22. INSECTS 5. Tympanophora pellucida.
+
+23. INSECTS 6. Choerocydnus foveolatus.
+
+24. INSECTS 7. Hesperia sophia.
+
+25. INSECTS 8.1.a. Hecatesia thyridion female.
+
+25. INSECTS 8.1.b. Hecatesia thyridion male upper side.
+
+25. INSECTS 8.1.c. Hecatesia thyridion under.
+
+25. INSECTS 8.1.d. Hecatesia thyridion fenestra in wing of male.
+
+25. INSECTS 8.2. Hecatesia fenestrata male.
+
+26. INSECTS 9. Cossodes lyonetii.
+
+27. INSECTS 10. Trichetra isabella male.
+
+28. INSECTS 11. Trichetra isabella female.
+
+...
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+A. Genealogical List, to show the manner in which a native family becomes
+divided.
+
+B. Mount Fairfax, the Wizard Hills, and Champion Bay.
+
+C. Contributions towards the Geographical distribution of the Mammalia of
+Australia, with notes on some recently discovered Species, by J.E. Gray,
+F.R.S., etc. etc., in a letter addressed to the Author.
+
+D. A List of the Birds of the Western coast, furnished by Mr. Gould.
+
+E. A Catalogue of the Species of Reptiles and Amphibia hitherto described
+as inhabiting Australia, with a description of some New Species from
+Western Australia, and some remarks on their geographical distribution,
+by John Edward Gray, F.R.S., etc. etc., in a note to the author.
+
+F. Notes on some Insects from King George's Sound, collected and
+presented to the British Museum, by Captain George Grey, by Adam White,
+Esquire, British Museum, addressed in a letter to the author.
+
+...
+
+
+
+JOURNALS
+
+OF
+
+EXPEDITIONS OF DISCOVERY.
+
+
+CHAPTER 1. FROM GANTHEAUME BAY TO THE HUTT RIVER.
+
+WRECK OF THE SECOND BOAT IN GANTHEAUME BAY.
+
+A few moments were sufficient to enable us all to recollect ourselves:
+two men endeavoured to keep the boat's stern on to the sea, whilst the
+rest of us lightened her by carrying everything we could on shore, after
+which we hauled her up. The custom had always been for the other boat to
+lie off until I made the signal for them to run in, and it accordingly
+was now waiting outside the breakers. Her crew had not seen our
+misfortunes owing to the height of the surf, which, when we were under
+it, shut us out from their view, and now perceiving that we were on shore
+and the boat hauled up, they concluded all was right; and notwithstanding
+I made every possible sign to them not to beach, running as far as I
+could venture into the sea and shouting out to them, my voice was drowned
+by the roar of the surge, and I saw them bounding on to, what I thought,
+certain destruction. We of course were all turned to render assistance.
+They fortunately kept rather to the south of the spot on which we had
+beached, and where it was much less rocky, so that the danger they
+incurred in reaching the shore was slight in comparison to ours; yet some
+of the planks of this boat were split throughout their entire length.
+
+EXPLORE IN ITS VICINITY. COUNTRY ABOUT GANTHEAUME BAY. GEOLOGICAL
+REMARKS. CROSS A DISTRICT OF RED SANDSTONE.
+
+Whilst all hands were employed in endeavouring to repair damages I
+ascended a hill to reconnoitre our present position and found we were in
+a country of a pleasing and romantic appearance, and although the land
+was not good the nature of the soil made me aware that we were most
+probably in the vicinity of a large tract of better quality; indeed this
+was the only part of South-west Australia in which I had met with the
+ancient red sandstone of the north-west coast; immediately behind the
+sandhills on which I stood was a thick Casuarina scrub which sloped down
+into a deep valley, and beyond this rose lofty and fantastic hills. After
+I had for some time looked round on this scene I returned to the party
+and received the report of the carpenters, who, having examined the
+boats, stated their inability to render either of them fit for sea. To
+this I had already made up my mind; and even if the boats had been
+uninjured I doubt whether we could ever have got them off again through
+the tremendous surf which was breaking on this part of the shore; whilst
+to have moved them to any distance would, in our present weak and
+enfeebled state, have been utterly impossible.
+
+ESTUARY AND LANDING-PLACE AND SCENERY ABOUT IT.
+
+No resource was now left to us but to endeavour to reach Perth by
+walking; yet when I looked at the sickly faces of some of the party and
+saw their wasted forms I much doubted if they retained strength to
+execute such a task; but they themselves were in high spirits and talked
+of the undertaking as a mere trifle. I gave orders for the necessary
+preparations to be made and then started with two or three hands to
+search for water. On reaching the valley I have before mentioned we found
+a small stream, and following this to the northward for about a mile came
+out upon one of the most romantic and picturesque-looking estuaries I had
+yet seen: its shores abounded with springs and were bordered by native
+paths, whilst the drooping foliage of several large sorts of Casuarina,
+the number of wild swans on its placid bosom, and the natives fishing in
+the distance, unconscious of our presence, imparted to the whole scene a
+quiet and a charm which was deeply felt by those who had now for so many
+days been either tossed about by the winds and waves or had long been
+wandering over barren and inhospitable shores. We did not indeed find
+much good land about this estuary, but there were rich flats upon each
+side of it, whilst the nature of the rocks and the lofty and peculiar
+character of the distant hills gave promise of the most fertile region I
+had yet seen in extra-tropical Australia.
+
+We followed the shores of the estuary to the northward and eastward until
+we saw a point where it appeared to separate into two branches. The
+natives decamped as soon as they observed us coming, and Kaiber, who
+watched them with the most intense interest, indulged in various
+speculations as to the number they would bring back when they returned.
+We joined the party and traced the shores of the estuary to its mouth,
+which turned out to be the opening we saw in the morning: this mouth is
+completely sheltered by a line of breakers and reefs, which, although
+they present a most formidable appearance from the sea, can be doubled by
+keeping pretty close along the shore in approaching the mouth of the
+river. Owing to this reef there are no breakers on the bar, but its mouth
+is very narrow and so shoal that I doubt if a boat could be got in at any
+other time than high water: some of the sailors with me however thought
+otherwise; but there is at all events convenient landing at this point
+under the shelter of the reef.
+
+FERTILE COUNTRY.
+
+April 2.
+
+The men not having quite completed their preparations for starting, I
+moved off at dawn to resume the survey of Gantheaume Bay and its
+vicinity. The estuary appeared this morning even more lovely than
+yesterday, and as the heavy morning mists arose, unfolding its beauties
+to our view, all those feelings came thrilling through my mind which
+explorers alone can know; flowering shrubs and trees, drooping foliage, a
+wide and placid expanse of water met the view; trickling springs and
+fertile flats were passed over by us; there was much barren land visible
+in the distance, though many a sign and token might lead the practical
+explorer to hope that he was about to enter upon a tract of an extent and
+fertility yet unknown in south-west Australia. A total change had taken
+place in the geological formation of the land: a rock as yet unobserved
+in the south-west portion of the continent occupied the principal place
+here; and with this rock was associated limestone; the springs had a
+strong sulphureous smell, and the lofty broken character of the distant
+mountains had an almost grand appearance to those who had so long
+wandered through low and level countries.
+
+Each step I took rendered my spirits more buoyant and elastic, and each
+hill, the position of which I fixed, gave me, from its appearance,
+renewed hopes. Under such agreeable circumstances the morning wore
+rapidly away, and, having rendered my survey as complete as I could, we
+returned to the boats.
+
+COMMENCE THE MARCH TO PERTH. PROVISIONS DIVIDED.
+
+We were now all ready to commence our toilsome journey; the provisions
+had been shared out; twenty pounds of flour and one pound of salt
+provisions per man, being all that was left. What I have here designated
+by the name of flour was quite unworthy of being so called. It was of a
+dark yellowish brown colour, and had such a sour fermented taste that
+nothing but absolute necessity could induce anyone to eat it. The party
+however were in high spirits; they talked of a walk of three hundred
+miles in a direct line through the country (without taking hills,
+valleys, and necessary deviations into account) as a trifle, and in
+imagination were already feasting at home and taking their ease after the
+toils they had undergone.
+
+I gave them all warning of the many difficulties they had yet to
+encounter, and did this not with the intention of damping their ardour
+but in the hope of inducing them to abandon some portion of the loads
+they intended to carry. I entrusted a small pocket chronometer to Mr.
+Walker, and another to Corporals Coles and Auger; and to Ruston I gave
+charge of a pocket-sextant which belonged to the Surveyor-General at
+Perth. Coles and Auger also undertook to carry a large sextant, turn
+about; all my own papers, such charts as I thought necessary, and some
+smaller instruments I bore myself; but Kaiber, in order to relieve me,
+took charge of my gun and some other articles. Mr. Smith carried his
+sketchbook and box of colours. I ought here to state that, in all the
+difficulties which beset those individuals to whom I entrusted anything,
+they never, except on one occasion, and by my orders, abandoned it:
+indeed I do not believe that there is a stronger instance of fidelity and
+perseverance than was evinced by some of the party in retaining, under
+every difficulty, possession of that which they had promised to preserve
+for me.
+
+PICTURESQUE HALTING-PLACE.
+
+Our loads having been hoisted on our shoulders away we moved. I had
+before chosen my line of route, and the plan I had resolved to adopt was
+to walk on slowly but continuously for an hour, and then to halt for ten
+minutes; during which interval of time the men could rest and relieve
+themselves from the weight of their burdens whilst I could enter what
+notes and bearings I had taken during the preceding hour.
+
+We were embarrassed for the first portion of our journey this afternoon
+by a thick scrub, through which we could only make our way with great
+difficulty, but on coming to a watercourse running into the southern part
+of Gantheaume Bay from the south-east I turned up its bed, and we were
+then able to move along with tolerable facility. This watercourse ran at
+the bottom of a red sandstone ravine resembling the old red sandstone of
+England; and the remainder of the evening was spent in clambering about
+the rocks and endeavouring to avoid such natural obstacles as impeded our
+route. Our progress was slow, and just before nightfall I turned up a
+branch ravine trending to the southward, when we soon found ourselves at
+the foot of a lofty cascade down which a little water was slowly
+dropping; and on climbing to its summit it appeared to be so well adapted
+for a halting-place for the night that I determined to remain here. The
+men made themselves comfortable near the waterholes, and Mr. Smith and
+myself crept into a little cave which occasionally served as a
+resting-place for the natives, the remains of whose fires were scattered
+about. A wild woodland and rocky scenery was around us; and when the moon
+rose and shed her pale light over all I sat with Mr. Smith on the edge of
+the waterfall, gazing alternately into the dim woody abyss below, and at
+the red fires and picturesque groups of men, than which fancy could
+scarcely image a wilder scene.
+
+NATIVE PATH AND WELL.
+
+April 3.
+
+Before the day had fully dawned we were under weigh. Our course for the
+first mile or two was embarrassed by ravines and scrub similar to that we
+had yesterday met with; our progress was therefore very slow, but we at
+length emerged on elevated sandy downs, thickly clothed with banksia
+trees, and across these we came upon a well-beaten native path running to
+the south by east, which was exactly our line of route. We had not
+followed this path for more than four miles when we found a most
+romantically-situated native well, surrounded by shrubs and graceful
+wattle trees, and of a depth and size such as we had never before
+observed. Here then we seated ourselves, and upon such scanty fare as we
+had made a sparing breakfast. This however but very insufficiently
+supplied our wants; and as we sat at this little well, thus surrounded
+with such fairy scenery, a variety of philosophic reflections crossed our
+minds and found vent in words. Nothing could be more delightfully
+romantic than our present position. Both as regarded danger, scenery,
+savages, and unknown lands, we were in precisely the situation in which
+Mr. Cooper and other novelists delight to depict their travellers, with
+this one woeful difference--our wallets were empty. It was in vain I
+fumbled about in mine; I could neither find the remains of a venison
+pasty, a fat buffalo's hump, or any other delicacy: indeed I had not the
+means of keeping life and soul together for many days longer. Deeply did
+we regret that we were not favoured for a few days with the company of
+Mr. Cooper, that he might in our present difficulties fully initiate us
+into the mysterious, nay, almost miraculous means by which his
+travellers, even in the most dreary wilds, always contrived to draw forth
+from their stock of provender such dainties that the bare recollection of
+them made our mouths water; but the necessities of the moment would not
+permit me for more than a few minutes to indulge in these speculations,
+and we turned therefore from seductive travels of the imagination to the
+more stringent ones of reality.
+
+HEAVY LOADS CARRIED BY THE MEN.
+
+I now entreated the men to disencumber themselves of a portion of the
+loads which they were attempting to carry. Urged by a miscalculating
+desire of gain, when the boats were abandoned they had laid hands upon
+canvas and what else they thought would sell at Perth, and some of them
+appeared to be resolved rather to risk their lives than the booty they
+were bending under. The more tractable threw away the articles I told
+them to get rid of; but neither entreaties nor menaces prevailed with the
+others.
+
+For the next three miles we still followed the native path which
+continued to run south by east. The whole of this distance was over open
+sandy downs, abounding in kangaroos; but we now suddenly emerged into a
+rich limestone country of gently sloping hills and valleys, affording,
+even at this season of the year, fair feed for sheep or cattle, and we
+found springs of water at every few hundred yards, generally situated at
+the edge of a large clump of trees.
+
+After having for some time rested here I quitted the native path, which
+trended too much to the eastward, and, leaving also the direction of the
+limestone country which ran inland, we continued a south by east course
+over a gravelly tableland in places covered with beds of clay on which
+rested ponds of water. The country here was perfectly open, with clumps
+of trees to the eastward. Emus and kangaroos were wandering about the
+plains.
+
+DIFFICULT SCRUB.
+
+Two miles more brought us to an almost impenetrable belt of scrub which
+lay east and west, directly athwart our path, so that we were obliged to
+face it; and in two hours and a half I had forced my way through it. The
+others followed, slowly emerging from the bush after me and, as we were
+all totally exhausted, as well as dreadfully torn and bruised, we halted
+at its edge for the night, and lighting our fires lay down to court that
+repose we had so fairly earned. We had however only walked fifteen and a
+half miles today.
+
+April 4.
+
+I again this morning used every effort to induce some more of the men to
+abandon a portion of their loads. I represented to them their weak state,
+the small supply of provisions they had with them, and the difficulty
+they already found in keeping up with the party; but all these arguments
+and every other I could make use of were unavailing; the tenacity with
+which they clung to a worthless property, even at the risk of their
+lives, is almost incredible, and it is to be borne in mind that this
+property was not their own, but what they had taken from the wreck of the
+boats. Did I even induce one to throw anything away another avaricious
+fellow would pick it up; and their thoughts and conversation, instead of
+running upon making the best of their way home and saying their lives,
+consisted in conjectures as to what they would realize from their
+ill-gotten and embarrassing booty.
+
+SUPERIOR NATIVE PATH AND WELLS.
+
+The course I pursued was one of 180 degrees and we soon fell in with the
+native path which we had quitted yesterday; but it now became wide, well
+beaten, and differing altogether by its permanent character from any I
+had seen in the southern portion of this continent. For the first five
+miles we traversed scrubby stony hills, thickly wooded with banksia
+trees; but the limestone here again cropped out and we entered a very
+fertile valley, running north and south and terminating in a larger one
+which drained the country from east to west. This valley is remarkable as
+containing one Xanthorrhoea (grass-tree) being the farthest point to the
+north at which I have found this tree. In it also was a gigantic ant's
+nest, being the most southerly one I had yet seen. All these
+circumstances convinced me that we were about to enter a very interesting
+region. And as we wound along the native path my wonder augmented; the
+path increased in breadth and in its beaten appearance, whilst along the
+side of it we found frequent wells, some of which were ten and twelve
+feet deep and were altogether executed in a superior manner.
+
+NATIVE WARRAN GROUND. PLAINS ABOUNDING IN THE WARRAN PLANT.
+
+We now crossed the dry bed of a stream and from that emerged upon a tract
+of light fertile soil, quite overrun with warran plants,* the root of
+which is a favourite article of food with the natives. This was the first
+time we had yet seen this plant on our journey, and now for three and a
+half consecutive miles we traversed a fertile piece of land literally
+perforated with the holes the natives had made to dig this root; indeed
+we could with difficulty walk across it on that account, whilst this
+tract extended east and west as far as we could see.
+
+(*Footnote. The Warran in a species of Dioscorea, a sort of yam like the
+sweet potato. It is known by the same name both on the east and west side
+of the continent.)
+
+It was now evident that we had entered the most thickly-populated
+district of Australia that I had yet observed, and moreover one which
+must have been inhabited for a long series of years, for more had here
+been done to secure a provision from the ground by hard manual labour
+than I could have believed it in the power of uncivilised man to
+accomplish. After crossing a low limestone range we came down upon
+another equally fertile warran ground, bounded eastward by a high range
+of rocky limestone hills, luxuriantly grassed, and westward by a low
+range of similar formation. The native path about two miles further on
+crossed this latter range, and we found ourselves in a grassy valley,
+about four miles wide, bounded seawards by sandy downs. Along its centre
+lay a chain of reedy freshwater swamps, and native paths ran in from all
+quarters to one main line of communication leading to the southward.
+
+DANGERS OF DELAY.
+
+In these swamps we first found the yunjid, or flag (a species of typha)
+and the sow-thistle of the southern districts; one we came to was a thick
+tea-tree swamp, extremely picturesque, and producing abundance of these
+plants, some of which were collected by the men to eat in the evening. To
+my surprise Mr. Walker here came up to me and asked if I did not think it
+would be better to halt for a day or two at places of this kind to allow
+the men to refresh themselves. The idea of men halting and wasting their
+strength and energies in searching for native food whilst they had so
+fearful a journey before them, and no supplies, appeared to me to be
+preposterous in the extreme: to obtain a sufficiency of food, even for a
+native, requires in Australia a great degree of skill and knowledge of
+the productions of the country; but for a European, utterly unaccustomed
+to this species of labour and totally unacquainted with the productions
+of the land, to obtain enough to support life for any period, whilst at
+the same time he has to search for water, is quite impossible. Even
+Kaiber, from his ignorance of the roots, declared that he should starve
+in this country. I saw therefore that did I adopt the proposed plan of
+travelling only a few miles a day, and occasionally halting for a day or
+two to refresh ourselves upon some thistles and periwinkles, I should
+infallibly sacrifice the lives of the whole party; and under this
+impression I declined to accede to the suggestion. Amongst indolent and
+worn-out men however it subsequently became an extremely popular notion,
+and, as future events clearly showed, a fatally erroneous one. I from the
+first opposed it both by my words and example; and in this instance, as
+soon as I conceived that the men were sufficiently rested, I moved on.
+
+PICTURESQUE ESTUARY.
+
+After travelling another mile we found ourselves at the head of a large
+and picturesque estuary which lay north and south; the native path ran
+along its shores, which were of great richness and beauty, and the
+estuary itself lay to our west and was about two miles across; on the
+east a series of rich undercliff limestone hills gradually rose into
+lofty and precipitate ranges, between which and the estuary was the
+fertile valley along which we wound our weary way; while groups of
+graceful acacias with their airy and delicate foliage gave a great charm
+to this beautiful spot. We moved slowly along, and ere we had made two
+miles more the shades of night began to fall and I halted the party.
+
+RICH AND FERTILE DISTRICT.
+
+The abundance of grass which grew around enabled us to enjoy the almost
+unknown luxury of a soft bed, yet as I lay down my thoughts were far from
+pleasant when I found that we had only walked twelve miles today, and
+this distance had been accomplished by several of the party with the
+greatest difficulty. Three of them were the men who carried those heavy
+loads which I could not yet induce them to abandon; now I could not but
+reflect that, if their difficulty was so great in walking in a country
+abounding with water, that it would be almost impossible for them to get
+along in one where it was scarce; moreover the mere physical exertion of
+getting unwilling men to move by persuasions and entreaties was harassing
+in the extreme, and indeed had so agitated me that the night had nearly
+worn away ere I closed my eyes. The rich flats we were on today have
+apparently at no distant period formed part of the head of the estuary.
+
+April 5.
+
+Such a heavy dew had fallen during the night that when I got up in the
+morning I found my clothes completely saturated, and everything looked so
+verdant and flourishing compared to the parched up country which existed
+to the north of us, and that which I knew lay to the south, that I tried
+to find a satisfactory reason to explain so strange a circumstance, but
+without success. It seemed certain however that we stood in the richest
+province of South-west Australia, and one which so differs from the other
+portions of it in its geological characters, in the elevations of its
+mountains which lie close to the sea coast, in the fertility of its soil,
+and the density of its native population, that we appeared to be moving
+upon another continent. As yet however the only means I had of judging of
+the large number of natives inhabiting this district had been from their
+paths and warran grounds, but it was most probable that we should ere
+long fall in with some of them.
+
+We started at dawn pursuing a south-south-east direction, and at the end
+of one mile rounded a bluff point; the limestone hills to the eastward
+gradually decreased in elevation and we ascended one of them to gain a
+view of the surrounding country. I found that the summit of this range
+consisted of a terrace about half a mile wide, richly grassed and
+ornamented with clumps of mimosas; to the eastward rose a precisely
+similar limestone terrace, whilst to the westward lay the estuary with
+its verdant and extensive flats.
+
+APPEARANCE OF NATIVES.
+
+As we wound our way along this terrace a large party of natives suddenly
+appeared on the high ground to the eastward of us. They evinced no fear
+whatever but advanced to within about two hundred yards, when I went
+forward with Kaiber to induce them to hold an interview with us; this
+however I could not bring about, for whenever I advanced they retreated,
+and when I retired they advanced; they also now began to shout out to
+their distant fellows, and these again cooeed to others still farther
+off, until the calls were lost in the distance, whilst fresh
+reinforcements of natives came trooping in from all directions.
+
+INDICATIONS OF HOSTILITY. PROGRESS OPPOSED BY NATIVES.
+
+Our situation was growing critical for had any of the party been wounded
+we could not attempt to save his life by remaining with him without the
+almost certain danger of losing our own, whilst on the other hand to have
+abandoned him under such circumstances would have been impossible. I was
+most anxious to get rid of these natives in peace, as they now could not
+be induced to come to us, being most probably fearful of our numbers. I
+hoped therefore they would let us go quietly on our way and moved the
+party forward; but they now followed us with loud shouts, whilst those in
+the distance came running up. I again halted but they would hold no
+communication, and when in despair I again moved the party on we saw a
+number hastening to occupy a thick scrub through which we had to pass.
+The men now became so dissatisfied and alarmed that I found I should be
+unable much longer to restrain them from firing if I did not disperse the
+natives.
+
+I therefore halted the party, and cocking my gun moved rapidly towards
+them, motioning them away; they retired as I advanced, but directly I
+turned they again followed us; I now ran towards them with my gun
+pointed, when they made off before me once more, and in order to complete
+their dispersion I had intended to fire over their heads; but to my great
+mortification and their intense delight, my gun snapped, and, as they
+found the weapon I had with me, and with which I had menaced them in so
+authoritative a manner, appeared to produce no effect, they took courage,
+and, turning about, made faces at me and an insulting noise which was
+meant to imitate the snapping of the gun. Their inimical intentions now
+became more manifest; I however ran at them again, and fired my second
+barrel over their heads, which caused a rapid retreat; but they halted on
+a rising ground about three hundred yards from us, and finding on the
+muster of their forces that they had sustained no damage, they made
+preparations, as if resolved to commence hostilities in earnest.
+
+NATIVES DISPERSED.
+
+As these natives had now unfortunately learnt to despise our weapons I
+was compelled to act promptly, or blood would undoubtedly have been shed.
+I therefore took my rifle from Coles and, directing it at a heap of
+closely matted dead bushes which were distant two or three yards to the
+right of their main body, I drove a ball right through it: the dry rotten
+boughs crackled, and flew in all directions, whilst our enemy, utterly
+confounded at this distant, novel, and unfair mode of warfare, fled from
+the field in confusion, the majority of our party rejoicing at the
+bloodless victory: we then wended our way along the native path which led
+us down to the flats bordering the estuary, and finding there an
+underground stream of water bubbling along through a limestone cavity and
+having several openings upwards, we halted to refresh ourselves.
+
+I had hoped that finding hostile natives in our vicinity would have made
+the stragglers keep up better with the party, but they would neither
+hasten on nor throw away their loads, so that my patience was sorely
+tried; a man of the name of Stiles was the worst; nothing could induce
+him to move along, and even the threat of leaving him behind produced no
+effect; I however kept pushing steadily onwards, for I never thought of
+the length of the journey we had to perform without trembling for the
+result. We were now walking on a course of 180 degrees, and followed this
+line for two miles and a half through a similar country. We still found
+many native paths running along the estuary, and saw the natives fishing,
+but they carefully avoided us, making off for the high lands as fast as
+they could.
+
+ESTUARY OF THE HUTT RIVER. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY AND SCENERY.
+
+The estuary became narrower here, and shortly after seeing these natives
+we came upon a river running into it from the eastward; its mouth was
+about forty yards wide, the stream strong, but the water brackish, and it
+flowed through a very deep ravine, having steep limestone hills on each
+side: many wild-fowls were on the river, but we could not get a shot at
+them. Being unable to ford the river here we followed it in a south-east
+direction for two miles, and in this distance passed two native villages,
+or, as the men termed them, towns, the huts of which they were composed
+differed from those in the southern districts in being much larger, more
+strongly built, and very nicely plastered over the outside with clay and
+clods of turf, so that although now uninhabited they were evidently
+intended for fixed places of residence. This again showed a marked
+difference between the habits of the natives of this part of Australia
+and the south-western portions of the continent; for these superior huts,
+well marked roads, deeply sunk wells, and extensive warran grounds, all
+spoke of a large and comparatively-speaking resident population, and the
+cause of this undoubtedly must have been the great facilities for
+procuring food in so rich a soil.
+
+MOUNT VICTORIA AND MOUNT ALBERT.
+
+We now came to two very remarkable hills bearing north-east of us and
+distant about three miles, which I have named Mount Victoria and Mount
+Albert. They lay about one mile apart, and were of the form shown in
+Illustration 2, which will give a good idea of the flat-topped hills
+hereabouts.
+
+THE HUTT RIVER.
+
+The river still ran in a deep wooded valley bordered by rich flats, high
+hills lying both to the right and left of our line of route. Two miles
+and a half more on a course of 135 degrees brought us out on some
+gravelly barren plains, and just before coming to these, and in passing
+through a scrub, we raised a flight of white cockatoos, of a species new
+to me. One of the men got an ineffectual shot at them.
+
+FIRST HILLS OF THE SOUTHERN IRONSTONE FORMATION.
+
+After traversing these plains for two miles in a south-east direction we
+came upon a valley through which flowed a branch of the river we had this
+day discovered, running in a bed of fifty yards across, and having in its
+centre a rapid stream falling in small cascades; it appeared at times
+subject to extensive inundations, and here its course was through barren
+plains covered with rocks piled up in strange fantastic masses, and the
+bed was composed of that kind of red sandstone which at Perth is called
+ironstone; this being the farthest point north at which I have remarked
+it.
+
+A number of grass-trees (Xanthorrhoea) grew near the spot where we had
+halted; they appeared unhealthy and stunted, but indeed I suspect they
+are a new and undescribed variety. Being desirous of procuring anything I
+could for the men to eat I had the tops of some of these trees cut off
+and boiled, they were however still so hard that to chew them was
+impossible, and it was evident that we had not yet reached a parallel of
+latitude calculated to produce tender-topped grass trees.
+
+I knew our latitude and position this night exactly, as I had seen Mount
+Naturaliste of the French in the course of the day. There could be no
+doubt whatever that we were in a very remarkable district, for we stood
+upon the point where the geological formations of the north-western and
+south-western portions of the continent were associated together, and the
+flora of which was so made up of those of both that it was impossible to
+tell which predominated. There were many other interesting circumstances
+connected with the surrounding country, some of which have been already
+mentioned. I named the river and estuary now discovered the Hutt after
+William Hutt, Esquire, M.P., brother of His Excellency the Governor of
+Western Australia.
+
+INDISPOSITION OF MR. SMITH.
+
+Mr. Smith this day complained of weakness, not sufficiently however in
+the least to alarm me. He had hitherto been nearly always in the rear of
+the party without lagging, but I thought two of the men in a much weaker
+state than he was.
+
+
+CHAPTER 2. FROM THE HUTT RIVER TO WATER PEAK.
+
+WILD TURKEYS SEEN.
+
+April 6.
+
+We moved off this morning on a course of 180 degrees. The first mile of
+our journey was over low scrubby ironstone hills. We then came down upon
+rich flats through which the main branch of the Hutt ran; and followed
+the course of this branch for about two miles. It was not running but
+there were many pools with water in its bed: the flats were rich and
+grassy and on the hills to the westward (the Menai Hills) we descried
+wild turkeys, being the farthest point north at which I had seen this
+bird.
+
+As I saw that the ground in front of us was very steep and abrupt, so
+that the weak and weary would have found it a difficult task to master
+such an ascent, I turned off on a course of 168 degrees, ascending a
+sandy tableland covered with scrub. When we had walked three miles in
+this direction the table-hill of Captain King bore east by south distant
+five miles. We now proceeded parallel to the sea, which was distant one
+mile through an indifferent country. This course continued for about five
+miles, and on the ranges to the eastward the country still appeared to be
+grassy and good.
+
+RELUCTANCE OF THE MEN TO HASTEN ONWARDS. DIFFICULTY OF URGING THE PARTY
+FORWARD.
+
+Although we had walked very slowly many of the party were completely
+exhausted, and one or two of the discontented ones pretended to be
+dreadfully in want of water, notwithstanding they carried canteens and
+had only walked eight miles since leaving the bank of a river; I was
+therefore obliged to halt, and could not get them to move for three
+hours. I am sorry to say that some who should have known much better
+endeavoured to instil into the minds of the men that it was preferable
+only to walk a few miles a day and not to waste their strength by long
+marches; utterly forgetting that most of the party had now only seven or
+eight pounds of fermented flour left, and that if they did not make play
+whilst they had strength their eventually reaching Perth was quite
+hopeless. This however was a very popular doctrine for thoughtless and
+weary men, who were overloaded and yet from a feeling of avarice would
+not abandon any portion of what they were carrying. The majority of the
+party not only adopted these views in theory but doggedly carried them
+into practice; and from this moment I abandoned all hope of getting the
+whole party into the settled districts in safety. Poor fellows! most of
+them paid dearly for the mistaken notions they now adopted. Mr. Smith,
+with his usual spirit, was for pushing on, although his strength was
+inadequate to the task. I laid under the shade of a bush lost in gloomy
+reveries and temporary unpopularity; Kaiber by my side lulled me with
+native songs composed for the occasion, and in prospective I saw all the
+dread sufferings which were to befall the doomed men who sat around me,
+confident of their success under the new plan; but like all prophets I
+was without honour amongst my own acquaintance; and after considering the
+matter under every point of view I thought it better for the moment to
+succumb to the general feeling, yet to lose no opportunity on every
+subsequent occasion of endeavouring to rouse the party into a degree of
+energy suited to our desperate circumstances.
+
+At the end of the three hours I again begged several of the party, who
+appeared to be in an exhausted state, to abandon a portion of their
+useless loads; but they were quite sure that by making short marches, not
+exhausting their strength, and now and then halting for a day or two to
+refresh, they could carry them into Perth, and therefore refused to part
+with them. Mr. Smith and myself found that stopping in this way and
+getting cold rendered our limbs so stiff and painful when we walked on
+again that we could scarcely move; and I suspect that such was the case
+with the other men, for when we started again I could hardly get them
+along. One man of the name of Stiles, who was a stout supporter of the
+new theory, made us stop for him nearly every five minutes.
+
+THE BOWES RIVER.
+
+After walking one mile we fortunately came to a very deep valley, having
+such steep limestone cliffs on each side that it assumed quite the
+character of a ravine: it was about a mile wide and in it was a
+watercourse winding through deep flats. We however only found water in
+pools; the course of the stream was very tortuous and its mouth was
+almost blocked up by sandhills. The valley itself was both picturesque
+and fertile, and the appearance of the country to the east and north-east
+was highly promising. The stream I called the Bowes.
+
+NATIVE RESTING-PLACE. NATIVE HUTS.
+
+This spot was a favourite halting-place of the natives; and from the
+number of huts and other indications which we saw the district must be
+very densely populated. The huts were of the same superior construction
+as those which we had seen near the Hutt, and the traces were very
+recent, but the natives themselves were either at a distance or kept
+carefully out of our way. The valley that we were now in, as well as the
+other limestone valleys in this province, partook exactly of the
+character of those in the carboniferous limestone districts of England
+inasmuch as they were deep gorges, or ravines, now traversed by
+watercourses or streams apparently much too insignificant to have grooved
+them out.
+
+PROVOKING INDOLENCE OF THE MEN.
+
+Our finding water here was fortunate for I now showed the men that, had
+they walked one mile farther instead of halting in the manner they had
+done, they would have had abundance of it, and would have been, at this
+moment, at least, five miles nearer home. I also directed Mr. Walker to
+examine Stiles and to state whether he was in good health or not. He did
+so and reported him quite well. I therefore when we started again gave
+Stiles warning that I should not halt every minute for him but would
+leave him behind, at the same time ordering him to walk in front of the
+party, next after me.
+
+I continued a course of 180 degrees up a steep limestone range, behind
+which apparently ran a branch of the watercourse we had just passed: a
+good country lay to the eastward of us. Stiles now delayed us so much
+that some of his comrades spoke to him very warmly on the subject, whilst
+others still held to the opinion that walking a few miles a day and
+sometimes halting a day or two to refresh was the true mode of
+proceeding. We only made two miles this evening and I threw myself on the
+ground so worn and harassed that I could not sleep.
+
+AN EXTENSIVE FERTILE COUNTRY.
+
+Sunday April 7.
+
+Before the sun had appeared above the horizon I managed to get the party
+fairly started, and we followed a course of 180 degrees over elevated
+sandy downs which rested on a limestone formation. The first four miles
+of our journey was not very encouraging; we could only see as far to the
+eastward as the flat-topped range; and although the slopes of these hills
+looked very fertile I had no means of judging how far back this good
+country extended; we had however been creeping gradually up an ascent,
+and when we gained the summit of this I turned to look to the northward
+after the straggling party, who were slowly mounting the hill, some of
+them staggering along under loads so heavy that I should have hated the
+tyranny of any man who could have compelled them to carry such a weight;
+but as it was I could only grieve to see men, from the hope of gain,
+rushing so inevitably on their fate. Having gazed till weary at this
+painful picture of the weakness of human nature, I turned to the
+north-eastward, and there burst upon my sight a most enchanting view. In
+the far east, that is, some twenty or five-and-twenty miles away,
+stretched a lofty chain of mountains, flat-topped and so regular in their
+outline that they appeared rather the work of art than of nature. Between
+this range and the nearest one lay a large rich valley vying with the
+most fertile I have ever seen in an extra-tropical country. In front of
+us lay another valley which drained a portion of the large one, and in
+both rose gently swelling hills and picturesque peaks, wooded in the most
+romantic manner. Whilst I stood and looked on this scene, my woes were
+forgotten. Such moments as these repay an explorer for much toil and
+trouble.
+
+THE VICTORIA RANGE AND DISTRICT. THE PROVINCE OF VICTORIA.
+
+The distant range I at once named the Victoria in honour of Her Majesty;
+and being now certain that the district we were in was one of the most
+fertile in Australia I named it the Province of Victoria. There is no
+other part of extra-tropical Australia which can boast of the same number
+of streams in an equal extent of coast frontage, or which has such
+elevated land so near the sea; and I have seen no other which has so
+large an extent of good country. It is however bounded both to the north
+and south by comparatively-speaking unproductive districts; but what the
+character of the country to the north-east and south-east may be still
+remains to be ascertained.
+
+Another mile on a course of 180 degrees brought us to the valley in our
+front; it was of the same rich and romantic character as that which I
+have just described, being in depth about two hundred feet, down
+limestone rocks, in places assuming the character of cliffs. In its
+bottom was a watercourse containing water in pools only; but it must be
+borne in mind that it was now the very end of the dry season. The party
+all came up, and we laid ourselves down under the grateful shade of the
+mimosas. Those who chose took their fill of water. I had made a rule
+never to taste it except to wash out my mouth from sunrise until we
+halted for the night; for I found that drinking water promoted profuse
+perspiration and more ardent thirst, and I preferred practising a little
+self-denial to enduring the greater pangs arising from indulgence.
+
+Whilst I stretched my weary length along under the pleasant shade I saw
+in fancy busy crowds throng the scenes I was then amongst. I pictured to
+myself the bleating sheep and lowing herds wandering over these fertile
+hills; and I chose the very spot on which my house should stand,
+surrounded with as fine an amphitheatre of verdant land as the eye of man
+has ever gazed on. The view was backed by the Victoria Range, whilst
+seaward you looked out through a romantic glen upon the great Indian
+Ocean. I knew that within four or five years civilization would have
+followed my tracks, and that rude nature and the savage would no longer
+reign supreme over so fine a territory. Mr. Smith entered eagerly into my
+thoughts and views: together we built these castles in the air, trusting
+we should see happy results spring from our present sufferings and
+labours, but within a few weeks from this day he died in the wilds he was
+exploring.
+
+THE BULLER RIVER.
+
+The stream we were on I named the Buller; we rested some time by it and
+when we moved on some of the advocates of the eight or ten mile a day
+system very unwillingly followed the party. We fell in with a native path
+which wound up through a thick scrub in pleasing sinuosities, and emerged
+upon a tableland similar to the one we had traversed this morning.
+
+THE CHAPMAN RIVER.
+
+I now followed a course of 169 degrees, and after walking three miles
+more we arrived at the edge of a valley of the same character as that
+wherein the Buller flowed, and through it we had another view of the
+fertile country to the eastward: into this valley we descended and,
+finding a watercourse running through it with water in pools, I seated
+myself with such of the party as were up, about half a quarter of a mile
+from the Mount Fairfax of Captain King, and named this stream the
+Chapman.
+
+SEARCH FOR A MISSING MAN.
+
+Mr. Walker now came up with the remainder of the party and reported that
+Stiles was missing. As he could have no difficulty in finding us I merely
+took the precaution to make the men sit in such positions that he could
+distinguish us from the summit of the opposite cliffs when he arrived
+there, and we patiently awaited that moment. Time however wore on, and
+some of the men finding a species of geranium with a root not unlike a
+very small and tough parsnip, we prepared and ate several messes of this
+plant. At length, no signs of Stiles having been seen, I sent Mr. Walker,
+Corporal Auger, and Kaiber to the top of the cliffs we had descended to
+try if they could discern anything of him or his tracks. During their
+absence I expressed, in the hearing of some of the men, my anxiety lest
+he should have lingered behind and have fallen in with the natives; upon
+which they smiled and said that "Tom Stiles was a man who did not care
+about the natives; and that only that morning he had said he didn't mind
+for all the natives in the island, d--- them;" and that they thought he
+had stopped behind on purpose.
+
+GATHERING OF NATIVES. SCENE WITH NATIVES.
+
+The absence of Mr. Walker and his party continued much longer than I
+expected, and just at the moment that I had become rather alarmed about
+it Coles reported to me that he saw natives on the opposite cliff,
+jumping about and running up and down brandishing their spears in the
+manner they do before and after a fight. Coles was at this time posted as
+sentry on a terrace just above where we were, and the ascent to which was
+very difficult. I got up on this as fast as I could; it was only two or
+three yards broad and ran apparently along the whole length of the
+valley. The natives used it as a path, and a very steep hill rose behind
+it. I could not however make out the natives, and as the opposite cliffs
+were a long way off I thought that Coles might have been mistaken. When I
+told him this he merely said "Look there, then, Sir," and pointed to the
+top of Mount Fairfax, distant about 400 yards due north of us, and sure
+enough there were a party of natives, well armed and going through a
+variety of ceremonies which the experience of centuries had proved to be
+highly efficacious in getting rid of evil spirits. In the present
+instance however their wonted efficacy failed, but the natives appeared
+every moment to be getting more vehement in their gestures.
+
+Our situation by no means pleased me: Stiles and a separate party of our
+own men had mysteriously disappeared in the direction where Coles had
+first seen the natives, by whom we were in a manner surrounded, and that
+in an abominable position, for they could steal amongst the underwood
+close above us in our rear, and annoy us with missiles of all sorts;
+whilst from the extent and thickness of the scrub it was impossible to
+occupy it effectually against treacherous (or rather, bold and skilful)
+enemies. On the other hand I could not quit my present position and
+occupy a more favourable one, for, in the event of Mr. Walker and
+Corporal Auger being pressed by the natives and retreating on us, it was
+our duty to be at that spot where they would calculate on finding us and
+an effectual assistance. I made therefore the best disposition of my
+little force I could, and, occupying the centre of the party, I had the
+satisfaction of seeing our wild friends on Mount Fairfax, blowing
+strongly at us and capering more furiously than ever when they beheld our
+unaccountable manoeuvres.
+
+THEIR MANOEUVRES.
+
+It was fortunate that poor Kaiber was absent, for so fearful an
+exhibition of sorcery would have altogether upset his nerves; but the
+British soldiers and sailors I had with me remained surprisingly calm;
+whilst the natives, having exhibited their antics for a few minutes more,
+suddenly withdrew in a hurried manner. I therefore made up my mind for a
+surprise, and we anxiously waited to see from what quarter the attack
+would come.
+
+CONTINUATION OF SEARCH FOR THE MISSING MAN. RETURN OF PARTY FROM SEARCH.
+
+The cause of their disappearance was however soon explained. Mr. Walker,
+Corporal Auger, and Kaiber came winding down the hills under Mount
+Fairfax, and gave the following account of their proceedings: On
+ascending the cliffs opposite to us they had found Stiles's tracks, and
+had followed them until they reached the sea beach; on passing the stream
+on their way there they found a place where he had halted and made up all
+his flour into dampers; but on coming out on the shore they saw a large
+party of natives seated on the sandhills in front, whilst others were
+fishing in the sea at this point; and the tracks of Stiles turned off
+into the interior: this hero, who wished to encounter all the natives of
+the island single-handed, had evidently fled from them. Mr. Walker had
+been unable to follow his tracks any further and had therefore thought it
+most prudent to return to the main party.
+
+From the circumstances of Stiles having thrown away part of his clothes,
+and having made such a large quantity of dough to bake into dampers at
+the first convenient opportunity, together with various expressions he
+had dropped in the presence of the men, there could be no doubt but that
+he had purposely quitted the party; yet to abandon him to his fate
+amongst natives, who were by no means friendly in their gestures and
+appearance, required a degree of resolution I was unprepared at that
+moment to exercise. To leave him without a search was to sacrifice one
+life, to allow one man to perish, whilst occupying one or two days in
+looking for him would merely increase the temporary sufferings of the
+rest; whilst the loss of time would probably occasion no other bad result
+than a little more personal privation; and this, in order to try to save
+the life of a fellow-creature, I conceived it to be my own duty and that
+of the rest of the party to undergo. Influenced by these reasons I
+desired all hands to prepare to start in search of Stiles.
+
+Strange however to say, my resolution was scarcely made known ere much
+grumbling arose; and this chiefly amongst those men who had lately been
+loudest in their praises of the system of only marching a few miles a day
+and occasionally halting for a day or two where we could get native roots
+to eat, in fact, amongst those whose foolish ideas had led Stiles to
+desert the party. We however moved on in the direction of the spot where
+Kaiber had lost the tracks, and on our way over the high ground we met a
+native with his spear and a handful of fish; he was lost in thought and
+we were close to him before he saw us: when he did so he took no notice
+whatever of us, but without even quickening his pace continued in his
+original line of direction, which crossed ours obliquely. As he evidently
+did not wish to communicate with us I directed the men not to take the
+least notice of him, and thus we passed one another. He must have been a
+very brave fellow to act so coolly as he did when an array so strange to
+him met his eye.
+
+ANOTHER PARTY OF NATIVES.
+
+On arriving at the beach to the south of a bay or harbour,* which the
+pressure of circumstances precluded me from examining, we could find
+nothing of Stiles's tracks: he appeared to have gone off due east in the
+hope of crossing our route, but, being in advance of us, and consequently
+not finding our traces, it was impossible to say in which direction he
+might have turned. The natives now mustered a very large force and
+occupied the high hills (almost cliffs) which lay a few hundred yards to
+our left, and, as they had such an advantageous position and could at any
+moment surprise us amongst the low sandhills where we were searching for
+Stiles's footsteps, our situation was one of great danger. At length,
+finding it impossible to keep the men steady, I moved them up to the
+higher ground, where we could have met the natives upon a footing of
+equality. They appeared, although very numerous, to be now by no means
+hostile, merely standing on a high hill, watching us and calling out
+"Yoongar kaw," or "Oh, people!" whilst Kaiber, who knew nothing of their
+vile magical practices, and therefore regarded them as mere ordinary
+flesh and blood, was very ready to communicate with them; but as they
+made no other advances, I thought it better merely to remain near them
+for the night, occasionally firing a gun in hopes Stiles might hear it,
+and with this intention I selected a spot for our encampment.
+
+(*Footnote. For a further description of this harbour, which has been
+since denominated Port Grey, see the account of the schooner Champion's
+Expedition in the 6th chapter.)
+
+April 8.
+
+We started very early this morning and Kaiber exerted himself to the
+utmost to find Stiles's traces. At the end of three miles, on a course of
+180 degrees, we descended from the elevated scrubby plains we had been
+moving along to the lowlands, and on reaching this came upon the bed of a
+small watercourse. I here halted the party; and as it was uncertain when
+we might again fall in with water I commenced a search for it with
+Kaiber, but after travelling rapidly over a good deal of ground without
+seeing either water or any traces of Stiles we rejoined the party very
+much fatigued.
+
+THE MAN FOUND.
+
+For the next two and a half miles we wound along low, grassy, swampy
+plains, thinly wooded with clumps of Acacias, and then entered upon low
+scrubby plains bounding the sea-shore. I here caught sight of Stiles just
+ahead of us and coming in from the eastward: he was very glad once more
+to find himself in safety; and his comrades seemed pleased to see him
+again, although many a suppressed murmur had met my ears during our
+morning's walk at the trouble I was taking to look for him.
+
+THE GREENOUGH RIVER.
+
+Four miles further over similar plains in a south by east direction
+brought us to a river, about five-and-twenty yards wide, which I named
+the Greenough; and travelling up it a short distance we found a spot
+where we could cross by stepping from rock to rock. Its waters were quite
+salt. I continued our route for about three miles, when I found it was
+impossible to induce some of the men to walk any further; they laid
+sullenly down and were so fully convinced that I was pursuing a wrong
+system in marching so far in a day, and never halting for two or three
+days to refresh, as they wished, that I could do nothing with them, and
+was therefore forced to sit down too. Corporal Auger soon afterwards
+found water near us, and I moved the party down to it.
+
+Finding water in some degree revived their spirits and I contrived to get
+them to proceed seven miles more before nightfall, the way being over
+sandy open plains very favourable for walking.
+
+MORE NATIVE HUTS.
+
+We passed a large assemblage of native huts of the same permanent
+character as those I have before mentioned: there were two groups of
+those houses close together in a sequestered nook in a wood, which taken
+collectively would have contained at least a hundred and fifty natives.
+We halted for the night in the dry bed of a watercourse, abounding in
+grass, so that we again enjoyed the luxury of a soft bed. At first I
+thought that we were near natives from hearing a plaintive cry like that
+of a child, but Kaiber assured me that it was the cry of the young of the
+wild turkey.
+
+CROSS THE HEADS OF TWO BAYS.
+
+In the course of this day we travelled across the heads of two bays,
+which were indistinctly visible through the woods.
+
+FERTILE VALLEY.
+
+April 9.
+
+The first three miles of our route this day lay over sandy scrubby
+plains; we saw however a good country to the eastward. I found that a man
+of the name of Charley Woods was much knocked up; he was a supporter of
+the eight or nine miles a day system, and had a very heavy load with no
+portion of which could I induce him to part; he however insisted on
+sitting down every half mile and detaining the party, and as I found that
+they got more worn out and weaker, and the impression in favour of long
+rests and short marches became much stronger, I thought it more prudent
+to acquiesce for the present.
+
+We now reached a very thick belt of trees, pushing through which was a
+task of great difficulty, but at length we emerged upon some clear hills
+overlooking a very extensive and fertile valley, from which arose so
+dense a fog that portions of it appeared to be a large lake. Into this
+valley we descended, and the remainder of the day until near noon was
+spent by me in endeavouring to get the men to move.
+
+THE IRWIN RIVER. AUSTRALIND.
+
+We this morning for the first time met with Zamia trees, and about 12
+P.M. came down upon the large sandy bed of a dried up river which I named
+the Irwin after my friend Major Irwin, the Commandant at Swan River;
+following this for half a mile we found a native well, dug to a
+considerable depth in the bed, but all our scraping here was vain. Water
+was found at a great depth, but so shallow that we could not dip it up.
+Some of the men saw four native boys playing in the grassy plains near
+us; directly however the little fellows perceived us, they scampered off
+at their utmost speed, and no doubt ever since that period they have been
+firm believers in the existence of ghosts.
+
+The men now began to complain much of the want of water, and I for some
+time followed the traces of these native boys, who had come from the
+southward and eastward, in the hope that their tracks would lead us to
+it, but the grumbling and discontent of some of the men was so great that
+I found it almost impossible to induce them to move. My object was to get
+them to walk to a high peaked hill distant about five miles from us in a
+due south-east direction, and under which I felt certain, from its
+height, that we should find water, but I was obliged at last to give up
+this idea: Charles Woods would not stir at all, and several of the men
+followed his example; they laid down on the ground and no inducement
+could prevail on them either to move or to abandon a portion of their
+loads; and this obstinacy on their part was accompanied in some instances
+with the most blasphemous and horrid expressions. Indeed I could not
+conceal from myself the fact of its being the general impression that my
+mode of proceeding was "killing the men," and that consequently some of
+them had arrived at the resolution of compelling me by their conduct to
+adopt their favourite system of short marches and long halts. But I was
+still aware of the disastrous consequences which must necessarily result
+from such a mode of proceeding, and determined to have nothing to do with
+it.
+
+In the course of the afternoon I managed to get the party to move about a
+mile and a half in an easterly direction, but they here again sat down
+and could neither be induced to walk or to part with their bundles.
+
+SEARCH FOR WATER.
+
+As they had not tasted water today I selected the best walkers, namely,
+Corporals Auger and Coles, Hackney, Henry Woods, and Kaiber, and went off
+to look for some to bring to the rest. We were now on a well-beaten
+native path which traversed a fertile tract of country, and along this we
+continued our route, walking as rapidly as we could, for night was coming
+on apace. From this path we made frequent divergencies but found no
+water; in one instance we met with a native well of great depth, where a
+party of them had been drinking a few days before, but it was now quite
+dry.
+
+FIND IT AT WATER PEAK. WATER PEAK HILL.
+
+We therefore continued our search, and just as it was growing dark had
+made about seven miles of a circuitous course and found ourselves at the
+foot of the high-peaked hill seen this morning, named by me Water Peak. I
+still hurried along the native path, and was so wrapped up in the
+thoughts of our present position that I passed, without seeing it, a
+beautiful spring that rose to within a few inches of the surface. Near
+this the natives had built a small hut, covered with boughs, concealed in
+which they might kill the birds and animals which came to drink at this
+lone water; the keen eye of Coles in a moment detected the little pool,
+and our thirst was soon assuaged.
+
+For a few minutes we lay on the bank of this clear spring, resting our
+wearied limbs and admiring the scenery around us. There is a something in
+the wild luxuriance of a totally new and uncultivated country which words
+cannot convey to the inhabitant of an old and civilized land, the rich
+and graceful forms of the trees, the massy moss-grown trunks which cumber
+the soil, the tree half uptorn by some furious gale and still remaining
+in the falling posture in which the winds have left it, the drooping
+disorder of dead and dying branches, the mingling of rich grasses and
+useless weeds, all declare that here man knows not the luxuries the soil
+can yield him: it was over such a scene, rendered still more lovely by
+the falling shadows of night, that our eyes now wandered.
+
+BENIGHTED IN RETURNING TO THE PARTY.
+
+I roused the men again and we commenced our return to the party, loaded
+with a supply of water. It was now dark and we soon wandered from the
+path. Kaiber took a star for his guide and led us straight across the
+country; but our route lay through a warran ground, full of holes, and in
+the darkness of the night we every now and then had a tremendous tumble,
+so that at the end of about four miles I thought that it would be
+imprudent to proceed farther, as we every moment were in danger of
+breaking a limb or seriously injuring ourselves. I therefore halted for
+the night, and as we were unable to light a fire both on account of the
+heavy dew and of having no proper materials with us, the first portion of
+it passed wretchedly enough, indeed, weary as I was, I found it necessary
+to walk about in order to preserve some slight degree of warmth in my
+frame.
+
+At length however the men, who were much too cold to sleep, got up and,
+renewing their efforts, succeeded in kindling a blaze. Kaiber soon
+collected plenty of wood, and as I was unable to sleep I passed the night
+in meditating on our present state.
+
+POSITION AND PROSPECTS.
+
+I felt sure that if the men persisted in their resolution of moving
+slowly a lingering and dreadful death awaited us all; yet my opinion was
+a solitary one. Mr. Walker had in many instances plainly and publicly
+shown that he on this point differed with me; and he was a medical man,
+and one who certainly never shrank from any danger or toil which he
+thought it his duty to encounter. The most therefore I could say against
+those who were opposed to my system of moving was that I conceived them
+to be guilty of a grievous error in judgment; but it was not until our
+separate opinions had been tested by the future that it could be
+definitely pronounced who was right. Nevertheless those who have been
+much with men compelled to make long marches cannot fail to have remarked
+how readily and foolishly they find excuses to enable them to obtain a
+halt, and such persons would probably have agreed with me in suspecting
+that natural indolence of disposition, strengthened by fatigue and
+privation, might induce men to adopt, without a very strict
+investigation, any opinion falling in with their immediate feelings of
+feebleness.
+
+Being firmly convinced that these men intended to pursue a plan of
+operations which would entail great misery both upon themselves and the
+others, I considered that I ought undoubtedly to endeavour to save them
+from the danger which I foresaw impending over them; and this could only
+be accomplished by my making forced marches to Perth and sending out
+supplies to meet them before they were reduced to the last extremities.
+Had I foreseen a week ago that I should be compelled eventually to adopt
+such a step I would then have taken with me all such as were willing to
+march and have left the others; but this time had passed. My movement to
+Perth must now be accomplished with the greatest expedition or it would
+be useless; and to take anyone with me who was so much reduced as to have
+delayed, impeded, or perhaps altogether to have arrested our progress,
+would have sacrificed the lives of all.
+
+
+CHAPTER 3. FROM WATER PEAK TO GAIRDNER'S RANGE.
+
+RETURN TO THE PARTY.
+
+April 10.
+
+The morning's dawn found us in the vicinity of our comrades, and, just as
+the thick grey mists began heavily to ascend from the low plains on which
+I had left the party, we emerged from the bush upon the native path down
+which we had travelled the preceding evening; here I turned northward,
+and a few minutes more placed the party in our view. Some of them were
+missing. I felt alarmed lest a new misfortune had happened and, hurrying
+on, eagerly asked where they were. The answer given will describe more
+truly their position than the most minute detail could do; it was: "They
+are just gone into the bush to suck grass, Sir." This semblance of
+extreme thirst must however, I suspect, have been in some measure a piece
+of affectation upon their parts, for upon the morning of the day before
+they had had a plentiful supply of water: whether however their extreme
+sufferings were true or feigned mattered not, we fully supplied their
+wants; and then I immediately ordered preparations to be made for our
+further progress.
+
+We moved on in the direction of the spring of water which lay about half
+a mile to the eastward of our true line of route. Our movements were soon
+again delayed by Woods, who began as usual to lie down and declare his
+inability to proceed any further.
+
+DELAYS CAUSED BY USELESS BAGGAGE. DESTRUCTION OF USELESS BAGGAGE.
+
+I desired him to leave behind the heavy load he was carrying; but as upon
+former occasions he again declared his determination to die rather than
+part with this mysterious bundle, which appeared to possess an
+extraordinary value in his estimation. It was easy to see from his
+appearance that he was now really ill and unable to carry such a weight
+as he was striving to do. At length he again laid himself down, declaring
+that he was dying, and, as I determined no longer to see his life
+endangered by his so obstinately insisting on carrying this bundle, I
+took it up, and, informing him of my intention to pay him the full value
+of any property of his that I might destroy, I proceeded to open it with
+the intention of throwing all useless articles away.
+
+Upon this announcement of mine he burst into tears, deplored alternately
+his dying state and the loss of the bundle, and then poured forth a
+torrent of invectives against me, in the midst of which I quietly went on
+unfolding the treasured parcel and exposing to view the following
+articles: Three yards of thick heavy canvas; some duck which he had
+purloined; a large roll of sewing thread, ditto; a thick pea jacket which
+I had abandoned at the boats, and had, at his request, given to him; and
+various other old pieces of canvas and duck; also a great part of the
+cordage of one of the boats, which he had taken without permission.
+
+When these various articles were produced it was difficult to tell which
+was the prevailing sentiment in the minds of some of the party--mirth at
+thus seeing the contents of the mysterious bundle exposed, or indignation
+that a man should have been so foolish as to endanger his own life and
+delay our movements for the sake of such a collection of trash. A pair of
+shoes and one or two useful articles were retained, the remainder were
+thrown away, and in a few minutes we were again under weigh for the
+spring of water.
+
+HALT AT WATER PEAK.
+
+Another hour's march brought us to the spring; and those who with me had
+been marching through a great part of the night gladly laid down to rest;
+but I soon roused myself again, being urged by the pangs of hunger.
+Fortunately I had shot a crow in the morning, and now, gathering a few
+wild greens that grew about the water, I cooked a breakfast for myself
+and the native without being obliged to draw upon my little store of
+flour. This frugal repast having been washed down by a few mouthfuls of
+water, I resumed my meditations of the previous night.
+
+CRITICAL SITUATION.
+
+The following appeared to be our true position. We were about one hundred
+and ninety miles from Perth, in a direct line measured through the air.
+None of the party had more than six or seven pounds of flour left; whilst
+I had myself but one pound and a half, and half a pound of arrowroot; the
+native had nothing left and was wholly dependant on me for his
+subsistence. Now we had been seven days on our route, and had made but
+little more than seventy miles, and as the men were much weaker than when
+they first started it appeared to me to be extremely problematical
+whether we should ever reach Perth unless some plan different from what
+we had hitherto pursued was adopted. And even granting that we did
+eventually make this point, it was evident that we must previously be
+subjected to wants and necessities of the most cruel and distressing
+nature.
+
+NEW PLAN OF PROCEEDING.
+
+Yet it was quite manifest from recent events that the majority of the
+party had not only made up their minds not to accelerate their movements,
+but had fully resolved to compel me to pursue their system of short
+marches and long halts. Being fully aware of the danger which threatened
+them, it remained for me to act with that decision which circumstances
+appeared to require, and to proceed by rapid and forced marches to Perth,
+whence assistance could be sent out to the remainder. For this purpose it
+was necessary that all those who accompanied me should be good walkers
+and resolute men; for if any accident happened to the portion of the
+party I took with me, arising either from want of energy, want of
+discipline, or any other causes, that portion of the party which remained
+behind would have been reduced to the last extremity.
+
+DIVIDE THE PARTY, AND PROCEED WITH THE STRONGEST TO PERTH FOR ASSISTANCE.
+ARRANGEMENTS AT STARTING.
+
+Having formed this resolution, it became necessary to make a selection of
+those who were to accompany me. In determining however upon this point I
+had but little difficulty; for it was evident that those men who during
+our late toils had shown themselves the most capable of enduring
+hardships, privations, and the fatigue of long and rapid marches, were
+those who were the best suited for the service I now destined them for.
+The following was the division I made of the party: I named:
+
+Corporal Auger,
+Corporal Coles,
+H. Woods,
+W. Hackney,
+Kaiber, the native,
+
+as those who were to accompany me, and left the remainder under the
+command of Mr. Walker.
+
+EMBARRASSMENT REGARDING THE CHART.
+
+In making my arrangements with Mr. Walker a very serious difficulty arose
+upon his part, and one from which I immediately augured the worst of
+consequences. On quitting the boats I brought away with me Captain King's
+chart of the coast between North-west Cape and Cape Leeuwin, and had
+hitherto carried it along with my papers and sketches. I wished Mr.
+Walker to take this chart with him for the purpose of recognising his
+position by means of the islands and headlands as he advanced along the
+coast. No inducements upon my part could however persuade him to take
+charge of it. It was in vain that I urged on him the well known fact that
+nothing encourages men in a long journey so much as knowing the exact
+distance they have travelled and what extent of country they have still
+left to traverse. It was in vain that I assured him he would, from his
+inexperience in calculating distances in the bush, soon get confused in
+his reckoning; and that the men, finding out his error, would lose all
+trust and confidence in him, whence would spring want of discipline and
+disorders of various kinds; he knew that I much valued this chart and had
+apparently taken it into his head that I wished to disencumber myself of
+it and to entail the duty of carrying it on him.
+
+He at length proposed to me to allow him to cut the chart up, in which
+case he said he would carry on the part he wanted and leave the rest. I
+would not however part with so valuable a document, for it contained my
+route up to that point, and the public utility of the expedition mainly
+depended on the preservation of it. He next requested me to make a copy
+of it for him; this I assured him under existing circumstances it was
+utterly impossible for me to do with sufficient accuracy to answer the
+intended purpose, and I therefore would not attempt it. He then applied
+to Mr. Smith, who coincided in my opinion; but ever willing to oblige he
+made as accurate a copy as he could, which I in vain represented to Mr.
+Walker he would find utterly useless. His unreasonable reluctance however
+I could not overcome.
+
+POINT OF RENDEZVOUS FIXED.
+
+The next matter to arrange was what place should be fixed on as the point
+of rendezvous to which assistance was to be sent to those who were left
+to follow with Mr. Walker. This was soon arranged. Mr. Smith had
+previously been with me to a place called Goonmarrarup, on the Moore
+River about fifty-five miles to the north of Perth; and it was agreed
+that the party should proceed along the coast as they best could until
+they made the Moore River, where I would have another party stationed
+with provisions to meet them; and in order that they might not pass this
+river it was settled that the party who went out to meet them should
+separate into two, one of which would remain at this point on the Moore
+River, about twelve miles from the sea, whilst the other was to proceed
+down to it, leaving, besides their tracks, marks to show where they had
+passed; and then, in the event of not finding those they were in search
+of, this last detachment was to push still further northward to look for
+them.
+
+As soon as the arrangements were concluded I assembled the men and
+publicly repeated these directions to them; and to such as Clotworthy I
+addressed strong admonitions as to their future conduct. Many of them did
+not appear to be in the least aware of the critical situation they were
+placed in; I however entertained great fears for the safety of some of
+them. Poor Smith was at this time in a very delicate state of health, and
+his courage and gentleness had so endeared him to me that the sight of
+his sickly face made me long to be on the march to send out help to him.
+For Mr. Walker I had no fear; I have never known anyone endowed with a
+greater degree of patient endurance; indeed had he not, from a mistaken
+good nature, been too familiar with the men, no one could have been more
+admirably adapted for the trying position in which he was placed; and
+even as events turned out I doubt if anyone could have been found who
+would have endured more, or would have gone through greater exertions to
+save those under his command.
+
+The party I left, and who were not required to proceed by forced marches,
+consisted of:
+
+Mr. Walker,
+Mr. Smith,
+Thomas Ruston,
+C. Woods,
+T. Stiles,
+A. Clotworthy.
+
+SEPARATION OF THE PARTY. ADVICE TO THOSE LEFT BEHIND.
+
+Before parting with Mr. Walker and Mr. Smith I again urged them to push
+steadily onwards and never to idle for an instant; but I do not think
+that either of them were fully aware of the dangers they had to contend
+with. Poor Smith, as he squeezed my hand, begged me to send out a horse
+for him, if one could be procured, and also some tobacco; he said the
+only thing he dreaded was want of water.
+
+Mr. Walker smiled and told me to look out for myself that he was not in
+Perth before me, and several others seemed to participate in his feeling
+and to regard my plan of proceeding as the height of folly.
+
+I left with Mr. Walker's party everything that was really useful, such as
+the cooking saucepan and the only hatchet we had. These were very
+valuable to them, for had they come into a grass-tree country they might
+have subsisted for a long time upon the tops of these trees, as Mr.
+Elliott did upon a former occasion; for he together with two men lived
+upon them for fourteen days. This very useful implement they however
+threw away the second day after we parted. We also left them all the
+fishing-hooks.
+
+Mr. Walker's party instantly commenced on the system of halting, and
+instead of moving on in the afternoon remained where they were that day
+for the purpose of resting themselves.
+
+The country we travelled over for the first two miles was pretty good,
+being a series of grassy plains. At this point we came to a belt of thick
+wood which we found exceedingly difficult to traverse. We then continued
+our south by east course for four miles further over undulating sandy
+downs, and halted for the night in a small clump of Banksia trees which
+afforded plenty of wood for our fires.
+
+April 11.
+
+About an hour before daylight I roused the party, and as soon as it was
+light enough to distinguish the surrounding objects we started. Our route
+lay along a series of undulating sandy hills which sloped down to a
+fertile plain, four or five miles in width, on the western side of which
+rose a low range of dunes, and beyond these was the sea. We found the
+walking along these hills very difficult on account of the prickly scrub
+with which they were covered, and the general appearance of the country
+to the eastward was barren and unpromising.
+
+COURSE IMPEDED BY A THICK WOOD.
+
+The course I pursued was about south by east, but we soon found ourselves
+embarrassed in thick woods through which it was almost impossible to
+force a way: the trees were not large but so matted together that it
+required my utmost exertions to prevail upon the men to persist in
+pushing through them, indeed it will afterwards be found that these woods
+had a most disastrous effect upon the spirits of that portion of the
+party which followed me. It was however absolutely necessary to make our
+way through one of these which formed a belt of nearly a mile in width,
+running almost east and west as far as the eye could see in each
+direction.
+
+I therefore gave a bold plunge into the bushes, followed by the native
+and slowly by the other men, who kept alternately groaning from fatigue
+and pain and uttering imprecations against the country they were in.
+Having cleared this wood I turned rather more inland, and we pursued our
+route over barren scrubby plains, and, after having travelled about
+fifteen miles over this uninteresting description of country, we suddenly
+found ourselves on the top of a low range which overlooked a most
+luxuriant valley of about three miles in width, its general direction
+appearing to be from the east-south-east.
+
+THE ARROWSMITH RIVER.
+
+I immediately knew from the appearance of the country that we were near
+some large river; and whilst descending into the valley I indulged in
+speculations as to the size of that we were about to discover, and as to
+whether Providence would grant me once again to drink a draught of cool
+river water.
+
+I soon however began to fear that my expectations were to be
+disappointed. We had already proceeded more than two miles of the
+distance across the valley; and although the soil was rich and good we
+had yet seen nothing but dry watercourses, inconsiderable in themselves
+yet apparently when united forming a large river. I still however
+entertained hopes of finding water, for I saw numerous tracks of natives
+about, and the whole of this valley was an extensive warran ground in
+which they had that very morning been digging for their favourite root.
+
+At length, just as my patience began to wear out, we ascended, out of a
+dry watercourse, a rise rather more elevated than the others we had met
+with in crossing the valley; and from the summit of this a curious sight
+met our view: beneath us lay the dry bed of a large river, its depth at
+this point being between forty and fifty feet, and its breadth upwards of
+three hundred yards; it was at times subject to terrific inundations; for
+along its banks lay the trunks of immense trees, giants of the forest
+which had been washed down from the interior in the season of the floods;
+yet nothing now met our craving eyes but a vast sandy channel which
+scorched our eyeballs as the rays of the sun were reflected back from its
+white glistening bed.
+
+WATER FOUND IN IT BY DIGGING.
+
+I picked out the most shady spot I could for the men to halt at, then
+descended into the bed of the river to search, with the native, for
+water; and immediately on scraping a hole a few inches deep in the bed of
+the river the water came streaming into it, for the sand composing the
+bottom of the watercourse was completely saturated, and I afterwards
+found that there were large pools of it immediately above and below where
+we were.
+
+The wants of the men having been thus supplied I determined, as it was
+intensely hot, to halt for an hour or two; we each of us therefore ate a
+little doughboy, or piece of damper, and the men then lay down to rest.
+As I sat musing alone the first thought that struck me was how
+providentially it happened that we had not fallen in with this river in
+the season of the floods, as our crossing it then would have been utterly
+impossible.
+
+APPROACH OF NATIVES TO THE RIVER.
+
+But my reveries were soon disturbed by hearing the call of a native from
+the opposite bank, and I roused up poor Kaiber from his sleep that he
+might ascertain what was going on upon the other side. His quick eyes
+soon detected natives moving about amongst the bushes; but on farther
+examination he ascertained that there was only one man, who walked as if
+he had been wounded, the rest of the party being made up of women and
+children, who were digging for roots. They were quite unconscious of our
+presence, and we lay snugly behind a bush, watching all their movements.
+As soon as they had dug a sufficient quantity of roots for their purpose
+they descended to the bed of the river and walked up to a pool about one
+hundred yards above our position, where they all drank and then sat down
+to cook their roots. I ordered the men to keep themselves as quiet as
+possible so that we in no way disturbed these poor creatures; and when at
+length the party moved off we passed them in a diagonal direction so as
+to give them an opportunity of seeing us without frightening them. When
+first we emerged into view they began to run away; but when they saw that
+we still moved steadily on without noticing them they were no longer
+alarmed, but stood still, gazing at us with the greatest wonder and
+amazement; the youngest children standing behind their mothers, peeping
+cautiously out at us; and many a strange thought must have passed through
+the breasts of these natives as they saw us wind in regular order up the
+opposite hill. This tribe was the most northern one that I had seen wear
+the kangaroo-skin cloak.
+
+Another mile and a half in a south by east direction brought us to a low
+range to the south of this river, which I named the Arrowsmith River
+after Mr. John Arrowsmith, the distinguished geographer. From this range
+we had a fine view of the rich valleys drained by this important stream.
+
+MOUNT HORNER.
+
+These valleys ran nearly north and south between the interior range and
+the sandy limestone range parallel to the coast on which we now were; but
+the river must also, of course, from its magnitude, penetrate the
+interior range, which was only distant about sixteen miles from us. A
+very remarkable peak in the latter, which bore east-north-east from this
+point, I named Mount Horner, after my friend Leonard Horner, Esquire.
+
+It appears from the report of the party who came along the coast that
+this river loses itself in a large lake, between which and the sea a
+great bar of dry sand intervenes in the dry season; there is however a
+very fair proportion of good country in the neighbourhood of the
+Arrowsmith.
+
+In the course of the evening we travelled six and a half miles further in
+a south-south-east direction, over barren, sandy, scrubby plains, which
+extended on all sides as far as the eye could see, and even the interior
+range appeared to be perfectly bare. Towards nightfall we were all quite
+worn out from the difficulty we had experienced in walking through the
+prickly scrub, yet I could see no place that afforded sufficient wood to
+enable us to make a fire and, as most of us had no covering with us, and
+the nights were intensely cold, we had every prospect of passing a most
+wretched one; but at length I spied two clumps of Banksia trees, the
+nearest of which we just reached as it became quite dark. The other clump
+was about a quarter of a mile to the eastward of us, at which I soon
+distinguished native fires; as the men were however much exhausted I
+thought it better not to mention this circumstance to them, and Kaiber
+and myself, who always slept at a little fire alone, kept a good look out
+during the night.
+
+This evening we found the Bohn or Boh-rne, a native esculent root, and it
+is the most northern point at which I have met with it.*
+
+(*Footnote. A small red root somewhat resembling in flavour a mild
+onion.)
+
+April 12.
+
+Before dawn this morning our native neighbours, who doubtless were not
+pleased at our sleeping so near them, began to cooee to each other, which
+is their usual signal for collecting their forces; and, as our safety
+depended upon none of the party being incapacitated by a wound or other
+cause from proceeding with the utmost rapidity, I at once roused the men
+and we resumed our way.
+
+CONTINUE OUR ROUTE.
+
+In the course of the day we made a march of twenty-five miles in a
+south-south-east direction, the whole of this distance being across
+elevated undulating sandy plains, covered with a thick prickly scrub,
+about two and a half feet high; these plains were however occasionally
+studded with a few Banksia trees, but anything more dark, cheerless, and
+barren than their general appearance can scarcely be conceived.
+
+About half an hour before sunset we came to the bed of a dry watercourse,
+the direction of which was from south-east to north, so that it was
+probably a tributary of the Arrowsmith. We were fortunate enough to find
+a small pool of water in it, yet the large flights of birds of every
+description that came here for the purpose of drinking showed the rarity
+of water in these parts. We made several attempts to get a shot at them
+but they were so wild, and we were so worn out and weak, that all our
+exertions were unsuccessful. In the course of the evening one of the men
+made up my last pound of flour into a damper for me, and I supped on a
+spoonful of arrowroot.
+
+SERIOUS ROBBBRY BY A RAT.
+
+April 13.
+
+On waking up this morning I found that in the night a rat had gnawed a
+hole in the canvas bag in which my little damper was placed, and had
+eaten more than half of it; this was a very serious misfortune as all my
+provisions were now reduced to three table-spoonfuls of arrowroot and the
+morsel of damper left me by the rat. As I had shared my provisions with
+the native my situation was far worse than that of any of the others, and
+he, poor fellow, had become so dispirited and weak that he was incapable
+of searching for his food. Indeed the productions of the country through
+which he had hitherto passed were so different from those of the one in
+which he had lived that the various kinds of roots and vegetables were,
+with one or two exceptions, quite unknown to him.
+
+We made a very good march of it this morning, having travelled nineteen
+miles in a nearly south direction before 12 o'clock. Soon after starting
+we sighted Mount Perron, distant about two and twenty miles and, seen
+over the waste and barren plains which surrounded us, it was a very
+remarkable object.
+
+We halted at noon for about two hours, during which time I made my
+breakfast with Kaiber, sharing my remaining portion of damper between us.
+It was almost a satisfaction to me when it was gone, for, tormented by
+the pangs of hunger, as I had now been for many days, I found that nearly
+the whole of my time was passed in struggling with myself as to whether I
+should eat at once all the provisions I had left or refrain till a future
+hour. Having completed this last morsel I occupied myself for a little
+with my journal, then read a few chapters in the New Testament and,
+having fulfilled these duties, I felt myself as contented and cheerful as
+I had ever been in the most fortunate moments of my life.
+
+GAIRDNER'S RANGE.
+
+Soon after two P.M. we resumed our journey, travelling for about eight
+miles in a due south direction over plains similar to those we had passed
+yesterday and this morning, and then began to ascend a red sandstone
+range of the same description as the Perth ironstone and thinly studded
+with black bay trees. I named this range Gairdner's Range after my friend
+Gordon Gairdner, Esquire, of the Colonial Office and, after continuing a
+gradual ascent for about four miles, I found that we were in the
+neighbourhood of a forest, at the outskirts of which I chose a spot for
+our halting-place, which afforded plenty of firewood but was deficient in
+water. As we had now however marched thirty-one miles without seeing
+water, and were all perfectly worn out, I judged it more prudent to halt
+where we were.
+
+FIND SOME EDIBLE ZAMIA NUTS.
+
+Kaiber here brought in some of the nuts of the Zamia tree; they were dry
+and therefore in a fit state to eat. I accordingly shared them amongst
+the party. Several of the men then straggled off to look for more, and
+were imprudent enough, before I found out what they were doing, to eat
+several of the nuts which were not sufficiently dried, the consequences
+of which were that they were seized with violent fits of vomiting
+accompanied by vertigo and other distressing symptoms; these however
+gradually abated during the night, and in the morning, although rendered
+more weak than they were before, the poor fellows were still able to
+resume their march.
+
+GENEROUS CONDUCT OF ONE OF THE MEN.
+
+Soon after the fires had been lighted I was sitting alone by mine, as the
+shadows of night were just falling over the wild hilly scenery with which
+we were surrounded; I had no water to cook a portion of the three
+spoonfuls of arrowroot yet left me, and I saw each of the others
+preparing his scanty portion of food. The native had at this time gone
+away to look for Zamia nuts, and it may be imagined that many almost
+undefined feelings at such a time thronged rapidly through my mind.
+Whilst thus thinking I heard Hackney propose to Woods to offer me a share
+of their little store of food: "No," said Woods; "everyone for himself
+under these circumstances; let Mr. Grey do as well as he can and I will
+do the same." "Well then I shall give him some of mine at all events,"
+said Hackney; and a few minutes afterwards he came up to my fire and
+pressed me to accept a morsel of damper about the size of a walnut. I
+hesitated at first whether to do so or not, but, being aware that when we
+came into a country where game was to be found I could, by means of my
+gun, provide enough amply to repay this lad, I took it, after several
+refusals and having it as often warmly pressed upon me.
+
+I was much affected by the kindness of Hackney, who was a young American;
+and I regret to add that I felt more hurt than I ought to have done at
+the remark of Woods.
+
+
+CHAPTER 4. FROM GAIRDNER'S RANGE TO PERTH.
+
+THE HILL RIVER.
+
+Sunday April 14.
+
+We travelled about fourteen miles due south over a range of high
+ironstone hills which were occasionally clothed with grass-trees. The
+scrub was however still thick, prickly, and very difficult to penetrate;
+the heat was intense and the whole party were getting very weak. About
+noon, and when we had just gained a commanding summit, I looked back at
+Mount Perron, now several miles in our rear; from this point we began to
+descend into an extensive valley, and at the end of fourteen miles
+reached a small river which I named the Hill.
+
+DISCOVERY AND PILLAGE OF A NATIVE PROVISION STORE.
+
+We halted at the first pool we came to and the men, who had a little
+flour left, boiled two tablespoonfuls of this in about a pint and a half
+of water, thus making what they called soup. In the meantime Kaiber came
+in and told me that he had found some holes in which the natives had,
+according to their custom, buried a store of By-yu nuts,* and he at the
+same time requested permission to steal them.
+
+(*Footnote. The nut of the Zamia tree.)
+
+I reflected for some time on his proposal; I was reluctant to mark the
+first approach of civilized man to this country of a savage race by an
+unprovoked act of pillage and robbery; yet we were now in the desert, on
+the point of perishing for want of food, the pangs of hunger gnawing us
+even in our very sleep, and with the means of temporary relief at hand. I
+asked myself if I should be acting justly or humanely by the others,
+whose lives were at stake if I allowed them to pass by the store, which
+seemed providentially offered to us, without pointing it out.
+
+In my perplexity I turned to Kaiber: his answer was, "If we take all,
+this people will be angered greatly; they will say, 'What thief has
+stolen here: track his footsteps, spear him through the heart; wherefore
+has he stolen our hidden food?' But if we take what is buried in one hole
+they will say, 'Hungry people have been here; they were very empty, and
+now their bellies are full; they may be sorcerers; now they will not eat
+us as we sleep.'" Good, it is good, Kaiber," I replied; "come with me and
+we will rob one hole." And accordingly we went and took the contents of
+one, leaving three others undisturbed. I brought back these nuts to the
+men and we shared them amongst us.
+
+We were so weary that we did not start until late in the afternoon, and
+then travelled south by east down the course of the river, making about
+six miles. It was joined by many small tributaries and now became a
+running stream flowing through a deep grassy valley in which were many
+large flats. In the course of the afternoon some of the men had a shot at
+a native dog; he was a fine fat fellow; but they were unsuccessful and
+never did I feel more disappointed than when I saw him cantering away
+desperately frightened but perfectly uninjured. I was sufficiently
+fortunate to shoot a hawk just before nightfall, and we then halted by
+the side of the river, lighted our fires, and laid down to sleep.
+
+April 15.
+
+In the course of the night I had cooked the hawk which I shot yesterday
+and before starting divided it as follows: I gave the head, entrails, and
+shanks to the native; then cutting the residue in half I gave one part to
+Hackney, who had so generously shared his morsel of damper with me, and
+kept the remaining portion for myself. Poor Hackney's wan and wasted
+countenance glowed with pleasure when this acceptable gift was placed in
+his hands, and I felt no slight degree of satisfaction in having an
+opportunity of showing him that I felt grateful for his act of generosity
+to me.
+
+We now followed the course of the river for about two miles further and
+saw a considerable quantity of good land along its banks, clothed with
+feed for stock; but I cannot tell how far back this extends.
+
+The river now ran away nearly due west under a low range of hills; and
+still adhering to my original plan I quitted its banks and continued my
+course straight for Perth, travelling in a south by east direction. The
+next two and a half miles led us to the top of a low range. The whole
+tract of country between this point and the river was arid and barren in
+the extreme, being devoid of all vegetation but a stunted prickly scrub,
+and on it we saw no signs either of animal life or water. We here for the
+first time since quitting Moresby's Flat-topped Range saw that the one to
+the east of us became well wooded, the interval between these two points
+having been completely bare of trees.
+
+BARREN COUNTRY.
+
+I now halted for about an hour and a half to rest the wearied men, and
+then again commenced our route over this barren waste. For the next
+twelve miles we travelled down a gentle descent leading to a very deep
+valley, and late in the evening reached some dried up swamps where we
+made an ineffectual search for water; we however saw here some parakeets,
+and I was lucky enough to kill one which was about the size of a thrush;
+several of the men also got shots at these little birds, but without
+success. As the day had been intensely hot and we had tasted no water
+since morning we suffered a great deal from want of it, but were at
+length compelled by darkness to lie down to rest without finding any.
+
+DRY BED OF THE SMITH RIVER.
+
+April 16.
+
+We had not travelled above two miles this morning in an east-south-east
+direction when I found that we had reached the bottom of the valley into
+which we had yesterday evening commenced our descent. In this valley lay
+the dried up bed of a considerable stream, which I have named the Smith
+after my unfortunate friend. Its direction was from north-east to south.
+
+LONG AND UTTER DESTITUTION OF FOOD AND WATER. SUFFERINGS FROM THIRST.
+
+As we were now suffering a good deal from thirst we made a search in both
+directions along the bed, but although there were many pools (some of
+them being twelve or fourteen feet deep) we could not find the slightest
+indication of water having stood in them for a considerable time: in the
+bottom of one of the deepest of these pools was a native well, dug to the
+depth of about seven feet, but even at this distance below the surface we
+could see no signs whatever of water. There was much good land in the
+valley through which this watercourse wound, but all was barren and arid.
+In the course of the morning we had seen a flight of cockatoos coming
+from the eastward down the valley in which the bed of the river lay,
+which at the time made me imagine that water would be found in that
+direction in the interior, and the natives subsequently stated that such
+was the case, but our circumstances would not admit such a deviation from
+our course in a search which if unsuccessful would have proved fatal.
+
+DISTRESSING SEARCH FOR WATER.
+
+The sun had by this time become intensely hot, and the poor fellows grew
+faint for want of water, whilst it aggravated their sufferings that they
+stood upon the brink of a river, or wandered along its banks with eager
+piercing eyes, and an air of intense scrutinizing watchfulness peculiar
+to those who search for that on which their lives depend. One while they
+explored a shallow stony part of the bed, which was parched up and
+blackened by the fiery sun; their steps were slow and listless, and I
+could plainly see how faint, weak, and weary they were; the next minute
+another pool would be discerned ahead, the depth of which the eye could
+not at a distance reach; now they hurried on towards it with a dreadful
+look of eager anxiety, the pool was reached, the bottom seen, but, alas!
+no water; then they paused and looked one at the other with an air of
+utter despair. As long as they remained on the banks of this river bed a
+glimmering of hope remained; but I felt convinced from the general
+appearance of the country that there was not the slightest probability of
+our finding water there, and resolved therefore still to continue a
+direct route. When I gave this order the weak-minded quailed before it:
+they would rather have perished in wandering up and down those arid and
+inhospitable banks than have made a great effort and have torn themselves
+away from the vain and delusive hopes this watercourse held out to them.
+
+With great pain I witnessed and bore my part in this distressing scene,
+but I at the moment felt that it would be necessary to save my energies
+for other occasions; suspecting that we were in a great tract of desert
+country, a large portion of which must still be passed ere we could hope
+for any alleviation from our sufferings; and I therefore at once
+commenced carrying into execution the order I had given, by walking on in
+a south by east direction. In about two miles we had gained the summit of
+the low range which bounded to the southward the valley where we had so
+vainly searched for water, and for the next ten miles we travelled over
+elevated sandy barren plains, thinly wooded with occasional clumps of
+Banksia trees.
+
+DRY TEA-TREE SWAMP.
+
+On our left was a lofty and well wooded range, distant only about four
+miles, and on our right lay extensive plains, the western extremity of
+which, distant about sixteen miles from us, was by the sea; these plains
+appeared tolerably fertile, being covered with tea-tree swamps, now
+apparently dried up. I still was led on by the hope, raised by the height
+of the range on our left, that we might find water issuing from it
+towards the coast, and had therefore not searched the plains which lay
+between us and the sea, indeed I felt fully convinced that the swamps we
+saw were all perfectly dry and the native coincided in my opinion; about
+an hour before sunset however we descended towards the plains, and
+turning due west we reached them in about half an hour, but found all the
+swamps quite destitute of water. As soon as it became dark I lit my fire
+and laid down by it, advising the others to pursue the same course and to
+preserve their energies for the morrow. But such advice was thrown away
+upon men almost perishing with thirst, and every now and then throughout
+the night I heard their weak husky voices as they wandered from swamp to
+swamp in the neighbourhood, digging holes with pointed sticks in a vain
+search.
+
+NATIVE SONGS.
+
+Poor Kaiber alone lay crouching by my fire, occasionally feeding it with
+fresh fuel and chanting to himself these two songs, in his own language:
+
+Thither, mother oh, I return again,
+Thither oh, I return again.
+
+The other had been sung by the mother of Miago, a native who had
+accompanied Captain Wickham in the Beagle from the Swan River, and it had
+made a great impression on the natives.
+
+Whither does that lone ship wander,
+My young son I shall never see again.
+Whither does that lone ship wander.
+
+EXTREME FEEBLENESS OF THE PARTY.
+
+The night wore heavily on; sleepless sufferers were around me, and I
+myself began to feel very anxious as to what the next day might bring.
+The men had now been already one night and two days without tasting a
+single drop of water or food of any kind whatever, for as the only
+provisions they had left was a spoonful or two of flour each it was
+impossible for them to cook this without water; indeed only two of them
+had even this small supply of flour left, and the rest were wholly
+destitute.
+
+I personally suffered far less than any of the others with the exception
+of the native, and this for several reasons. In the first place I had
+been long accustomed to subsist on a very small quantity of water, and
+secondly I had always kept my mind occupied and amused instead of giving
+way to desponding or gloomy thoughts. When we halted and the others laid
+wearily down, brooding over their melancholy situation, I employed myself
+in writing up my journal, which was most scrupulously kept; and this duty
+being concluded I had recourse to a small New Testament, my companion
+throughout all my wanderings, and from this latter I drank in such deep
+draughts of comfort that my spirits were always good.
+
+DANGER OF PERISHING FOR WANT OF WATER.
+
+April 17.
+
+About an hour and a half before dawn we started in a south by east
+direction, the native leading the way, for it was yet too dark for me to
+select points to march upon. As we moved along we moistened our mouths by
+sucking a few drops of dew from the shrubs and reeds, but even this
+miserable resource failed us almost immediately after sunrise. The men
+were so worn out from fatigue and want of food and water that I could get
+them but a few hundred yards at a time, then some one of them would sit
+down and beg me so earnestly to stop for a few minutes that I could not
+refuse acceding to the request; when however I thus halted the native in
+every instance expressed his indignation, telling me that it was
+sacrificing his safety as well as those of the others who were able to
+move, for that if we did not find water ere night the whole party would
+die. He was indeed as weak from want of food as any of us, for we had
+made such rapid and lengthy marches in the hope of speedily forwarding
+assistance to those left behind that when we came at night to the
+conclusion of our day's journey Kaiber was too much exhausted to think of
+looking for food.
+
+About two o'clock in the afternoon the men were so completely exhausted
+that it was impossible to induce them to move, and at this period I found
+that we had only made about eight miles in a south by east direction,
+over plains studded with small sandy hills and the beds of dried up
+tea-tree swamps.
+
+When I halted the sun was intensely powerful; the groans and exclamations
+of some of the men were painful in the extreme; but my feelings were
+still more agonized when I saw the poor creatures driven, by the want of
+water, to drink their own ----, the last sad and revolting resource of
+thirst!
+
+UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR WATER WITH KAIBER.
+
+Unable to bear these distressing scenes any longer I ordered Kaiber to
+accompany me, and notwithstanding the heat and my own weariness I left
+the others lying down in such slight shade as the stunted banksias
+afforded, and throwing aside all my ammunition, papers, etc., started
+with him in search of water, carrying nothing but my double-barrelled
+gun. We proceeded towards the sea. As the natives have the faculty, even
+in the trackless woods which they have never before been in, of returning
+direct to any spot they have left by however circuitous a course they may
+have travelled after quitting it, I paid no attention to the direction we
+were moving in but followed Kaiber, who roamed from spot to spot in the
+vain search of water; but we found not a drop. The same arid barren
+country seemed spread on every side; and when at length I began
+occasionally to stumble and fall from weakness hope abandoned me, and I
+determined to return direct to my comrades and get them to make one more
+effort to proceed and search for it in a southerly direction.
+
+TREACHEROUS INTENTIONS OF KAIBER, THE NATIVE.
+
+I therefore told Kaiber that such was my intention, and directed him to
+guide me to the party. With apparent alacrity he obeyed my orders; but
+after leading me about some time in an extraordinary manner he told me
+that he had lost his way and could not find them. His look was so very
+plausible when he said this, and he seemed so grieved at the
+circumstance, that for a moment I believed his tale; but I felt convinced
+that we could not be at any very great distance from them and therefore
+fired one barrel of my gun; the echo of this sound, never heard in these
+solitudes before, rang loudly through the woods, remoter distances caught
+it up, and at length it gradually died away: anxiously did I now listen
+for a repetition of the report, for I knew, were they within hearing, the
+men would instantly fire again to acknowledge the signal I had made; but
+minute after minute passed on and no answering signal struck my ear. I
+sat down and applied my ear to the ground; every sense became absorbed in
+the single one of hearing, but not the remotest sound that I could
+distinguish broke the frightful solitude of these vast woods. I remained
+seated on the ground for a few minutes, still hearing no answer to my
+shot, till the conviction gradually forced itself on my mind that the
+native had been leading me astray. Only two cases could have occurred:
+either he had done so purposely, for he could not, by any accidental
+mistake, have taken me to such a distance as to prevent the party in
+these silent woods hearing the report of my gun, or otherwise the men had
+of themselves moved away from the place where I had left them. But I felt
+assured that this latter supposition was not correct, for ever since I
+quitted the other portion of the party I had maintained so strict a
+discipline that no man ever separated from the rest without my
+permission; indeed I had increased my strictness in these respects
+exactly in proportion to our increasing difficulties; and I moreover felt
+sure that some of the men were by far too much attached to me ever to
+abandon me in such a manner.
+
+My situation however was undoubtedly very critical, not as far as
+regarded my own safety, for I was not now more than eighty miles from the
+nearest settler's hut; but was it possible for me to return alone to my
+countrymen and to say that I had lost all my comrades? that I had saved
+myself and left the others to perish? Yet I knew that unless I sent
+assistance to the first party I had left the majority of them could not
+survive; and from the state I had, about an hour and a half ago, left the
+others in, it appeared more than probable that they might wait and wait
+anxiously, expecting my return, until too weak to move, and thus die
+miserably in the woods.
+
+These thoughts thronged rapidly through my mind. Indeed I was obliged to
+do all things quickly now for I felt that my existence depended upon my
+finding water within the next three or four hours. The native sat
+opposite to me on the ground, his keen savage eye watching the expression
+of my countenance, as each thought flitted across it. I saw that he was
+trying to read my feelings; and he at length thus broke the silence:
+
+"Mr. Grey, today we can walk and may yet not die but drink water;
+tomorrow you and I will be two dead men, if we walk not now, for we shall
+then be weak and unable. The others sit down too much; they are weak and
+cannot walk: if we remain with them we shall all die; but we two are
+still strong; let us walk. There lies the sea; to that the streams run;
+it is long since we have crossed a river: go quickly, and before the next
+sun gets up we shall cross another running water." He paused for a
+minute, looking steadfastly at me, and then added, "You must leave the
+others, for I know not where they are, and we shall die in trying to find
+them."
+
+HIS DESIGNS FRUSTRATED.
+
+I now knew that he was playing me false and that he had purposely led me
+astray. He was too great a coward to move on alone for fear of other
+natives and, dreading to lose his life by thirst, he had hit upon this
+expedient of inducing me to abandon the others and to proceed with him.
+"Do you see the sun, Kaiber, and where it now stands?" I replied to him.
+"Yes," was his answer. "Then if you have not led me to the party before
+that sun falls behind the hills I will shoot you; as it begins to sink
+you die." I said these words, looking at him steadily in the face, and
+with the full intention of putting my threat into execution. He saw this,
+and yet strove to appear unconcerned, and with a forced laugh said, "You
+play. From daylight until now you and I have walked; we have wasted our
+strength now in looking for water for the others. But a short time, and
+we shall be dead; and you say, search for men whom I cannot find; you
+tell me, look; and I know not where to look." I now lost all patience
+with him and replied: "Kaiber, deceive as you will, you cannot deceive
+me; follow back our tracks instantly to the point from whence we started:
+if you do not find them, as the sun falls you die." "I am wearied,"
+answered he; "for three days I have not either eaten or drunk, far have
+we wandered since we left them, and very distant from us are they now
+sitting." I could bear this no longer, and, starting up, said, "You
+deceive: the sun falls! just now I spoke: Koolyum, nganga dabbut--garrum
+wangaga." Again he forced a laugh and said, "Surely, you play." I
+answered shortly, "Did I ever tell you a lie, Kaiber? I now speak the
+truth."
+
+RETURN TO THE PARTY WITHOUT WATER.
+
+He seemed, when he saw that I was so determined, to feel a little
+uncomfortable, and shifting his position moved rather further from me;
+this motion on his part induced me to conceive that he intended to run
+away; in which case I could never again have hoped to rejoin the party; I
+therefore instantly cocked the remaining barrel of my gun and presented
+it at him, telling him that if he ever moved from me further than a
+certain tree which I pointed out I would forthwith shoot him, instead of
+waiting until sunset as I had originally intended. The decided manner in
+which I announced this to my friend Kaiber had the desired effect. He
+made a few protestations as to the folly of my conduct; lamented most
+loudly that his mother, and the Dandalup (a river of his own land) were
+so far removed from him; asserted vehemently that the natives of these
+parts were bandy-legged, rough-tongued beings; that they eat earth and
+drank no water; and, winding-up with a fervent wish that he might catch
+one of them wandering anywhere between Pinjarup and Mandurup, in which
+case he would spear his heart, his kidney, and his liver, he sulkily
+resumed his route and led me straight back to the party in about an hour.
+
+DISTRESSING SYMPTOMS OF EXTREME THIRST.
+
+The men, who had been much surprised at the length of my absence, were at
+first buoyed up with the hope that I had found water; but this hope had
+at last died away, and they knew not what to conjecture. They were all
+reduced to the last degree of weakness and want; indeed I myself was at
+this period suffering from the most distressing symptoms of thirst; not
+only was my mouth parched, burning, and devoid of moisture, but the
+senses of sight and hearing became much affected; I could scarcely
+recognise the voices of the rest; and when uncouth unnatural tones struck
+upon my ear it took me some time to collect my thoughts in order to
+understand what was said, somewhat in the way in which one is obliged to
+act when roused suddenly from a deep sleep. In the same manner my sight
+had become feeble and indistinct; but by far the most distressing
+sensation was that experienced upon rising up after having rested for a
+few moments. I then felt the blood rush violently to the head, and the
+feeling produced was as if it were driven by a forcing-pump through all
+my veins.
+
+LAST EFFORTS.
+
+Previously to starting again I gave the men orders, which I believed at
+the time would be, to some at least, the last. I did not attempt to hide
+from them the dangers which surrounded us; but stating these I
+represented that matters had now arrived at such a crisis that, in the
+event of any of them being unable to proceed, it would be wrong to expect
+the others to halt on their account; and I therefore called upon all to
+exert their utmost energies and boldly to make a last struggle for their
+lives. My intention, I told them, was to proceed slowly but steadily to
+the southward, and never once to halt until I dropped or reached water;
+even in the event of any being unable to keep up I warned them that I
+should not wait for them but still pursue a steady and undeviating course
+until water was found; but as soon as I had slaked my own thirst I would
+return and bring assistance to those who might have been unable to come
+on with me.
+
+PAINFUL MARCH.
+
+Having thus imparted my intentions I ordered them to throw away every
+superfluous article; and a very valuable sextant, which had hitherto been
+carried turn about by Corporals Auger and Coles, was here abandoned.
+These our preparations having been made we moved slowly on in sad
+procession, and never shall I forget the wild and haggard looks of those
+that followed me; reason had begun to hold but a very slight influence
+over some, and I feel assured that had it not been for the force of that
+discipline which I rigidly maintained some of the party must now have
+lost their lives. As it was, not a word of complaint was heard as to the
+plan I pursued or the route I took; but they all reeled and staggered
+after me, the silence being only broken by groans and exclamations. I
+preserved a slow uniform pace, proceeding still in a south by east
+direction, that is, in a straight line for Perth. The same sandy sterile
+country was around, thinly clothed with Banksia trees.
+
+We had marched for about an hour and a quarter and in this time had only
+made two miles, when we suddenly arrived upon the edge of a dried-up bed
+of a sedgy swamp, which lay in the centre of a small plain, where we saw
+the foot-mark of a native imprinted on the sand, and again our hearts
+beat with hope, for this sign appeared to announce that we were once more
+entering the regions of animal life. We soon found that another part of
+the swamp was thickly marked with the footsteps of women and children;
+and as no water-baskets were scattered about no doubt could exist but
+that we were in the vicinity of water. We soon discovered several native
+wells dug in the bed of the swamp; but these were all dry, and I began
+again to fear that I was disappointed, when Kaiber suddenly started up
+from a thick bed of reeds and made me a sign which was unobserved by the
+others, as was evidently his intention.
+
+FORTUNATE DISCOVERY OF A MOIST MUD-HOLE. PROVIDENTIAL SUPPLY.
+
+I hurried up and found him with his head buried in a small hole of moist
+mud, for I can call it nothing else. I very deliberately raised Kaiber by
+the hair, as all expostulations to him were useless, and then called up
+the others.
+
+Kaiber had completely swelled himself out with this thick muddy liquid,
+and from the mark upon the sides of the hole had evidently consumed more
+than half of the total supply. I first of all took some of this moist mud
+in my mouth, but finding a difficulty in swallowing it, as it was so
+thick, I strained a portion through a handkerchief. We had thirsted with
+an intense and burning thirst for three days and two nights, during the
+greater portion of which time we had been taking violent exercise under a
+fierce sun. To conceive the delight of the men when they arrived at this
+little hole of mud would be difficult. Each, as he came up and cast his
+wearied limbs on the ground beside the hole, uttered these words: "Thank
+God;" and then greedily swallowed a few mouthfuls of the liquid mud,
+protesting that it was the most delicious water and had a peculiar
+flavour which rendered it far superior to any other he had ever tasted.
+
+DANGER OF PERISHING FROM HUNGER.
+
+But it required some time before their faculties were sufficiently
+recovered to allow them duly to estimate the magnitude of the danger they
+had escaped. The small portion of muddy water in the hole was soon
+finished, and then by scraping it out clean we found that water began
+slowly to trickle into it again. The men now laid themselves down almost
+in a state of stupefaction, and rested by their treasured pool. I felt
+however that great calls upon my energies might still arise, and
+therefore, retiring a little apart with the native, I first of all
+returned hearty thanks to my Maker for the dangers and sufferings he had
+thus brought me through, and then tottered on with my gun in search of
+food. As might have been expected, game was here plentiful: numerous
+pigeons and other birds came down at nightfall (which was now the hour)
+for the purpose of drinking at this lone pool, and the numbers of birds
+of different kinds that congregated here was a most convincing proof of
+the general aridity of this part of the country. Indeed the natives
+subsequently reported that the tract we had just traversed was at this
+season of the year totally devoid of water. It was in vain now that I
+raised the gun, for my tremulous hand shook so that I could not for a
+moment cover the bird I aimed at, and after one or two ineffectual
+attempts to kill something I was obliged to desist in despair.
+
+PANGS OF HUNGER.
+
+I now dreaded that I had only escaped the pains of death by thirst in
+order to perish of hunger, and for a moment regretted that I had not died
+ere I found water, for I firmly believed, from the state of weakness I
+was then reduced to, that the bitterness of death had passed. But a short
+period sufficed to smother these unmanly and unchristian feelings in my
+breast, and, seeing a flight of black cockatoos soaring about in the air,
+I determined to watch them to their roosting-place, and then favoured by
+the darkness of night to steal upon them. On my return to the party I
+found the men sitting by the hole of water, anxiously watching until they
+again saw a little black mud in it, which they then eagerly swallowed.
+
+I found some difficulty in inducing them to light their fire and to
+choose a situation where they could repose for the night, but, having
+accomplished this, I sat down by my own, hand-rubbing my limbs until it
+should grow rather darker. At length I had the pleasure of seeing that
+the black cockatoos, who found we were not likely to leave them in
+possession of the water, had taken up their position for the night in a
+large clump of trees distant not more than half a mile, and I hereupon
+started with Kaiber to try and get a shot at them.
+
+SHOOT AND COOK A COCKATOO.
+
+After about an hour's wandering and excitement such only as the desperate
+gambler can know whose life depends upon the stake for which he plays, I
+succeeded in getting a shot into a whole flight of roosting and snoring
+black cockatoos, and one fell. I pounced in triumph on it and received a
+bite which, famishing as I was, somewhat damped my ardour; Kaiber however
+hit it upon the head with a stick, and we then bore it off to our fire.
+
+The men had cooked one spoonful of flour each in the liquid mud which the
+pool afforded, and assured me that they found this thick water very
+nourishing; whence I concluded that the large portion of mud it contained
+in some degree gratified the cravings of the stomach. Kaiber soon plucked
+the cockatoo and roasted it: I gave him the entrails, the feet, and the
+first joint of the legs, eating the head and thighs myself and reserving
+the other portions as a store against future emergencies. I now felt
+assured that my life was saved and, rendering thanks to God for his many
+mercies, I laid down by the fire to watch for the first appearance of
+dawn.
+
+April 18.
+
+The men slept but little during the night: every now and then one of them
+visited the hole of mud and water to see if a little of this fluid had
+drained into it, and about an hour before daylight I roused them up to
+proceed upon their journey. They were dreadfully feeble though upon the
+whole stronger than they had been for the last three days. We now entered
+upon a more hilly country than we had traversed yesterday; the hills were
+steep, being composed of sand and recent limestone, whilst the valleys
+were thickly wooded with grass-trees and stunted Banksias. The general
+line of route I followed was south by east, and we had not travelled more
+than nine miles when we came suddenly upon a valley with a river running
+rapidly through it. The sight of this cheered us up; and when on tasting
+the water we found it excellent, and saw adhering to the banks a species
+of freshwater mussel (Unio) called by the natives Maraylya, our joy was
+complete.
+
+SUPERSTITIOUS FEELINGS OF KAIBER REGARDING MUSSELS.
+
+I proceeded therefore to collect wood for my fire and ordered Kaiber to
+make haste and gather some of these mussels, an order which, considering
+the hungry state he was in, I imagined he would gladly have obeyed; but
+to my astonishment he refused positively to touch one of them, and
+evidently regarded them with a superstitious dread and abhorrence. My
+arguments to induce him to move were all thrown away; he constantly
+affirmed that if he touched these shellfish through their agency the
+Boyl-yas* would acquire some mysterious influence over him, which would
+end in his death. He could not state a recent instance of any ill effects
+having happened from handling or catching the mussel; but when I taunted
+him with this he very shrewdly replied that his inability to do so only
+arose from the fact of nobody being "wooden-headed enough" to meddle with
+them, and that he intended to have nothing whatever to do with them. This
+much he assured me was certain: that a very very long time ago some
+natives had eaten them, and that bad spirits had immediately killed them
+for so doing.
+
+(*Footnote. The Boyl-ya is the native sorcerer.)
+
+Kaiber was a great deal too sensible a fellow to be allowed to remain a
+prey to so ridiculous a superstition as this was; I therefore ordered him
+instantly to go and bring some of these mussels to me; that I intended to
+eat them, but that he could in this respect please himself. He hereupon,
+after thinking for a moment or two, got up to obey me, and walked away
+for this purpose; but I heard him, whilst occupied in the task, lamenting
+his fate most bitterly. It was true, he said, that he had not died either
+of hunger or thirst, but this was all owing to his courage and strong
+sinews, yet what would these avail against the supernatural powers of the
+boyl-yas. "They will eat me at night, whilst, worn out by fatigue, I must
+sleep." Amidst these and sundry other similar exclamations he brought the
+mussels to me: by this time my fire was prepared, and in a few minutes I
+was making such a meal as the weak state of my stomach would admit of. No
+inducement of mine could however prevail upon Kaiber to share with me,
+and I therefore handed him the remains of the cockatoo.
+
+As soon as my repast was concluded I walked about three miles up the
+river in the hopes of getting a duck, Kaiber accompanying me. We saw
+several but killed none. There were some fine reaches in the river, as
+well as some good flats along its banks.
+
+In the afternoon we travelled about three miles in a south by east
+direction, and then came to the bed of a small stream, which ran from
+east to west but was now merely a chain of pools. Across the bed where we
+passed it was a native weir. Our route during the whole evening lay over
+hills of a nature similar to those we passed yesterday. We did not halt
+until it was so dark that we could not see to walk, and then just dropped
+at the spot where we ceased to move.
+
+DISTRESS FROM COLD.
+
+The men made their fire and I lighted mine from theirs; but scarcely was
+this done ere the rain fell in torrents. I had no blankets or protection
+of any kind against this, and Kaiber was in the same predicament; so that
+when the fire was extinguished our position became pitiable in the
+extreme, for I know not if I ever before suffered so much from cold; and
+to add to my annoyance I every now and then heard Kaiber chattering to
+himself, under its effects, rather than singing:
+
+Oh wherefore did he eat the mussels?
+Now the boyl-yas storms and thunder make;
+Oh wherefore would he eat the mussels?"
+
+At last I so completely lost my temper that I roared out, "You
+stone-headed fellow, Kaiber, if you talk of mussels again, I'll beat
+you." "What spoke I this morning?" replied Kaiber; "you are stone-headed.
+We shall be dead directly; wherefore ate you the mussels?" This was
+beyond what my patience in my present starved state could endure, so I
+got up and began to grope about for a stick or something to throw in the
+direction of the chattering blockhead; but he begged me to remain quiet,
+promising faithfully to make no more mention of the mussels. I therefore
+squatted down, in a state of the most abject wretchedness.
+
+CRIPPLED STATE OF THE MEN.
+
+I nearly expired from cold and pain during this inclement night; the
+rheumatism in the hip in which I had been wounded was dreadful, and I
+lost the power of moving my extremities from cold. Kaiber must have
+suffered even more for he had nothing but a shirt on, whereas I had also
+a pair of trousers. The men were in somewhat better condition for they
+had a blanket, or rather a piece of one, between each two, and lying
+together they afforded one another mutual warmth. The long starvation
+which we had undergone had totally unfitted us all to cope with anything
+like cold.
+
+April 19.
+
+The rain and clouds protracted the morning dawn until late, which
+somewhat lengthened our miseries. As soon however as it was light enough
+to see our way we started, and moved slowly onwards in a south by east
+direction. The men were all completely crippled from the cold of the
+night, and it was with the greatest difficulty I could get either them or
+the native to move. My own energies were however only raised from these
+calls upon them, and I cheered them on as well as I could. Corporal
+Coles, my faithful and tried companion in all my wanderings, could
+scarcely crawl along. The flesh was completely torn away from one of his
+heels, and the irritation caused by this had produced a large swelling in
+the groin. Nothing but his own strong fortitude, aided by the
+encouragement given him by myself and his comrades, could have made him
+move under his great agony.
+
+Still however we advanced slowly; other lives depended on our exertions;
+and whenever I reminded the men of this for a minute or two they
+quickened their pace. Pale, wasted, and weak, we still crawled onwards in
+the straight line for Perth, which I assured them they would reach on
+Saturday night or Sunday morning.
+
+RIVER OF RUNNING WATER. PASS THE MOORE RIVER.
+
+About two hours and a half after starting we crossed the southern branch
+of the Moore River, which was running strong; but the rain, which had
+only just ceased, prevented our being thirsty.
+
+The whole of this day's route lay over hills similar to those we had
+found yesterday. We moved on, occasionally halting for a few minutes,
+until it was so dark we could no longer see, and then laid down, having
+again this day tasted no food.
+
+MISERY FROM RAIN AND COLD.
+
+It rained hard all night and our miseries of the last one were repeated.
+We were also less able to bear them, being weaker from longer abstinence.
+This day we travelled about one-and-twenty miles.
+
+DESPONDING FEELINGS.
+
+April 20.
+
+This morning we rose again, weak and stiffened from the cold and wet;
+life had long ceased to have any charms for me, and I fancy that the
+others must have experienced a similar feeling. A disinclination to move
+pervaded the whole, and I had much the same desire to sink into the sleep
+of death, that one feels to take a second slumber of a morning after
+great fatigue. My life was not worth the magnitude of the effort that it
+cost me to move; but other lives depended on mine, so I rose up weak and
+giddy and by degrees induced the rest to start also. Poor Coles however
+was in a dreadful state.
+
+The country through which we were travelling is intersected by a long
+line of lakes which run nearly parallel to the sea for a distance of
+about forty-five miles. One of the party had travelled in the same
+direction with me before, but we had then kept along the edge of the
+lakes. He had imagined however that they were only two or three miles
+distant from the sea, whereas many of them were as much as eight or ten.
+The route we were pursuing was about midway between the lakes and the
+sea, and this man seeing nothing of the lakes could not be convinced that
+I was right in the position I said we then were; for I assured the men
+they were not more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight miles to the north
+of Perth; but I heard him relating his doubts, which tended to discourage
+the others very much.
+
+A PARTY OF NATIVES.
+
+We however walked on as well as we could until near noon, at which time,
+from excessive weakness, we had not made more than eight miles, or about
+a mile and a quarter an hour, when we suddenly came out on the bed of a
+dried-up swamp, now looking like a desert of white sand studded with
+reeds. The forms of natives were seen wandering about this, one mile from
+us, who were searching for frogs. There was a very numerous party, and
+they did not appear at all inclined to approach us. Now it was very
+evident that if we were so near Perth as I imagined these natives must be
+well acquainted with Europeans; for although but very little was known of
+the country to the north of Perth, and the farthest settlement in that
+direction was only four miles from the town, still the natives must, from
+mere curiosity, have been frequently in the settlement.
+
+JOYFUL INTERVIEW WITH A FRIENDLY TRIBE. KAIBER'S OPINION OF THEM.
+
+We therefore approached them but as we came near they withdrew. Kaiber
+was now called into consultation; he scrutinised them long and carefully,
+and then announced that they were "mondak yoongar," wild natives; and,
+after a second survey of them, declared that they had the "mondak kurrang
+kombar," or great bush fury, on them, or rather, were subject to wild
+untutored rage. After making this announcement he squatted down under a
+bush to conceal himself, and then recapitulating rapidly all the dangers
+we had gone through, conjured me not to bring him into a fresh scrape by
+having anything to do with such a numerous party of his countrymen in our
+present weak state.
+
+The men, who understood enough of what he was saying to know that he
+thought these natives had never seen Europeans, became extremely uneasy
+and begged me to allow them to fire a gun as a signal to them: "For if we
+are so near Perth as you suppose, Sir," they said to me, "these natives
+will come to us." Kaiber hereupon told me that the instant the gun was
+fired he should run away. This was rather too ridiculous a threat when
+the coward was afraid to move five yards from us; I therefore ordered a
+gun to be fired, and then, telling the men to remain steady and prepared
+in case of accident, I walked off towards the natives, Kaiber, in the
+meanwhile, sitting on his haunches under cover, muttering to himself,
+"The swan, the big head, the stone forehead;" and, as these denunciations
+reached me, I could not, even in all my misery, forbear smiling at them.
+
+DISCOVERED TO BE FRIENDS.
+
+The natives no sooner heard the gun and saw me approaching than they came
+running to me. Presently Kaiber called out to me, "Mr. Grey, Mr. Grey,
+nadjoo watto, nginnee yalga nginnow," "Mr. Grey, Mr. Grey, I am going to
+them; you sit here a little;" and he then, with his long thin ungainly
+legs, bounded by me like a deer. "Imbat, friend," I heard him cry out, as
+a young man came running up to him. I grew giddy; I knew Imbat by name,
+and felt assured that at all events the lives of a great portion of my
+party were safe. In a few minutes Kaiber had given an outline of our
+adventures and present state. Fearing such mischances as had really
+happened to me, I had, previously to my departure to the north, done my
+utmost to cultivate the friendship of the northern natives; and most of
+them, even to the distance of sixty or seventy miles from Perth in that
+direction, had received presents from me. My name was well known amongst
+them as a tried friend, although indeed my common denomination was
+"Wokeley brudder," or Oakley's brother; for, from my giving them flour,
+they concluded that I was a relation of the baker of that name at Perth.
+
+HOSPITABLE RECEPTION BY THEM.
+
+The women were soon called up, bark baskets of frogs opened for us, by-yu
+nuts roasted, and as a special delicacy I obtained a small fresh-water
+tortoise. "Now, friend, sleep whilst I cook," said Imbat, and lighting a
+fire he made me lie down and try to slumber whilst he roasted some frogs
+and the turtle for me. I was not over-well pleased at the skill he chose
+to exhibit in his cookery, for he thereby delayed me for a longer time
+than was agreeable, but we were all soon regaling on this native fare.
+
+Anxious questions were put by the men as to their distance from Perth,
+and the natives all told them they would see it the next morning, "whilst
+the sun was still small;" and on further enquiry it turned out that a
+kangaroo hunter of the name of Porley was at a hut distant only seven
+miles from us, and according to the account of the natives he had a
+supply of provisions with him. As soon therefore as I had a little
+recruited my strength I started on with Imbat to the hut, leaving the men
+to follow in company with the other natives as rapidly as their strength
+would allow them. Imbat carried my gun and everything but a book or two
+and my papers, which, being precious documents, I had never trusted out
+of my own possession, however heavy my labours and misfortunes had been.
+He moved merrily along, trying to win me from my moody thoughts by
+relating all the news of the settlement both as concerned the Europeans
+and natives; for like all other idle people the natives are great gossips
+and really love a little scandal. Worn out from fatigue, I was rather
+petulant and ill-tempered, but Imbat talked on unmindful of this, or only
+laughed at me, and jeered me for it.
+
+IMBAT'S NOTIONS.
+
+My intentions in going on were to have everything prepared for the men on
+their arrival at the hut; but when I reached it I found it deserted, the
+owner having returned to Perth. I however lit a fire and laid down, Imbat
+again beginning to cook, and then chattering: "What for do you who have
+plenty to eat and much money walk so far away in the bush?" I felt
+amazingly annoyed at this question and therefore did not answer him. "You
+are thin," said he, "your shanks are long, your belly is small, you had
+plenty to eat at home, why did you not stop there?" I was vexed at his
+personalities, besides which it is impossible to make a native understand
+our love of travel. I therefore replied, "Imbat, you comprehend nothing,
+you know nothing." "I know nothing!" answered he; "I know how to keep
+myself fat; the young women look at me and say, Imbat is very handsome,
+he is fat. They will look at you and say, He not good, long legs, what do
+you know? where is your fat? what for do you know so much if you can't
+keep fat? I know how to stay at home and not to walk too far in the bush.
+Where is your fat?" "You know how to talk; long tongue;" was my reply;
+upon which Imbat, forgetting his anger, burst into a roar of laughter,
+and saying, "and I know how to make you fat," began stuffing me with
+frogs, barde, and by-yu nuts. The rest of the party arrived just before
+nightfall, and, searching the hut, found a paper of tea, and an old tin
+pot in which they cooked some, and then eating frogs, etc., for their
+supper, we all laid down to sleep, and in the silence of the night I
+rendered fervent thanks to my Maker who had again brought us so near the
+haven where we would be."
+
+OPINIONS OF THE MEN REGARDING THE FATE OF OUR OTHER PARTY.
+
+April 21.
+
+It had rained all night but we had been a little sheltered by the hut;
+though from the state of anxiety we were in sleep did not visit our eyes.
+This was the first time since I had been out that I had slept so near the
+men as to be able to overhear their conversation; but the rain forced us
+all to seek the shelter of the same little hut, and I thus gathered the
+different stories that they narrated to one another. Their speculations
+and conjectures naturally ran upon our absent comrades; some imagined
+that they were within a day or two's march of us, but another party held
+firmly to the opinion that we should never see them more.
+
+SUPERSTITIONS OF MY MEN.
+
+They could give no apparently satisfactory reason for holding this
+opinion, and, as there was evidently some deep mystery connected with it,
+I kept on pressing my servant Coles in order to induce him to tell me
+whence it arose. At last it came out that Mr. Walker had had a dream,
+when we were on the shores of Shark Bay and before we had commenced our
+return home, that some dreadful misfortune had befallen us and that Mr.
+Smith, Thomas Ruston, and he himself, were endeavouring to make the Isle
+of France in a boat, when Mr. Smith died, and the remaining two had eaten
+his body. Mr. Walker had, with the utmost imprudence, related this dream
+to some of the men, and they, with that superstition which is so common
+amongst sailors and Englishmen of the lower orders, had attached a great
+degree of importance to it; many circumstances which had hitherto been
+unexplained to me now flashed upon my mind; poor Mr. Smith had been very
+ill at the time Mr. Walker had related this inauspicious dream, and at
+that period an extraordinary degree of despondency had crept over him, so
+much so that some of the men imagined he had become deranged. When also
+we were working our way down the eastern coast of Shark Bay in the boats
+others of the party had got into a very desponding state, one of whom,
+Henry Woods, had even gone so far as to tell me when I remonstrated with
+him on this point that he knew that the greater part of us wore doomed,
+and that our lives were worth nothing.
+
+My anxiety for those I had left behind me now increased, and about an
+hour and a half before daylight I started for Perth with Imbat, leaving
+the others to follow as rapidly as they could, and telling them that I
+would have food ready for them at Williams's cottage, who was the settler
+living farthest north from Perth. In about an hour and a half I reached
+Williams's hut, which I entered, and found his wife and another woman at
+breakfast.
+
+I had often got a drink of milk at this cottage when I had before been at
+Perth, and I flattered myself that Mrs. Williams would recollect me;
+little calculating how strangely want and suffering had changed my
+appearance. The two women only stared with the utmost surprise and said,
+"Why, Magic, what's the matter with you?" (They alluded to a crazy Malay
+who used to visit the outsettler's houses, and who had somehow or the
+other acquired the nickname of Magic.) I was rather hurt at my reception
+and said, "I am not Magic;" at this they both burst into a roar of
+laughter and Mrs. Williams said, "Well, then, my good man, who are you?"
+"One who is almost starved," was my reply. "Will you take this then,"
+said my hostess, handing me a cup of tea she was raising to her lips.
+"With all my heart and soul, and God reward you for it," was my answer,
+and I swallowed the delicious draught. Imbat, who had been to search for
+Williams, now came in and explained who I was; in a few minutes more I
+was seated at a comfortable breakfast; water was put on to boil, and by
+the time the things were prepared the rest of the party came up.
+
+ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION AT PERTH. NOT RECOGNIZED BY MY FRIENDS.
+
+I now washed and made myself as clean as possible. I could obtain no
+conveyance to take us on to Perth and therefore started to walk in with
+Imbat, leaving the others to complete their breakfast; but I soon found
+myself dreadfully ill from having eaten too profusely; still I pushed on
+as well as I could, and in about an hour and a half reached the house of
+my friend, L. Samson, Esquire. He could not believe it was me whom he
+beheld, but having convinced himself of the fact he made me swallow about
+a tea-spoonful of brandy, and, recruited by this, I was sufficiently
+recovered to wait upon His Excellency the Governor in order to have
+immediate steps taken to send off a party in search of my missing
+comrades.
+
+The Governor could scarcely credit his sight when he beheld the miserable
+object that stood before him; but in this as in all other instances in
+which I have known him the goodness of his heart shone conspicuous; not
+only was every kindness shown me but immediate steps were taken to
+forward assistance to those who were still in the bush. Having thus far
+performed my duty I retired to press a bed once more, having for nearly
+three consecutive months slept in the open air, on the ground just at the
+spot where my day's hardship had terminated. So changed was I that those
+of my friends who had heard of my arrival and were coming to congratulate
+me passed me in the street, whilst others to whom I went up and held out
+my hand drew back in horror and said, "I beg your pardon, who are you?"
+
+Ere I was in bed the remainder of the men who were journeying with me
+arrived, and it had thus pleased Providence to conduct six of us through
+great suffering and want to the termination of our miseries.
+
+
+CHAPTER 5. FROM WATER PEAK TO PERTH.
+
+(MR. WALKER'S PARTY.)
+
+PARTY SENT IN SEARCH FROM PERTH.
+
+I arrived at Perth on the 21st of April and not a moment was lost in
+preparing a party to go in search of the men I had left with Mr. Walker,
+and who, it will be recollected, were instructed to proceed along the
+coast until they made the Moore River, where assistance was to be sent
+out to them from Perth.
+
+SEARCH FOR THE OTHER PARTY.
+
+Accordingly on the 23rd of April Lieutenant Mortimer of the 21st regiment
+and Mr. Spofforth, with four soldiers, left Perth and arrived on the
+Moore River in two days; but after traversing its banks in vain for two
+days more they abandoned all hope of finding those they were in search of
+there, and pursued a straight course about 25 miles further north, when
+they fell in with another river where they formed a depot, and detours
+were made in various directions for several days without any avail.
+
+RETURN WITH CHARLES WOODS.
+
+At length, on one of these excursions, the seaman Charles Woods, one of
+my party, was found by Mr. Spofforth, lying on the beach, wrapped in his
+blanket and fast asleep. He soon awoke and was not a little delighted to
+recognise Mr. Spofforth whom he had seen before at Fremantle. By the
+account Woods gave it appears that from the period of my departure much
+disorder and discontent at the direction of their course prevailed among
+the men. They frequently left the beach and wandered inland to procure
+water and food, not sufficiently exerting themselves to advance
+southward. They had succeeded, he said, in procuring upon the whole about
+a dozen birds, a crab, and eighteen fish. On the 21st of April Mr.
+Walker, who had frequently exerted himself in procuring firewood and
+water for the weaker of the party, divided two dough cakes still
+remaining in his possession among them all. They were then upon the
+beach, and though still at a great distance from the appointed place of
+rendezvous the men were very unwilling to distress themselves to reach
+it, being persuaded they should be tracked, wherever they might be, by
+the natives whom I should send to their help. Woods, being dissatisfied
+with their slow progress, now quitted them at a place where, he says,
+they had to go round two very deep bays close together, which took him a
+whole day; and it was owing to his having obeyed my instructions more
+strictly than the others that he was found by Mr. Spofforth. Woods, who
+seemed to have a singularly accurate idea of the distance he was from
+Perth when found, added that he thought he could have walked to it had he
+not been discovered, although he had nothing to eat but a few native
+figs; and that he thought the whole of the party were getting more
+accustomed to native food and were latterly better than they had been at
+first; he said he felt so himself.
+
+SECOND PARTY IN SEARCH, UNDER MR. ROE.
+
+Lieutenant Mortimer's party, having made every exertion but in vain to
+find the five remaining persons, were compelled at the end of a fortnight
+by want of provisions to return to Perth, where they arrived on the 6th
+of May; and early the next morning the Surveyor-General, Mr. Roe,
+accompanied by Mr. Spofforth (who again volunteered his services) four
+men, and two native youths, with five horses, set out in search of those
+still missing.
+
+ARRIVAL OF MR. WALKER AT PERTH. JOURNAL OF MR. WALKER'S PARTY.
+
+On the 9th of May, two days after the departure of Mr. Roe's party, Mr.
+Walker came into Perth alone, and from his statement, together with what
+was gleaned subsequently from the other men, I shall here briefly narrate
+what befel them after my departure on the 10th of April.
+
+NARRATIVE OF THEIR PROCEEDINGS FROM WATER PEAK.
+
+On the next day they started at dawn and soon came to a great deal of
+scrub; this was the belt of thick wood mentioned in my journal. Mr.
+Walker says the men, being disheartened at this, they went down to the
+beach and halted about a mile from it; Water Peak Hill being distant
+about fifteen miles. Woods said much discontent was caused amongst the
+men by its being conceived that they were following a bad course; or,
+according to Ruston's expression, that "the steering was very bad."
+
+April 12.
+
+They found a river with pools of water in coarse gravel in which they
+caught here two small fish, and travelled six miles through the scrub
+along a native path.
+
+April 13.
+
+They started and went down towards the beach. The men cut and cooked some
+greens but found no water. Travelled twelve or fourteen miles along the
+beach.
+
+Sunday April 14.
+
+They shot a pigeon, two red-bills, and a hawk. In the afternoon it
+rained, and they travelled along the beach and got some cockles, and
+found a fine stream of water running out from under the rocks. They then
+got under the scrub to keep the rain off, having made about eight miles.
+
+April 15.
+
+They again came out on the beach and kept along it. Good travelling. Made
+a march of nearly twenty miles.
+
+EXTREME DISTRESS FROM HUNGER AND THIRST.
+
+April 16.
+
+They continued on the beach till they came to a good place for fishing
+and caught eighteen. Mr. Walker shot a bird. After eating the fish, they
+were all very thirsty.
+
+April 17.
+
+Went into the interior about midday and found a native well six miles
+inland; also a large cave in the rocks. The party here procured and ate
+some Zamia nuts.
+
+April 18.
+
+They were all sick from the nuts, and turned back to the beach about four
+miles but did not reach it.
+
+April 19.
+
+This morning they reached the beach and travelled on until they came to
+some high rocks from whence they saw an immense tract of sand. Again this
+evening they went into the interior to find water. Boiled some young
+trees and ate them.
+
+April 20.
+
+They were travelling into the interior along the steep banks of a river
+running nearly east. Got plenty of green stuff to eat. They had now two
+guns and the means of getting fire, but the powder and shot was nearly
+expended. The axe I left with them had been lost soon after.
+
+April 21.
+
+Woods left the others to proceed alone.
+
+April 22.
+
+Being the day after Woods left they went into the interior about six
+miles from the coast and there found a river, which Mr. Walker and Mr.
+Smith thought was the Karpan (the Moore). This river was standing in
+pools, and there was a great rush of water from the hills; they traced
+the bed up for two or three miles, where it came out from some very high
+hills, when Mr. Smith said he was certain that it was not the Karpan.
+They then made a south by west course, and thought where they came out
+was 12 miles below where Woods left them; and that the river was nearly
+halfway between these two points.
+
+They now again turned into the interior, being, as they thought, at the
+bay to the south of Jurieu Bay.
+
+April 23.
+
+They returned and kept along the beach, made about fifteen miles, when
+they halted close to it.
+
+April 24.
+
+They went on for five or six miles, then halted and made a fire with the
+end of a spar.
+
+April 25.
+
+They travelled two or three hundred yards. Mr. Walker went back for the
+end of the spar and Mr. Smith cut some firewood. There they halted,
+catching fish and crabs.
+
+April 26 and 27.
+
+Still halted at this spot, fishing, and caught parrot-fish, rock-cod,
+etc.; so that they had as much fish as they could use, and found fresh
+water in the holes of the rocks.
+
+April 28.
+
+They started at dawn and went on for a mile. Ruston was taken ill from
+the number of crabs he had eaten, and Mr. Walker stopped with him whilst
+the other three went on a mile ahead and got fish and periwinkles. Mr.
+Smith, Stiles, and Clotworthy had a little water left; Ruston and Mr.
+Walker had canteens half-full. Ruston got better in the evening but they
+did not proceed until the next morning.
+
+April 29.
+
+Mr. Walker moved on with Ruston about a mile and there found Mr. Smith
+clambering up some rocks, and having plenty of periwinkles, of which he
+gave them some. Clotworthy had stopped up all night and had picked up
+enough for four or five days. At night at low tide they got nearly fresh
+water running out from under the rocks.
+
+April 30.
+
+They still halted, living on the periwinkles; but this evening the water
+was more salt.
+
+May 1.
+
+This day the party separated into two portions and did not meet again
+until the 2nd, on which day Mr. Walker left them by agreement, he being
+the strongest of the party. His object was to proceed as expeditiously as
+he could to Fremantle and send from thence a boat and fresh water for the
+relief of the rest. The party he left behind having agreed to keep a
+constant look out on the beach and hoist concerted signals.
+
+For two days after Mr. Walker left them it appears they wandered about to
+look for water and then fished. They fortunately fell in with a cask of
+water, washed up on the beach, from which they filled their canteens,
+roasted the fish and started on again, but made no distance. This lasted
+for several days. They subsisted by picking up a few shellfish and some
+dead birds which had been washed ashore, and they ate a sort of cane that
+grows near the beach, and the Hottentot fig.
+
+DEATH OF MR. SMITH.
+
+Mr. Smith now gradually became exhausted, and at last one evening sat
+down on a bank, and said he could not go on. He was behind the party with
+Ruston, who thought he was dying, and went on and told the other men. The
+next morning Ruston went back to try and find where Mr. Smith was, but
+was so weak that (as he thought) he did not go far enough, and did not
+find him. Mr. Smith seems to have crawled up into the bush, a little on
+one side of their route, and there died.
+
+TIMELY DISCOVERY OF THE REST BY MR. ROE. MR. ROE'S REPORT.
+
+Four days after the rest were picked up by Mr. Roe's party, whose
+proceedings I shall now relate from his own interesting report; premising
+that the men had then been three days without water and four days without
+food, and had nothing to eat but the sweet cane that grows near the
+beach.
+
+MR. ROE PROCEEDS IN SEARCH OF THE MISSING MEN.
+
+Mr. Roe says:
+
+Leaving Perth early on the 8th instant, accompanied by Mr. E. Spofforth
+and four men, with the native youths Warrup and Wyip, and five horses, we
+travelled in a north by west direction along a chain of beautiful lakes,
+from three to ten miles apart, and surrounded by good soil and grass to a
+short distance; and in the middle of the third day reached Neergabby on
+the Garban River, about 52 miles distant. Giving our horses an hour's
+rest, I rode forward twelve miles with Mr. Spofforth and Warrup to the
+mouth of the river, where we hoped to find some traces of the absentees;
+but to our disappointment and regret not a footmark was to be seen on the
+sand except those of Woods, and the written directions which had been
+placed conspicuously on sticks so as to intercept the track of the
+wanderers were either untouched or washed down by the high tides.
+Replacing these with full instructions how to proceed, we returned to our
+camp at Neergabby, where we were joined by some natives of the district,
+from whom however no information whatever could be obtained respecting
+the objects of our search. Inferring from these circumstances that they
+could not yet have reached so far south, and that they might probably
+have quitted the beach for the purpose of seeking fresh water inland, we
+lost no time in pushing on to the northward, and at sunset of the 11th
+took up our bivouac at Barrumbur on the Moore River, seventeen miles in
+advance, where excellent water was found in deep pools and our horses
+revelled in luxuriant pasturage. Between the two rivers there is a great
+extent of level country, so much under water in wet weather as to be then
+totally impassable with horses or carts, and the beds of the rivers (near
+which there is generally good cattle feed) assume the form of deep sandy
+pools, a few yards apart and grooved to the depth of 25 or 30 feet below
+the level of the banks.
+
+Being desirous of penetrating the country further to the north before we
+again visited the beach, which was computed to be about fifteen miles
+distant with no water or feed for our horses in the intermediate space,
+we buried half our provisions, etc., in a hole beneath our temporary
+shelter, which was then fired in order to lull the suspicion of the
+natives; and our sable companions having secreted the pannier-baskets and
+packsaddles among the adjoining bushes in such a way as to defy
+discovery, we trusted to Providence for the result, and next morning
+resumed our northern route. Leaving the extensive shallow lakes of
+Garbanup, at this time quite dry, about two miles on our left, we
+traversed a more hilly and dry sandy district than before, and had an
+elevated mountainous country fifteen or twenty miles to the eastward. We
+had now entered upon the inhospitable tract in which Mr. Grey and his
+party had been so much distressed for water on the homeward journey, and
+their feet-marks were distinctly recognised by our natives around a
+swampy space in search of some. At the end of sixteen miles we reached
+Nowergup, a small rushy lake, at this time quite dry and dusty at the
+surface, but having at its north end a small well, seven feet deep,
+containing about a gallon of stinking water. Although this proved very
+palatable after a dry day's journey, it was by no means adapted to the
+wants of five horses, and we gladly accepted the services of one of the
+natives of the district to conduct us to a larger quantity. Our way to it
+led over a mile and a quarter of nearly level country, entirely under
+water in winter, and covered with rushes and tea-trees. At the lowest
+level was a well with abundance of water two feet below the surface, near
+which we immediately took up our quarters and learnt that the spot was
+called by them Bookernyup. We were also given to understand that the
+country to the northward and westward was at this time of the year
+entirely without water, and that none was to be found nearer than a river
+"far away" in the north-east.
+
+This account by no means lessened our fears for the poor fellows of whom
+we were in search, and led us to determine on leaving the party here, and
+making a forced march of two or three days to the north-west with the
+smallest possible supplies, in the hope of reaching the spot where the
+absentees had been left by Woods, and which we supposed to be the
+vicinity of Jurieu Bay.
+
+SUCCEEDS IN FINDING THEIR TRACES.
+
+Previous however to putting this plan into execution, it was considered
+advisable to visit the beach again, fifteen or sixteen miles distant, on
+doing which next morning, with Mr. Spofforth and Warrup, we had the
+satisfaction to find the feet-marks of five men on the sand, taking a
+southerly direction. Warrup having pronounced them to be without doubt
+the footsteps of white men, and not more than two or three days old, we
+followed them eagerly along the shore for a mile, and then came to an
+empty cask that had been washed on shore, together with several broken
+bottles and a stone jar. On further examination part of the head of the
+cask was found much cut with a knife, as if used for a plate, and near
+the extinct embers of a small fire lay the bones of a fish, which Warrup
+concluded had been picked on the morning of the previous day. Rejoiced at
+having now got upon the right track, and being unwilling to lose time by
+following it up from this spot, we took a good look round and returned to
+our camp at Bookernyup by sunset, from whence we next morning started
+early in a southerly direction, took up safely everything we had
+concealed on the Moore River, and shortly after dark had completed 24
+miles to a place called Kadjelup, where we halted on some deep pools
+similar to those at Barrumbur.
+
+Breakfasting early on the 15th, the baggage was despatched forward to
+Neergabby, and at daybreak Mr. Spofforth, Kinchela (a private of the 21st
+regiment) and Warrup accompanied me on horseback to the beach, which we
+found eleven miles off, but to our great disappointment a very high tide
+had totally obliterated all marks from the sand and left us in perplexity
+and doubt. Concluding however that the missing party must be in advance
+of us, and that they could not fail to observe the papers which had been
+offered to their notice at the mouth of the Garban River, we turned our
+steps that way; left a paper of directions in the event of their being
+behind us, and carefully examined both beach and sandhills, as well as
+the country immediately in rear of them. Twelve miles brought us to the
+mouth of the river, and there we found everything as we had placed
+it--not a mark near the beach except the footsteps of the native dog
+prowling about the sandhills, and nothing which could lead to a belief
+that the spot had been visited since we last left it. Somewhat
+disappointed, although rejoicing in having now hemmed the unfortunate
+absentees up into a narrow limit, within which we knew they MUST be
+wandering towards Perth, we joined our party at Neergabby shortly after
+dark, and observed on our way the traces of five natives who were
+confidently said by Warrup to be Perth natives, sent to look after us
+with intelligence. They had come along the coast from the south as far as
+the mouth of the river, and had struck inland to the south-east on their
+return. The conclusions of this intelligent lad on the occasion were
+afterwards found to be strictly correct, even to the names of the men who
+composed the party.
+
+PROVIDENTIAL DISCOVERY OF THEM.
+
+The early morning of the 16th found us all in busy preparation for the
+day's proceedings and relying with reasonable confidence on a successful
+issue to our exertions. The remainder of the party were sent back with
+one horse to Kadjelup, whilst my indefatigable companion Mr. Spofforth
+accompanied me, with Kinchela and the two natives and four horses, to
+resume our examination of the beach to the north. Fifteen miles in a
+north-west direction brought us to the desired spot, but still no sign
+was apparent of its having been visited by any human being since
+ourselves; we however commenced a close examination to the northward, and
+at the end of a mile and a half had the infinite satisfaction of falling
+in with three of the missing party, in the persons of Ruston, Stiles, and
+Clotworthy, who had formed a portion of the wrecked boats' crews.
+
+THEIR MISERABLE CONDITION.
+
+The state of distress and exhaustion in which they were found on the
+beach was truly pitiable and moving. With scarcely strength to drag one
+foot after the other they had marched about a mile and a half that
+morning until they encountered the bold rocky projection of land at which
+we discovered them, and the passing of which they had given up as utterly
+hopeless from want of sufficient strength to climb over it. Having been
+three days without water except their own and the seawater, the former of
+which they had saved in their canteens, and emptied out before us, and
+their only food being such nourishment as they could obtain from chewing
+a coarse rushy plant which grew about high-water mark, it cannot be
+matter of surprise that they were almost frantic after water, and that
+the portions of it which we sparingly administered to them, mixed with a
+little brandy, were most eagerly seized. Indeed the greatest firmness and
+forbearance were necessary on our part to prevent the unfortunate
+sufferers from committing fatal excesses. They declared their extremity
+to have been so great that no chance had appeared to them of surviving
+the next awful night, or of getting a foot beyond their present position;
+and, to his credit be it said, one of them* had been on his knees only
+ten minutes before they were rescued, supplicating with uplifted hands
+that aid and assistance which had thus, through Divine Providence, been
+so opportunely afforded them.
+
+(*Footnote. Ruston.)
+
+SEARCH FOR MR. SMITH.
+
+In answer to our anxious enquiries respecting Mr. Walker and Mr. Smith we
+learnt that the former, being much the strongest of the party, had, at
+their request, made the best of his way towards Perth ten days since, in
+order to send them out assistance, and that Mr. Smith, having been
+totally unable to proceed with them any further, had remained behind, in
+a dying state, four days ago. Touched by this distressing intelligence,
+and sensibly alive to the value of time, we lost not a moment in lifting
+our three light weights on our horses, and by supporting them in their
+seats conveyed them over the sandhills to the more level space behind,
+where sufficient brushwood was scattered about for maintaining a fire.
+Here Mr. Spofforth kindly undertook their charge, while I should proceed
+with Kinchela and Warrup in search of poor Smith.
+
+Ruston having expressed himself very anxious to accompany us, and fearing
+that we might not otherwise accomplish our object, after receiving some
+suitable refreshment, he was mounted, and we all set off at as quick a
+pace as he could manage. At the end of three miles a good view of the
+coast to the northward was opened to us from the summit of a rising
+ground, and Ruston pointed out, at the distance of 24 miles, an island
+near which he said young Smith had been left. As this was far beyond the
+six or seven miles of which they had at first spoken, and totally
+precluded the possibility of my returning that night with the water-kegs
+which I had taken to be filled at some wells which they had seen in the
+vicinity, I relinquished all idea of proceeding, while the sun was then
+touching the horizon, and we accordingly rejoined Mr. Spofforth and his
+charge. We were now perfectly satisfied of the wandering inconsistency in
+the conversation of the three rescued men, who were evidently to a
+considerable extent delirious or light-headed. Being too sore in body and
+excited in mind to admit much sleep to their assistance, they were full
+of their expressions of thankfulness for their timely deliverance, and at
+length terminated a long and weary night.
+
+DISCOVERY OF HIS BODY.
+
+The morrow's dawn found me on my way with Kinchela and Warrup to search
+for poor Smith, while Mr. Spofforth proceeded with the three rescued men
+and Wyip to join our party at Kadjelup, 12 miles off. At the distance of
+a mile and a half we found the guns of Mr. Walker and Mr. Smith, which
+the men had buried among the sandhills from inability to carry them any
+further. A close scrutiny of the beach brought us, at the end of ten
+miles, to a spot where Warrup observed the traces of feet in the sand.
+Following them up, they ascended a bare sandhill to the height of twelve
+or fourteen feet, turned short round to the left, and there terminated at
+the unfortunate object of our search, extended on his back, lifeless, in
+the midst of a thick bush, where he seemed to have laid himself down to
+sleep, half-enveloped in his blanket. The poor fellow's last bed appeared
+to have been selected by himself; and at the distance of three or four
+yards from him lay all the trifling articles which had constituted his
+travelling equipage. These were his wooden canteen, his brown felt hat,
+and haversack, containing his journal, shoes, tinder, steel, gun-screw, a
+few small canvas bags which he had used for carrying shellfish, and a
+small bag with thread, needles, and buttons. Life seemed to have been
+extinct rather more than two days; and from the position of the head,
+which had fallen considerably below the level of the body, we were led to
+conclude that a rush of blood into the brain had caused his death, and at
+last without much suffering.
+
+BURIAL OF MR. SMITH.
+
+With the help of the soldier and Warrup we made a grave with our hands
+and buried poor Smith deep in a sandhill near the shore, about
+seventy-six miles to the north of Swan River. Even Warrup,
+notwithstanding the general apathy of the native character, wept like a
+child over the untimely fate of this young man, from whom he had formerly
+received kindness. Smoothing over his solitary bed, and placing at the
+head of his grave a piece of wood found upon the beach, we pursued our
+melancholy way half a mile to the northward, where we found the water to
+which we had been directed by digging 12 inches in the sand at the
+commencement of a considerable sheet of bare sand, extending at least
+four miles into the interior. In the course of the evening we rejoined
+our party on the Moore River. Next day we halted at Kadjelup; and on the
+19th we separated at Neergabby once more, Mr. Spofforth to conduct the
+remainder of the party home with as much celerity as they could travel,
+whilst I proceeded with Kinchela and Warrup to examine the coast from the
+mouth of the Moore River for any traces of Mr. Walker, of whose fate we
+were in total ignorance. By noon of the 22nd we had arrived within 12
+miles of Perth without remarking the least trace of the supposed
+absentee, when we were met by Mr. Hunt the constable with the pleasing
+intelligence that Mr. Walker had reached Perth on the 9th instant. In the
+evening we arrived at the same place, and found that Mr. Spofforth had
+brought in his charge the day before.
+
+...
+
+CONCLUSION OF THE EXPEDITION.
+
+If Mr. Roe's party had been delayed only a few hours there is every
+probability that from the debilitated state in which the men were found
+they would all have perished.
+
+I deeply regretted the death of poor Frederic Smith, who had come out
+from England expressly for the purpose of joining me, led solely by the
+spirit of enterprise, and not with any view of settling. He was the most
+youthful of the party, being only 18 years of age, and thence was less
+capable than the others of bearing up against long-continued want and
+fatigue, and the excessive heat of the climate, under which he gradually
+wasted away until death terminated his sufferings. When aroused by danger
+or stimulated by a sense of duty he was as bold as a lion, whilst his
+manner to me was ever gentleness itself, as indeed it was to all.*
+
+(*Footnote. He was the eldest son of Octavius Smith, Esquire, of Thames
+Bank, and grandson of the late William Smith, Esquire, long known in
+political life as Member for Norwich.)
+
+Upon the final return of the expedition a desire was expressed by some
+gentlemen of the colony of Western Australia to remove Mr. Smith's
+remains to Perth; but upon mature reflection I declined their friendly
+proposal, preferring rather to let him rest close by the spot where he
+died, having given the name of my ill-fated friend to a river which hides
+itself in the sandy plains near where he fell so early a sacrifice to his
+gallant and enterprising spirit.
+
+
+CHAPTER 6. SUMMARY OF DISCOVERIES.
+
+RIVERS AND MOUNTAIN RANGES DISCOVERED.
+
+Having now brought the narrative of my expedition along the western
+shores of Australia to a close I shall here retrace in a brief summary
+the principal geographical discoveries to which it led.
+
+The country examined during this expedition lies between Cape Cuvier and
+Swan River, having for its longitudinal limits the parallel of 24 degrees
+and that of 32 degrees south latitude, and the expedition combined two
+objects: the examination and nautical survey of such parts of the coast
+lying between these limits as were imperfectly known, and the exploration
+of such parts of the continent as might on examination appear worthy of
+particular notice.
+
+RIVERS DISCOVERED.
+
+In the course of my explorations ten rivers, which are, when considered
+with reference to the other known ones of Western Australia, of
+considerable importance, were discovered, some of them being larger than
+any yet found in the south-west of this continent; many smaller streams
+were also found.
+
+The larger rivers I have named:
+
+The Gascoyne,
+The Murchison,
+The Hutt,
+The Bowes,
+The Buller,
+The Chapman,
+The Greenough,
+The Irwin,
+The Arrowsmith,
+The Smith.
+
+Two mountain ranges were discovered; one at the northern extremity of the
+Darling Range and about thirty miles to the eastward of it, lofty and
+altogether differing in character from the Darling, which at this point,
+where its direction is nearly north and south, is called Moresby's
+Flat-topped Range.
+
+I have taken the liberty of naming this northern range, after her most
+gracious Majesty, The Victoria Range; and the extensive district of
+fertile country extending from its base to the sea, and having a length
+of more than fifty miles in a north and south direction, I have also
+named the Province of Victoria, trusting that her Majesty will not object
+to bestow her name upon one of the finest provinces in this her new,
+vast, and almost unknown empire; and which, protected in its very birth
+and infancy by her fostering hand, will doubtless ere long attain to no
+mean destiny among the nations of the earth.
+
+The other range is thrown off in a westerly direction from the Darling
+Range; it is about forty miles in length from north to south, of a bare,
+sterile, and barren nature, and terminates seaward in Mount Perron and
+Mount Lesueur; to this range I have given the name of Gairdner's Range:
+it forms a very important feature in the geography of this part of
+Australia.
+
+DISTRICTS OF BABBAGE AND VICTORIA.
+
+Three extensive districts of good country were also found in the course
+of this expedition, the Province of Victoria, before alluded to, the
+district of Babbage, and another adjacent to Perth, to which I have not
+affixed a name.
+
+The district of Babbage is situated on and near the river Gascoyne, which
+stream discharges itself in the central part of the main that fronts
+Shark Bay, and may indeed almost be recorded as the central point of the
+western coast of Australia; thus at once occupying the most commanding
+position in Shark Bay and one of the most interesting points on that
+coast; it is moreover the key to a very fine district which is the only
+one in that vast inlet that appears well adapted to the purposes of
+colonization.
+
+COAST OF SHARK BAY.
+
+Immediately to the south of the southern mouth of this river commences a
+line of shoals which at low-water are nearly dry, extending to a distance
+of from two to four miles from the coast and running with scarcely any
+intermission round the bay: except at high-water it is therefore
+impossible to approach the greater part of the coast, even in the
+smallest boat, unless by tracking it over those flats, which proceeding
+is not unattended with danger, for, if it comes on to blow at all hard,
+owing to the shoalness of the water, the whole of them becomes a mass of
+broken billows. I feel convinced it was owing to this circumstance that
+the navigators who had previously visited this bay left so large a
+portion of its coast unexplored.
+
+The shoals in the vicinity of the mouth of this river, as well as those
+in the river itself, have many snags upon them; and on the coast of
+Bernier Island, opposite to the main, we found the remains of large trees
+which had been washed down the river and had then been drifted across the
+bay. It was that circumstance which first convinced me that a large river
+existed hereabouts, and induced me so minutely to examine the coast.
+
+This occurrence of driftwood in the neighbourhood of large rivers is a
+circumstance unknown upon the south-western shores of this continent. I
+however observed it in Prince Regent's River and other rivers to the
+north, as well as in the Arrowsmith. This latter however is the most
+southern river in which I have remarked it, and it certainly is an
+evidence of the existence of timber of a much lighter description than
+has hitherto been known in this part of the continent.
+
+MOUTHS OF THE GASCOYNE.
+
+The southern mouth of the Gascoyne is however completely free from
+shoals, and has seven feet water on the bar at low tide. There is also a
+channel in it which has never less than this depth of water for about
+four miles from its mouth, after which it is only navigable for small
+boats in the dry season, and that merely for a short distance.
+
+The greatest difficulty which presents itself in entering the southern
+mouth arises from what in America are termed snags, that is, large trees,
+the roots of which are firmly planted in the bed of the river, whilst the
+branches project up the stream, and are likely to pierce any boat in its
+passage down. These snags are however more to be feared at the time of
+high-water than at any other period, for they have generally become fixed
+upon shoals as they originally descended the river, and at low water can
+easily be seen.
+
+The northern mouth of the Gascoyne is more difficult of entrance than its
+southern one, being narrower and more shoal. I still however think that
+at high water it could be entered by small craft; but as my examination
+of it was hurried and imperfect from our being pressed for provisions at
+the time I was there, the opinion I have given above must be received
+with caution.
+
+Our visit to this river took place at the close of a season which had
+been preceded by the driest one known since the occupation of the western
+coasts by Europeans. There was consequently but little fresh water in the
+bed of the river, and this only in small pools; but the breadth of its
+main channel (for it sometimes had several) was where I measured it
+upwards of three hundred yards, and this measurement was made in a part
+which was by no means the widest.
+
+THE COUNTRY ADJACENT.
+
+The bed of the river was composed of fine white sand. The country had a
+gentle slope from the interior, and no land of any great elevation was
+visible from the farthest point I attained, distant about fifteen miles
+from the coast.
+
+Plains of a rich reddish loam bordered the river on each side. These were
+occasionally broken by low, gently-rounded hills, composed of the same
+soil. Freshwater lagoons, frequented by wild-fowl, were found in several
+places; and during the course of my walks, which extended for several
+miles in various directions, I saw no termination to this good land
+except on approaching the sea, where the salt marshes always commenced;
+but along the southern bank of the river, to the point where its mouth
+actually disembogued into the open bay, the land was of a fertile
+description: the country, even in the dry season, during which we were
+there, being covered with rich grass.
+
+I ought here to state that this river is the most southern one that I
+have ascertained to be deficient in that universal characteristic of all
+those in the south-west of this continent: an estuary. I must observe
+that I have not seen the mouths of three or four of the rivers before
+enumerated, and cannot therefore say that some of them may not terminate
+in estuaries; but the Gascoyne discharges its waters by two mouths of
+considerable magnitude, between which lies Babbage Island, the southern
+mouth being in latitude 24 degrees 57 minutes.
+
+This is also the most southern river on the western side of this
+continent where the rise and fall of tide is sufficiently great to
+exercise any influence upon it relatively to the purposes of navigation.
+Hence it would appear that the presence of estuaries at the mouths of
+rivers on this coast is in some way connected with the amount of tidal
+elevation at the points where they are found. The rise and fall here was
+about five and a half feet; but there is only one full tide in
+twenty-four hours. The first tide rises to a certain point, and it has
+scarcely commenced to ebb, ere the second comes slowly in, so that, to a
+careless observer, only one tide is perceptible.
+
+PROVINCE OF VICTORIA.
+
+The province of Victoria is situated between the parallels of 27 degrees
+30 minutes and 29 degrees 30 minutes south latitude; its most
+considerable river is the Hutt, which disembogues into a large estuary. A
+few miles above the estuary the river separates into two branches, both
+of which were running strong at the time we passed them.
+
+Previously to our reaching the Hutt our boats had all been wrecked; I had
+therefore no opportunity of examining whether the estuary of this river
+was navigable or not; from its size however I should be inclined to the
+affirmative. The other principal streams which drain this district are
+the Buller, and the Murchison.
+
+One remarkable feature in the province of Victoria is that the
+carboniferous series is here developed throughout a tract of Western
+Australia extending in latitude from the bottom of Geographe Bay to near
+Cape Cuvier, and which I have carefully examined. The tract above alluded
+to is the only one in which I have yet found the rocks belonging to this
+series: this circumstance therefore imparts a very high degree of
+interest to the district in question.
+
+Within a few weeks after my return from the province of Victoria
+applications from settlers were made to the Government of Western
+Australia to permit them to occupy a district which had been so highly
+spoken of; this application was however unsuccessful, but an expedition
+was subsequently sent there to ascertain if there was a navigable
+entrance to the Hutt River. In this object the expedition was
+unsuccessful, but the vessel touched at the Abrolhos Islands and at some
+parts of the adjacent coast, including Port Grey.*
+
+(*Footnote. See above. [The coast to the eastward of the Abrolhos has
+been since examined by H.M.'s surveying vessel the Beagle, Captain
+Wickham, R.N., and while these sheets were passing through the press an
+account of the survey of Port Grey, under the appellation of Champion
+Bay, appeared in the Nautical Magazine for July 1841 page 443, from which
+periodical it has been copied into Appendix B at the end of this volume.
+ED.])
+
+MR. MOORE'S JOURNAL. MR. MOORE'S VOYAGE TO HOUTMAN'S ABROLHOS AND PORT
+GREY.
+
+An account of some of the places visited was subsequently published in
+the Perth Gazette, being contained in extracts from the journal of G.F.
+Moore, Esquire, the Queen's Advocate at Perth, who sailed with the
+expedition; and as Mr. Moore's description contains several points of
+novelty and interest these extracts are again transcribed below.
+
+EXPEDITION TO THE NORTHWARD.
+
+After Captain Grey had the misfortune to have his boats wrecked in
+Gantheaume Bay, having started thence with his party and walked to Perth,
+he reported that he had passed over extensive tracts of fertile country
+in the neighbourhood of Moresby's Flat-topped Range, where there are
+several rivers, one of which (the largest) he had called the Hutt River,
+after His Excellency the Governor. His Excellency having directed the
+Champion schooner to proceed to explore the coast with a view to
+ascertain whether there was any practicable entrance to the river, and
+whether there was any harbour, shelter, or anchorage in that
+neighbourhood, also what sort of anchorage there was about the Houtman's
+Abrolhos, it appeared very desirable that such an opportunity should be
+taken advantage of to obtain, at the same time, as much information as
+circumstances would permit as to the nature and quality of the soil and
+its general capabilities with reference to its eligibility as a district
+to be occupied by settlers. With this view G.F. Moore, Esquire, embarked
+on the trip.
+
+DESCRIPTION OF THE ABROLHOS ISLANDS.
+
+The Abrolhos. Latitude by a good sight on shore, 288 degrees 45 minutes,
+subsequently corrected to 288 degrees 40 minutes.
+
+That part of the Abrolhos where we anchored seems to consist of a number
+of small islets, perhaps 10 or 12, lying something in the form of an
+irregularly shaped horse's shoe, extending for a space of perhaps 20
+miles in a north and south direction.
+
+These islets, which are raised only from 10 to 12 feet above the level of
+the sea, are a mere mass of coral and shells with a very small variety of
+plants struggling to establish themselves upon some of them. I was rather
+surprised to find a few plants of the common groundsel on one of the
+barest. It is not improbable that these islets are upon the outer rim of
+the crater of a volcano, and that not only the entire outer rim, but also
+a large space, both interior and exterior, will eventually be elevated.
+Nothing can exceed the beauty of the different sorts of coral as seen
+under the clear smooth water. We broke of many specimens of the branch-
+or tree-coral, which seemed to be in full vigour of life and activity.
+These islets appear to be a favourite resort of seals, many of which we
+saw, but of the sort called hair-seals. The sailors knocked many of them
+upon the head with clubs as they lay sleeping on the shores. One of these
+afforded much sport, though rather of a barbarous sort if one had taken
+time to think at all on the subject. Sleeping on the brink of a small
+lagoon in the interior of one of these islands, he was roused by the
+approaching footsteps of his enemy. Seeing the man close to him, with
+upraised club over his head, he dropped into the water. This was so
+shallow as not to protect him from the stones that were hurled at him
+from all sides, and so small that he was completely surrounded. Finding
+his retreat cut off he boldly stood up and seemed deliberately to scan
+the most practicable mode of breaking his way through us all, but he was
+so incessantly plied with stones as entirely to distract him. When a
+well-aimed blow struck him he wreaked his vengeance on the stone, and,
+diving after it to the bottom, gnashed upon it with his teeth. At last a
+gun was brought by one of the party and a well-directed shot under the
+ear laid him dead. Rock oysters of a large size and delicious flavour
+were found in great abundance. Range of thermometer 67 to 82 degrees.
+
+On Sunday the 12th continued to explore the several islands; unable to
+land upon the first we approached on account of a reef which ran all
+round it. This was one which lay at the north-east extremity of the
+Horseshoe. It was high and sandy, but with some vegetation on the
+surface, and we saw many large seals sleeping on the sandy beach. After
+this, visited five or six in succession, all of the same formation, some
+being mere masses of loose coral and dead shells.
+
+SINGULAR CORAL FORMATIONS.
+
+In passing from island to island we had many opportunities of observing
+the different formation and shape of several species of coral; some stood
+in masses of the brain-stone and cockscomb coral, some like petrified
+sponge, some like fans, some again of the branch-coral interlaced and
+intertwined in every direction; again, some broad flat masses lying layer
+over layer, like huge sea-lichens, again many presented the appearance of
+a fungus or great sea-mushroom, with a broad-spreading head springing
+from a small thick base. It is not a little singular that many of the
+growing islets which are nearly level with the surface of the water have
+a similar form, not rising from the bottom with a perpendicular side, but
+with broad overhanging heads resting upon a small base. In many places we
+passed over some of these isolated sea-mushrooms, upon which there was
+barely water for a small boat, where one step over the ledge would be in
+the deep sea, and you might see the hollows underneath as if looking
+under an umbrella. Birds were abundant on most of the isles, and on two
+of them were hawks' nests, raised to the height of four feet by an
+accumulation of sticks, stones, and shells. This day there was but little
+breeze; the thermometer ranged from 76 to 86 degrees.
+
+COAST UNDER THE MENAI HILLS.
+
+Saturday morning January 25.
+
+Stood in close along the shore opposite to the Table Hill and the Menai
+Hills, and examined the coast from the rigging. There are two openings of
+rivers laid down in the chart, that to the south being the larger, and
+both nearly abreast of Table Hill and only a few miles distant from one
+another; and besides these Captain Grey had marked down in another chart
+a considerable river, with a large estuary, close to the north of the
+Menai Hills, which he had called the Hutt River. As we were just on that
+part of the coast where all these are laid down we were the more anxious
+and eager. We saw three openings on the west range, but in truth very
+small, and after anchoring nearly opposite to the northern one we went in
+the boat directly for it. There was a continuous sandy beach the whole
+way across it, and the surf was running high, so that it was not very
+easy to land.
+
+LAND ON THE COAST.
+
+Just as we were considering about how to effect a landing we observed a
+number of natives on the hills and behind the beach, evidently watching
+our motions. As we stood along the beach, looking for a landing-place,
+they followed and became more bold; they shouted and made gestures, which
+were certainly not like those of encouragement; but still as we pulled
+on, they followed, till we counted forty-nine men, but they appeared to
+have left their spears behind them. Finding this, we thought it well to
+parley with them, when we backed in close to the shore, holding up our
+hands making signs of peace, and calling out in the Swan River language
+that we were friends and would give them bread. I flung apiece of biscuit
+on the beach, and some waded into the water and threw in their fur belts
+and other ornaments, when we commenced a system of barter immediately.
+They had no spears and few throwing sticks; nor had they with them either
+cloaks, or hammers, or shields, or any other weapon that we could see.
+They seemed to like the bread very much, for they followed us for many
+miles, still making signs to land, but the surf was so high we could not
+venture in the face of so many of them. At last, having passed the
+opening of the second river, and having come to a smooth place, I jumped
+out upon the beach and was soon followed by the Captain.
+
+INTERVIEW WITH NATIVES.
+
+They evinced a considerable deal of uneasiness at first, and looked with
+much jealousy at the gun as something suspicious. They wished me to part
+with it, but I sat down and intimated that I would keep it on the ground
+beside me. I addressed them in the Swan River native language, and they
+spoke much in return, but I must say that our language seemed to be
+mutually unintelligible. At last, by watching their mode of intonation,
+and accommodating myself to their dialect, I managed to succeed a little
+better. In this way they understood my inquiries for water, and their
+answer at last was precisely in the Swan River language, "Gaipbi jeral,"
+(water to the north.) Their great anxiety at first seemed to be to know
+whether we were women. In answer I pointed to our beards, when they
+pulled their beards and said, "Nanya patta," by which name I have heard
+it called at Swan River also. Then they pointed to some young lads in the
+boat and asked were they women. No; I said they were "golambiddy" (boys)
+which they seemed to understand. I saw them eating the fruit of the
+mesembryanthemum (the Hottentot fig) but they did not understand either
+of the names used for it at Swan River, golboys, or mejaruk. They called
+it by a different name. After a little they volunteered to take us to
+water, and we walked along the beach with them, clustering about us with
+a show of friendship that was even more familiar than agreeable. One of
+them repeatedly asked me were we dead? at least so I understood him. At
+length we approached the opening of the river, in which they indicated
+the water to be, but how were our great hopes disappointed when they led
+us to a little hole scraped in the bed of the river containing about a
+pint of water. We afterwards saw several other holes of the same sort
+with more or less water in them; and it will be well to bear in mind that
+some of these were not fifty yards from the beach, and it is quite
+possible that if they were dug out a good supply of water might be
+obtained.
+
+ADVANCE INTO THE COUNTRY.
+
+They then wished us to go up the valley of the river with them, but we
+ascended a high hill to the north side, being desirous of getting a view
+and in hopes of seeing the large estuary pencilled on the chart by
+Captain Grey. From this hill we had an extensive view of all the country
+to the west and north of the Menai Hills. The whole face of the country
+looked grassy, and thinly sprinkled over with what may be acacias,
+probably the mangart, or raspberry-jam-scented wood, as it had just that
+appearance, and a kily which we had got from the natives in the morning
+was made of that wood. But there was not even a drop of water visible,
+nor any sign of a large river, though this is just the position assigned
+to the Hutt River; but certainly it is quite possible that nearer the
+source of these rivers there may be larger reservoirs and more water,
+which may be to a great degree absorbed before it reaches the sea, as we
+find this to be the case with many of the rivers of this country. In the
+meantime the natives seemed dissatisfied about our going on the hills,
+and offended, and were very importunate with us to go down to the low
+grounds in the valley. "Koa yeka" ("Come this way," as I understood it)
+was their constant call; and when at last we did consent, as we were
+going down the side of a steep, rocky limestone hill, I could not help
+feeling that we were very much in their power. Looking round suddenly
+upon one occasion I observed a man making gestures with his feet at the
+head of the Captain, as if showing to the rest how he could knock him
+down easily. The man seemed uneasy at being detected, but I laughed it
+off as a joke, which probably it was after all; but their manner seemed
+to have changed considerably. When we arrived at the level ground they
+became very urgent that we should "sit down in the shade," "maloka
+nineka" (a Swan River man would say "malok nginnow"). They caught hold of
+us and pulled us, and wanted very much to get the guns from us. Thinking
+it most prudent to return to the boat we turned with that intention, when
+they did everything they could, short of using force, to prevent us. They
+stood in our way, they caught us in their arms, they pushed us, they
+tried to snatch or seize our guns, but we persisted steadily and
+good-humouredly to make our way back towards the boat. One old man wished
+me to approach the brink of the high ground overlooking the bed of the
+river, but seeing that it was a perpendicular precipice to which he was
+leading, or rather pushing me, I suddenly clasped him with one arm and
+walked away from it, at which the rest set up a shout of laughter. His
+intentions may have been perfectly friendly but I certainly did not feel
+confident that they were so. I intimated that when we got to the boat we
+should give them some more bread; and I felt that the knowledge that the
+bread was in the boat was likely to be very much in our favour and to
+contribute mainly to our safety. My fear was that they had sent for their
+spears and wished to detain us till they came. However we arrived at the
+beach where the boat was standing outside of the surf waiting for us.
+
+RETURN TO THE VESSEL.
+
+On our return to the ship I proposed that we should now touch at the more
+northern river where we were deterred from landing by their first
+appearance. We went therefore to the mouth of the river, which is
+completely blocked up by sandhills, with two or three small gaps through
+which water appeared to have made its way at some time; but the entire of
+the bed of the river, which was only a few yards wide, was covered with
+growing samphire. There were two or three small pools of very salt water
+above this, but no fresh water visible. We took a hasty view from a high
+sandhill. The interior, where we could see anything of it, looked grassy,
+and there was some grass even on the sandhills near the beach; but our
+view was very limited and hurried. We had no sooner returned to the boat
+than we saw a party coming along the beach about a quarter of a mile
+away, and another party on the top of the hill above, where we first saw
+them and where we supposed their weapons to have been left. They shouted,
+we went on board.
+
+SAIL TO THE SOUTHWARD. PORT GREY.
+
+Sunday morning.
+
+Weighed anchor and stood to the south to examine a bay opposite the
+southern part of Moresby's Flat-topped Range. This bay, which is not laid
+down in the charts, was found to be an excellent anchorage, completely
+sheltered from all southerly winds, which are the prevailing winds on
+this coast at this time of the year, and also much protected by a reef
+running north and south from the extreme point of the bay. This reef or
+bank was found to have from three to five fathoms upon it, and within it
+there was seven fathoms, even near to the shore, at the bottom of the
+bay; and there is no appearance of any heavy sea or violent action of the
+water on the beach at any time of the year.*
+
+(*Footnote. The report of this bay by the Master of the Champion is as
+follows: 26th January 1840. Anchored in a bay not laid down in the
+charts, lying in latitude 28 degrees 50 minutes, the north land bearing
+north-north-west, and the south point south-west. A reef breaks off the
+point, the north part of which bore west-south-west; but it extends far
+more to the north, and breaks, I presume, in bad weather. The reefs
+extend also a great way to the westward of this point. We anchored about
+half a mile from the shore in seven fathoms water, and about three miles
+from the head of the bay. The soundings are exceedingly even for five
+miles, carrying seven fathoms, never varying: just before, we carried
+four and five, when, I think, we passed over the reef, which appears to
+me to join the main at that distance from the south-west point. The beach
+does not show the least sign of any sea. Found two posts stuck up in it.
+I consider this bay an excellent anchorage during summer; and, I think,
+from the appearance of the beach, it must be safe in winter.)
+
+SEA VIEW OF AUSTRALIND. APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.
+
+To the south of the tongue of land which forms the bay there is also
+another bay, which would be completely sheltered from all northerly winds
+so as to combine between the two bays perfect shelter at all seasons of
+the year. From the deck of the schooner where she lay we had a view of
+the entire slope of ground from the beach to the top of the range, about
+five or six miles distant. The range seems to consist of isolated hills
+rising from an elevated plain. Judging by the eye at that distance, the
+entire space as far as we had any opportunity of seeing, after going a
+little way back from the coast, on the slope to the hills, upon the
+hills, among the hills, beyond the hills, and, in short, everywhere, as
+far as the eye could discern, appeared a grassy country, thinly sprinkled
+with some low trees or shrubs, perhaps the acacia. If this be the case,
+and that there be water sufficient, of which there is no reason to doubt,
+this may certainly turn out to be the finest district for sheep pasture
+that this colony can possess. What may be the breadth of this district,
+how far it may extend into the interior, of course nothing can be known
+or said; but from what I have now seen, and from what Captain Grey has
+seen on a former occasion, there is little doubt that it extends north
+and south from the northern part of the Menai Hills as far south as the
+River Arrowsmith, a distance of more than 80 miles. To the south of that
+river comes the range of hills which Captain Grey has called Gairdner's
+Range, and which is supposed to be the northern termination of the
+Darling Range; if so it is very probable that, by keeping on the east
+side of the Darling Range a continuation of pastoral country might be
+found all the way to Moresby's Flat-topped Range. In coming to our
+anchorage this morning we passed the opening of another river, that which
+is laid down in Captain King's charts as the largest. From what we saw of
+it I do not think that much water can issue from it either, although its
+bed looked larger and better defined than any we had seen hitherto. The
+man from the mast-head said he saw the sandy beach all across it. But the
+Captain, being anxious to examine the anchorage in the bay, did not wish
+to come to anchor sooner, so we passed on, perhaps 10 or 12 miles to the
+south of it. Just as they were about to let go the small anchor, which
+had been used since the first was broken, it was discovered that it also
+was broken nearly through, so we had to drop a large and heavy one, being
+the only one now remaining in the ship. We then landed in the boat, and
+saw two pieces of ship's timbers set up in the sand of the beach, about
+half a mile from each other. Dug and examined under and about the largest
+of them in hopes of finding some directions, probably about fresh water,
+but found none. Examined a place where the tea-tree and wattles were very
+green and luxuriant looking; it appeared like a swamp in winter, but
+quite dry now. Was struck by the singularity of some tea-trees growing,
+of a large size, both up the sides and on the tops of high sandhills, but
+which appeared to rest upon limestone. Got a view to the east and south
+of the range. The country presented the same appearance as before. It
+must be remarked that the grass was all parched and withered and of a
+yellow straw colour; and it was from this colour principally that we
+judged of its existence on the distant grounds. Those who have once seen
+tracts of withered grass will not readily mistake its appearance; but the
+green of the shrubs was extremely vivid. One observation which we had
+repeated occasion to make was the constant heavy dews which fell at night
+on this coast, rendering everything about the ship quite wet. The wind
+was off the land. The country all around seemed to be on fire in the
+morning. The thermometer, as I stood on the deck, was 94 degrees. In the
+evening the wind came round to the north-west, and, desirous of availing
+ourselves of such a favourable breeze, we got on board and set sail, but
+were obliged to stand well out to sea to clear the reefs. Towards night
+it fell calm again, and there was some lightning in the north.
+
+...
+
+DISTRICT IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF SWAN RIVER.
+
+The third district lies immediately to the north of Perth. It contains
+four rivers:
+
+The Norcott,
+The Moore,
+The Smith,
+The Hill.
+
+The Norcott and Moore Rivers, about fifty miles to the north of Perth,
+were before known; and about twenty-five miles to the north of Moore
+River is the Smith. The Hill comes out of Gairdner's Range, the natural
+northern limit of this district, which is connected with Perth by a chain
+of freshwater lakes, the greatest distance between any two of them being
+not more than from five to six miles. The whole of this district is
+therefore fit for location, and affords a gratifying proof that the
+flourishing colony of the Swan is by no means deficient in good and
+immediately available land.
+
+The circumstance also of this district being so abundantly supplied with
+water, even at the end of an uncommonly dry season, which was the period
+I traversed it in, much enhances its value. It must, as the number of
+horned stock in the colony of Western Australia increases, be the first
+occupied; for it is nearer to a market than any other open to location,
+and affords both water and food for cattle in good supply.
+
+
+CHAPTER 7. VOYAGE HOMEWARDS.
+
+Before quitting the Mauritius, in August 1838, I had written to the
+Secretary of State for the Colonies, reporting my intention to proceed to
+the Swan River, and then, as circumstances might guide me, either to
+return from thence at once to the north-west coast, or, should that not
+be feasible, to await further instructions from England; adding that, in
+the latter event, I should attempt in the meantime to pass the range to
+the north-east of the Swan, and endeavour to ascertain in what direction
+the streams thrown off from this range towards the interior might flow.
+
+I have already stated the incidents that prevented me from following out
+the first of these plans, as well as those which led me to adopt the
+project of the voyage to Shark Bay in lieu of an inland journey such as
+the second; and now that this last expedition was brought to a close I
+had yet to await, for some time, the answer to my communication from the
+Mauritius, which was to guide my future proceedings. The interval between
+my return to Perth and the period at which a reply might be expected
+appeared too short to allow of my carrying out any comprehensive plan of
+exploration, and I therefore resolved to employ it in endeavouring to
+extend my knowledge of the native character and language, as well as of
+the general position and prospects of the colony.
+
+At this time, the death of Sir Robert Spencer, the Government Resident at
+King George's Sound, having caused a vacancy in that appointment, I was
+induced, at the offer of Mr. Hutt, to assume the temporary duties, with a
+two-fold desire of rendering what public services I could during my
+unavoidable period of inaction in the country, as well as of enlarging my
+opportunities of observation on the aboriginal race.
+
+In these occupations I remained, until the receipt of a reply from the
+Secretary of State, which, after speaking in terms of flattering
+approbation of my past exertions, notified that, for the present, Her
+Majesty's Ministers did not think it desirable that the researches in the
+north-west should be prosecuted further.
+
+PREPARE TO RETURN TO ENGLAND.
+
+On the receipt of this I made preparations for returning to England, but,
+no favourable opportunity offering from the western settlements, as soon
+as I was relieved from my duties as Resident, I embarked for South
+Australia in the hope of obtaining from thence a more speedy passage than
+the other colony seemed likely to afford.
+
+After a short stay at Adelaide I finally sailed for England on the 11th
+April 1840, and reached this country in September following.
+
+NATURAL HISTORY.
+
+The leisure of the voyage afforded me the means of making some additions
+to my former observations on the Natural History of the seas we
+traversed, the chief results of which will be briefly given in this
+chapter, together with some casual observations which I was enabled to
+make on the Geology of St. Helena in consequence of the vessel touching
+there.
+
+June 2 1840. At sea: south latitude 20 degrees 0 minutes; east longitude
+58 degrees 47 minutes 15 seconds.
+
+I caught a species of shrimp (Penaeus) of a delicate prussian blue
+colour, which was more brilliant at the extremities, and gradually paled
+towards the centre of the animal. There was not the slightest shade of
+any other colour about it, but it turned pink in some places directly it
+was put into spirits; it had four anterior and four posterior legs on
+each side.
+
+Total length 1.45 inches.
+Length of apparatus on head 0.17 inches.
+Length of tail 0.25 inches.
+Head and connected apparatus 0.52 inches.
+Tail and body to commencement of first ring 0.48 inches.
+
+June 13. South latitude 27 degrees 4 minutes; east longitude 47 degrees
+38 minutes 15 seconds.
+
+A species of animal (Alima hyalina ?) was caught resembling a scorpion,
+having six legs, three on each side; the first pair of legs were provided
+with claws, like a lobster; its tail exactly resembled that of a
+scorpion; the sac or bag near the extremity of the tail was of a light
+red colour, and it tried to strike with its tail, as if for the purpose
+of stinging. Eyes pale blue, and prominent; body nearly diaphanous, with
+pale red spots.
+
+Total length 0.33 inches.
+Length of body 0.20 inches.
+Breadth across from eye to eye 0.13 inches.
+Breadth of body 0.14 inches.
+
+Several of the animals which I supposed to be the Velella of Lamarck, and
+some of which had been caught on the 11th of November 1837 were also
+found today. Caught also a species of animal which I had found on October
+22 1837, in south latitude 37 degrees 44; east longitude 38 minutes; and
+again on November 12 1837, in south latitude 30 degrees 11 minutes; east
+longitude 100 degrees 31 minutes 30 seconds. It resembles in shape and
+size a large grape.
+
+Extreme length 0.5 inches.
+Breadth 0.45 inches.
+Total circumference round broadest part 1.30 inches.
+
+Colour brownish blue; but there were round it twenty very narrow brownish
+yellow stripes, equidistant from each other, and not quite reaching
+either extremity of the animal.
+
+June 16. South latitude 28 degrees 46 minutes; east longitude 42 degrees
+3 minutes.
+
+We caught an animal this afternoon somewhat resembling a shrimp
+(Erichthus vitreus)* covered with a shield: we had caught a similar one
+on the 12th of November 1837. From measurements taken from the living
+animal the dimensions were:
+
+Length from tip of tail to tip of spine, in front of head 1.15 inches.
+Ditto of spine 0.23 inches.
+Ditto from tip of tail to bottom of last scale 0.2 inches.
+Ditto from tip of spear to end of shield 0.7 inches.
+
+The temperature of the water at 6 P.M. was 71 degrees Fahrenheit; of the
+air 74 degrees.
+
+(*Footnote. See Illustration 8 volume 1.)
+
+The shield was perfectly air-coloured and diaphanous, and extended for
+some distance beyond the head and the upper parts of the body; the body
+itself was of a pale delicate blue, and it threw a very light bluish
+tinge upon the shield; the eyes were jet black, and placed at the end of
+a tube like those of the lobster; the tip of the spear was of a light red
+colour. Caught also this day the lower portion of a species of Diphyes,
+the same I had found on the 13th of November 1837 in south latitude 30
+degrees 7; east longitude 100 degrees 50 minutes 10 seconds. The total
+length of this was 0.5 inches.
+
+Caught also two minute animals resembling a species of shrimp (Penaeus);
+colour of both pale blue. The tail of the largest when examined in a
+microscope precisely resembled in appearance the fin of a fish. I did not
+examine the smaller one. Dimensions of the largest:
+
+Total length 0.2 inches.
+Length of feelers 0.15 inches.
+
+Of smallest:
+
+Total length 0.13 inches.
+
+When put into eau-de-cologne these animals changed to a pink colour.
+
+June 17. South latitude 29 degrees 19 minutes; east longitude 40 degrees
+19 minutes.
+
+Caught a specimen of Glaucus.
+
+Total length 0.35 inches.
+
+Colour down the back deep indigo blue; stomach bluish white; sides bluish
+white (silvery) like a frog; tail tapering to a point; its head resembled
+that of a frog, and when out of the water it sat on its tentaculae, and
+raised its head and the fore part of its body, moving its head (a) from
+side to side; the tentaculae were all so delicate that they fell off, it
+had apparently eight on each extremity; it belonged to the same family as
+the animal I caught on the 14th of November 1837, in south latitude 29
+degrees 26 minutes; east longitude 101 degrees 32 minutes.*
+
+(*Footnote. See Illustration 10 volume 1.)
+
+June 23. South latitude 32 degrees 53 minutes; east longitude 29 degrees
+45 minutes 15 seconds.
+
+We for the first time saw Cape Pigeons and the Albatross.
+
+June 27. ) South latitude 35 degrees 41 minutes; east longitude 25
+degrees 13 minutes 20.
+June 28. ) South latitude 35 degrees 15 minutes; east longitude 23
+degrees 26 minutes.
+
+Upon these two days we were in a rapid current, which we entered on the
+morning of the 27th, and on neither could we see the slightest signs of
+any of the acalepha class; but on the 29th, on which day we experienced
+no current, we found the greatest abundance of these animals; it appeared
+as if they had collected in large quantities at the edges of the current;
+and on the western side of it we found many animals which I had not seen
+on the opposite one.
+
+June 29. South latitude 35 degrees 31 minutes; east longitude 22 degrees
+20 minutes 30 seconds.
+
+The specimens caught were a minute fish, 0.35 inch in length; colour,
+back and upper half of sides, deep indigo; belly and lower half of sides,
+silver colour. Also two sorts of barnacles (Anatifa) which I got near the
+side of the vessel.
+
+We caught today a great number of the animals (Glaucus) I have mentioned
+above as having been taken on the 17th of June, as well as on other
+occasions. I observed these animals in the water, and found that their
+long silk-like antennae had, when uninjured, a length of five or six
+inches; they swim with the rounded part first, and the long antennae
+trailing after them like tails; the progressive motion is produced by
+introducing water into certain sacs, or cavities, and expelling it by a
+contraction of the muscles with great violence. I observed their motions
+from a boat at first, and afterwards when they were in a glass of water.
+I counted the number of times they expelled water in a given time when
+swimming, and found the mean of several observations by a chronometer to
+give ten strokes in twelve and a half seconds.
+
+We caught again many little animals which I had found on the 15th of
+October 1837; south latitude 37 degrees 28 minutes, east longitude 21
+degrees 19 minutes; they were shaped like an octagonal crystal,
+terminating in a point, containing a brilliant blue colouring matter,
+they were about 0.4 inches in length, and were, when undisturbed,
+arranged in long strings, only the length of a single animal in
+thickness, and of the breadth of two of them abreast; they swam with the
+blue-pointed ends downwards, which then looked at a distance like the
+legs of a caterpillar, and the long string somewhat resembled a long
+gelatinous band in appearance as it passed through the water; but
+directly it was touched the animals separated themselves from one
+another. These strings were sometimes seen several feet in length.
+
+We caught large quantities of these animals at one time, and found:
+
+The temperature of the water 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
+The temperature of the air 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
+The temperature of the animals 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
+
+We caught also a fish (Orthogariscus) which the seamen called a
+devil-fish.
+
+The length of it was 6 feet 2 inches.
+Breadth from fin to fin 3 feet 6 inches.
+Length from tip of nose to pectoral fin 2 feet.
+Thickness through the breast 1 foot 6 inches.
+
+This fish was infested about its nose with a kind of parasite (Lernaea)
+having two long thin tails. The sailors stated that these animals
+frequently cause large sores about the nose of the fish, and that when
+suffering from this, it will allow the sea-birds to sit on it, and peck
+away at the affected part. The habit of the fish is to swim during calms
+with one of the hind fins out of water, and it is then harpooned from a
+boat. I have myself seen petrels perched upon them; and directly one of
+these fish was hoisted on board the sailors looked for the parasites and
+found them. Their dimensions were:
+
+Total length 1.0 inch.
+Length of tails 0.57 inches.
+Ditto of fore part of body 0.25 inches.
+Ditto of hind part of body 0.15 inches.
+Breadth across body 0.25 inches.
+
+They were covered with a transparent shell, marked with grey spots and
+lines; the hind part of the body, near the tail, being darker than the
+fore part, as though the intestines were seated there. These little
+creatures adhered strongly to any substance that they were laid on, and
+caused an irritating feeling to the skin if placed on it; they swam with
+great rapidity when put into seawater, and in their movements in swimming
+much resembled a tadpole; their tails were merely long transparent
+fibres.
+
+We caught also several transparent bodies, shaped like a balloon (Beroe
+?) These consisted merely of a sac. At the flat end of the spheroid was a
+small ring of a pink colour, from which ran lines forming the ribs, which
+supported the sides of the animal. There were eight of these: they
+possessed great irritability, and if the animal was at all injured, a
+rapid and continued motion was propagated all along them. Some of these
+animals were between two and three inches in length, but they were so
+delicate that it was impossible to examine them, for they fell to pieces
+directly they were touched. Only one of these ribs was, at times,
+affected at the same moment, so that they appeared each to be capable of
+an independent movement.
+
+We caught also many small insects, and some shrimp-like animals.
+
+The sea was full of some things resembling hairs, but which broke the
+moment they were touched.
+
+On this evening we placed a large number of acalepha in a bucket, and on
+agitating the water it became a mass of phosphorescent light. It is
+strange that these animals should never emit this light without being
+irritated.
+
+July 1. South latitude 35 degrees 51 minutes; east longitude 18 degrees
+56 minutes; average temperature of water, 65 degrees.
+
+This day many specimens of different kinds were taken; and amongst them a
+shellfish (Hyalea) the same as that caught on the 13th November 1837, in
+south latitude 30 degrees 7 minutes; east longitude 100 degrees 50
+minutes 10 seconds. This fish today put out the apparatus with which it
+swam. It consisted of two broad transparent wings, shaped like the first
+pair of wings of a butterfly, and which it moved in a precisely similar
+manner. Its shell was of a delicate pale transparent brown colour, with a
+jet black spot in the centre. (See Illustration 6 volume 1 Figure 1.) We
+also caught an animal of a precisely similar form and colour with this,
+but which was not provided with a shell.
+
+The other specimens were:
+
+1. A shell (Janthina)* the same as was caught on November 14 1837, and on
+several other occasions, with its swimming apparatus attached.
+
+(*Footnote. The corresponding figure, Illustration 9 volume 1, should
+have been inverted.)
+
+2. Several of the small shells which resemble belemnites (Creseis) which
+were first taken on the 14th November 1837. I this day preserved one of
+these with its swimming apparatus expanded.
+
+3. An animal without a shell, which had a sort of transparent horny
+covering, and when alarmed and not in motion folded itself up.
+
+4. A tube 3.2 inches in length, perfectly transparent, and swelling out
+to a little knob at each extremity; but these knobs were of the same
+colour as the body.
+
+5. Some delicate white shells (Atalanta) or very hard gelatinous animals,
+0.2 inches in length, 0.2 wide, and 0.15 thick; they had three ridges of
+short spines on them, one down each edge, and one ridge running down the
+centre of the shell or back.
+
+6. Some perfectly spherical transparent bodies, 0.18 inches in diameter;
+these neither moved nor showed any signs of life when placed in salt
+water, but another animal, exactly resembling them in shape and colour,
+with the exception of having some light brown spots on it, unrolled
+itself like a wood-louse, and then swam nimbly about. They all turned as
+white as eggs soon after they were put into spirits.
+
+We caught also several species of an animal with two tentaculae, which
+had been also taken on the 17th June, some of these were very large and
+beautiful, being of the most delicate amber colour.
+
+Also many different sorts of medusa, particularly tubes of about 0.5
+inches in length, with an apparatus shaped like a proboscis at one
+extremity of it. These I have not attempted to describe. In general the
+animals we caught this day differed altogether from those we had hitherto
+found during this voyage. Some few were the same, but the great majority
+were new.
+
+Many of the medusae and small gelatinous animals must be endowed with
+very acute sensibilities and perceptions, for they evinced extreme
+timidity if any substance approached them, and when plunged alive into
+spirits, their rapid movements and violent contortions repeatedly
+indicated acute pain; indeed so clearly that on this point there could be
+no mistake.
+
+A mass of gelatinous animals, caught this day, gave out a slight electric
+shock. Some of them were shaped like the portions of an orange, and they
+evidently were formed to fit into one another in the manner in which they
+were found, although they separated directly they were touched.
+
+July 2. South latitude 35 degrees 58 minutes; east longitude 17 degrees
+54 minutes.
+
+This day the ship went so fast that we could not catch anything. The
+acalephae were not so numerous as they had been further to the north, but
+we saw more and larger medusae than I had ever before remarked. It indeed
+appeared as if the acalephae diminished and the medusae increased in
+number after passing the 36th degree of south latitude.
+
+July 12. ) South latitude 23 degrees 2 minutes; east longitude 0 degrees
+26 minutes 45 seconds.
+July 13. ) South latitude 21 degrees 55 minutes; west longitude 0 degrees
+44 minutes.
+
+The vessel went slowly through the water, but although the net was kept
+towing we could catch nothing, and there was no appearance of anything
+being in the sea.
+
+July 14. South latitude 20 degrees 52 minutes; west longitude 1 degree 49
+minutes.
+
+This day we caught a Velella of the following dimensions:
+
+Length of interior cartilage 1.1 inches.
+Breadth of interior cartilage 0.5 inches.
+Total length of blue base 1.7 inches.
+Breadth of blue base 1.0 inches.
+Height of centre of crest 0.5 inches.
+Rim round crest, in breadth 0.55 inches.
+
+This animal differed from those caught on the 11th November 1837, in the
+following particulars: It was much larger. The base of the animal
+consisted of two parts. The centre portion was an elliptically-formed
+cartilage, elevated in the centre, and marked with eighteen concentric
+striae, which became thinner and thinner as they approached the centre.
+No striae were visible on the elevated crest with which the animal swims,
+but this crest was furnished or fringed with a thin moveable flap, 0.55
+inches in breadth, which ran quite round it. The animal has the power of
+flapping this to and fro constantly, as a fish does its tail.
+
+The outer portion of the base was of a pale prussian blue colour,
+increasing in depth of shade both to the outer and inner edges. Many
+minute black spots were dotted all over this. The underside of the outer
+base was of a very dark prussian blue colour, and its lower interior edge
+was furnished with rows of blue tentaculae, which the animal uses as an
+elephant does its trunk. The whole interior surface of the oval cartilage
+is furnished with successive rows of white tentaculae, and in the centre
+is a long thin white tube, apparently its mouth.
+
+These animals always swim in company. You see a number together, varying
+from four or five to twenty or thirty; these are all within a few feet of
+one another, and you may then pass over several miles and not see any
+more.
+
+They produce countless numbers of little eggs, of a pale brown colour;
+these are apparently deposited from the interior white tentaculae, and
+cannot be estimated they are so numerous.
+
+We also caught a minute fish, 0.6 inches in length; a minute species of
+nautilus, blue, marked with striae, or grooved, and thus different from
+what we caught on the 15th; a shrimp-like species of animal 0.5 inches in
+length; the lower part of a species of Diphyes, which had been caught on
+the 12th and 13th of November 1837; some minute animals, appearing to be
+the young of the larger species of Velella which we had taken; they were,
+like this animal, at first blue, but turned red soon after being put into
+spirits; also a very minute pale blue species of nautilus, I think the
+young of the kind we caught on the 15th July.
+
+Caught a number of gelatinous animals, differing however apparently in
+species from any we had found before. Some were of the family of
+crystal-shaped animals with blue spots, so often mentioned in this
+journal; also several animals of the family figured June 17th, but which
+differed from them in the colour of their spots. We caught today a
+Portuguese man of war (Physalis) of a very different species from those
+which we had taken in the Indian ocean. This one had a much larger sac,
+or float, than the others, and the float was furnished with a crest.
+
+July 15. South latitude 20 degrees 20 minutes; west longitude 2 degrees
+17 minutes.
+
+The same animals mentioned in the last paragraph of July 14th were again
+caught this day. A great number of the Velella were also taken.
+
+Caught a small fish:
+
+Length 1.2 inches.
+Breadth over roundest part 0.48 inches.
+
+For a particular description, and figure of a finer specimen, see below.
+The mouth and eyes of this fish were placed in a curious manner. Its food
+appeared to be the same as that of the other fish taken this day.
+
+Caught two curious little crabs (Nautilograpsus) one pale blue, and the
+other of a pale pink colour: also, another little pale blue crab:
+
+Length of antennae 0.15 inches.
+Length of body 0.34 inches.
+Breadth of ditto 0.12 inches.
+
+Caught a small animal shaped like a wood-louse (Cymothoa) having nine
+rings apparent on the back, and I think seven legs on each side, also, a
+tail-like fin on each side, which, when closed under its belly, formed a
+sort of shield for the lower part of the abdomen. Antennae, transparent
+with pale brown tips, and a few pale brown spots in them, colour pale
+blue down centre of the back, dark prussian blue on each side. It had the
+power of rolling itself up nearly double; in the same manner as a
+wood-louse, but not quite so close; eyes distinct and prominent. It lived
+a long time out of water, and appeared to me exactly like an animal I
+caught on the 21st November 1837, in south latitude 24 degrees 19
+minutes; east longitude 107 degrees 8 minutes.
+
+We also this day caught a Janthina. They have a little valve for the
+purpose of taking in air, with which to expand their float. These animals
+go in company. They emit when touched a brilliant scarlet dye. A similar
+animal caught on the 20th November 1837, in south latitude 25 degrees 12
+minutes; east longitude 106 degrees 49 minutes, emitted a violet-coloured
+dye. The emission of this evidently depends upon their being irritated,
+as I found by many experiments.
+
+The method in which this animal fills its float is curious, it throws it
+back, and gradually lifts the lip of the valve out of water, until the
+valve stands vertical, it then closes the valve tightly round a globule
+of air, around which it folds, by means of the most complex and delicate
+machinery. The valve is then bent over until it touches the edge of the
+float nearest the head, and when it is in this position, the portion of
+it which is inflated with air looks like a bladder, the air gradually is
+expelled into the float, and as this process takes place the bladder in
+the valve diminishes, and the valve becomes by degrees like a lip pushed
+forwards until it lies flat on the float. The valve is composed of two
+portions, a cup and a lip. The time occupied from first removing the
+valve from the float, until the inflation, and the expulsion of air into
+the float being completed, so that the valve begins to move again, is 61
+seconds, from the mean of several experiments.
+
+These animals have also the power of compressing the valve into a hollow
+tube, which they elevate above the water like a funnel, and draw down air
+through it.
+
+The colouring matter which they emit has no stinging, electric or
+deleterious properties whatever, that I could discover. I found that when
+this colouring matter was mixed with water, it became of a deep blue. In
+those which I caught in November 1837, I may have been deceived, and the
+colouring matter might also possibly have been scarlet directly it was
+emitted. It is difficult to conceive what use this liquid can be to the
+fish against its foes, yet it certainly uses it as a means of defence.
+
+To one of these shells, the fish in which was alive and well, we found
+attached a number of barnacles, some of which were of large size.
+
+This sort of Janthina was very abundant; today we caught eight, and saw
+great numbers of them: yesterday we caught a smaller one of a different
+species. (Janthina exigua.)
+
+This kind of Janthina is attached to its float by a sort of peduncle,
+which it has the power of elongating, so that the fish itself sinks, with
+its shell, and yet remains attached to the float, which continues at the
+surface. In one instance, I saw this peduncle elongated to a length of
+0.9 inches. It may, of course, have the power of sinking itself much
+lower than I have seen it do. When it is in this state, the apparatus
+with which it fills the float remains behind the peduncle in a state of
+perfect quiescence.
+
+The scarlet fluid emitted by this animal is of such a consistency that it
+can be drawn away from it out of the water, like a glutinous thread.
+
+A part of the animal requires attention, it is composed of an outer cup,
+or circular lip, which it has the power of contracting or expanding in
+the same manner as the valve; and when opened out like a cup, an orifice
+can be seen at the bottom of it. It can also expand, and make broad the
+arm; and it then appears to use them as sails.
+
+This species of Janthina, I afterwards found, has the power of in some
+manner taking in by suction a quantity of water, which it can suddenly
+expel again with great violence, sending it out as if from a squirt.
+
+We caught, also, an extraordinary fish this day. Its mouth has the
+appearance of being situated on its back; a fin, 0.4 inches in length,
+projected directly out from one side of the fish, and there was every
+appearance of a perfectly similar one having been torn from the other
+side; a hard horny membrane projected from underneath the stomach of the
+animal, being apparently a sort of fin.
+
+Its colour was of a silvery metallic lustre, having in parts a burnished
+appearance, except where it is shaded (see Illustration 5 and below) and
+then it was of a dark green colour; the tail was perfectly transparent,
+except just where it joined the body, and there, where the shaded line
+is, it was dark green.
+
+This fish was swimming about, apparently preying on the tentaculae of the
+barnacles, of which there were numbers round the ship attached to the
+dead Velella, some of which I had caught yesterday; it appears therefore
+probable that its mouth was placed in so extraordinary a position to
+enable it to seize this pendant prey.
+
+We caught this day a number of Velella, which are furnished with crests;
+some of them were dead, and nearly always when such was the case we found
+a species of barnacle attached in great numbers to them. When these
+animals had only recently died, so that the whole of their blue base had
+not been detached from them, the barnacles were generally very minute, so
+that the naked eye could only just detect them, and there were no large
+barnacles on the same fish: now, how did the minute ones get there? As
+the barnacles grew larger, the remains of the velella changed into large
+excrescences, half the size of a walnut.
+
+We caught also several little animals, all of the same species, which
+swam about on the surface of the water with the greatest rapidity,
+performing the same kind of evolutions that we see in a little black and
+white insect (Gyrinus) which swims on the top of tranquil pools in
+England.
+
+July 16.
+
+This day a curious animal was caught, perfectly diaphanous; total length
+0.8 inch; length of third leg, 0.4 inch; this was provided with a claw
+like a crab; head shaped like a grasshopper, 0.2 inch in length, and
+placed like the head of a grasshopper, at right angles to the body; eyes
+black and prominent, apparently four, two on each side; first and second
+legs of nearly the same length; the third leg nearly double the length of
+either of the others; five on each side. The top of the head is divided
+into two prominent knobs, one on each side, which, viewed through a
+microscope, appear to be minutely reticulated.
+
+The animal may be considered as consisting of four portions: the head;
+the upper part of the body, 0.18 inch in length, and divided into five
+rings; the lower part, consisting of one shield-like portion, 0.12 inch
+in length, the body at the lower portions of this decreases almost to the
+thickness of a thread; the tail, 0.3 inch in length, and divided into
+three shield-like pieces, laid one over the other as in the shrimp
+(imbricated); at the lower extremity of each of these scales there is on
+each side a fin-like leg, in addition to those above-mentioned. Breadth
+of the animal across its head, 0.2 inch, and this was the broadest part
+of it. It lived for some time out of water, and even when put into
+spirits, it swam in an extraordinary manner, falling head over heels
+every time, which motion it accomplished by swimming on its back and
+making rapid strokes with the fin-like legs with which it is provided
+behind.
+
+We also caught today several little crabs and barnacles. I kept one
+specimen, to show old and young barnacles attached to the same Velella.
+
+The sea was, this morning, covered in places with fleets of the Velella
+of Lamarck; also with great numbers of the species of Janthina which I
+described yesterday; to both of these kinds of animals large clusters of
+barnacles were frequently attached. These barnacles preyed on the
+different gelatinous animals which were swimming about. It was curious to
+see them seize on these with their hooked tentaculae and draw them in,
+whilst the acalepha, or gelatinous animal, contracted and dilated itself
+with all its might and main, endeavouring to escape. We saw two or three
+times very large shoals of porpoises ahead of us, and when we reached the
+spot where they had been we found the sea quite cleared of the animals
+with which it was covered in other places, so that we imagined the
+porpoises must have been feeding on them. We saw also a whale and a shark
+today.
+
+Although these little floating animals were so numerous there were but
+very few of the gelatinous species to be seen, and they were chiefly of
+the larger sorts. I saw one of the species (Glaucus) of which I have
+given a sketch, on the 17th of June. Like all the animals of this species
+which we caught to the westward of the Cape it had a red intestinal spot
+in it; but excepting in its great size it differed in no respect from the
+others which I had seen: this one was at least a foot in length.
+
+A number of black minute animals were caught, which, at a rapid glance,
+looked not unlike fleas with long feelers or antennae.
+
+We caught also this day an animal (Salpa) which consisted of a gelatinous
+transparent bag, having an orifice provided with a valve that opened and
+closed the orifice at pleasure; there was no other opening to the sac
+that I could discover; I passed the end of a pencil down it, but although
+it passed readily through the valve it could not at first pass through
+the bottom of the gelatinous sac; but I afterwards found that this was an
+error, and that the pencil could be passed right through the body of the
+animal, which was provided with a valve at each end. I found also that
+the united animals had the power of swimming with either end foremost.
+There was an intestinal tube in the animal of a dark reddish brown
+colour. This animal appeared to exist very badly alone, fourteen of them
+were always found united together by a plane; they then formed a mass
+shaped like half an orange and having a cup at its upper surface; the
+intestinal canals, when they are in this position, are all brought near
+to one another, and the whole mass looks not unlike a flower; they are
+united to one another by so thick a fluid that it is very difficult to
+separate them. If one or more are torn away from the mass the outside
+ones immediately join together and form a united mass again, of the
+original shape. They open the orifices at different times: that is, two
+or three open theirs at the moment that some of the others are closing,
+so that no regular or simultaneous movement takes place between the
+different animals. This irregular movement of the animals gives to the
+whole body an irregular rotatory motion; but when one is separated from
+the others it can only drive itself round and round upon its own centre,
+and has not the faculty of propelling itself as the other acalepha have.
+They also swim with either end foremost, in the manner the other acalepha
+do.
+
+We saw also some animals of this class, and nearly as large as the ones I
+have just described, but they differed in their form and mode of
+attachment, and joined themselves in long strings, two deep, so as to
+look like gelatinous snakes. I have before described animals of this
+class with blue spots. I think that a good mode of classifying these
+animals would be from their form of arrangement when united.
+
+July 17. South latitude 19 degrees 47 minutes; west longitude 3 degrees 5
+minutes 30 seconds.
+
+Found a small animal (Cymothoa) like a wood-louse, similar to the one we
+caught on the 15th of this month and to another taken on the 21st of
+November 1837. It had seven legs on each side, besides the five which
+when taken out of the water it folded over its abdomen; the colour the
+same as before described.
+
+Length 0.52 inch.
+Width over broadest part 0.2 inch.
+Length of antennae 0.2 inch.
+
+Illustration 4, exactly the size of life, gives a good idea of it. It
+lived out of the water for two or three hours and did not die until put
+into spirits; it ran about on the table as well as it swam in the water,
+so that it was evidently amphibious. It swam about from a dead shell of
+the Velella, to a nautilus, and from that again to some barnacles; each
+shell that it reached it climbed up, and folding up its fins ran all over
+it, so that it appeared like a little navigator which was roving from
+island to island in the ocean, seeking food and nourishment from all of
+them. Are not the ways of nature very wonderful? This little animal was
+at least 500 miles from any land, as we term it, yet it was surrounded by
+sunny islands, teeming for it with the most delicious food, and where it
+either basked in the warm daylight, or shaded itself in some oozy recess,
+as seemed most pleasant to it.
+
+When walking on these substances it used its antennae exactly as insects
+do, and showed an extraordinary degree of susceptibility when touched. I
+do not know that I have ever seen an animal which more decidedly evinced
+an acute sense of feeling and dread of pain.
+
+The animal here described belongs equally to the Indian and Atlantic
+Oceans, and appears, as far as my experience goes, never to venture to
+the south of 25 degrees south latitude. This is now the third species of
+animals which I have found to be common to the Atlantic and Indian
+Oceans, and which never venture beyond the warmer latitudes.
+
+The question is how they got round the Cape of Good Hope, or Cape Horn?
+
+Might we not hence infer that there was a time when the continent of
+Africa did not exist? and might not this argument be much extended? It
+could be combated by none of those causes which are advanced relative to
+the distribution of species on land; for,
+
+1. The temperature of the water in southern latitudes is very cold at all
+seasons of the year.
+
+2. These animals are extremely susceptible of all changes of temperature.
+
+3. They have no means of warming themselves by exercise or motion.
+
+4. The species of food which they subsist on is confined to the latitudes
+in which they themselves live.
+
+5. They would have to traverse great distances in ungenial climes, and
+contend against adverse winds, the children of placid seas and genial
+suns hurried into giant waves and chilling storms.
+
+6. It is not probable that they are swept along in currents, from the
+circumstance that in the one which flows along the coast to the eastward
+of the Cape we could find none of them, whilst upon its very edge they
+were in abundance.
+
+Could however their eggs be swept along by a current, and after having
+been wave-tossed for months or years, be at last borne into waters
+sufficiently warm to hatch them, and the animals, finding themselves in a
+genial climate, have increased and multiplied?
+
+The numerous little animals of the species which I have always considered
+to be the Velella of Lamarck went sailing merrily by us today; the least
+breath of wind made them turn round and round; and this was their mode of
+progression, the animal moved its little sail which I have before
+mentioned, and worked its tentaculae so vigorously as to make ripples in
+the water, in the midst of which it went buoyantly floating along.
+
+Caught another fish (Stenopteryx Illustration 5) of the same species as
+that found on the 15th of July. The accompanying figure is drawn from
+minute measurements. The length of this specimen was 2.5 inches, its
+thickness through the thickest part 0.38.
+
+What I had before imagined to be either a spine or fin turned out to be a
+pectoral fin.
+
+It thus has two pectoral, one dorsal, and one ventral fin, properly
+speaking; but the greater part of the body is surrounded by some
+cartilaginous substance which it probably uses as a fin; under the line b
+c there is a curved portion of this matter, and above and attached to the
+fish is a line of round white silvery scales, about ten in number.
+
+Between a and b there is another curved mass of transparent cartilaginous
+substance, along the bottom of which runs a spine to which is attached a
+fringe-like fin. There is a spine upon the back; the eye is very
+prominent and bright; upon the back, between the eye and the spine, there
+are successive stripes of purple and burnished gold, so that this little
+animal is one of the most gorgeously coloured denizens of the ocean. It
+swims about amongst the purple barnacles and pink nautili, seeking on the
+shores of these shining islands its prey, the curious formation of its
+mouth being admirably adapted to enable it, whilst swimming under these
+painted floating islands, to crop off what it lists.
+
+There were scarcely any gelatinous animals in the sea this day; but many
+Janthina shells and Velella were round the ship, to which were attached
+barnacles of different species; amongst this group of islands numerous
+crabs were swimming about and running over them. Animals resembling a
+wood-louse were also in the sea, swimming and running about the floating
+shells and barnacles.
+
+We caught also a new species of Janthina, the float of which, instead of
+being nearly round and extending over the shell on each side, was spread
+like a spiral fold from the shell; the breadth of this fold was 0.45
+inch, close to the mouth of the shell, and it gradually tapered off to a
+point, its length being 3.6 inches. This float being curved round like
+the tail of an animal, the whole thing bore the appearance of being a
+sort of snake, of which the shell was the head; the sailors called them
+caterpillars before I had examined them. The float was composed of two
+parts, one of which was only froth and the other was apparently some
+extraneous substance attached to the froth. The shell is very different
+from those of the other nautili in being much more deeply indented with
+circular striae.
+
+July 18. South latitude 19 degrees 49 minutes; west longitude 3 degrees
+10 minutes 15 seconds.
+
+We have lately caught several specimens of Creseis. Each consists of a
+cylindrical tube, increasing in size from its broadest extremity to the
+centre where it is thickest, and decreasing from the centre to its other
+extremity, where it becomes a fine point. It is throughout its extent
+gelatinous, transparent, and of strong consistency.
+
+There is apparently a valve at its broadest extremity.
+
+Length 1.1 inch.
+Breadth in centre 0.1 inch.
+Breadth at mouth of wide extremity 0.08 inch.
+
+We have several times caught a triangular, transparent, gelatinous
+animal; it is 0.18 inch in thickness, and in the outer pulpy gelatinous
+mass there is an interior sac, and strong muscular bands are marked
+across this. The sac is composed of three lobes, two of which have
+apparently no external opening, whilst at the end of the main lobe there
+is one which closes with a valve; through this I have seen them take in
+little animals, which reached no farther than the centre, from which the
+lobes radiate, when the sac became violently agitated, and made strong
+efforts to expel the foreign substance. This animal was very sensitive,
+more particularly about the opening of the entrance.
+
+We caught today the lower part of the species of Diphyes which we had
+found on the 13th November 1837, in 30 degrees 7 minutes south latitude,
+in the Indian Ocean. This animal is thus distributed over a wide range.
+
+We also found a very minute species of the animal similar to one which we
+caught on July 1st 1840. Those we caught today were scarcely 0.05 inches
+in diameter. They unfolded little wings and flew with them in precisely
+the way those did which I described on that day.
+
+Nothing I have seen is more remarkable than the flight of these little
+animals; their wings are milk white and very large for their body, and as
+they fly, the ends, from their pliancy, bend over, which imparts to the
+motion a very graceful appearance; these wings are composed of a very
+fine membrane like that forming the wings of a bat. At one time these
+little animals hovered over a single spot like a bird of prey in the air,
+flapping their wings in just the same manner. At another time they darted
+forward with great rapidity, and the vibration of their wings was so
+rapid that I could not count them. When folded up they look like very
+minute gelatinous animals with a black internal spot, but when touched
+their shell can be felt. We saw a shoal of whales today.
+
+We have caught lately a great many small animals, of which the following
+is the description; they swim about from one floating substance to
+another and are eaten by the little crabs which are numerous in these
+seas.
+
+Length of body 0.18 inch.
+Length of anterior part of body 0.1 inch.
+Length of posterior part of body 0.08 inch.
+Length of tail 0.08 inch.
+Breadth across back 0.05 inch.
+Depth from back to bottom of breast 0.06 inch.
+
+Head and eyes, deep brilliant prussian blue; body brilliant prussian blue
+with a bluish green stripe on each side; tail white. Seen through a
+microscope these animals appear to be a beautiful dark burnished blue
+mottled with silver. The head is remarkably round and regular.
+
+The body is divided into two portions. The anterior portion is made up of
+six rings or shields, which lap over one another, and it is furnished
+with three legs on each side which terminate in a hooked claw; the
+posterior part is covered by three shields, and there was only one leg on
+each side. I could not make out any tentaculae or antennae.
+
+I was much struck by a curious circumstance today. As we caught a great
+many gelatinous animals I thought this a good opportunity of taking their
+temperature, which, after an observation so carefully made that no error
+could occur, was found to be 66 degrees 5 Fahrenheit, the temperature of
+the air at the same time being 74 degrees. The temperature of the water
+was now taken and was found to be 2 degrees 5 minutes more than that of
+the animals; thus giving these animals a temperature lower than that of
+the fluid in which they were immersed. I conceived that some error must
+have been made in the temperature of the water, it was therefore taken
+again and found to be 69 degrees as before; this appeared to me so
+remarkable that I drew up a table of all the experiments which had been
+made on this subject, the result of which is that the mean temperature of
+these kinds of animals appears to be 64 degrees 9 minutes Fahrenheit; and
+that the greatest variation in excess is 1 degree 7 minutes; and in
+defect 2 degrees 9 minutes Fahrenheit. Is it possible, then, that an
+animal can live in a fluid, the temperature of which is constantly
+varying, and preserve nearly a mean heat?
+
+In the following tables I have entered every experiment but one which was
+made on the 17th of June, and in which I believe the animals to have been
+kept too long out of water.
+
+(Experiments to determine the temperature of gelatinous animals which
+inhabit the sea:
+
+Experiments to determine the temperature of shellfish inhabiting the open
+ocean:)
+
+This last experiment was made from a sickly specimen which had been kept
+for some time in the water: the temperature of water above given is for
+that in which this animal was kept.
+
+We caught again today many animals of the same family (Glaucus) as those
+of which a description is given in the journal for the 17th of June.
+
+Also many shrimp-like animals (Alima) the bodies of which were divided
+distinctly into an interior and posterior portion; all the shrimp-like
+animals which we have caught whose bodies are thus divided swim by
+doubling up the posterior part close to the anterior, and then giving a
+stroke with great rapidity outwards. These little animals are very
+susceptible, and when they have been in the least injured their limbs
+remain in so constant a state of tremor that the motion communicated by
+them resembles that which would be caused by the passage of a rapid
+succession of electric shocks, rather than any other I am acquainted
+with.
+
+GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT ST. HELENA.
+
+July 21.
+
+After visiting Longwood and Napoleon's tomb we rode to Flagstaff Hill to
+search for fossil shells. The whole soil that I saw was composed of
+decomposed old volcanic rocks; but I saw no rock but basalt in different
+stages of decomposition; sometimes it assumed the form of porphyry. I
+also saw veins of quartz, gypsum, and jasper. On a part of Flagstaff Hill
+there was a thin stratum of calcareous earth, in which shells are found.
+My hip was so painful that I could not climb to the point where these
+were, but an artillery soldier ascended and brought down some, and of
+these I had several specimens given me; they are found associated with
+bones which are apparently those of birds. None of these bones were given
+to me but I saw and examined several specimens. The shells are very
+numerous at this point.
+
+On returning into town I found several specimens of dead land shells,
+apparently recent; these lay on the sides of the hills, partly buried in
+the soil, and bore the appearance of having been washed into this
+position by the heavy rains.
+
+July 22.
+
+Rode over in the morning to Longwood, and then proceeded to Gregory's
+Valley, lying between Longwood and The Barn. This valley, nearly 1700
+feet in depth, appears at one period to have been the scene of great
+volcanic disturbances. The lowest rock I saw was a compact porphyritic
+one. The upper strata of basalt were in a state of rapid decomposition;
+but the whole of the valley was traversed by basaltic dykes in every
+direction; these crossed one another in such a way that it was easy to
+tell their relative ages; for instance several of them were in the form
+of:
+
+So that one had been forced from its position by another long
+subsequently to its formation.
+
+The general form of Gregory's Valley is a large basin bounded by a lofty
+precipitous mountain on one side called The Barn, and having a very
+narrow opening seaward, through which a small stream has cut its way. A
+remarkable circumstance connected with the basaltic dykes is that they
+are composed of a more compact basaltic rock than the basalt which they
+penetrate, so that whilst the rock has mouldered away these basaltic
+dykes have remained standing; and, as in the progress of their decay they
+split up, they present the appearances of walls built by human hands,
+with regular layers of stones, and which traverse the ravines of the
+island in all directions.
+
+As might be expected, I found regular basaltic crystals in this valley,
+and also a variety of quartz ore, and other crystals, in the veins
+traversing the basalt. I also found the following remarkable section:
+
+This was in a side valley or ravine leading from Gregory's Valley in a
+southerly direction.
+
+On going down to the sea I found many species of starfish. I brought away
+three species of these with me. Two Species Pentagonal; one species
+Quadrilateral.
+
+First species Pentagonal length of side 0.55 inch.
+Second species Pentagonal length of side 0.50 inch.
+Quadrilateral length of side 0.55 inch.
+
+I found a sort of worm in the coral which had the power of extending its
+head like an English worm; its body then appeared to be composed of two
+portions, the fore part being much slighter than the other. Its
+dimensions were:
+
+Length of fore part of body 0.4 inch.
+Length of hind part 0.6 inch.
+Breadth, or diameter of cylinder 0.1 inch.
+
+In the coral there was also another insect, not unlike a centipede.
+
+Length 0.9 inch.
+Breadth at head 0.08 inch.
+
+In the inmost recesses of the coral there was a minute bivalve shell and
+also a very minute species of crab.
+
+One remarkable circumstance relating to St. Helena is that it is of a
+basaltic formation exactly resembling that of the Isle of France and the
+North-west of New Holland; and that, although so widely separated in
+longitude, these places lie in nearly the same latitude.
+
+When you quit the sandstone ranges of the North-west of Australia
+reptiles which have been before very numerous at once become scarce. I
+never saw a snake in this great basaltic district although there were
+plenty in the sandstone. This however is only negative evidence. Brookes,
+in his History of St. Helena (second edition page 24) says: "There are
+neither frogs, toads, nor snakes in the island." In the Isle of Bourbon
+there are neither toads nor snakes. In the Mauritius likewise there are
+neither toads nor snakes, and only one species of frog, whilst the bones
+of the land tortoise (Testudo indica) are only found in a fossil state.
+Also, the highest land in St. Helena is 2800 feet; in the Mauritius about
+2900 feet (scarcely); and in the volcanic district of North-west
+Australia about the same height.
+
+July 26. At sea.
+
+We caught a great variety of shrimp-like animals; these little things
+when disturbed emitted a brilliant phosphorescent light. We saw scarcely
+any gelatinous animals.
+
+July 29.
+
+Caught two small crabs (Nautilograpsus); these species have the power of
+swimming by means of the fringe-like fins with which their legs are
+provided. Several other crabs were also caught; some with their eggs
+attached, and two varieties of shrimp-like animals with eggs. Where these
+were abundant the sea was very luminous. Four or five of these were of a
+brilliant prussian blue colour, with silver-coloured spots on the back;
+others were of a very delicate pink colour; the tentaculae of both of
+them were of a delicate prussian blue colour.
+
+We also caught a species of small Janthina, nearly resembling those we
+had found before, but they were larger; moreover the species of barnacle
+attached to them was totally different from any we had before found, as
+if each species of nautilus had its own kind of parasite. This is worthy
+of attention.
+
+August 8.
+
+We found a species of Halobates which swam rapidly with the short legs
+foremost, and the foremost legs appeared to be furnished with a fringe to
+give them that power. The colour of the legs, dark prussian blue; body of
+a silver colour in front, with a prussian blue colour behind; under part
+of the body, near the tail, three consecutive striae of a silver colour,
+separated from one another by a line of prussian blue. I have never seen
+this animal before.
+
+August 9.
+
+Caught two or three small insects, somewhat resembling a bug, of a dirty
+brick colour and several minute species of Diphyes and small jellyfish.
+
+August 19.
+
+Caught a small Janthina nearly resembling those we had formerly seen,
+also a small crab, two new species of gelatinous animals, and a Velella.
+
+August 20.
+
+Several fish, resembling an eel in shape, were caught today; they were of
+different sizes, and some of them gave a slight shock on being touched.
+They were marked across the back with alternate striae of silver, and
+various shades of brown and black, though there were scarce two marked
+exactly alike. They had a transparent dorsal and two pectoral fins, which
+were all I observed, and a long thin snout or beak; the mouth was just at
+the end of it, on the top: some of them were thorny on the back; we
+caught also some crabs; a very minute blue fish; a black and red insect
+resembling a flea; a species of Diphyes; a very small kind of polypus;
+and one or two small jellyfish. A land bird flew on board today.
+
+In 26 degrees north latitude we entered a portion of the sea covered with
+patches of seaweed, around which swarmed numerous eel-like fish, crabs,
+shrimps, and little blue fish; these last swam under those floating
+islands, sometimes leaving them for a little distance, but they always
+returned or swam to another: the crabs crawled in and out amongst the
+seaweed, and other fish of a large size came to these spots to deposit
+their spawn, so that we were in an archipelago of floating islands
+teeming with busy inhabitants and animal enjoyment.
+
+August 21.
+
+There were a great many crabs of different kinds and sizes caught today;
+two kinds of shrimps, one marked across with alternate striae of silver
+and dark brown; it had no antennae, and had apparently been hurt, as I
+could only see some very short legs; the rest appeared to be of the same
+kind as others recently caught, except being of a lighter colour. Some
+eel-fish of the same kind as yesterday. There were two other small blue
+insects caught; unfortunately none have been preserved as they were put
+in the same glass with the shrimps and were instantly eaten by them. The
+crabs also ate two small blue fish that were caught. No jellyfish were
+seen.
+
+August 24.
+
+Some of the eel-like fish, two or three shrimps, a new species of dypha,
+various kinds of crabs, and a large species of Physalis, were caught
+today.
+
+August 25.
+
+Caught various kinds of crabs, some minute shells, and a small curious
+insect, quite new to me, of a bright blue colour; the shrimps appear to
+be very fond of these insects, seizing them the instant they are put into
+the glass with them. We caught shrimps of all colours and sizes, many of
+them very beautiful; some were of a pale gold colour with bright blue
+spots; others with different shades of brown, and blue, white, or red
+spots. They all turned a dark red on being put into spirits. The smaller
+kinds had a round ball or excrescence on one side just below the head. I
+observed today that the eel-fish carries its eggs in a bag under the
+belly; the eggs were of a bright red colour. Two barnacles were caught;
+also a new and very remarkable fish.
+
+August 28.
+
+Caught today two of the fish of the same kind as the one taken on the
+25th. It had a dorsal fin with 14 spines; a ventral fin; a tail, 16
+spines; and in addition to these it had four pectoral fins resembling the
+claws of a frog, which it used much in the same manner that a lizard uses
+its claws. The upper pair of these were divided into two joints, the
+lower one of which was a perfect hand, terminating in ten claws, with
+which it could seize hold of any object, or expand and use it as a broad
+paddle, or fin. At the point where these arms are inserted into the body
+and immediately behind them are placed two tubes, one behind each arm.
+These form its gills, through which it expels the water taken in at its
+mouth; the lower pair of arms have only one apparent joint, and each of
+these hands are furnished with five claws; it has two protuberances which
+look like horns, one projects immediately between the eyes, and the other
+is situated between this and the dorsal fin, these are covered with
+little spines and it carries them erect. Its colour is pale yellow with
+brown spots and stripes on it; the spots about the head and upper arms
+are much darker than the others; about the stomach are little things
+resembling the wattles of the wattle-bird, they are of a brilliant white
+colour. It feeds on small shrimps, climbs about the weeds like a lizard,
+and at times swims like a fish and is very rapid and strong in its
+motions. It swells out the membranes about the spot where its gills ought
+to be, so as to puff itself out like a toad when it takes water in: its
+colour resembles that of the common English frog, and it looks remarkably
+like one when it sits on a piece of weed, resting on its claws and
+puffing out its cheeks. There are several lines of red stripes at the
+bottom of its stomach.
+
+We caught also a great many shrimps and crabs; some of the shrimps were
+boiled and proved to be very good eating.
+
+August 30.
+
+At 5 hours 30 minutes P.M. a pine tree passed us, covered with barnacles
+and surrounded by fish, which swam about this floating island, eating
+such things as fell from it.
+
+No portion of the globe is more thickly inhabited, or affords, in
+proportion to its size, a greater amount of animal enjoyment than did
+this wave-tossed isle. On it were innumerable barnacles, several species
+of teredo, one of which, having its head shaped like a screw split into
+two equal portions, I believe to have been quite new. Many varieties of
+crab and minute insects shaped like a slug fed on the seaweed growing on
+the log.
+
+These last animals were of different lengths. They were shaped like a
+caterpillar and composed of fifty-six rings; the stomach could only be
+distinguished from the back by a sort of excrescence which grew on the
+latter; each ring or division of the body was furnished with two pairs of
+legs, one pair pointing downwards from the stomach, the other pair
+projecting from the back; these legs were composed of bristles, and by
+sticking them into the timber they were able to maintain their hold and
+to walk along. In thus progressing they drew into a case the legs of the
+rings they were going to move, and pushed them forward by means of the
+other legs, and then, letting down the legs they had drawn into the case,
+they stuck them into the wood and made good their ground. Their habit was
+to lie about amongst the weeds that grew on the tree or to creep into
+some large holes that were in it. They did not die when I took them out
+of water but lived for sixteen hours, and were then as well and strong as
+ever, only dying after they had been put into spirits.
+
+I got also two pieces of stones from the roots of this tree; they were
+small, quite angular, and had been carried this distance from the
+continent of America without any appearance of being water-worn. This
+must often take place when trees are blown down and washed away by
+floods, and in this manner angular pieces of stone may be conveyed many
+miles from the rock from which they were derived by the agency of water,
+and yet not be water-worn.
+
+August 31.
+
+At 11 hours 30 minutes A.M. we found a portion of the timber of a ship on
+the water, containing animals similar to those on the pine-tree
+yesterday: this was perforated through and through by different species
+of teredo.
+
+
+CHAPTER 8. THE OVERLANDERS.
+
+CLASS OF PERSONS.
+
+It is to be expected that a totally new state of things will, in recently
+settled countries, give rise to different orders or classes of men
+unknown in older lands, but who have been called into existence by novel
+circumstances, and whose energies have been so developed as best to suit
+the modifications which these hitherto unexperienced causes may produce.
+In collecting information regarding the condition of our settlements in
+Australia my attention was particularly drawn to the mode of life pursued
+by some of my enterprising fellow-countrymen, known there under the
+denomination of Overlanders, and which is characterised by several
+remarkable peculiarities well deserving of observation, particularly at a
+time when so many young and adventurous spirits are looking towards that
+continent as the land of their future fortunes and home.
+
+CHARACTER OF THE OVERLANDERS.
+
+The Overlanders are nearly all men in the prime of youth, whose
+occupation it is to convey large herds of stock from market to market and
+from colony to colony. Urged on by the hope of profit, they have overcome
+difficulties of no ordinary kind, which have made the more timid and
+weak-hearted quail, and relinquish the enterprises in which they were
+engaged; whilst the resolute and undaunted have persevered, and the
+reward they have obtained is wealth, self-confidence in difficulties and
+dangers, and a fund of accurate information on many interesting points.
+Hence almost every Overlander you meet is a remarkable man.
+
+The Overlanders are generally descended from good families, have received
+a liberal education (Etonians and Oxonians are to be found amongst them)
+and even at their first start in the colonies were possessed of what is
+considered an independence. Their grandfathers and fathers have been men
+distinguished in the land and sea service of their country; and these
+worthy scions of the ancient stock, finding no outlet for their
+enterprise and love of adventure at home, have sought it in a distant
+land; amongst them therefore is to be found a degree of polish and
+frankness rarely to be looked for in such a mode of life, and in the
+distant desert you unexpectedly stumble on a finished gentleman.
+
+THEIR ADVENTUROUS MODE OF LIFE.
+
+The life of an Overlander in the bush is one of great excitement which
+constantly calls every energy into action, is full of romantic and novel
+situations, and habituates the mind to self-possession and command. The
+large and stately herd of cattle is at least a fine if not even an
+imposing sight. The fierce and deadly contests which at times take place
+with the natives, when two or three hardy Europeans stand opposed to an
+apparently overwhelming majority of blacks, call for a large share of
+personal courage and decision; whilst the savage yells and diabolic
+whoops of the barbarians in their onsets, their fantastically painted
+forms, their quivering spears, their contortions, and shifting of their
+bodies, and their wild leaps, attach a species of romance to these
+encounters which affords plentiful matter for after-meditation. As the
+love of war, of gaming, or of any other species of violent excitement,
+grows upon the mind from indulgence, so does the love of roving grow upon
+the Overlanders, and few or none of them ever talk of leading a settled
+life.
+
+SUDDEN ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH.
+
+And it is not to be wondered at that the young and ardent eagerly embrace
+a line of life so replete with exciting events and incidents, and which
+at once enriches the successful speculator, and fills with plenty and
+prosperity the region which he enters. The first individual who opens a
+market, which no other Overlander has yet visited, rides into the
+district an ill clothed way-worn traveller; the residents do not at first
+deign to cast a glance upon him till presently it is noised about that an
+overland party has arrived, that a route from the stock districts has
+been formed, and that the incalculable advantage of abundance of cattle
+at a cheap rate has been secured; landed property instantaneously rises,
+perhaps to double the value it had a few hours before; numbers of persons
+find themselves suddenly made rich without an exertion on their own part,
+and from all sides individuals flock to see their benefactor. The ill
+clothed way-worn traveller now finds himself at once invested with the
+dignity of a conqueror. On all hands he is feted, dinners are given to
+him, a piece of plate presented, and as he feels the sweets of renown and
+of the wealth which he has won he meditates fresh conquests on the
+trackless desert, new adventures with his tried stockmen, and further
+acquisitions of riches.
+
+EFFECTS OF THEIR ENTERPRISES.
+
+Then comes a strange change over the unoccupied Overlander; he has
+brought with him every head of stock which he could muster, and in the
+course of a few days his last beast is disposed of; his establishment is
+broken up, he awakes some morning and finds himself a rich man, but he
+has no stock; he has so much money but no cattle. He no longer follows
+the long array of his stately herd and bleating flocks, his loaded drays
+and bearded stockmen, through the free wilderness; no longer regulates
+and watches their perilous course through the intricate ford of a deep
+river, or stands upon some solitary hill to reconnoitre the trackless
+country and select the line along which the motley assemblage is to pass.
+He is now an idle unoccupied gentleman, the inhabitant of a
+boarding-house, with no object in the world before him; but ere long the
+plans of fresh achievements and speculations are sketched out. You see a
+muster of bearded weather-beaten men, carrying short-handled whips. The
+Overlander enters the group, a short consultation takes place, and in a
+day or two more himself and his followers are under weigh for some
+district where he can purchase stock cheapest and make a good start for
+another market.
+
+MAGNITUDE OF THEIR OPERATIONS.
+
+The magnitude of the operations of the Overlanders would scarcely be
+credited; a whole fortune is risked, and in the wilderness: its safety
+depends upon good guidance; yet far from being intimidated by the thought
+the adventurers are only stimulated to a greater degree of activity. The
+stock of an Overlander is the capital which he has invested in a single
+speculation; and to give an idea of the amount of this I will show, at a
+moderate estimate, the value of a herd, the property of an Overlander who
+arrived in Adelaide in the month of March 1840 from the district of
+Illawarra, New South Wales.
+
+HORNED CATTLE.
+
+260 Cows, many broken in.
+230 Bullocks, 3 1/2 years old and upwards.
+190 Steers, 2 1/2 years old and upwards.
+39 Steers, 1 1/2 years old and upwards.
+70 Heifers, two to three years old.
+32 Heifers, one to two years old.
+9 Bulls.
+5 Calves.
+20 Working Bullocks, two shafters.
+
+855 Total head of Horned Cattle.
+
+HORSES.
+
+22 Mares, all in foal, 3 to 5 years old.
+5 do., 5 to 8 years old.
+7 Fillies, do., 2 to 3 years old.
+3 do., rising 3 years, not in foal.
+5 do., rising 2 years, not in foal.
+10 Saddle and Draught Horses.
+5 Colts, rising 4 years old.
+1 Colt, rising 3 years old.
+1 Colt, rising 2 years old.
+1 Blood Stallion.
+1 Draught entire Horse.
+1 Entire Pony.
+
+62 Total number of Horses.
+
+900 Fat Wethers.
+
+AMOUNT OF STOCK VENTURES.
+
+Now, striking a low average, the value in pounds of this herd of cattle,
+horses, and sheep, in South Australia, was:
+
+Horned Stock 8,550.
+Horses 3,720.
+Wethers 1,575.
+
+Total: 13,845 pounds.
+
+But between this and an ordinary mercantile risk no parallel can be
+drawn. A merchant insures his cargo so that his total loss can but be a
+small portion of the whole. The Overlander cannot do this with his stock
+and runs a far greater proportionate risk. It must also be borne in mind
+that the statement of the herd, which I have above given, does not
+include all that started for South Australia, but only the survivors,
+who, after traversing so many hundred miles, reached in safety the
+destined mart.
+
+INFLUX OF STOCK TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
+
+When the Overlanders drive sheep alone, without horned stock or horses,
+the number of heads is much increased, as from 8000 to 12,000 sheep are
+brought over at one time. They are driven in separate flocks of about
+1000 each, and these follow one another in regular succession. The value
+of a flock of 6000 sheep cannot be estimated under 10,500 pounds.
+
+RAPID INCREASE OF WEALTH IN NEW SETTLEMENTS.
+
+So much for the operations of single parties; but when once a road to a
+new market is opened numbers follow up the tracks of the first hardy
+adventurer, and the operations of the whole combined are not less
+startling in their magnitude than are those of enterprising individuals.
+From New South Wales into the province of South Australia the Overlanders
+introduced, in 1839:
+
+4,200 Head of Horned Cattle,
+130 Horses,
+35,000 Sheep;
+
+and within the three succeeding months of 1840, upwards of:
+
+7,000 Head of Horned Cattle,
+100 Horses,
+25,000 Sheep;
+
+making, in fifteen months, a total of:
+
+11,200 Head of Horned Cattle,
+230 Horses,
+60,000 Sheep.
+
+The value in pounds of the above stock being in the whole about:
+
+Horned Cattle 112,000,
+Horses 13,800,
+Sheep 105,000,
+
+Total: 230,800 pounds.
+
+And this wonderful amount of stock was brought into a country which,
+three years before, only resounded to the war-cry of the naked savage;
+and the soil of which, hardened, baked, and unstirred for centuries,
+nursed not within its bosom seeds from which a plenteous harvest might
+spring, but, as if irritated by neglect and indifference, gave forth
+unwillingly only acid roots and scanty bulbs.
+
+PROSPERITY CREATED BY THE OVERLANDER.
+
+The first entrance of an Overlander into a district may be compared to
+the rising of the Nile upon the thirsty land of Egypt; then does the
+country bear fruit and the land give forth her increase, he enters the
+district silently, noiselessly, unexpectedly, but his influence is soon
+felt everywhere; merchant vessels can now obtain cargoes of wool, and no
+longer sail empty away. England receives raw materials, and in exchange
+are sent out luxuries and manufactured goods. New clearings are made by
+the farmer, who has now abundance of manure; the artisan plies useful
+trades, and ceases to labour in the place of beasts of draught or burden;
+hateful scurvy, the scourge of new colonies, is expelled, not by
+medicine, but by fresh meat, milk, and vegetables. But the worker of all
+this good is unmindful of it; he has bargained to get the highest price
+he can for his stock, and is already plotting new enterprises; he sought
+to serve himself, not others, and has accomplished both.
+
+The first Overlander having entered a district nothing can check the tide
+that follows on. It is in vain for him to declare (perhaps really
+conscientiously) that he conceives the risk of loss of stock to be so
+great that none should undertake the journey; this is only ascribed to
+his cupidity and a desire to keep others out of the market; HE has done
+it, and why cannot more? This argument is irresistible, and adventurer
+after adventurer marches upon his track.
+
+CONSEQUENCES OF HIS SUCCESS UPON OTHERS.
+
+Now comes a hurrying into the new district of speculators from the old
+colonies: the fact of a road being found to it from the stock country is
+a guarantee that it will succeed, and it is in a new settlement that the
+largest profits are realized. These arrivals bring with them from the
+older colonies experience, capital, and extensive connexions; fresh
+sources of industry and speculation are at once opened up by them; all
+town-land and landed property to be purchased at a cheap rate they
+secure; money circulates from hand to hand, and an impetus is given, and
+a progress made, which must be seen to be credited.
+
+OPENINGS TO WEALTH IN NEW COLONIES.
+
+The tide of emigration coming in from the older colonies is a certain
+sign of rapid success; those who arrive from these places are men who
+have done well in the first country of their adoption; but to this they
+had repaired when it was thinly inhabited, when land was of very low
+value and to be procured near the capital; there they have realized
+largely, but it appears to them that nearly all the good things have now
+been picked up; property has attained such a value that it rises but
+slowly, indeed is almost stationary in price; and the country is so
+largely stocked that they are driven to establish their sheep-stations at
+such a distance from the sea coast that the expense of the transport of
+their wool thither greatly detracts from its value. Under these
+circumstances once again do they emigrate, to repeat in a new land the
+operations which have before yielded them so lucrative a return; and,
+strong in past experience, they smile at the errors committed by the
+younger settlers, from which they reap many advantages.
+
+ITS EFFECTS UPON ALL CLASSES.
+
+But time and intellect are all worth much more in Australia than they are
+in England, and everyone can realize upon his capital and speculate
+profitably upon his intelligence, activity, and strength; for all of
+these he gets paid, hence but few men are willing to follow professions.
+Clergymen too often turn farmers and speculators, even if they do not
+altogether throw aside their sacred character. Medical men but rarely
+pursue their practice, when such remunerating fields of enterprise are
+laid open to them; soldiers abandon their calling; and the government
+officers are all virtually farmers and stock-owners.
+
+This is to be expected, from the character of man. In a new colony
+everything increases rapidly in worth--a landed estate which can be
+bought in the early stages of its existence at a mere nominal price grows
+yearly in value without a penny being expended upon it; stock increases
+in a geometrical ratio, at little or no cost, for there is plenty of land
+to pasture them upon. Nothing of this kind either does or can take place
+in England; and when the settler finds how changed his prospects are, and
+how new means of acquiring wealth are opened to him, he too often devotes
+his every thought and energy to the one object; and so far will this
+passion lead men that I have known an honourable member of council and
+leading magistrate in a colony take out a retail license, and add to his
+already vast wealth from the profits of a gin shop.
+
+But as stock is that species of property from which the largest returns
+are realized, and that with the least labour, it is to this branch of
+industry that settlers generally direct their attention; indeed until
+plenty of stock is introduced into a new colony its success is wavering
+and uncertain, and its inhabitants are generally compelled to undergo a
+degree of poverty and privation which contrasts strangely with the
+affluence of the people occupying the more settled countries. The degree
+of care and attention which is bestowed upon the breeding of stock
+necessarily ensures both a constant supply of it and its rapid diffusion
+over all accessible portions of the continent.
+
+It is extremely difficult to convey to a mind which has never
+contemplated the subject an idea of the rapid advance of stock stations
+over the continent of Australia; there is something about it which bears
+an almost fabulous character; and the same circumstance takes place with
+regard to the rise in the price of town and country lands. Those who have
+not witnessed such things can scarcely give credit to them. In Western
+Australia town land was bought for twenty-three pounds an acre in the
+month of December 1839; and in the month of February 1840, large
+importations of stock having taken place, the same land was sold for
+sixty pounds an acre. But in other colonies, where overland communication
+takes place, this would be regarded as a very small increase in price for
+a new colony; there are many instances in South Australia of people
+realizing, in less than two years, sums of money to the amount of from
+ten to twelve thousand pounds from the sale of town acres in the city of
+Adelaide.
+
+RAPID SPREAD OF STOCK STATIONS.
+
+To endeavour to give some idea of the rapid extension of stock stations
+over the face of the country I must begin by premising that farming stock
+somewhat more than double themselves in two years; or at the end of two
+years they occupy double the space of territory; at the end of four
+years, four times; at the end of six years, eight times; at the end of
+eight years, sixteen times; and thus, at the end of ten years, thirty-two
+times the space of country which was originally taken up by stock becomes
+occupied by civilized man.
+
+Exactly in the same ratio as the amount of occupied territory increases
+so does the amount of wealth in the country advance, as well as the
+demand for labour; and the natural increase of population falling far
+short of this, and not supplying a sufficient number of persons to absorb
+the wealth which the country is capable of producing, a demand for
+emigration arises, and a stimulus to it is given by the ease with which
+wealth and comfort are acquired in the Australasian colonies.
+
+COURSE OF THE OVERLANDERS THROUGH AUSTRALIA.
+
+If the reader casts his eye upon a general map of Australia it will be an
+easy task to follow the march of stock for the last four years:
+
+Port Phillip was occupied in 1836,
+Portland Bay in 1835,
+South Australia in December 1836.
+
+COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
+
+The first step taken by the Overlanders was the connexion of Port Phillip
+with Sydney, and they thus, as it were, established a great base line
+from which their subsequent operations could be carried on; at this
+period they did not however bear the name of Overlanders, which was only
+given to them after Adelaide had been reached in 1838.
+
+EARLY ENTERPRISES OF THE OVERLANDERS.
+
+The Overlanders had hitherto been occupied in merely pushing their stock
+stations to different portions of the colony of New South Wales; but a
+new and fertile field for enterprise opened to them in the establishment
+of the colony of South Australia, which as before stated was in December
+1836; and many an enterprising mind instantly turned thitherward with
+earnest longings which soon ripened into action. In November 1837, that
+is, in eleven months from the foundation of the new colony, several hardy
+adventurers had laid, matured, and commenced carrying into operation
+plans which some deemed insane when they heard of the amount of capital
+invested in so new an undertaking, but which were undertaken by the
+adventurers in full confidence in their own powers.
+
+THEIR FIRST EXPEDITIONS TO ADELAIDE, AND TO THE WESTWARD OF PORT LINCOLN.
+
+Two expeditions started almost at the same time for this new market. In
+February 1838 Mr. Hawdon moved from the Goulburn and Mr. Eyre from Port
+Phillip. In April 1838 Mr. Hawdon arrived in Adelaide and shortly
+afterwards was followed by Mr. Eyre, who had attempted to take a direct
+route from Port Phillip to Adelaide, but coming upon an impassable
+country he had been compelled to turn to the northward, and then to make
+it by the same route which Mr. Hawdon had pursued. Just eight years
+before this period a hardy party of explorers under Captain Sturt had
+first ventured in a whale-boat to descend a river traversing this unknown
+land. Rapidly had the fruits of this enterprise ripened to maturity; the
+river was now made a highway of commerce, a connecting link between two
+countries.
+
+In the remaining portion of 1838 and in 1839 the energies of the
+Overlanders were fully employed in supplying South Australia with stock;
+and during this period several new and shorter lines of route were struck
+out, the last great improvement of this kind being made by the
+adventurous C. Bonney, Esquire, who connected Port Phillip with Adelaide
+by a direct road running nearly parallel to the coast, so that the
+portion of the continent of Australia which lies between Moreton Bay and
+Adelaide is now connected by a passable route.
+
+During 1839 it was felt however that the markets of South Australia no
+longer afforded such large profits; but Port Lincoln was then occupied
+and a new country opened, to which cattle and sheep were conveyed across
+Spencer's Gulf. This for a time afforded some employment to the
+Overlanders; but their spirits were secretly chafed by the thought that
+the limits of their career were attained. Several expeditions to the
+westward of Port Lincoln were undertaken, and in August 1839 Mr. Eyre,
+still anxious to open a new market, pushed as far to the westward as
+Denial Bay; but the journey to King George's Sound seemed so vast an
+undertaking that although such a scheme was often contemplated the hazard
+and risk of property appeared, even to a daring Overlander, to be too
+great.
+
+Yet although none ventured, many an eager heart turned that way, and many
+a thoughtful face lighted up when a promising plan was unfolded.
+
+Whilst the Overlanders were thus speculating upon the possibility of
+connecting the Eastern and Western portions of Australia by one great
+line of communication, the new settlements of South Australia and Port
+Phillip were making such rapid advances in prosperity as almost exceed
+belief.
+
+The settlements of Swan River and King George's Sound, which had now been
+established nearly ten years, were truly in a most miserable condition.
+So late as the month of September 1839, when I landed at King George's
+Sound to assume the situation of Government Resident there, the
+population had been in a state bordering upon want.
+
+But in the lapse of years the mismanagement and other causes which had
+weighed down the settlers in Western Australia had been swept away; and
+in 1839 an ameliorated system began to be introduced, the energies and
+resources of the colony were allowed to unfold and develop themselves,
+and a period of colonial prosperity commenced which bids fair, if not
+again checked, to run as rapid and astonishing a career as it has done in
+South Australia and Port Phillip.
+
+IMPORT STOCK TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
+
+These changes were not unmarked by the Overlanders. Those symptoms of
+uneasiness which always precede new eras of events began to exhibit
+themselves at both ends of the proposed line of communication. My
+official situation enabled me greatly to forward these, and all persons
+who landed at the Sound on their passage to South Australia recognised
+the advantages to be derived from shipping stock to it from Adelaide, and
+thus avoiding the passage to Swan River round Cape Leeuwin; these persons
+carried numerous representations to this effect to some of the principal
+stock-proprietors of South Australia; and at the same time Dr. Harris,
+one of the oldest and most adventurous of the Swan River settlers, drove
+a flock of sheep overland from King George's Sound to the inland
+districts of the Swan River, thus demonstrating the feasibility of this
+part of the plan. The news of his safe arrival at Swan River had only
+just reached the Sound when Mr. Eyre arrived in Princess Royal Harbour
+with a vessel laden with sheep; he was followed in a few days by
+Lieutenant Mundy, who came in a larger one laden with horned stock and
+sheep; and they immediately despatched another vessel for 1000 more
+sheep.
+
+STATE OF THE CATTLE MARKET THERE.
+
+Thus was a sort of communication established between the two colonies;
+but the profits arising from the sale of stock brought in a vessel were
+in a great measure absorbed by the expenses of transport, and in the
+winter season the passage is too rough to allow of the risk of shipping
+stock. Were they driven overland, instead of being transported by sea,
+horned stock could be sold at about 5 pounds per head, and sheep for 15
+shillings per head less. Moreover the price of the different colonial
+markets would be equalised, and new settlers in all the colonies would
+start with an equal chance; whereas at present if two settlers with equal
+means go the one to Western and the other to Southern Australia, for
+every 100 head of horned stock and 100 head of sheep that the settler in
+Western Australia can buy with his capital the settler in Southern
+Australia can buy 200 head of horned cattle and 800 of sheep; this
+scarcely appears to create so vast a difference between the two as it
+really does until we regard the relative position of the two settlers at
+the end of some given term of years, for instance five; they would then
+stand thus:
+
+(TABLE OF RELATIVE VALUES OF SOUTHERN AND WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STOCK.)
+
+GENERAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE SPREAD OF COMMERCE AND EMIGRATION.
+
+The rapidity of communication from point to point has introduced such
+vast effects in the march of improvement among distant lands as only
+eye-witnesses can believe. The merchant in London who lays on a vessel
+for a certain port regards the affair as a mere mercantile speculation,
+but could he trace out the results he effects in their remotest
+ramifications he would stand astonished at the changes he produces. With
+the wizard wand of commerce he touches a lone and trackless forest, and
+at his bidding cities arise, and the hum and dust of trade collect, away
+are swept ancient races; antique laws and customs moulder into oblivion.
+The strongholds of murder and superstition are cleansed, and the Gospel
+is preached amongst ignorant and savage men. The ruder languages
+disappear successively, and the tongue of England alone is heard around.
+
+Such are the ultimate effects of the daily occupations of many men in the
+City of London, who, seated in a dark and dingy counting-house in pursuit
+of gain, form and execute schemes the eventual tenor and bearing of which
+are not to enrich themselves but the human race. No doubt amongst the
+mass are noble minds who have a perception of the true object of their
+calling, who feel a just and laudable pride that they are the employers
+and benefactors of mankind; whose names, even amongst distant hordes of
+untaught men, pass current, as a security for probity and honour; who
+write a few lines in London and move the antipodes; who within the last
+fifty years have either actually erected or laid the stable foundation of
+six great empires, offsets of that strong nation who, together with her
+progeny, is overspreading the earth, not by the sword but by the gentle
+arts of peace and beneficence.
+
+GENERAL RESULTS OF GREAT MERCANTILE OPERATIONS.
+
+In the earlier Colonies, founded by the great maritime powers of the
+world, national hatred prevailed to a great degree, although war existed
+not between the parent states: still, at distant points removed from the
+immediate control of the law, the hatred of races found vent, cruelties
+were committed, reprisals took place, and Europeans warred one upon
+another. But England and America, as they progress in these regions,
+spread a common language and a common faith, and no national antipathies
+can be strictly said to exist between them.
+
+TRADE OF THE AMERICANS WITH OUT-STATIONS.
+
+The Americans, who are decidedly a more enterprising mercantile people
+than ourselves, have almost engrossed the profits of the seas surrounding
+the Indian Archipelago and the western and south-western portions of New
+Holland. Their vessels in these parts are to ours in the ratio of at
+least ten to one. They constantly frequent the out-stations of Western
+Australia; supply the wants of those retired portions of the world, and
+where, legitimately, the British manufacturer should command the market,
+little besides the produce of America is to be seen. The settlers at
+these stations derive the largest portions of their supplies from the
+American whalers, who give them in exchange for potatoes and
+vegetables--and this species of barter is so profitable to both parties
+that it would be impossible to prevent it (nay the attempt would be
+cruel) by any other means than by inducing British whalers and
+merchant-vessels to secure some portion of those advantages which are at
+present wholly monopolized by others.
+
+EFFECTS OF THE SPIRIT OF SPECULATION.
+
+The masters of the American whalers participate in a great degree in the
+feelings of the out-settlers; from the impressions generated in their
+infancy they are disposed to look with a fraternal eye upon the few
+adventurous spirits who have located themselves far from their fellow men
+to reclaim a home from the wilderness. They have seen, lived amongst, and
+shared the benefits which result from such commencements, and it is not
+therefore to be wondered at that at all the out-stations the most
+friendly relations exist between the settlers and the American whalers;
+and when, during the five months of the bay whaling season, an American
+vessel lays at anchor in some bay where there are one or two settlers'
+families, a constant exchange of mutual acts of kindness takes place,
+equally creditable to both parties; whence result friendship, and perhaps
+an intermarriage; and when the period of the vessel's sailing arrives
+there are numerous deserters from her crew, who readily find employment
+at the different sheep stations.
+
+DIFFUSION OF EMIGRATION.
+
+Thus a species of emigration of which nothing is known in England takes
+place in the colonies. Men, from the force of poverty, from the desire of
+gain, or of founding a family and property in a new land, or for some
+other reason, quit their homes and enter another portion of the globe.
+There they find many who, having in the commencement of a settlement
+realized the largest profits, are discontented with the percentage they
+can now gain upon their capital; and what to the newcomer appears to be a
+highly remunerating return they despise; gladly therefore do they dispose
+of everything to the new emigrants and, animated by that restless spirit
+of adventure which is common to all first settlers, away they start for
+the last new colony or for unsettled lands--New Zealand, the Sandwich
+Islands, the Indian Archipelago, it matters not which--a fresh field of
+speculation has been opened, the tide of emigration from Europe seems to
+be setting towards a certain quarter where there are numerous new
+arrivals who can never compete with old and practised colonists. He who
+has seen several cities rise can judge to a nicety, from local
+circumstances, upon what site the capital of the new province must be
+built; and in the same way he can foresee which must become the business
+street, and hence knows exactly the relative value of every acre of land
+in the province. In vain for him are reports spread that the capital is
+to be built in such or such a spot, he but encourages them; in the
+meantime rapidly and noiselessly his purchases are made, and a fresh
+acquisition of fortune secured.
+
+This class of men, amongst whom are many Overlanders, are never satisfied
+or settled; they are constantly engaged in contemplating changes in the
+prosperity of colonies and means of enriching themselves, they positively
+disregard personal comfort, and a restless spirit of activity and love of
+change animates them wholly. In these respects there is a great
+similarity of character between them and the Americans, and it is
+inconceivable in how short a period of time such a change is brought
+about.
+
+
+THE ABORIGINES.
+
+CHAPTER 9. NATIVE LANGUAGE.
+
+RADICAL UNITY OF THE AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT.
+
+In the preceding narrative of my Expeditions I have occasionally
+introduced some casual incidents relating to the manners and social
+condition of the natives of Australia, a race generally considered to
+occupy too low a position in the scale of humanity to be worthy of any
+peculiar regard. In the following pages I shall bring together such
+observations as my intercourse with them enabled me to collect; arranging
+my remarks under the heads of Language, traditional or customary Laws,
+and social Habits and Manners; and to these I shall add some desultory
+anecdotes illustrative of their superstitions, and of some other
+peculiarities of thought and action; and shall conclude with a short
+review of the influence that the settlement of Europeans among them has,
+or is likely to have, on their condition.
+
+CAUSES OF A CONTRARY OPINION.
+
+It has hitherto been very generally believed that the languages spoken in
+different portions of the continent of Australia are radically distinct;
+and as such a circumstance, were it really the case, would tend to prove
+that its inhabitants originated from several separate races, it becomes
+rather an important matter to set this question at rest, and to endeavour
+to show from what cause so erroneous an opinion originated.
+
+The arguments which prove that all the Australian dialects have a common
+root are:
+
+1. A general similarity of sound and structure of words in the different
+portions of Australia, as far as yet ascertained
+
+2. The recurrence of the same word with the same signification, to be
+traced, in many instances, round the entire continent, but undergoing, of
+course, in so vast an extent of country, various modifications;
+
+3. The same names of natives occurring frequently at totally opposite
+portions of the continent. Now, in all parts of it which are known to
+Europeans, it is ascertained that the natives name their children from
+any remarkable circumstance which may occur soon after their birth; such
+being the case, an accordance of the names of natives is a proof of a
+similarity of dialect.
+
+CAUSES OF ERROR IN ENQUIRERS.
+
+The chief cause of the misapprehension which has so long existed with
+regard to the point under consideration is that the language of the
+aborigines of Australia abounds in synonymes, many of which are, for a
+time, altogether local; so that, for instance, the inhabitants of a
+particular district will use one word for water, whilst those of a
+neighbouring district will apply another, which appears to be a totally
+different one. But when I found out that in such instances as these both
+tribes understood the words which either made use of, and merely employed
+another one, from temporary fashion and caprice, I felt convinced that
+the language generally spoken to Europeans by the natives of any one
+small district could not be considered as a fair specimen of the general
+language of that part of Australia, and therefore in the vocabulary which
+I compiled in Western Australia I introduced words collected from a very
+extensive tract of country.
+
+Again, in getting the names of the parts of the body, etc., from the
+natives, many causes of error arise; for they have names for almost every
+minute portion of the human frame: thus, in asking the name for the arm,
+one stranger would get the name for the upper arm, another for the lower
+arm, another for the right arm, another for the left arm, etc.; and it
+therefore seems most probable that in the earlier stages of the inquiry
+into the nature of the language of this people these circumstances
+contributed mainly to the erroneous conclusion that languages radically
+different were spoken in remote parts of the continent.
+
+PROOFS OF IDENTITY OF THE LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT.
+
+One singularity in the dialects spoken by the aborigines in different
+portions of Australia is that those of districts widely removed from one
+another sometimes assimilate very closely, whilst the dialects spoken in
+the intermediate ones differ considerably from either of them. The same
+circumstances take place with regard to their rites and customs; but as
+this appears rather to belong to the question of the means by which this
+race was distributed over so extensive a tract of country, I will not now
+enter into it, but merely adduce sufficient evidence to prove that a
+language radically the same is spoken over the whole continent.
+
+If then we start from Perth in Western Australia, following the coast in
+a southerly direction, it will be found that between Perth and King
+George's Sound a common language is spoken, made up of several dialects,
+scarcely differing from one another in any material points and gradually
+merging into the dialects of these two places, as the points considered
+are nearer to one or the other.
+
+The principal causes of difference between the dialects of these two
+places are, 1st, that at King George's Sound the terminating syllable of
+all names is dropped; and 2nd, that all verbs, with a very few
+exceptions, end in gur, instead of the varying termination which is given
+to them at Perth. Any person who can speak the Perth dialect will, by
+observing these two rules, be able to converse freely with the natives of
+King George's Sound.
+
+(TABLE OF EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE THIS DIFFERENCE OF DIALECTS.)
+
+From these examples it will be seen that the King George's Sound dialect
+is the simplest of the two; and indeed I am inclined to believe that the
+dialect there spoken is more simple than that in use at any other portion
+of the continent.
+
+If we now proceed to Adelaide in South Australia we still find the same
+language spoken, but the dialect here is considerably softened; the hard
+g of Perth is exchanged for k, and b becomes p and w. Many of the nouns
+take -anga as a termination, and the verbs take -andi and -endi. This
+addition of soft terminations and a general sweetness of sound appear to
+be the peculiar characteristics of the Adelaide dialect. No large
+vocabulary of this language has yet been published, but one-eighth of the
+words known as belonging to the Perth dialect have been found also in
+that of Adelaide; we may therefore fairly conclude that when the latter
+language is better known a still greater degree of identity will be found
+to exist.
+
+Natives from several parts of the Murray and Murrumbidgee and from Port
+Phillip have been brought into communication with natives from King
+George's Sound, scanty vocabularies from some of these points are also
+extant, and the amount of evidence thus gained clearly establishes that
+the several dialects are all derived from a common root.
+
+The labours of Mr. Threlkeld in the vicinity of Hunter's River and Lake
+Macquarie enable us to compare the language of that portion of Australia
+with those of the other points which we have just considered, and the
+result of this comparison also shows that the languages are radically the
+same.
+
+TABLES OF EXAMPLES.
+
+The following Tables will give a sufficient number of words common to
+those four dialects to show the degree of similarity which exists among
+them.
+
+(TABLE OF SUBSTANTIVES.
+
+TABLE OF VERBS.)
+
+VARIATIONS OF DIALECT.
+
+Now before proceeding farther and thus entering upon ground which is very
+little known, there are several important circumstances worthy of
+consideration. In the vast extent of country which is comprised between
+the points embraced in these tables it was to have been expected that
+very great variations of dialect would have been found. If we only
+reflect upon the differences of dialect existing between the several
+counties of England, so limited in extent, how much greater were the
+variations to have been reasonably anticipated in a country between two
+and three thousand miles across, where an unwritten language is in use,
+and where no communication whatever takes place between the inhabitants
+of distant portions: moreover in this great extent the vegetation becomes
+totally different; birds, reptiles, and quadrupeds inhabit one portion of
+the continent which are unknown in another, and external nature
+altogether changes. Under these circumstances many new words must have
+been invented, and new terms must constantly have been introduced as the
+population spread across the country, and as those who were constantly
+pushing on from the outskirts of the inhabited parts ceased to
+communicate with the districts which had been first peopled, these
+changes must have been unknown to the original inhabitants of the
+continent and to those of their descendants who successively inhabited
+their territory.
+
+If for instance this country was first peopled from the north or the
+tropical parts, the most remote inhabitants of the southern portions must
+have invented terms for snow, ice, hail, intense cold, etc., as well as
+for every tree and bird, for every fish and reptile, and for every
+insect; all the compound and comparative terms derived from these, as
+well as the original words, we ought therefore to expect to find totally
+different in the languages of the north and south, of the east and west;
+and from whatever portion of the continent we imagine the first
+inhabitants to have proceeded the same reasoning holds good.
+
+RADICAL IDENTITY OF THE PRONOUNS.
+
+But personal terms, such as the parts of the body, the pronouns, etc.,
+and also verbs describing ordinary actions, ought not to be expected to
+vary in the same degree; and we shall accordingly find that it is chiefly
+in words of these and similar classes that the greatest degree of
+resemblance is found to exist. With regard to the pronouns this is very
+remarkable. In the singular, plural, and dual numbers they almost
+coincide in Western Australia, South Australia, and Sydney. The following
+table of the pronouns as used in those places will show this:
+
+(TABLE OF PRONOUNS.)
+
+DIFFERENCES OF DIALECT EXPLAINED. EXAMPLES.
+
+To those who have not considered this circumstance languages have
+frequently appeared to be quite different which in reality are closely
+assimilated. Two instances will explain my meaning. The natives in the
+vicinity of Perth generally use the word gab-by, or kuyp-e, for water,
+but those inhabiting a district only twelve or fourteen miles distant
+from Perth adopt the word kow-win; the word used by the natives in the
+vicinity of Adelaide in South Australia for water is kauw-ee. Now, on
+comparing these words it might have been hastily concluded that the
+languages of West and South Australia were without affinity; but in fact
+the variation does not constitute any essential difference, for,
+considering the interchangeable nature of the consonants b, p, and w, and
+of g and k, which affect different dialects, we shall find the words
+gab-by, kuyp-e, kow-win and kauw-ee to be only different forms from one
+root. One instance of another kind may be given. The word for the sun at
+Perth is nganga, whilst at Adelaide it is tin-dee; but the word used by
+the natives at Encounter Bay, South Australia, thirty-six miles from
+Adelaide, is ngon-ge, and the word used in the southern districts of
+Western Australia for the stars is tiendee: thus by extending the
+vocabularies of the two places the identity of the language is shown.
+
+CAUSES OF ERROR IN FORMER ENQUIRERS.
+
+Up to the present time we have had only very meagre vocabularies,
+collected by passing strangers, each of whom adopted his own system of
+orthography, and the comparisons formed from such compilations must
+necessarily have been erroneous in the highest degree. Moreover in many
+instances these strangers were grossly imposed upon. One gentleman
+published a vocabulary of the King George's Sound dialect which has been
+largely quoted from by other writers; in this the numerals as high as ten
+are given, although the natives only count to four; and the translations
+of some words which he has put down as numbers are very humorous, such
+as: What do you mean? Get out, etc.
+
+COMMON ORIGIN OF NATIVE POPULATION.
+
+Many words spoken by the natives at Shark Bay are the same as those used
+by the natives at Perth, and the dialect in use in the Province of
+Victoria appears very nearly to assimilate to the latter, as is shown in
+the extracts from Mr. Moore's journal at page 120. Having thus traced the
+entire of the coastline of the continent of Australia, it appears that a
+language the same in root is spoken throughout this vast extent of
+country; and from the general agreement in this as well as in personal
+appearance, rites, and ceremonies, we may fairly infer a community of
+origin for the aborigines. This being admitted, two other questions will
+arise.
+
+How were they disseminated over the continent?
+
+and
+
+At what period, and from what quarter, did they arrive upon it?
+
+
+CHAPTER 10. THEIR TRADITIONAL LAWS.
+
+ERRORS OF THEORETICAL WRITERS REGARDING THE SAVAGE STATE.
+
+No question has, in as far as I can apprehend the subject, been so
+utterly misunderstood and misrepresented as the one relating to the
+customs and traditional laws of savage races. Deistical writers and
+philosophers of great note but small experience have built up whole
+theories, and have either overturned or striven to overturn ancient
+faiths and wholesome laws by arguments deduced, in the first instance,
+from the consideration of man in his simple or savage state; and from
+false premises they have deduced, logically, argument from argument,
+until even the most unwilling have begun to doubt.
+
+COMPLEX LAWS OF SAVAGE LIFE.
+
+But to believe that man in a savage state is endowed with freedom either
+of thought or action is erroneous in the highest degree. He is in reality
+subjected to complex laws which not only deprive him of all free agency
+of thought, but at the same time, by allowing no scope whatever for the
+development of intellect, benevolence, or any other great moral
+qualification, they necessarily bind him down in a hopeless state of
+barbarism from which it is impossible for man to emerge so long as he is
+enthralled by these customs; which, on the other hand, are so ingeniously
+devised as to have a direct tendency to annihilate any effort that is
+made to overthrow them.
+
+This people reject in practice all idea of the equality of persons or
+classes; they make indeed no verbal distinctions upon this point, and if
+asked, were all men equal? they would be unable to comprehend the
+question; but there is no race that imposes more irksome restraints upon
+certain classes of the community.
+
+CHARACTER OF THE NATIVE CUSTOMS. THEIR GENERALITY.
+
+The whole tendency of their superstitions and traditional regulations is
+to produce the effect of depriving certain classes of benefits which are
+enjoyed by others; and this monopolizing of advantages often possesses
+amongst savages many characteristics which violate all the holier
+feelings of our nature, and excite a disgust of which it is divested in
+civilized life. In the latter case we see certain privileges even
+hereditarily enjoyed; but the weak and strong, the rich and poor, the
+young and old have paths of honourable ambition laid open to them by
+entering on which they can gain like immunities. While in the savage
+condition we find the female sex, the young, and the weak, condemned to a
+hopeless state of degradation and to a lasting deprivation of particular
+advantages merely because they are defenceless; and what they are
+deprived of is given to others merely because they are old or strong: and
+this is not effected by personal violence, depending upon momentary
+caprice and individual disposition (in which case it might be considered
+as the consequence of a state of equality) but it is enforced upon the
+natives of Australia by traditional laws and customs which are by them
+considered as valid and binding as our laws are by us.
+
+CONSIDERATIONS ON THEIR ORIGIN.
+
+The laws and customs alluded to cannot be considered as mere local
+institutions, for travellers and residents in the northern provinces of
+the colony of New South Wales describe as existing there usages nearly
+identical with those which regulate the proceedings of the natives
+occupying the west of the continent. And these testimonies cannot be
+doubted for they are incidentally introduced without any theoretical bias
+and in ignorance of the conformity they tend to prove. Natives from the
+country about the Murrumbidgee have described to me Australian customs as
+being in force there which exhibit the same accordance with those I found
+in the west; and I have myself ascertained their existence on several
+other portions of the continent. But it is remarkable that, although so
+many persons have described isolated customs of this people, no one has
+yet taken the trouble to digest them into one mass, and to exhibit them
+in the aggregate, so that an inference might be drawn as to how far the
+state in which the natives of Australia are at present found is caused by
+the institutions to which they are subjected.
+
+We find then, in Australia, the remarkable fact that the inhabitants of a
+tract of country nearly two thousand miles in breadth are governed by the
+same institutions: and what renders this more singular is that the people
+submitted to them are not subjected by written rules of faith, which the
+chiefs of each race may interpret and modify according to their will; as
+is the case with those who are governed by the Koran or other similar
+codes; but in this instance mere oral traditions are handed down, which
+teach that certain rules of conduct are to be observed under certain
+penalties, and without the aid of fixed records, or the intervention of a
+succession of authorized depositaries and expounders these laws have been
+transmitted from father to son through unknown generations, and are fixed
+in the minds of the people as sacred and unalterable.
+
+DEISTICAL REVERIES CONFUTED BY EXPERIENCE.
+
+One common mode of argument among deistical writers is to imagine
+barbarous man let loose upon the earth without undergoing any previous
+preparation for the scene upon which he was about to enter; and they then
+trace out how, urged on by his necessities and aided by his senses, he
+successively discovered the natural productions necessary for his
+subsistence and the arts which ministered to his wants, until step by
+step he mounted to the pinnacle of civilization. But these are merely
+reveries of the closet, dreams of the inexperienced, and have no real
+foundation in as far at least as Australia is concerned. That the first
+natives who were placed on that continent must have been instructed how
+to provide for their wants, how to form weapons suited to their
+circumstances, how to select roots, and to capture animals fitted for
+food, has been demonstrated over and over again, but at no time more
+forcibly than when the portion of my party, under Mr. Walker, were coming
+overland from Gantheaume Bay to Perth. In this case six full-grown men,
+provided with knives, fishing-hooks and lines, a kettle, vessels to hold
+water and cook their food, arms, and a small quantity of ammunition, and
+many of them possessing considerable experience in the bush, must all
+have perished from hunger had not timely assistance reached them; and
+this from their ignorance as to which of the productions surrounding them
+would serve to support life, and not from neglect in making the requisite
+experiments to endeavour to ascertain this, for the poor fellows ate
+everything they could find which appeared to afford sustenance; yet
+notwithstanding all the comparative advantages they were in possession
+of, if the relief sent from Perth had not reached them, death must have
+overtaken all. The same result has frequently occurred under nearly
+similar circumstances. If then men, full-grown, in the complete
+possession of all their faculties, provided with fire and many useful
+implements, and aided by considerable experience, from ignorance of the
+natural productions of a country, and the means of procuring these, die
+from hunger ere they can learn how to supply their wants, is it probable
+that an unarmed, naked, untaught man, who knew not even how to make his
+senses act in concert until he had from experience acquired this
+knowledge, could by any possibility have avoided a fate, which would
+inevitably overtake the European in possession of all his superior
+energies of mind and character, if he chance not to fall in with friendly
+natives.
+
+ENQUIRY INTO THE ORIGIN OF THE NATIVE LAWS.
+
+The laws of this people are unfitted for the government of a single
+isolated family, some of them being only adapted for the regulation of an
+assemblage of families; they could therefore not have been a series of
+rules given by the first father to his children: again, they could not
+have been rules given by an assembly of the first fathers to their
+children, for there are these remarkable features about them that some
+are of such a nature as to compel those subject to them to remain in a
+state of barbarism, whilst others are adapted to the wants and
+necessities of savage RACES, as well as to prevent too close
+intermarriages of a people who preserve no written or symbolical records
+of any kind; and in all these instances the desired ends are obtained by
+the simplest means, so that we are necessitated to admit that, when these
+rules were planned it was foreseen that the race submitted to them would
+be savages, and under this foresight the necessary provision was made for
+the event.
+
+We cannot argue that this race was originally in a state of civilization,
+and that from the introduction of certain laws amongst them, the tendency
+of which was to reduce them to a state of barbarism, or from some other
+cause, they had gradually sunk to their present condition; for in that
+case how could those laws which provide solely for the necessities of a
+people in their present state have been introduced amongst them? Neither
+could they have been invented according to necessities and emergencies
+which a savage state has produced, for under such circumstances it is
+impossible that they could have been promulgated and enforced throughout
+so wide a range of country, and amongst a dispersed race of barbarians of
+such a variety of dispositions, who acknowledge no chief or lawgiver, and
+are so characteristically impatient of restraint.
+
+Without in this place attempting to form and to support any theories
+founded upon the views I have just put forward, I may state my impression
+that it would seem, from the laws and customs of the natives of
+Australia, to have been willed that this people should until a certain
+period remain in their present condition, which is consequently not the
+result of mere accident, or of the natural constitution of man. From the
+peculiar nature of their institutions it was impossible that they could
+emerge from a state of barbarism whilst these remained in force, and from
+the tenacity and undeviating strictness with which they are retained, and
+the strong power they hold over the savage mind, it seems equally
+impossible that they could have been abrogated, or even altered, until
+the race subjected to them came into contact with a civilized community
+whose presence might exercise a new influence, under which the ancient
+system would expire or be swept away.
+
+We may, I think, fairly produce this as a proof that the progress of
+civilization over the earth has been directed, set bounds to, and
+regulated by certain laws framed by Infinite wisdom; and, although such
+views may by some be deemed visionary, I feel some confidence that these
+laws are as certain and definite as those which control the movements of
+the heavenly bodies. I believe moreover, that they are capable in some
+degree of being studied and reduced to order, although no attempt to do
+so has hitherto been made; and the institutions of barbarous races, their
+probable origin, the effects they have upon the people submitted to them,
+the evidences of design which they contain, and other similar questions,
+are those points to which in this enquiry attention should be
+particularly directed.
+
+CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.
+
+The progress of events and the rapid march of science in our country are
+very wonderful, but the progress of events in the eastern hemisphere at
+the present moment is still more amazing: Christianity and civilization
+are marching over the world with a rapidity not fully known or estimated
+by any one nation; the English are scarcely aware what has been effected
+by their own missionaries and commerce, and they are utterly ignorant of
+what has been already done, and is now doing, by the Americans, Dutch,
+and Portuguese.
+
+
+CHAPTER 11. LAWS OF RELATIONSHIP, MARRIAGE, AND INHERITANCE.
+
+RELATIONSHIP AND MARRIAGE. DIVISION OF FAMILIES.
+
+Traditional Laws of Relationship and Marriage.
+
+One of the most remarkable facts connected with the natives is that they
+are divided into certain great families, all the members of which bear
+the same names, as a family, or second name: the principal branches of
+these families, so far as I have been able to ascertain, are the:
+
+Ballaroke
+Tdondarup
+Ngotak
+Nagarnook
+Nogonyuk
+Mongalung
+Narrangur.
+
+But in different districts the members of these families give a local
+name to the one to which they belong, which is understood in that
+district to indicate some particular branch of the principal family. The
+most common local names are:
+
+Didaroke
+Gwerrinjoke
+Maleoke
+Waddaroke
+Djekoke
+Kotejumeno
+Namyungo
+Yungaree.
+
+These family names are common over a great portion of the continent; for
+instance, on the Western coast, in a tract of country extending between
+four and five hundred miles in latitude, members of all these families
+are found. In South Australia I met a man who said that he belonged to
+one of them, and Captain Flinders mentions Yungaree as the name of a
+native in the gulf of Carpentaria.
+
+LAW OF MARRIAGE.
+
+These family names are perpetuated and spread through the country by the
+operation of two remarkable laws:
+
+1. That children of either sex always take the family name of their
+mother.
+
+2. That a man cannot marry a woman of his own family name.
+
+COINCIDENT INSTITUTIONS AMONGST THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
+
+But not the least singular circumstance connected with these institutions
+is their coincidence with those of the North American Indians, which are
+thus stated in the Archaeologia Americana:*
+
+Independent of political or geographical divisions, that into families or
+clans has been established from time immemorial. At what time and in what
+manner the division was first made is not known. At present, or till very
+lately, every nation was divided into a number of clans, varying in the
+several nations from three to eight or ten, the members of which
+respectively were dispersed indiscriminately throughout the whole nation.
+It has been fully ascertained that the inviolable regulations by which
+those clans were perpetuated amongst the southern nations were, first,
+that no man could marry in his own clan; secondly, that every child
+belongs to his or her mother's clan. Among the Choctaws there are two
+great divisions, each of which is subdivided into four clans, and no man
+can marry in any of the four clans belonging to his division. The
+restriction among the Cherokees, the Creeks, and the Natches, does not
+extend beyond the clan to which the man belongs.
+
+There are sufficient proofs, that the same division into clans, commonly
+called tribes, exists among almost all the other Indian nations. But it
+is not so clear that they are subject to the same regulations which
+prevail amongst the southern Indians.
+
+(*Footnote. Volume 2 page 109.)
+
+...
+
+A similar law of consanguinity seems to be inferred in Abraham's reply to
+Abimelech (Genesis 20:12) And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the
+daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became
+my wife.
+
+FAMILY NAMES AND SIGNS. ORIGIN OF FAMILY NAMES.
+
+The origin of these family names is attributed by the natives to
+different causes, but I think that enough is not yet known on the subject
+to enable us to form an accurate opinion on this point. One origin
+frequently assigned by the natives is that they were derived from some
+vegetable or animal being very common in the district which the family
+inhabited, and that hence the name of this animal or vegetable became
+applied to the family. I have in my published vocabulary of the native
+language, under each family name, given its derivations as far as I could
+collect them from the statements of the natives.
+
+But as each family adopts some animal or vegetable as their crest or
+sign, or Kobong, as they call it, I imagine it more likely that these
+have been named after the families than that the families have been named
+after them.
+
+SECOND COINCIDENCE.
+
+A certain mysterious connection exists between a family and its kobong,
+so that a member of the family will never kill an animal of the species
+to which his kobong belongs, should he find it asleep; indeed he always
+kills it reluctantly, and never without affording it a chance to escape.
+This arises from the family belief that some one individual of the
+species is their nearest friend, to kill whom would be a great crime, and
+to be carefully avoided. Similarly a native who has a vegetable for his
+kobong may not gather it under certain circumstances and at a particular
+period of the year. The North American Indians have this same custom of
+taking some animal as their sign. Thus it is stated in the Archaeologia
+Americana:* "Each tribe has the name of some animal. Among the Hurons the
+first tribe is that of the bear; the two others of the wolf and turtle.
+The Iroquois nation has the same divisions, only the turtle family is
+divided into two, the great and the little." And again, in speaking of
+the Sioux tribes:** "Each of these derives its name from some animal,
+part of an animal, or other substance which is considered as the peculiar
+sacred object or medicine, as the Canadians call it, of each band
+respectively." To this we may add the testimony of John Long, who
+says,*** "one part of the religious superstition of the savages consists
+in each of them having his totem, or favourite spirit, which he believes
+watches over him. This totem they conceive assumes the shape of some
+beast or other, and therefore they never kill, hunt, or eat the animal
+whose form they think the totem bears."
+
+(*Footnote. Volume 2 page 109 quoting from Charlevoix volume 3 page 266.)
+
+(**Footnote. Ibid page 110 quoting from Major Long's Exp. volume 1
+chapter 15.)
+
+(***Footnote. Voyages and Travels page 86.)
+
+Civilized nations, in their heraldic bearings, preserve traces of the
+same custom.
+
+BETROTHMENTS AND MARRIAGES.
+
+Female children are always betrothed within a few days after their birth;
+and from the moment they are betrothed the parents cease to have any
+control over the future settlement of their child. Should the first
+husband die before the girl has attained the years of puberty she then
+belongs to his heir.
+
+A girl lives with her husband at any age she pleases, no control whatever
+is in this way placed upon her inclinations.
+
+WIDOWS.
+
+When a native dies his brother inherits his wives and children, but his
+brother must be of the same family name as himself. The widow goes to her
+second husband's hut three days after the death of her first.
+
+The old men manage to keep the females a good deal amongst themselves,
+giving their daughters to one another, and the more female children they
+have the greater chance have they of getting another wife by this sort of
+exchange; but the women have generally some favourite amongst the young
+men, always looking forward to be his wife at the death of her husband.
+
+OBLIGATIONS OF RELATIONSHIP. DIVISION OF FAMILY BRANCHES.
+
+But a most remarkable law is that which obliges families connected by
+blood upon the female side to join for the purpose of defence and
+avenging crimes; and as the father marries several wives, and very often
+all of different families, his children are repeatedly all divided
+amongst themselves; no common bond of union exists between them, and this
+custom alone would be sufficient to prevent this people ever emerging
+from the savage state.
+
+As their laws are principally made up of sets of obligations due from
+members of the same great family towards one another--which obligations
+of family names are much stronger than those of blood--it is evident that
+a vast influence upon the manners and state of this people must be
+brought about by this arrangement into classes. I therefore devoted a
+great portion of my attention to this point, but the mass of materials I
+have collected is so large that it would occupy much more time to arrange
+it than I have been able to spare so as to do full justice to the
+subject; but in order to give an accurate idea of the nature of the
+enquiries I pursued I have given in the Appendix A a short genealogical
+list which will show the manner in which a native gives birth to a
+progeny of a totally different family name to himself; so that a district
+of country never remains for two successive generations in the same
+family. These observations, as well as others made with regard to the
+natives, can be only considered to apply, as yet, to that portion of
+Western Australia lying between the 30th and 35th parallels of south
+latitude unless the contrary is expressly stated; though I think there is
+strong reason to suppose that they will, in general, be found to obtain
+throughout the continent.
+
+DIFFICULTY OF PURSUING THE ENQUIRY.
+
+It is impossible for any person not well acquainted with the language of
+the natives and who does not possess great personal influence over them
+to pursue an inquiry of this nature; for one of the customs most rigidly
+observed and enforced amongst them is never to mention the name of a
+deceased person, male or female. In an inquiry therefore which
+principally turns upon the names of their ancestors this prejudice must
+be every moment violated, and a very great difficulty has thus to be
+encountered in the outset. The only circumstance which at all enabled me
+to overcome this was that the longer a person has been dead the less
+repugnance do they evince in uttering his name. I therefore in the first
+instance endeavoured to ascertain only the oldest names on record; and on
+subsequent occasions, when I found a native alone and in a loquacious
+humour, I succeeded in filling up some of the blanks. Occasionally round
+their fires at night I managed to involve them in disputes regarding
+their ancestors, and on these occasions gleaned much of the information
+of which I was in want.
+
+LAWS OF LANDED PROPERTY. RIGHTS AND BOUNDARIES. PROPERTY VESTED IN
+INDIVIDUALS.
+
+Traditional Laws relative to Landed Property.
+
+Landed property does not belong to a tribe, or to several families, but
+to a single male; and the limits of his property are so accurately
+defined that every native knows those of his own land, and can point out
+the various objects which mark his boundary. I cannot establish the fact
+and the universality of this institution better than by the following
+letter addressed by Dr. Lang, the Principal of Sydney College, New South
+Wales, to Dr. Hodgkin, the zealous advocate of the Aboriginal Races:*
+
+(*Footnote. Extracted from the Reports of the Aboriginal Protection
+Society.)
+
+Liverpool, 15th November 1840.
+
+My Dear Friend,
+
+In reply to the question which you proposed to me some time ago in the
+course of conversation in London, and of which you have reminded me in
+the letter I had the pleasure of receiving from you yesterday, with the
+pamphlets and letters for America, namely, Whether the Aborigines of the
+Australian continent have any idea of property in land, I beg to answer
+most decidedly in the affirmative. It is well known that these Aborigines
+in no instance cultivate the soil, but subsist entirely by hunting and
+fishing, and on the wild roots they find in certain localities
+(especially the common fern) with occasionally a little wild honey;
+indigenous fruits being exceedingly rare. The whole race is divided into
+tribes, more or less numerous, according to circumstances, and designated
+from the localities they inhabit; for although universally a wandering
+race, with respect to places of habitation, their wanderings are
+circumscribed by certain well-defined limits, beyond which they seldom
+pass, except for purposes of war or festivity. In short, every tribe has
+its own district, the boundaries of which are well known to the natives
+generally; and within that district all the wild animals are considered
+as much the property of the tribe inhabiting, or rather ranging on, its
+whole extent, as the flocks of sheep and herds of cattle that have been
+introduced into the country by adventurous Europeans are held by European
+law and usage the property of their respective owners. In fact, as the
+country is occupied chiefly for pastoral purposes, the difference between
+the Aboriginal and the European ideas of property in the soil is more
+imaginary than real, the native grass affording subsistence to the
+kangaroos of the natives as well as to the wild cattle of the Europeans,
+and the only difference indeed being that the former are not branded with
+a particular mark like the latter, and are somewhat wilder and more
+difficult to catch.
+
+EFFECTS OF EUROPEAN APPROPRIATION.
+
+Nay, as the European regards the intrusion of any other white man upon
+the cattle-run, of which European law and usage have made him the
+possessor, and gets it punished as a trespass, the Aborigines of the
+particular tribe inhabiting a particular district regard the intrusion of
+any other tribe of Aborigines upon that district, for the purposes of
+kangaroo hunting, etc., as an intrusion to be resisted and punished by
+force of arms. In short this is the frequent cause of Aboriginal, as it
+is of European wars; man, in his natural state, being very much alike in
+all conditions--jealous of his rights and exceedingly pugnacious. It is
+true the European intruders pay no respect to these Aboriginal divisions
+of the territory, the black native being often hunted off his own ground
+or destroyed by European violence, dissipation, or disease, just as his
+kangaroos are driven off that ground by the European's black cattle; but
+this surely does not alter the case as to the right of the Aborigines.
+
+UNIVERSALITY OF THIS CUSTOM.
+
+But particular districts are not merely the property of particular
+tribes; particular sections or portions of these districts are
+universally recognised by the natives as the property of individual
+members of these tribes; and when the owner of such a section or portion
+of territory (as I ascertained was the case at King George's Island) has
+determined on burning off the grass on his land, which is done for the
+double purpose of enabling the natives to take the older animals more
+easily, and to provide a new crop of sweeter grass for the rising
+generation of the forest, not only all the other individuals of his own
+tribe, but whole tribes from other districts, are invited to the hunting
+party and the feast and dance, or corroboree that ensue; the wild animals
+on the ground being all considered the property of the owner of the land.
+I have often heard natives myself tell me, in answer to my own questions
+on the subject, who were the Aboriginal owners of particular tracts of
+land now held by Europeans; and indeed this idea of property in the soil,
+FOR HUNTING PURPOSES, is universal among the Aborigines. They seldom
+complain of the intrusion of Europeans; on the contrary, they are pleased
+at their sitting down, as they call it, on their land: they do not
+perceive that their own circumstances are thereby sadly altered for the
+worse in most cases; that their means of subsistence are gradually more
+and more limited, and their numbers rapidly diminished: in short, in the
+simplicity of their hearts, they take the frozen adder in their bosom,
+and it stings them to death. They look for a benefit or blessing from
+European intercourse, and it becomes their ruin.
+
+If I had had a little more leisure I would have written more at length
+and in a style more worthy of your perusal; but you may take it as
+certain, at all events, that the Aborigines of Australia HAVE an idea of
+property in the soil in their native and original state, and that that
+idea is, in reality, not very different from that of the European
+proprietors of sheep and cattle, by whom they have, in so many instances
+been dispossessed, without the slightest consideration of their rights or
+feelings.
+
+Indeed the infinity of the native names of places, all of which are
+descriptive and appropriate, is of itself a prima facie evidence of their
+having strong ideas of property in the soil; for it is only where such
+ideas are entertained and acted on that we find, as is certainly the case
+in Australia, Nullum sine nomine saxum.
+
+I am, my dear Friend,
+
+Your's very sincerely,
+
+JOHN DUNMORE LANG.
+
+To Dr. Hodgkin.
+
+...
+
+LAWS OF INHERITANCE AND TRESPASS. LINE OF INHERITANCE.
+
+A father divides his land during his lifetime, fairly apportioning it
+amongst his several sons, and at as early an age as fourteen or fifteen
+they can point out the portion which they are eventually to inherit.
+
+If the males of a family become extinct the male children of the
+daughters inherit their grandfather's land.
+
+CERTAIN LAWS REGARDING ARTICLES OF FOOD.
+
+The punishment of trespass for the purpose of hunting, is invariably
+death, if taken in the fact, and at the very least an obstinate contest
+ensues. If the trespasser is not taken in the fact, but is recognised
+from his footmarks, or from any other circumstance, and is ever caught in
+a defenceless state, he is probably killed; but if he appears attended by
+his friends he is speared through the thigh, in a manner which will be
+mentioned under the head of punishments.
+
+There are other laws intended for the preservation of food, such as that
+which enjoins that:
+
+1. No vegetable production used by the natives as food should be plucked
+or gathered when bearing seed.
+
+2. That certain classes of natives should not eat particular articles of
+food; this restriction being tantamount to game laws, which preserve
+certain choice and scarce articles of food from being so generally
+destroyed as those which are more abundant.
+
+3. The law regarding the family kobongs, mentioned above.
+
+Independent of these laws there are certain articles of food which they
+reject in one portion of the continent and which are eaten in another;
+and that this rejection does not arise from the noxious qualities of the
+article is plain, for it is sometimes not only of an innocent nature but
+both palatable and nutritious: I may take for example the unio, which the
+natives of South-west Australia will not eat because, according to a
+tradition, a long time ago some natives ate them and died through the
+agency of certain sorcerers who looked upon that shellfish as their
+peculiar property.
+
+
+CHAPTER 12. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.
+
+Laws relative to Deaths and Punishments.
+
+SUPERSTITIOUS REVENGE OF NATURAL DEATH.
+
+The natives do not allow that there is such a thing as a death from
+natural causes; they believe that were it not for murderers or the
+malignity of sorcerers they might live for ever: hence:
+
+When a native dies from the effect of an accident or from some natural
+cause they use a variety of superstitious ceremonies to ascertain in what
+direction the sorcerer lives, whose evil practices have brought about the
+death of their relative; this point being satisfactorily settled by
+friendly sorcerers, they then attach the crime to some individual, and
+the funeral obsequies are scarcely concluded ere they start to avenge
+their supposed wrongs.
+
+MURDER.
+
+If a native is slain by another wilfully they kill the murderer or any of
+his friends they can lay hands on.
+
+If a native kills another accidentally he is punished according to the
+circumstances of the case; for instance, if, in inflicting spear wounds
+as a punishment for some offence, one of the agents should spear the
+culprit through the thigh, and accidentally so injure the femoral artery
+that he dies, the man who did so would have to submit to be speared
+through both thighs himself.
+
+CONSEQUENCES OF A CRIME COMMITTED.
+
+The first great principle with regard to punishments is that all the
+relatives of a culprit, in the event of his not being found, are
+implicated in his guilt; if therefore the principal cannot be caught his
+brother or father will answer nearly as well, and failing these, any
+other male or female relatives who may fall into the hands of the
+avenging party.
+
+When therefore it is known among the natives that any crime which calls
+for a very heavy measure of punishment has been committed great and
+widespread consternation prevails; and when it is further ascertained
+that the culprit has escaped everyone in the remotest degree connected
+with him becomes filled with anxiety, for it is impossible to tell in
+what direction the blow will fall. The brothers of the criminal conceive
+themselves to be quite as guilty as he is, and only those who are
+jee-dyte, or unconnected with the family of the guilty person, believe
+themselves in safety. Little children of seven or eight years old, if,
+whilst playing, they hear that some murder has taken place, can in a
+moment tell whether or not they are jee-dyte, and, even at this tender
+age take their measures accordingly.
+
+DUTY OF REVENGE.
+
+The moment any great crime has been committed those who have witnessed it
+raise loud cries, which are taken up by more distant natives and are
+echoed widely through the woods. The nature of these cries indicates who
+has been the guilty party, who the sufferer, and those who are jee-dyte;
+whilst those who are involved in the guilt direct one another by their
+calls to what point to repair and muster their several forces: the
+culprit and generally his brothers and near relatives seek safety in a
+precipitate flight.
+
+If a native has been slain his near male relations give way to the most
+violent paroxysms of rage, and are forcibly held by their friends to
+prevent them doing some injury to the bystanders; they then go and
+confront the body of those who are the relatives of the murderer, and a
+stormy altercation takes place; this generally however is terminated in
+an amicable way, by the parties uniting to go in search of the culprit.
+It is obviously the interest of every one that he should be caught and
+punished; for until this takes place the whole of his connexions are in
+danger.
+
+The holiest duty a native is called on to perform is that of avenging the
+death of his nearest relation, for it is his peculiar duty to do so:
+until he has fulfilled this task he is constantly taunted by the old
+women; his wives, if he be married, would soon quit him; if he is
+unmarried not a single young woman would speak to him; his mother would
+constantly cry and lament she should ever have given birth to so
+degenerate a son; his father would treat him with contempt, and
+reproaches would constantly be sounded in his ear.
+
+PURSUIT OF A CRIMINAL.
+
+Directly therefore the funeral ceremonies have been performed the
+avenging parties start in pursuit of the murderer, and follow his
+footsteps with rapidity and energy fitting so important an occasion;
+unweariedly and relentlessly they press like bloodhounds upon the track,
+and perform journeys of a great length with a speed which would scarcely
+be credited; forgetting in this instance their usual caution, they
+trespass on other natives' ground, and all other passions and feelings
+appear to be absorbed in a burning thirst for vengeance. They sleep at
+night upon the track which they had been prevented by the darkness from
+following further, and with the first pale light of morning pursue it
+from the same point.
+
+IMPLICATION OF A MURDERER'S FAMILY IN HIS CRIME.
+
+When such energy is displayed success must of course often follow, and
+the overtaken criminal then falls, pierced by many spears; but should he
+elude his pursuers they wreak their vengeance on any native they meet.
+The murderer has naturally fled to the land of his friends to claim their
+hospitality; sometimes this is afforded him, and sometimes he is
+treacherously given up to his foes; but should the criminal escape, the
+pursuing party rarely return from an excursion of this nature without
+shedding blood: their not finding the guilty individual only inflames
+still more their anger, which they wreak on children or any unfortunate
+individual who may fall into their hands.
+
+BREACHES OF THE LAWS OF MARRIAGE. STEALING A WIFE.
+
+Stealing a wife is generally punished with death. If the woman is not
+returned within a certain period either her seducer or one of his
+relatives is certain eventually to be slain.
+
+BREACH OF MARRIAGE LAWS.
+
+The crime of adultery is punished severely, often with death. Anything
+approaching the crime of incest, in which they include marriages out of
+the right line, they hold in the greatest abhorrence, closely
+assimilating in this last point with the North American Indians, of whom
+it is said in the Archaeologia Americana:
+
+They profess to consider it highly criminal for a man to marry a woman
+whose totem (family name) is the same as his own, and they relate
+instances when young men, for a violation of this rule, have been put to
+death by their own nearest relatives.*
+
+(*Footnote. Volume 2 page 110 quoting from Tanner's Narrative page 313.)
+
+And again: According to their own account, the Indian nations were
+divided into tribes for no other purpose than that no one might ever,
+either through temptation or mistake, marry a near relation, which at
+present is scarcely possible, for whoever intends to marry must take a
+person of a different tribe.*
+
+(*Footnote. Ibid.)
+
+The same feeling was remarked by Dobrizhoffer in South America; for,
+speaking of an interview with a native tribe to whom he was preaching, he
+says:
+
+The old man, when he heard from me that marriage with relations was
+forbidden, exclaimed, "Thou sayest well, father, such marriages are
+abominable; but that we know already." From which I discovered that
+incestuous connexions are more execrable to these savages than murder or
+robbery.*
+
+(*Footnote. Account of the Abipones Volume 1 page 69.)
+
+PUNISHMENT OF SECONDARY OFFENCES. ORDEAL AND PUNISHMENT FOR OTHER
+TRANSGRESSIONS.
+
+Any other crime may be compounded for by the criminal appearing and
+submitting himself to the ordeal of having spears thrown at him by all
+such persons as conceive themselves to have been aggrieved, or by
+permitting spears to be thrust through certain parts of his body; such as
+through the thigh, or the calf of the leg, or under the arm. The part
+which is to be pierced by a spear is fixed for all common crimes, and a
+native who has incurred this penalty sometimes quietly holds out his leg
+for the injured party to thrust his spear through.
+
+When a native, after having absconded for fear of the consequences of
+some crime which he has committed, comes in to undergo the ordeal of
+having spears thrown at him, a large assemblage of his fellows takes
+place; their bodies are daubed with paint which is put on in the most
+fantastic forms, their weapons are polished, sharpened, and rendered
+thoroughly efficient; at the appointed time young and old repair to the
+place of ordeal, and the wild beauty of the scenery, the painted forms of
+the natives, the savage cries and shouts of exultation which are raised
+as the culprit dexterously parries, or by rapid leaps and contortions of
+his body avoids the clouds of spears which are hurled at him, all combine
+to form a singular scene to which there is no parallel in civilized life.
+If the criminal is wounded in a degree judged sufficient for the crime he
+has committed his guilt is wiped away; or if none of the spears thrown at
+him (for there is a regulated number which each may throw) take effect he
+is equally pardoned.
+
+But no sooner is this main part of the ceremony over than two or three
+duels take place between some individuals who have quarrels of their own
+to settle; after these combatants have thrown a few spears some of their
+friends rush in and hold them in their arms, when the etiquette on such
+occasions is to struggle violently for a few minutes, as if anxious to
+renew the contest, and then to submit quietly to superior force and cease
+the combat.
+
+NATIVE APATHY UNDER COMMON WOUNDS. ANECDOTE.
+
+The natives pay but little regard to the wounds they receive in duels or
+which are inflicted on them as punishments; their sufferings from all
+injuries are much less than those which Europeans would undergo in
+similar circumstances; this may probably arise from their abstemious mode
+of life, and from their never using any other beverage than water. A
+striking instance of their apathy with regard to wounds was shown on one
+occasion in a fight which took place in the village of Perth in Western
+Australia. A native man received a wound in that portion of his frame
+which is only presented to enemies when in the act of flight, and the
+spear which was barbed remained sticking in the wound; a gentleman who
+was standing by watching the fray regarded the man with looks of pity and
+commiseration, which the native perceiving, came up to him, holding the
+spear (still in the wound) in one hand, and turning round so as to expose
+the injury he had received, said, in the most moving terms, "Poor fellow,
+sixpence give it 'um."
+
+
+CHAPTER 13. SOCIAL CONDITION AND DOMESTIC HABITS.
+
+POPULATION.
+
+Several writers have given calculations as to the number of native
+inhabitants to each square mile in Australia. Now, although I have done
+my utmost to draw up tables which might even convey an approximate
+result, I have found the number of inhabitants to a square mile to vary
+so much from district to district, from season to season, and to depend
+upon so great a variety of local circumstances, that I am unable to give
+any computation which I believe would even nearly approach the truth; and
+as I feel no confidence in the results which I have obtained, after a
+great deal of labour, I cannot be expected to attach much importance to
+those which, to my own knowledge, have in several instances been arrived
+at by others from mere guesswork.
+
+NATURAL PERIOD OF LIFE.
+
+With regard to the age occasionally attained by the natives I believe
+very erroneous ideas have been prevalent, for so far am I from
+considering them to be short-lived that I am certain they frequently
+attain the age of seventy years and upwards. As they themselves have no
+knowledge whatever of their age it is manifest that merely speculative
+ideas upon this point must be useless; the means therefore that I adopted
+to arrive at a probable conclusion may be illustrated by an example: In
+the table I have given of a family descending from two natives,
+Nardooitch, and Kimbeyenung (Appendix A) the name of Yenna will be found
+as one of Wundall's children; now (1840) Yenna is a young man of about
+twenty years of age, and from the usual habits of the natives we must
+allow that his father, Beewullo, was at least twenty-three years old by
+the time he had married and had a child; such being the case, Beewullo
+must now be about forty-three, and Jeebar his father must by the same
+reasoning be about sixty-six, yet he is alive and in perfect health, and
+his elder brother Nogongo is likewise alive, and as upright as possible,
+although the infirmities of old age are creeping on him. Nogongo must be
+now at least sixty-eight years old, yet I have seen two other natives
+who, by his and their own account, are older than he is; and on making a
+calculation, in the way I have just done, to ascertain their age, it
+appeared that one of them was sixty-nine and the other seventy-one; so
+that, although probably none of these estimates are quite correct, I
+still think that we are at liberty to infer, from various instances of
+this kind, that the natives sometimes attain a very advanced age; yet
+were these instances of longevity contrasted with the great number of
+deaths which take place during the period of infancy, there can be no
+doubt whatever that the average duration of life amongst these savage
+tribes falls far short of that enjoyed by civilized races. There is
+however one species of death unknown to these barbarians and that is
+suicide. I believe they have no idea that such a thing as a person's
+putting an end to his own life could ever occur: whenever I have
+interrogated them on this point they have invariably laughed at me and
+treated my question as a joke.
+
+CONDITION OF OLD AGE.
+
+The period of old age must be as happy as any other time in the life of a
+savage, if not more so. Aged men are always treated with great respect;
+they rarely take a part in any fray; they are privileged to eat certain
+kinds of food which the young men may not touch; and they seldom appear
+to suffer much from the infirmities and diseases to which the aged are
+generally subject amongst us.
+
+CONDITION OF YOUNG WOMEN.
+
+Should a female be possessed of considerable personal attractions the
+first years of her life must necessarily be very unhappy. In her early
+infancy she is betrothed to some man, even at this period advanced in
+years, and by whom, as she approaches the age of puberty, she is watched
+with a degree of vigilance and care which increases in proportion to the
+disparity of years between them; it is probably from this circumstance
+that so many of them are addicted to intrigues, in which, if they are
+detected by their husbands, death, or a spear through some portion of the
+body is their certain fate; indeed the bare suspicion of infidelity upon
+their part is enough to ensure to them the most cruel and brutal
+treatment. For these causes during youth they are compelled, whether
+pregnant or not, to accompany their husbands in all their excursions, and
+are thus subject to violent and continued exercise and fatigue at periods
+when repose is indispensable.
+
+But even supposing a woman to give no encouragement to her admirers, many
+plots are always laid to carry her off, and in the encounters which
+result from these she is almost certain to receive some violent injury,
+for each of the combatants orders her to follow him, and in the event of
+her refusing throws a spear at her. The early life of a young woman at
+all celebrated for beauty is generally one continued series of captivity
+to different masters, of ghastly wounds, of wanderings in strange
+families, of rapid flights, of bad treatment from other females amongst
+whom she is brought a stranger by her captor; and rarely do you see a
+form of unusual grace and elegance but it is marked and scarred by the
+furrows of old wounds; and many a female thus wanders several hundred
+miles from the home of her infancy, being carried off successively to
+distant and more distant points.
+
+These various circumstances render miscarriages more frequent amongst
+these uncivilized tribes than amongst European nations, and the first
+years and bloom of a female generally elapse before she has any children;
+but then a fresh cause exists to prevent their having very large
+families, which is that, from the nature of the food used by the natives,
+it is necessary that a child should have good strong teeth before it can
+be even partially weaned. The native women therefore suckle their
+children until they are past the age of two or three years, and it is by
+no means uncommon to see a fine healthy child leave off playing and run
+up to its mother to take the breast.
+
+The native women suffer much less pain during the period of labour than
+Europeans; directly the child is born, it is wrapped in opossum skins,
+and strings made of the fur of this animal are tied like bracelets round
+the infant's wrists and ankles, with the intention of rendering it, by
+some supernatural means, a stronger and a finer child. They are always
+much prouder of a male than of a female child.
+
+AVERAGE NUMBERS AND PROPORTION OF BIRTHS.
+
+Forty-one females, of whose families I have obtained (from themselves and
+others) lists upon the accuracy of which I can rely, had 188 children, or
+about 4.6 children each. The greatest number born by any one female was
+7, and only three had had so large a family as this; but with the
+exception of one woman they had all born more than one child. All those
+who were included in this list were past the age of child-bearing at the
+time it was drawn up.
+
+To ascertain the proportion of male to female children I drew up another
+list of 222 births, and out of these there were 93 females and 129 males,
+or about 1 female to every 1.3 males.
+
+I have known four instances of native women having twins, but I have
+never heard of a greater number of children at one birth. Should a child
+be born with any natural deformity it is frequently killed by its parents
+soon afterwards. In the only instances of this kind which have come
+within my own knowledge the child has been drowned.
+
+LUNATICS AND IDIOTS.
+
+Idiots are rarely found amongst the natives; in two cases I however
+observed persons of very deficient intellect. Mad people are unknown, and
+this very naturally, for very few freaks of madness could be committed by
+a lunatic ere he would fall a sacrifice to the violence and indignation
+of his fellows. Persons of very delicate and feeble constitutions are
+also rare, as those who survive the hardships to which they are exposed
+in their childhood must possess an iron frame. The deaths amongst the
+children, particularly during early infancy, are as far as I can judge
+much more numerous in proportion to the number of births than they are in
+civilized nations.
+
+INFLUENCE OF POLYGAMY ON SOCIAL HABITS.
+
+The social habits of the natives of Australia are necessarily modified by
+the extent to which polygamy is permitted and practised amongst them. The
+very unequal distribution of the female sex, which arises from this
+cause, has rendered prevalent the custom of stealing wives; and as women
+are of great value, not only on account of the personal attachment which
+they might be supposed to excite, but from the fact of all laborious
+tasks being performed, and a great portion of the food of the family
+being also collected by them, every precaution is taken to prevent them
+from forming any acquaintances which would be likely to terminate in
+their abduction.
+
+A stern and vigilant jealousy is commonly felt by every married man; he
+cannot, from the roving nature of their mode of life, surround his wives
+with the walls of a seraglio, but custom and etiquette have drawn about
+them barriers nearly as impassable. When a certain number of families are
+collected together they encamp at a common spot; and each family has a
+separate hut, or perhaps two. At these huts sleep the father of the
+family, his wives, the female children who have not yet joined their
+husbands, and very young boys; occasionally female relatives, who from
+some temporary cause have no male protector with them, also sleep at this
+fire; but the young men and boys of ten years old and upwards are obliged
+to sleep in their own portion of the encampment, where they themselves,
+or more generally, some of their mothers, build for them two or three
+huts, in which those related within certain degrees of consanguinity
+sleep together.
+
+SOCIAL CUSTOMS.
+
+When strangers are with a party upon a visit, if attended by their wives,
+they sleep in their own huts, which are placed among those of the married
+people; but if their wives are not with them, or if they are unmarried,
+they sleep at the fire of the young men.
+
+MODE OF CONVERSATIONAL INTERCOURSE. MODE OF RECITING EVENTS.
+
+Under no circumstances is a strange native allowed to approach the fire
+of a married man; in the daytime they hunt or occupy themselves with the
+men, and at night they either sit at their own fire, or that of the young
+men. Their huts being placed at a little distance from one another, such
+an arrangement would appear to put an end to anything like social
+intercourse or conversation; but they have invented a means of overcoming
+this difficulty by making a species of chant, or recitative, their
+customary mode of address to each other. In an encampment at night the
+young men recount to one another their love adventures and stories; and
+the old men quarrel with their wives or play with their children;
+suddenly a deep wild chant rises on the ear, in which some newly-arrived
+native relates the incidents of his journey, or an old man calls to their
+remembrance scenes of other days, or reminds them that some death remains
+unavenged: this is done in a loud recitative, and the instant it is
+commenced every other sound is hushed. A native, while thus chanting, is
+rarely or never interrupted, and when he has concluded another replies in
+the same tone until the conversation, still conducted in this manner,
+becomes general.
+
+CONSEQUENCES OF JEALOUSY.
+
+In the meantime individuals both male and female move about from fire to
+fire, paying visits, and whispering scandal to one another; but these
+visits are so arranged that none can approach a fire to which, by the
+established usages of society, they have not a right to go; the younger
+females however, who are much addicted to intrigue, find at times
+opportunity to exchange a word or a glance with some favoured lover, but
+woe to her if her watchful husband should detect her in the act. A spear
+through the calf of the leg is the least punishment that awaits her; and
+if her husband feels himself strong enough, either from personal skill or
+from the number of friends he has present, to inflict punishment upon her
+paramour, he does it in the most summary manner, throwing as many spears
+at his legs as he has an opportunity of doing before others catch hold of
+him and prevent his committing farther acts of violence. A good deal of
+tact is required under these circumstances to ascertain whether a spear
+can safely be thrown at a man or not; but I have remarked as a general
+rule that a native, if irritated by another, invariably throws a spear at
+him if he has a friend or brother near the offender at the time; the
+chances then being that this friend or brother will catch hold of the man
+attacked before he can throw a spear in return. As for the poor female no
+one takes her part whether she is innocent or guilty; the established and
+very equitable law with regard to women being, "If I beat your mother,
+then you beat mine: if I beat your wife, then you beat mine," etc. etc.
+So that by judiciously conducting arrangements a native can spear one
+aggressor himself and get the other speared for him without undergoing
+any personal trouble or inconvenience, or without in the least suffering
+in her good graces.
+
+DANCES.
+
+Should it be the intention of the natives to have a dance the
+arrangements are somewhat different. In this case the young men retire
+early in the afternoon to some spot suited to their purpose, where they
+paint and deck themselves out in the most grotesque manner. After dark
+they return to the encampment near which the dance takes place. At these
+entertainments the same rules of etiquette are strictly observed: the
+females sit in a group apart, generally behind the old men; the
+performers are on the side of the fire opposite to them; in one or two
+dances the women take a part in the song, but they never dance
+themselves, nor are the young men allowed to approach them. It is all
+fair for the dancers to do their utmost, by the arrangement of paint and
+ornaments, to show off their personal attractions, and they sometimes
+avail themselves of this privilege in the most ludicrous manner; but they
+are permitted to hold no converse whatever with any but their mothers and
+sisters.
+
+CEREMONIES ON MEETING. CUSTOMS IN MEETING AFTER ABSENCE.
+
+The ceremonies they observe at first meeting one another after absence
+are remarkable. When a native and his wives enter an encampment of
+friends whom they have not for some time seen, they proceed straight to
+the hut of some relative or intimate friend without bestowing even a
+glance upon any others whom they may pass: having reached the hut the man
+at once seats himself at the fire without taking the least notice of
+anyone in it, whilst his wives crouch upon the earth at a respectful
+distance behind him, keeping their eyes fixed upon the ground; solemn
+silence now ensues, all countenances wear an unspeakable gloom and
+gravity and all eyes are directed to the earth; in about ten minutes the
+nearest blood relation of any individual who has died since the stranger
+has visited his friends advances to him with a measured pace, and without
+speaking seats himself cross-legged on his thighs, under which he places
+his hands, at the same time pressing his breast to the stranger's; thus
+seated they mournfully avert their faces from one another and preserve a
+perfect silence; no single word or sign of recognition passes between
+them, and after they have remained thus seated for several minutes the
+native who had come to announce the death rises slowly and retires with
+the same gravity with which he had approached; other males of the family
+now successively approach the stranger, going through precisely the same
+ceremonies, none of them venturing to interchange a single word with him.
+
+This part of the ceremony having been completed, the nearest female
+relative of the deceased approaches the stranger and, throwing herself
+upon her knees before him, she embraces his knees with her left arm
+whilst with the nails of her right hand she scratches her cheek and nose
+until the blood drops from them, at the same time raising the most
+piteous cries and lamentations. After a few minutes she rises and
+approaches his wife and seats herself on the ground in front of her; the
+two now encircle one another with their left arms, resting their heads on
+each other's shoulders, whilst they scratch their faces with their right
+hands and cry and wail in a tone which excites in the minds of all who
+hear them sensations of deep grief; indeed I know of no sound (not even
+excepting the Irish howl) which so fully expresses the passion of deep
+sorrow as this lament of the native women. When their cry is completed
+the resident native woman rises from the ground and slowly walks from the
+wife of the one who has returned to the camp; the other female relatives
+of the deceased then advance in turn, and go through the same form.
+
+The returned absentee is now at liberty to speak, and some of the party
+in recitative recount to him all the leading facts that have occurred
+since their last meeting; they are however very careful not to mention
+the name of the person who is dead, but describe him by his attributes
+and family in such a manner as to leave no doubt in the mind of the
+hearer; but to name aloud one who is departed would be a gross violation
+of their most sacred prejudices, and they carefully abstain from it.
+
+CEREMONIES ON MEETING IN THE BUSH.
+
+If natives meet in the bush the foregoing ceremonies are in part
+observed: both parties at their first meeting sit down at a distance from
+one another, preserving a profound silence and keeping their eyes fixed
+on the ground; after a time one of them commences a chant about himself
+and from what great family he has sprung; they then approach one another,
+and if there is a death to communicate the men press breast to breast,
+and knee to knee, remaining for some time with averted faces, lost in
+melancholy thoughts; when they separate the women approach and kneel,
+scratching their faces and crying in the way I have above described.
+Should no relative have died upon either side the men, after rising up,
+approach one another and enter into conversation; whilst the elder
+married females, if they like a stranger, embrace him affectionately and
+give him a loud-sounding kiss upon each cheek; on several occasions I
+have had to submit myself, with as good a grace as I could, to this
+salutation.
+
+In these casual meetings of natives it occasionally happens that several
+women kneel together, crying and embracing the knees of some old savage,
+who stands erect in the midst of the group, with a proud and lordly air,
+whilst they cower to the earth around him; sometimes they have children
+slung at their backs, and these little things may be seen unconsciously
+playing with their mothers' hair whilst this mournful scene is enacting.
+
+PUNCTILIOS OF FORM.
+
+Some old women are scrupulously punctilious about the performance of all
+these matters of etiquette, attaching a degree of importance to them
+which, in the eyes of civilized man, approaches the ludicrous; but they
+look upon them in a very different light. I have seen a number of these
+sticklers for form kneeling round a little boy not more than six or seven
+years old, lamenting most bitterly, the little fellow meanwhile
+preserving in his countenance and bearing all the gravity and dignity
+which a man could have exhibited.
+
+
+CHAPTER 14. FOOD AND HUNTING.
+
+ERRORS REGARDING SCARCITY OF FOOD OF NATIVES.
+
+The mistake very commonly made with regard to the natives of Australia is
+to imagine that they have small means of subsistence, or are at times
+greatly pressed for want of food: I could produce many almost humorous
+instances of the errors which travellers have fallen into upon this
+point. They lament in their journals that the unfortunate Aborigines
+should be reduced by famine to the miserable necessity of subsisting on
+certain sorts of food which they have found near their huts; whereas in
+many instances the articles thus quoted by them are those which the
+natives most prize, and are really neither deficient in flavour nor
+nutritious qualities. I will give one remarkable example of an error of
+this kind into which a traveller of great ability has fallen; but this
+will only render palpable the ignorance that has prevailed with regard to
+the habits and customs of this people when in their wild state, for those
+who frequent European towns and the outskirts of population are soon
+compelled by the force of circumstances to depart, in a great measure,
+from their original habits.
+
+Captain Sturt, to whom I allude, says in his travels (volume 1 page 118):
+
+Among other things we found a number of bark troughs filled with the gum
+of the mimosa, and vast quantities of gum made into cakes upon the
+ground. From this it would appear that these unfortunate creatures were
+reduced to the last extremity, and, being unable to procure any other
+nourishment, had been obliged to collect this mucilaginous food.
+
+...
+
+The gum of the mimosa, thus referred to, is a favourite article of food
+amongst the natives, and when it is in season they assemble in large
+numbers upon plains of the character previously described by Captain
+Sturt in order to enjoy this luxury. The profusion in which this gum is
+found enables large bodies to meet together, which, from their
+subsistence being derived from wild animals and vegetables of spontaneous
+growth, they can only do when some particular article is in full season,
+or when a whale is thrown ashore. In order more fully to show how little
+the habits of this people have been understood I may state with regard to
+this very gum, called by the natives kwon-nat, that about the time the
+above account was published by Captain Sturt an expedition was sent out
+from King George's Sound in Western Australia in order to discover what
+was the nature of the article of food so loudly praised by them, and
+which they stated was to be found in certain districts in great
+profusion; the belief at that time being, from the accounts given of it,
+that it could be only a new and valuable species of grain. The exploring
+party did not attain their object, and to this day many of the settlers
+believe the kwon-nat to be a kind of corn.
+
+FOOD PLENTIFUL. VARIETIES OF IT IN DIFFERENT LATITUDES.
+
+Generally speaking the natives live well; in some districts there may at
+particular seasons of the year be a deficiency of food, but if such is
+the case these tracts are at those times deserted. It is however utterly
+impossible for a traveller or even for a strange native to judge whether
+a district affords an abundance of food or the contrary; for in
+traversing extensive parts of Australia I have found the sorts of food
+vary from latitude to latitude, so that the vegetable productions used by
+the Aborigines in one are totally different to those in another; if
+therefore a stranger has no one to point out to him the vegetable
+productions, the soil beneath his feet may teem with food whilst he
+starves. The same rule holds good with regard to animal productions; for
+example in the southern parts of the continent the Xanthorrhoea affords
+an inexhaustible supply of fragrant grubs, which an epicure would delight
+in when once he has so far conquered his prejudices as to taste them;
+whilst in proceeding to the northward these trees decline in health and
+growth, until about the parallel of Gantheaume Bay they totally
+disappear, and even a native finds himself cut off from his ordinary
+supplies of insects; the same circumstances taking place with regard to
+the roots and other kinds of food at the same time, the traveller
+necessarily finds himself reduced to cruel extremities. A native from the
+plains, taken into an elevated mountainous district near his own country
+for the first time, is equally at fault.
+
+VARIED WITH THE SEASONS.
+
+But in his own district a native is very differently situated; he knows
+exactly what it produces, the proper time at which the several articles
+are in season, and the readiest means of procuring them. According to
+these circumstances he regulates his visits to the different portions of
+his hunting ground; and I can only state that I have always found the
+greatest abundance in their huts.
+
+CAUSES OF OCCASIONAL WANT.
+
+There are however two periods of the year when they are at times
+subjected to the pangs of hunger: these are in the hottest time of summer
+and in the height of the rainy season. At the former period the heat
+renders them so excessively indolent that until forced by want they will
+not move, and at the latter they suffer so severely from the cold and
+rain that I have known them remain for two successive days at their huts
+without quitting the fire; and even when they do quit it they always
+carry a fire-stick with them, which greatly embarrasses their movements.
+In all ordinary seasons however they can obtain in two or three hours a
+sufficient supply of food for the day, but their usual custom is to roam
+indolently from spot to spot, lazily collecting it as they wander along.
+
+LIST OF EDIBLE ARTICLES.
+
+That an accurate idea may be formed of the quantity and kinds of food
+which they obtain, I have given below a list of those in use amongst the
+aborigines of South-western Australia which I have seen them collect and
+eat; and I will, in the order in which they stand on this list, show the
+mode of obtaining them, and the way in which they are cooked.
+
+Different articles of food eaten by the natives of Western Australia:
+
+Six sorts of kangaroo.
+Twenty-nine sorts of fish.
+One kind of whale.
+Two species of seal.
+Wild dogs.
+Three kinds of turtle.
+Emus, wild turkeys, and birds of every kind.
+Two species of opossum.
+Eleven kinds of frogs.
+Four kinds of freshwater shellfish.
+All saltwater shellfish, except oysters.
+Four kinds of grubs.
+Eggs of every species of bird or lizard.
+Five animals, something smaller in size than rabbits.
+Eight sorts of snakes.
+Seven sorts of iguana.
+Nine species of mice and small rats.
+Twenty-nine sorts of roots.
+Seven kinds of fungus.
+Four sorts of gum.
+Two sorts of manna.
+Two species of by-yu, or the nut of the Zamia palm.
+Two species of mesembryanthemum.
+Two kinds of nut.
+Four sorts of fruit.
+The flower of several species of Banksia.
+One kind of earth, which they pound and mix with the root of the mene.
+The seeds of several species of leguminous plants.
+
+It will be necessary however before commencing this sketch to give an
+outline of the weapons and implements with which the different animals
+are caught and killed, and the vegetable productions procured.
+
+EQUIPMENT FOR A HUNT. IMPLEMENTS FOR DESTROYING ANIMALS.
+
+The natives nearly always carry the whole of their worldly property about
+with them, and the Australian hunter is thus equipped: round his middle
+is wound, in many folds, a cord spun from the fur of the opossum, which
+forms a warm, soft and elastic belt of an inch in thickness, in which are
+stuck his hatchet, his kiley or boomerang, and a short heavy stick to
+throw at the smaller animals. His hatchet is so ingeniously placed that
+the head of it rests exactly on the centre of his back, whilst its thin
+short handle descends along the backbone. In his hand he carries his
+throwing-stick and several spears, headed in two or three different
+manners so that they are equally adapted to war or the chase. A warm
+kangaroo skin cloak completes his equipment in the southern portions of
+the continent; but I have never seen a native with a cloak anywhere to
+the north of 29 degrees south latitude.
+
+DESCRIPTION AND USE OF THE WEAPONS.
+
+These weapons, although apparently so simple, are admirably adapted for
+the purposes they are intended to serve. The spear when projected from
+the throwing-stick forms as effectual a weapon as the bow and arrow,
+whilst at the same time it is much less liable to be injured, and it
+possesses over the bow and arrow the advantage of being useful to poke
+out kangaroo-rats and opossums from hollow trees, to knock off gum from
+high branches, to pull down the cones from the Banksia trees, and for
+many other purposes.
+
+The hatchet is used to cut up the larger kinds of game and to make holes
+in the trees the owner is about to climb. The kiley is thrown into
+flights of wild-fowl and cockatoos, and with the dow-uk, a short heavy
+stick, they knock over the smaller kinds of game much in the same manner
+that poachers do hares and rabbits in England.
+
+CONTENTS OF THE WOMEN'S BAG OR WALLET.
+
+Thus equipped the father of the family stalks forth, and at a respectful
+distance behind him follow the women; a long thick stick, the point of
+which has been hardened in the fire, is in each of their hands, a child
+or two fixed in their bags or upon their shoulders, and in the deep
+recesses of these mysterious bags they carry moreover sundry articles
+which constitute the wealth of the Australian savage. These are however
+worthy of a particular enumeration, as this will make plain the domestic
+economy of one of these barbarian housewives.
+
+The contents of a native woman's bag are: A flat stone to pound roots
+with; earth to mix with the pounded roots; quartz, for the purpose of
+making spears and knives; stones for hatchets; prepared cakes of gum, to
+make and mend weapons and implements; kangaroo sinews to make spears and
+to sew with; needles made of the shin-bones of kangaroos, with which they
+sew their cloaks, bags, etc.; opossum hair to be spun into waist belts;
+shavings of kangaroo skins to polish spears, etc.; the shell of a species
+of mussel to cut hair, etc., with; native knives; a native hatchet;
+pipe-clay; red ochre, or burnt clay; yellow ochre, a piece of paperbark
+to carry water in; waistbands and spare ornaments; pieces of quartz which
+the native doctors have extracted from their patients, and thus cured
+them from diseases; these they preserve as carefully as Europeans do
+relics. Banksia cones (small ones) or pieces of a dry white species of
+fungus to kindle fire with rapidly and to convey it from place to place;
+grease, if they can procure it from a whale, or from any other source;
+the spare weapons of their husbands, or the pieces of wood from which
+these are to be manufactured; the roots, etc., which they have collected
+during the day. Skins not yet prepared for cloaks are generally carried
+between the bag and the back, so as to form a sort of cushion for the bag
+to rest on.
+
+In general each woman carries a lighted fire-stick, or brand, under her
+cloak and in her hand.
+
+DIFFERENT METHODS OF CATCHING KANGAROOS.
+
+Imagining several parties of this kind, headed by one of the young men,
+to be moving through the woods, let us follow them and watch their mode
+of procuring and cooking their different varieties of food.
+
+MANNER OF HUNTING A KANGAROO SINGLY.
+
+The moment an Australian savage commences his day's hunting his whole
+manner and appearance undergo a wondrous change: his eyes, before heavy
+and listless, brighten up, and are never for a moment fixed on one
+object; his gait and movements, which were indolent and slow, become
+quick and restless yet noiseless; he moves along with a rapid stealthy
+pace, his glance roving from side to side in a vigilant uneasy manner,
+arising from his eagerness to detect signs of game and his fears of
+hidden foes. The earth, the water, the trees, the skies, each are in turn
+subjected to a rigid scrutiny, and from the most insignificant
+circumstances he deduces omens. His head is held erect and his progress
+is uncertain, in a moment his pace is checked, he stands in precisely the
+position of motion as if suddenly transfixed, nothing about him stirs but
+his eyes, they glance uneasily from side to side whilst the head and
+every muscle seem immoveable; but the white eyeballs may be seen in rapid
+motion, whilst all his faculties are concentrated, and his whole soul is
+absorbed in the senses of sight and hearing. His wives, who are at some
+distance behind him, the moment they see him assume this attitude fall to
+the ground as if they had been shot; their children cower by them, and
+their little faces express an earnestness and anxiousness which is far
+beyond their years; at length a suppressed whistle is given by one of the
+women, which denotes that she sees a kangaroo near her husband. All is
+again silence and quietude; and an unpractised European would ride within
+a few yards of the group and not perceive a living thing.
+
+Looking about a hundred yards to the right of the native, you will see a
+kangaroo erect upon its hind legs and supported by its tail; it is reared
+to its utmost height, so that its head is between five and six feet above
+the ground--its short fore-paws hang by its side, its ears are pointed,
+it is listening as carefully as the native, and you see a little head
+peering out from its pouch to enquire what has alarmed its mother; but
+the native moves not, you cannot tell whether it is a human being or the
+charred trunk of a burnt tree which is before you, and for several
+minutes the whole group preserve their relative position; at length the
+kangaroo becomes reassured, drops upon its fore-paws, gives an awkward
+leap or two, and goes on feeding, the little inhabitant of its pouch
+stretching its head farther out, tasting the grass its mother is eating,
+and evidently debating whether or not it is safe to venture out of its
+resting place and gamble about amongst the green dewy herbage.
+
+Meantime the native moves not until the kangaroo, having two or three
+times resumed the attitude of listening, and having like a monkey
+scratched its side with its fore-paw, at length once more abandons itself
+in perfect security to its feed, and playfully smells and rubs its little
+one. Now the watchful savage, keeping his body unmoved, fixes the spear
+first in the throwing-stick, and then raises his arms in the attitude of
+throwing, from which they are never again moved until the kangaroo dies
+or runs away; his spear being properly secured, he advances slowly and
+stealthily towards his prey, no part moving but his legs; whenever the
+kangaroo looks round he stands motionless in the position he is in when
+it first raises its head, until the animal, again assured of its safety,
+gives a skip or two and goes on feeding; again the native advances, and
+this scene is repeated many times until the whistling spear penetrates
+the devoted animal; then the wood rings with shouts; women and children
+all join pell-mell in the chase; the kangaroo, weak from the loss of
+blood, and embarrassed by the long spear which catches in the brushwood
+as it flies, at length turns on its pursuers, and to secure its rear
+places its back against a tree, preparing at the same time to rend open
+the breast and entrails of its pursuer by seizing him in its fore-paws
+and kicking with its hind legs and claws; but the wily native keeps clear
+of so murderous an embrace, and from the distance of a few yards throws
+spears into its breast until the exhausted animal falls and is then soon
+despatched; when, with the assistance of his wives, he takes its forelegs
+over his left, and the hind legs over his right shoulder, and totters
+with his burden to some convenient resting place, where they can enjoy
+their meal.
+
+HUNTING IN PARTIES IN THE BUSH.
+
+The chase of the kangaroo conducted by a number of natives is a much more
+lively and noisy affair, but it is not to my taste nearly so interesting.
+When a single native hunts you see the whole energy and perseverance of
+which a savage is capable called forth, and his graceful movements,
+cautious advance, the air of quietude and repose which pervade his frame
+when his prey is alarmed, all involuntarily call forth your admiration
+and compel you to murmur to yourself, "how beautiful, how very
+beautiful." But where a party hunt there is more bustle and animation in
+the scene; and this kind of hunting is called "Yowart-a-kaipoon," or
+kangaroo-surrounding. The animals which are to be killed by a party who
+proceed for this purpose are either surprised in a thick bushy place,
+where they have retired to lie down in the heat of the day, or else in an
+open plain; in the former case they are tracked to their retreat, and the
+party then encircling it first ascertain that they have not quitted it;
+as each native takes up his position he gives a low whistle, and when the
+blockade is completed they fire the bushes; the frighted animals now fly
+from the flames in the direction of the open plains, but no sooner do
+they reach the outskirts of the wood than the bushes are fired in the
+direction in which they are running, and they are driven back by loud
+calls and terrific cries, which augment their terror, and they run wildly
+about; until, becoming maddened by fear, they make a rush through the
+midst of their enemies, who allow but few of their victims to escape.
+
+IN THE PLAINS.
+
+When kangaroos are surrounded upon a plain the point generally chosen is
+an open bottom surrounded by wood; each native has his position assigned
+him by some of the elder ones, and a great deal of art and caution are
+sometimes required to gain it; for this end they avail themselves of
+every inequality of the ground, of every bush, of every shrub, and as
+there are so many witnesses of their skill and cunning they put forth all
+their art to approach as near the kangaroos as possible without
+disturbing them, and thus the circle narrows in around the unconscious
+animals, till at last some one of them becomes alarmed and bounds away,
+but ere it has proceeded many yards its flight is arrested by a savage
+with fearful yells; terrified it sits down with its frightened comrades
+to look for a means of escape, but armed natives brandishing their spears
+and raising loud cries come running in upon them from every side; and ere
+the animals have recovered the first moments of terror and surprise a
+slaughter has already commenced, which seldom terminates before the
+greater number of them have fallen.
+
+These great public hunts or battues are conducted under certain rules.
+The proprietor of the land must have invited the other natives, and must
+be present himself, for should these regulations be violated a very
+bloody fight is certain to take place. The first spear which strikes a
+kangaroo determines whose property the dead animal is to be; it being no
+matter how slight the wound may have been; even if a boy threw the spear
+the rule holds good, and if the animal killed is one which by their laws
+a boy is not allowed to eat, then his right passes on to his father or
+eldest male relation. The cries of the hunters, as they ring through the
+ancient woods, are very expressive and beautiful, each different
+intonation belonging to a particular period of the hunt. And what renders
+them peculiarly effective is that, instead of beginning as we always do
+with a soft aspiration, as in Hollo, Ho, etc., their cries always
+commence with a harsh sound, as kau; and this circumstance enables them
+to talk at a great distance so as to be perfectly intelligible to one
+another. Sometimes in deep wooded valleys I have heard gentle fairy-like
+sounds coming down from the heights, and rendered so soft and sweet by
+distance that one might readily have fancied them to be supernatural, yet
+the natives with me readily understood them, and shouted back their
+reply: this harsh commencement of their shout gives one also a terrible
+start when surprised in a murderous attack.
+
+HUNTING KANGAROO BY THE TRACKS.
+
+Four other modes of taking kangaroos are practised by the natives: these
+are, catching them in nets, in pitfalls, lying in wait near their
+watering places until they come to drink, and constantly following their
+tracks until the animals are so wearied out that they will allow the
+huntsman to approach near enough to spear them. Of these four modes the
+last two are the most interesting, and the former is thus practised: in a
+dry district, where numerous animals congregate from a great distance to
+drink at a solitary water, the huntsman constructs a rude shelter in
+which for hours he remains concealed and motionless until the thirsty
+animals approach; kangaroos, cockatoos, pigeons, and all other beings
+that run and fly are in this case indiscriminately sacrificed, and the
+patient endurance of the hunter is generally richly rewarded by the booty
+he obtains.
+
+But the mode of tracking a kangaroo until it is wearied out is the one
+which beyond all others excites the admiration of the natives; this calls
+out every qualification prized by savages: skill in tracking, endurance
+of hunger and thirst, unwearied bodily exertion, and lasting
+perseverance. To perform this feat a native starts upon the tracks of a
+kangaroo, which he follows until he sights it, when it flies timidly
+before him; again he pursues the track, and again the animal bounds from
+him; and this is repeated until nightfall, when the native lights his
+fire and sleeps upon the track; with the first light of day the hunt is
+resumed, and towards the close of the second day, or in the course of the
+third, the kangaroo falls a victim to its pursuer. None but a skilful
+huntsman in the pride of youth and strength can perform this feat, and
+one who has frequently practised it always enjoys great renown amongst
+his fellows.
+
+COOKING A KANGAROO.
+
+Before they commence cooking the kangaroo an incision is made round the
+base of the tail to the bone, and another incision skin deep round the
+tip. The skin is then pulled away from the other part with all the sinews
+of the tail attached to it, and these are drawn carefully out and at once
+rolled round the dowuk, so as to keep them stretched: their future use is
+either to sew cloaks and bags, or to make spears.
+
+Two modes of cooking the kangaroo are common; the first is to make an
+oven by digging a hole in the sand, in which a fire is lighted; when the
+sand is well heated and a large heap of ashes is collected the hole is
+scraped out and the kangaroo is placed in it, skin and all; it is then
+covered over with ashes, and a slow fire is kept up above it; when
+sufficiently baked it is taken out and laid upon its back; the first
+incision is made directly down from between the forearms to the bottom of
+the abdomen, the intestines are then removed, and the whole of the juice
+or gravy is left in the body of the animal. This is carefully taken out
+and the body is then cut up and eaten.
+
+The other mode is simply to kill the kangaroo and then to broil the
+different portions of it on the fire: certain parts are considered great
+delicacies, and these the young men are forbidden to eat; such are the
+blood, the entrails, and the marrow. The blood is always carefully
+collected in one of the intestines so as to form a long sausage and is
+afterwards eaten by the most influential man present.
+
+METHODS OF TAKING AND COOKING FISH.
+
+It will be seen from the foregoing list that the smaller sorts of fish
+eaten by the natives are very numerous: there are however several kinds
+which from superstitious prejudices they will not touch; amongst these
+are the Bamba, or stingray. I should here observe that these prejudices
+are local, and I have seen them reject at one portion of the continent
+articles of food which at a distant part they will eat readily.
+
+Three modes of taking fish are commonly practised: spearing them;
+catching them by means of a weir; and taking them in a net. A party of
+natives spearing fish in one of their large shallow estuaries is an
+extremely picturesque sight; they follow all the tortuous windings of the
+fish they are pursuing, as it darts about in the water, with great
+rapidity; and, the object of their pursuit being concealed from a distant
+spectator, they appear to be running about in the sea and dashing up the
+foam for no conceivable cause or reason. Notwithstanding the speed they
+are running with and the smallness of the object, in striking they rarely
+miss their aim. In deep rivers or in the sea the mode of spearing fish
+varies according to the circumstances of the case; sometimes it is done
+by diving, sometimes by sitting on a rock or tree and watching them as
+they pass underneath; but in all cases astonishment is excited to see the
+celerity and accuracy with which the eye and hand act in the nicest
+unison.
+
+Weirs are only constructed across places which are left nearly dry at
+low-water, or when the floods subside; and the way in which fish are
+taken in the net offers nothing remarkable.
+
+METHODS OF COOKING FISH.
+
+If the fish are not cooked by being merely thrown on the fire and broiled
+they dress them in a manner worthy of being adopted by the most civilized
+nations; this is called "Yudarn dookoon," or "tying-up cooking." A piece
+of thick and tender paperbark is selected and torn into an oblong form;
+the fish is laid in this, and the bark wrapped round it as paper is
+folded round a cutlet; strings formed of grass are then wound tightly
+about the bark and fish, which is then slowly baked in heated sand
+covered with hot ashes; when it is completed the bark is opened and
+serves as a dish: it is of course full of juice and gravy, not a drop of
+which has escaped. Several of the smaller sorts of freshwater fish, in
+size and taste resembling white-bait, are really delicious when cooked in
+this manner; they occasionally also dress pieces of kangaroo and other
+meats in the same way.
+
+FEASTING ON A STRANDED WHALE.
+
+A whale is the greatest delicacy that a native can partake of, and,
+whilst standing beside the giant frame of one of these monsters of the
+deep, he can only be compared to a mouse standing before a huge
+plum-cake; in either case the mass of the food compared to that of the
+consumer is enormous. It is impossible for civilized man to enter into
+the feelings of the savage under these circumstances, for he has never
+been similarly situated. He never has had such a quantity of food that he
+doats on placed at once before him; hence when a native proprietor of an
+estate in Australia finds a whale thrown ashore upon his property his
+whole feelings undergo a sudden revulsion. Instead of being churlishly
+afraid of the slightest aggression on his property his heart expands with
+benevolence, and he longs to see his friends about him; so he falls to
+work with his wives and kindles large fires to give notice of the joyful
+event.
+
+This duty being performed, he rubs himself all over with the blubber,
+then anoints his favourite wives, and thus prepared cuts his way through
+the blubber into the flesh or beef, the grain of which is about as firm
+as a goose-quill, of this he selects the nicest morsels, and either
+broils them on the fire or cooks them as kabobs by cutting them into
+small pieces and spitting them on a pointed stick.
+
+By and bye other natives come gaily trooping in from all quarters: by
+night they dance and sing, and by day they eat and sleep, and for days
+this revelry continues unchecked, until they at last fairly eat their way
+into the whale, and you see them climbing in and about the stinking
+carcase, choosing tit-bits. In general the natives are very particular
+about not eating meat that is fly-blown or tainted, but when a whale is
+in question this nicety of appetite vanishes. I attribute this to their
+disliking in the first instance to leave the carcase, and then gradually
+getting accustomed to its smell; but whatever may be the reason they
+remain by the carcase for many days, rubbed from head to foot with
+stinking blubber, gorged to repletion with putrid meat, out of temper
+from indigestion, and therefore engaged in constant frays, suffering from
+a cutaneous disorder by high feeding, and altogether a disgusting
+spectacle. There is no sight in the world more revolting than to see a
+young and gracefully formed native girl stepping out of the carcase of a
+putrid whale. When they at last quit their feast they carry off as much
+as they can stagger under, to eat upon the way, and to take as a rarity
+to their distant friends.
+
+MODE OF KILLING SEALS AND WILD DOGS.
+
+Killing seals is, from the habits of these animals, necessarily an
+exciting species of hunting in the southern and western portions of the
+continent. It is only enjoyed by the natives when they can surprise a
+seal upon the beach or in the surf, or when they swim off to some of the
+small rocky islands which are connected with the main by reefs, and are
+at no great distance from it; they are themselves fond of this sport, and
+the clambering about the wild rocks of their native shore, at one time
+leaping from rock to rock, spearing fish that lie in the quiet pools, in
+the next moment dashing into the boisterous surf to spear a large fish,
+to battle with a seal, or to turn a turtle, cannot but be an exhilarating
+occupation; and when to this we add that their steps are followed by a
+wife and children, as dear to them as ours are to us, who are witnesses
+of their agility and prowess, and who, when the game is killed, will help
+to light the fire in which it is to be cooked, and drag it to the
+resting-place, where the father romps with the little ones until the meal
+is prepared, and that all this takes place in a climate so mild and
+genial that a house is not necessary, we shall perhaps the less wonder
+that it should be so difficult to induce a savage to embrace the customs
+of civilized life.
+
+There is nothing peculiar in their mode of killing wild dogs; puppies are
+of course the greatest delicacy, and are often feasted on; they sometimes
+however save these in order to keep them in a domesticated state, and in
+this case one of the elder females of the family suckles them at her own
+breast and soon grows almost as fond of them as of children. A dog is
+baked whole in the same manner as a kangaroo; it is laid on its back in
+the hole in the heated sand, and its nose, fore-paws and hind-paws are
+left sticking out of the ashes which are scraped over it, so that it
+bears rather a ludicrous appearance.
+
+MODE OF KILLING TURTLE AND COCKATOOS.
+
+The green turtle are surprised by the natives on the beach when they come
+to lay their eggs, and are very rarely taken much to the south of Shark
+Bay, but freshwater turtle are extremely abundant, and are in high season
+about December and January. At this time the natives assemble near the
+freshwater lakes and lagoons in large numbers; these natural reservoirs
+are then shrunk to their lowest limits from evaporation and other causes,
+and are thickly overgrown with reeds and rushes. Among these the natives
+wade with stealthy pace, so stealthy that they even creep upon wild-fowl
+and spear them. The habits of the turtle are to swim lazily along near
+the surface of the water, about half immersed, biting and smelling at the
+various aquatic plants which they pass, and turning their long ungainly
+necks in all directions. When alarmed by the approach of a native the
+turtle instantly sinks to the bottom like a stone, and its pursuer,
+putting out his foot, the toes of which he uses to seize anything, just
+as we do our fingers, gropes about with it in the weeds, until he feels
+the turtle, and then, holding it to the ground, plunges his hands and
+arms in and seizes his prey. I have known two or three of them to catch
+fourteen turtle, none of which weighed less than one, and many of them as
+much as two or three pounds, in the course of a very short time.
+
+These freshwater turtle are cooked by being baked, shell and all, in the
+hot ashes; when they are done a single pull removes the bottom shell, and
+the whole animal remains in the upper one, which serves as a dish. They
+are generally very fat, and are really delicate and delicious eating; the
+natives are extremely fond of them, and the turtle season is looked
+forward to by them as a very important period of the year.
+
+BIRDS.
+
+Birds form a very considerable article of food for the natives, and their
+modes of killing them are so various that it would be impossible to
+enumerate them all. Emus are killed in precisely the same manner as
+kangaroos, but as they are more prized by the natives a greater degree of
+excitement prevails when an emu is slain; shout succeeds shout, and the
+distant natives take up the cry until it is sometimes re-echoed for
+miles: yet the feast which follows the death is a very exclusive one; the
+flesh is by far too delicious to be made a common article of food, hence
+heavy penalties are pronounced against young men and unauthorized persons
+who venture to touch it, and these are invariably rigidly enforced.
+
+KILLING COCKATOOS.
+
+Perhaps as fine a sight as can be seen in the whole circle of native
+sports is the killing cockatoos with the kiley, or boomerang. A native
+perceives a large flight of cockatoos in a forest which encircles a
+lagoon; the expanse of water affords an open clear space above it,
+unencumbered with trees, but which raise their gigantic forms all around,
+more vigorous in their growth from the damp soil in which they flourish;
+and in their leafy summits sit a countless number of cockatoos, screaming
+and flying from tree to tree, as they make their arrangements for a
+night's sound sleep. The native throws aside his cloak so that he may not
+even have this slight covering to impede his motions, draws his kiley
+from his belt, and with a noiseless, elastic step approaches the lagoon,
+creeping from tree to tree, from bush to bush, and disturbing the birds
+as little as possible; their sentinels however take the alarm, the
+cockatoos farthest from the water fly to the trees near its edge, and
+thus they keep concentrating their forces as the native advances; they
+are aware that danger is at hand but are ignorant of its nature. At
+length the pursuer almost reaches the edge of the water, and the scared
+cockatoos, with wild cries, spring into the air; at the same instant the
+native raises his right hand high over his shoulder, and, bounding
+forward with his utmost speed for a few paces to give impetus to his
+blow, the kiley quits his hand as if it would strike the water, but when
+it has almost touched the unruffled surface of the lake it spins upwards
+with inconceivable velocity, and with the strangest contortions. In vain
+the terrified cockatoos strive to avoid it; it sweeps wildly and
+uncertainly through the air, and so eccentric are its motions that it
+requires but a slight stretch of the imagination to fancy it endowed with
+life, and with fell swoops is in rapid pursuit of the devoted birds, some
+of whom are almost certain to be brought screaming to the earth.
+
+But the wily savage has not yet done with them. He avails himself of the
+extraordinary attachment which these birds have for one another, and,
+fastening a wounded one to a tree, so that its cries may induce its
+companions to return, he watches his opportunity by throwing his kiley or
+spear to add another bird or two to the booty he has already obtained.
+
+MODE OF KILLING WILD-FOWL.
+
+The various kinds of wild-fowl with which the rivers and lagoons of
+Australia abound afford a never-failing supply of food to the natives,
+and many are the arts to which they have recourse to entrap these wary
+birds. During the period of the moulting season they catch many black
+swans. Some of the young men lie for hours in ambush on the banks until
+the unconscious swans have ventured so far into shallow water that they
+can run round them and cut off their retreat. When this auspicious moment
+arrives, with loud shouts the men dash in, and whilst one party
+intercepts the birds, so that they cannot get into the deeps, a second
+soon runs them down. In the same manner they take the young cygnets; and
+these I believe to be as good eating and as delicate an article of food
+as any country can produce.
+
+It is also an interesting sight to see the natives creep after wild-fowl,
+and under cover of the reeds and bushes get so near that they can either
+spear them or catch them with a noose. A reedy lagoon lies at your feet,
+almost surrounded by rocky cliffs and dusky woods; there are some small
+open spaces of water, but generally it is so thickly overgrown with high
+reeds that it looks rather like a swampy wood than a lake; in the
+distance you see curling up a thin cloud of blue smoke, which indicates
+that a native encampment is at hand. The forms of many wild-fowl are seen
+swimming about among the reeds, for a moment caught sight of, and in the
+next lost in the dusky green of the vegetation. Every now and then a
+small party of them rise up, and after winging their way two or three
+times round the lagoon, at the same time giving a series of their quack,
+quack, which are loudly responded to from the recesses of the reeds, they
+again settle down in another part of it.
+
+This circumstance and a few other signs induce a sportsman to suspect
+that there is some mischief afloat, and his doubts are soon set at rest:
+upon some bough of a tree, which stretches far out over the water and
+thus affords its occupant a view of all that is passing in the lake
+below, he sees extended the form of an aged native, his white locks
+fluttering in the breeze; he is too old to take a part in the sport that
+is going on, but watches every movement with the most intense interest,
+and by well-known signs directs the movements of the hunters, who may now
+be seen creeping noiselessly through the water, and at times they appear
+so black and still that even a practised huntsman doubts for a moment
+whether it is a man or the stump of a tree which he looks on. The natives
+are sometimes very successful in this kind of hunting: I have known a
+single man spear or noose ten wild-fowl, of different sorts, in an hour
+and a half or two hours' time.
+
+One very dexterous feat which the natives perform is to kill a bird as it
+flies from the nest. This is executed by two men, one of whom, placing
+himself under the nest, throws a spear through its centre, so as to hit
+the bird in the breast, which, frightened and slightly wounded, flies
+out, and is then struck to the ground by the dow-uk, which the other
+native hurls at it as it quits the tree. They are such good shots with
+these short, heavy sticks that pigeons, quails, and even the smallest
+birds, are usually knocked over with them; and I have often seen them
+kill a pigeon with a spear, at the distance of about thirty paces.
+
+MODES OF COOKING BIRDS.
+
+Birds are generally cooked by plucking them and throwing them on the
+fire, certain portions of the entrails being considered a great delicacy:
+but when they wish to dress a bird very nicely they first of all draw it
+and cook the entrails separately; a triangle is then formed round the
+bird by three red-hot pieces of stick, against which ashes are placed.
+Hot coals are also stuffed into the inside of the bird, and it is thus
+rapidly cooked and left full of gravy. Wild-fowl dressed in this way on a
+clean piece of bark form as good a dish as I have ever eaten.
+
+OPOSSUM HUNTING.
+
+Opossum hunting is pursued either by day or during a moonlight night. A
+stranger cannot but be favourably impressed with regard to the quickness
+of a native in discovering whether or not an opossum has ascended a tree.
+The savage carelessly walks up to some massive trunk which he thinks
+bears a suspicious appearance, his hands are placed thoughtlessly behind
+his back, whilst his dark eye glances over the bark; suddenly it is for
+one moment stationary, and he looks eagerly at the tree, for he has
+detected the holes made by the nails of an opossum in its ascent; he now
+seeks for one of these foot-marks, which has a little sand attached to
+it, and gently blows the sand, but it sticks together, and does not
+easily move away, this is a proof that the animal has climbed the tree
+the same morning, for otherwise the sand would have been dried up by the
+heat of the sun, and, not being held together by dampness, would have
+been readily swept away before his breath. Having by this examination of
+signs, which an unskilled European in vain strains his eyes to detect,
+convinced himself that the opossum is in some hole of the tree, the
+native pulls his hatchet from his girdle and, cutting a small notch in
+the bark about four feet from the ground, he places the great toe of his
+right foot in it, throws his right arm round the tree, and with his left
+hand sticks the point handle of the hatchet into the bark as high up as
+he can reach, and thus forms a stay to drag himself up with; having made
+good this step he cuts another for his left foot, and thus proceeds until
+he has ascended to the hole where the opossum is hid, which is then
+compelled by smoke, or by being poked out, to quit its hiding-place,
+when, the native catching hold of its tail, dashes it down on the ground
+and quietly descends after it. As the opossum gives a very severe and
+painful bite the natives are careful to lay hold of it in such a manner
+as to run the least possible danger of being seized by its teeth.
+
+Opossum hunting by moonlight, excepting in the beauty of the spectacle,
+offers no feature different from what I have above described; the dusky
+forms of the natives moving about in the gloomy woods and gazing up into
+the trees to detect an animal feeding, whilst in the distance natives
+with firesticks come creeping after them, is a picturesque sight, and it
+is also pretty to see the dark body of the native against the moonlight
+as he climbs the tree, forcing the poor opossum to retreat to the very
+end of some branch, whence he is shaken off or knocked down with a stick.
+The natives themselves like these moonlight expeditions and speak with
+enthusiasm of them. They are particularly fond of spearing fish at
+certain seasons of the year, in which case they go along the shoal water
+with a light, and proceed exactly in the manner still practised in
+Scotland and Ireland.
+
+CATCHING FROGS. METHOD OF TAKING SHELLFISH.
+
+The season of the year in which the natives catch the greatest quantity
+of frogs and freshwater shellfish is when the swamps are nearly dried up;
+these animals then bury themselves in holes in the mud, and the native
+women with their long sticks and long thin arms, which they plunge up to
+the shoulder in the slime, manage to drag them out; at all seasons
+however they catch some of these animals, but in summer a whole troop of
+native women may be seen paddling about in a swamp, slapping themselves
+to kill the mosquitoes and sandflies, and every now and then plunging
+their arms down into the mud, and dragging forth their prey. I have often
+seen them with ten or twelve pounds weight of frogs in their bag.
+
+Frogs are cooked on a slow fire of wood ashes. They are then held in one
+hand by the hind legs, and a dexterous pinch with the finger and thumb of
+the other at once removes the lower portion of the intestines. The
+remainder of the animal is then taken at a mouthful and fairly eaten from
+the head to the toes.
+
+The freshwater shellfish vary in size from that of a prawn to a large
+crayfish; the smallest are the best, and when nicely roasted there is no
+difference in taste between them and a shrimp. It is worthy of remark
+that the natives in the south-western part of Australia will not touch
+freshwater mussels, which are very abundant in the rivers, whilst in the
+north-western part of the continent they form a staple article of food.
+
+GRUBS AND WALLABIES.
+
+Grubs are principally procured by the natives from the Xanthorrhoea or
+grass-tree, but they are also found in wattle-trees, and in dead timber;
+those found in the grass-tree have a fragrant aromatic flavour and taste
+very like a nice nut. Their presence in a tree is thus ascertained: if
+the top of the tree is observed to be dead the native gives it a few
+sharp kicks with his foot, when, if it contains any barde or grubs, it
+begins to give, and if this takes place he pushes the tree over, and,
+gradually breaking it to pieces with his hammer, he extracts the grubs,
+of which sometimes more than a hundred are found in a single tree.
+
+Until the top of the tree is dead it is not a proper receptacle for these
+animals. The natives are therefore in the habit of breaking off the tops
+of the grass-trees on their land at a particular season of the year in
+order that they may have an abundance of this highly-prized article of
+food. If two or more men have a right to hunt over the same portion of
+ground, and one of them breaks off the tops of certain trees, by their
+laws the grubs in these are his property and no one else has a right to
+touch the tree. No mistake on this point can occur, for if the top of the
+tree dies naturally it still remains in its original position, whereas a
+native who thus prepares the tree knocks it off altogether; an instance
+occurred at King George's Sound of a native travelling between thirty and
+forty miles to lay a complaint before the Resident that another had been
+guilty of this unpardonable breach of honesty, and, notwithstanding it
+had been clearly brought home to him, still stoutly refused to make any
+amends.
+
+When there is a grub in a wattle-tree its diseased state, which produces
+excrescences, soon betrays this circumstance to the watchful eyes of a
+native, and an animal much larger than those found in the grass-tree is
+soon extracted; they seldom however find more than one or two of these in
+the same tree.
+
+Grubs are either eaten raw or roasted; they are best roasted tied up in a
+piece of bark in the manner in which I have before stated that they cook
+their fish. If the natives are taunted with eating such a disgusting
+species of food as these grubs appear to Europeans they invariably retort
+by accusing us of eating raw oysters, which they regard with perfect
+horror.
+
+HUNTING THE SMALLER ANIMALS.
+
+The smaller species of animals are either caught by surprising them in
+their seats or by burning the bush. A native hunting for food has his
+eyes in constant motion and nothing escapes them; he sees a kangaroo-rat
+Sitting in a bush, and he walks towards it as if about to pass it
+carelessly, but suddenly, when on one side of it, he stamps on the bush
+with all his force, and crushes the little animal to death; should it be
+rapid enough in its movements to avoid this blow he hurls his dow-uk at
+it as it scampers off, and should he not hit it he runs after and tracks
+it to some dead hollow tree, lying on the ground, in which it has taken
+shelter, and with the aid of his spear, which is about ten feet long, he
+draws it out.
+
+Another very ingenious mode of taking wallaby and the smaller kind of
+kangaroos is to select a thick bushy place where there are plenty of
+these animals; the bushes are then broken down in a circle round the spot
+where they intend to hunt, so as to form a space of broken scrub about
+ten feet wide all round a thick bush, they thus not only destroy the runs
+of the animals but form with the fallen bushes a place which so
+embarrasses and entangles them that they find great difficulty in passing
+it; indeed when these preparations have been made the natives fire the
+bush and the frightened animals, finding their runs stopped up, rush into
+the fallen branches, where every jump which they make upon their hind
+legs only involves them in greater difficulties, so that they fall an
+easy prey to their pursuers.
+
+Some of the smaller animals such as the dal-gyte, an animal about the
+size of a weasel, burrow in the earth; these the natives surprise when
+they are feeding or dig them from their burrows. They are all cooked by
+having their fur singed off and being roasted on the fire; to the taste
+of a native the skinning a small animal would be an abomination, and I
+must really confess that a kangaroo-rat, nicely singed and cooked by
+them, is not a bad dish for a hungry traveller.
+
+Although the natives could in many districts procure native salt, and
+most certainly from its abundance cannot be unacquainted with it, they
+never use it until they have seen Europeans do so, and even then do not
+at first like it. They also dislike mustard, sauces, etc., when they
+first eat them, and indeed nothing can be more ludicrous than their
+grimaces are the first time mustard is given to them upon a piece of
+meat.
+
+ROOTS EATEN BY NATIVES. EDIBLE ROOTS AND SEEDS.
+
+The roots eaten by the natives belong to the following genera:
+
+Dioscorea, two species.
+Haemadorum, several species, as the Mene, Ngool-ya, Mudja, etc. etc.
+Geranium, several species.
+Boerhaavia, two species.
+Typha, two species.
+Orchis, several species.
+
+RULES FOR GATHERING ROOTS AND PLANTS.
+
+Some of these are in season in every period of the year and the natives
+regulate their visits to the different districts accordingly. Those
+plants which grow in a stiff soil cannot be dug up by their implements
+without great difficulty in the heat of the dry season, but those which
+grow in a loose sandy soil can be obtained at all times. The natives have
+however a law that no plant bearing seeds is to be dug up after it has
+flowered; they then call them (for example) the mother of Bohn, the
+mother of Mudja, etc.; and so strict are they in their observance of this
+rule that I have never seen a native violate it unless requested by an
+European, and even then they betray a great dislike to do so.
+
+The abundance of these roots varies, of course, with the nature of the
+soil, etc., but when there is a scarcity of any one of them this is amply
+provided for by the abundance of others. In the Province of Victoria, as
+already stated, I have seen tracts of land, several square miles in
+extent, so thickly studded with holes where the natives had been digging
+up yams (Dioscorea) that it was difficult to walk across it. Again, in
+the sandy desert country which surrounds for many miles the town of
+Perth, in Western Australia, the different species of Haemadorum are very
+plentiful.
+
+GATHERING AND COOKING ROOTS. MODE OF COOKING AND PREPARING THEM.
+
+It is generally considered the province of women to dig roots, and for
+this purpose they carry a long pointed stick which is held in the right
+hand and driven firmly into the ground, where it is shaken so as to
+loosen the earth, which is scooped up and thrown out with the fingers of
+the left hand, and in this manner they dig with great rapidity. But the
+labour in proportion to the amount obtained is great. To get a yam about
+half an inch in circumference and a foot in length they have to dig a
+hole above a foot square and two feet in depth; a considerable portion of
+the time of the women and children is therefore passed in this
+employment.
+If the men are absent upon any expedition the females are left in charge
+of one who is old or sick; and in traversing the bush you often stumble
+on a large party of them, scattered about in the forest, digging roots,
+and collecting the different species of fungus.
+
+The roots are eaten raw or roasted in the fire; in either case they are,
+most of them, very good. Some have the taste of a mild onion, and others
+have almost the taste and appearance of a small English potato, but of
+these only a single root is attached to each plant: the mene has rather
+an acid taste and when eaten alone is said, by the natives, to cause
+dysentery; they never use it in the southern districts without pounding
+it between two stones and sprinkling over it a few pinches of an earth
+which they consider extremely good and nutritious; they then pound the
+mould and root together into a paste, and swallow it as a bonne bouche,
+the noxious qualities of the plant being destroyed by the earth.
+
+Many other roots are pounded between flat stones into a paste and are
+then made into a cake and baked. The two roots which taste the best, when
+cooked in this way, are the jee-ta and yunjid.
+
+The former of these resembles in appearance and taste the unripe seeds of
+Indian corn; it is in season in June and is really very palatable. The
+latter is the root of a species of flag, and consists of a case enclosing
+a multitude of tender filaments, with nodules of farinaceous matter
+adhering to them. These are collected into a mass by pounding the root,
+and the cake formed from the paste is very nice. The natives must be
+admitted to bestow a sort of cultivation upon this root, as they
+frequently burn the leaves of the plant in the dry seasons in order to
+improve it.
+
+EDIBLE FUNGI AND GUMS.
+
+The different kinds of fungus are very good. In certain seasons of the
+year they are abundant and the natives eat them greedily.
+
+Kwon-nat is the kind of gum which most abounds and is considered the
+nicest article of food. It is a species of gum-tragacynth. In the summer
+months the acacias growing in swampy plains are literally loaded with
+this gum, and the natives assemble in numbers to partake of this
+favourite esculent. As but few places afford a sufficient supply of food
+to support a large assemblage of persons these Kwon-nat grounds are
+generally the spots at which their annual barter meetings are held, and
+during these fun, frolic, and quarrelling of every description prevail.
+
+POISONOUS NUTS.
+
+No article of food used by the natives is more deserving of notice than
+the by-yu. This name is applied to the pulp of the nut of a species of
+palm which, in its natural state, acts as a most violent emetic and
+cathartic; the natives themselves consider it as a rank poison: they
+however are acquainted with a very artificial method of preparing it, by
+which it is completely deprived of its noxious qualities and then becomes
+an agreeable and nutritious article of food. Europeans who are not
+acquainted with this mode of preparing the nut, the stones of which they
+find lying about the fireplaces of the natives, are frequently tempted to
+eat it in its natural state, but they invariably pay a severe penalty for
+the mistake. The following extract, from Captain Cook's * first voyage,
+gives one instance of this:
+
+(*Footnote. Volume 2 page 624.)
+
+The third sort, which, like the second, is found only in the Northern
+parts, seldom grows more than ten feet high, with small pinnated leaves,
+resembling those of some kind of fern; it bears no cabbage, but a
+plentiful crop of nuts, about the size of a large chestnut, but rounder.
+As the hulls of these were found scattered round the places where the
+Indians had made their fires it was taken for granted that they were fit
+to eat; however those who made the experiment paid dear for their
+knowledge to the contrary, for they operated both as an emetic and
+cathartic, with great violence: still however it was not doubted but they
+were eaten by the Indians, and, in order to determine this more clearly,
+they were carried to the hogs, who might be supposed to have a
+constitution as strong as the Indians, although the ship's people had
+not. The hogs ate them indeed, and for some time apparently without
+suffering any inconvenience, but in about a week they were so much
+disordered that two of them died; the rest were recovered with great
+difficulty. It is probable however that the poisonous quality of these
+nuts may lie in the juice, like that of the cassada of the West Indies,
+and that the pulp, when dried, may be not only wholesome but nutritious.
+
+...
+
+MODE OF RENDERING THEM INNOXIOUS.
+
+The native women collect the nuts from the palms in the month of March,
+and, having placed them in some shallow pool of water, they leave them to
+soak for several days. When they have ascertained that the by-yu has been
+immersed in water for a sufficient time they dig, in a dry sandy place,
+holes which they call mor-dak; these holes are about the depth that a
+person's arms can reach, and one foot in diameter; they line them with
+rushes and fill them up with the nuts, over which they sprinkle a little
+sand, and then cover the holes nicely over with the tops of the
+grass-tree; in about a fortnight the pulp which encases the nut becomes
+quite dry, and it is then fit to eat, but if eaten before that it
+produces the effects already described. The natives eat this pulp both
+raw and roasted; in the latter state they taste quite as well as a
+chestnut. The process which these nuts undergo in the hands of the
+natives has no effect upon the kernel, which still acts both as a strong
+emetic and cathartic.
+
+I have taken some trouble to ascertain if any traditional notion exists
+amongst the natives which would in any way account for their having first
+obtained a knowledge of the means by which they could render the
+deleterious pulp of the Zamia nut a useful article of food; but in this,
+as in all other similar instances, they are very unwilling to confess
+their ignorance of a thing, and rather than do so will often invent a
+tradition. Hence many intelligent persons have raised most absurd
+theories and have committed lamentable errors.
+
+ROVING HABITS DEPENDANT ON FOOD.
+
+The other kinds of food which I have mentioned on the list scarcely
+require a particular description. They are collected by the people as
+they rove from spot to spot, and are rather used as adjuncts to help out
+a meal than as staple articles of provision; several of them are however
+much liked by the natives, and they always regulate the visits to their
+hunting grounds so as to be at any part which plentifully produces a
+certain sort of food at the time this article is in full season: this
+roving habit produces a similar character in the kangaroos, emus, and
+other sorts of game which are never driven more from one part than from
+another. In fact they are kept in a constant state of movement from place
+to place; but directly a European settles down in the country his
+constant residence in one spot soon sends the animals away from it, and
+although he may in no other way interfere with the natives the mere
+circumstance of his residing there does the man on whose land he settles
+the injury of depriving him of his ordinary means of subsistence.
+
+EDIBLE PRODUCTIONS VARY IN DIPFERENT DISTRICTS. COMMON RIGHTS IN CERTAIN
+FOOD.
+
+If the land of any native is deficient in any particular article of food,
+such as, by-yu, mun-gyte (Banksia flowers) etc., he makes a point of
+visiting some neighbour whose property is productive in this particular
+article at the period in which it is in perfection; and there are even
+some tracts of land which abound in gum, kwon-nat, etc., which numerous
+families appear to have an acknowledged right to visit at the period of
+the year when this article is in season, although they are not allowed to
+come there at any other time. This is a curious point and might throw
+some further light upon the subject of their families or lines of
+descent.
+
+It must be borne in mind that the articles of food I have enumerated in
+this chapter belong only to a particular district of about two hundred
+miles in extent, for every degree of latitude some articles would
+disappear from the list, whilst other new ones would enter into it. For
+instance on the north-west coast they eat a species of oyster (unio) the
+almonds of the pandanus, wild grapes, guavas, the excellent fruit of a
+species of capparis, and many other articles which are not known upon the
+south-west coast; but these are procured and cooked in the same manner as
+the articles which I have already enumerated. My object being merely to
+give such an outline as would enable the reader to understand well the
+mode of life of an Australian savage, I did not think such particular
+details necessary as I should have been led into, had I enumerated all
+the sorts of food which I have seen eaten by the natives in Australia.
+
+
+CHAPTER 15. SONGS AND POETRY.
+
+GENERAL PRACTICE OF SINGING. TRADITIONAL SONGS.
+
+Like all other savage races the natives of Western Australia are very
+fond of singing and dancing: to a sulky old native his song is what a
+quid of tobacco is to a sailor; is he angry, he sings; is he glad, he
+sings; is he hungry, he sings; if he is full, provided he is not so full
+as to be in a state of stupor, he sings more lustily than ever; and it is
+the peculiar character of their songs which renders them under all
+circumstances so solacing to them. The songs are short, containing
+generally only one or two ideas, and are constantly repeated over and
+over again in a manner doubtless grating to the untutored ear of a
+European, but to one skilled in Australian music lulling and harmonious
+in the extreme, and producing much the same effect as the singing of a
+nurse does upon a child.
+
+SONG OF AN OLD MAN IN WRATH. SCENE PRODUCED BY IT.
+
+Nothing can give a better idea of the character of these people than
+their songs. In England an elderly gentleman, who has been at all put out
+of his way by encroachments and trespasses upon his property, sits over
+his fire in the evening, sipping his port and brooding over vengeance by
+means of the law; but the law is tortuous, expensive, and uncertain; his
+revenge is very distant from him; under these circumstances the more the
+elderly gentleman talks the more irate he becomes. Very different is the
+conduct of the elderly Australian gentleman. He comes to his hut at night
+in a towering passion; tucks his legs under him, and seats himself upon
+his heels before the fire; he calls to his wife for pieces of quartz and
+some dried kangaroo sinews, then forthwith begins sharpening and
+polishing his spears, and whilst thus occupied, sings to himself:
+
+I'll spear his liver,
+I'll spear his lights,
+I'll spear his heart,
+I'll spear his thigh,
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+After a while he pauses and examines the point he has been working at; it
+is very sharp, and he gives a grunt of satisfaction. His wives now chime
+in:
+
+The wooden-headed,
+Bandy-legged,
+Thin-thighed fellows--
+The bone-rumped,
+Long-shinned,
+Thin-thighed fellows.
+
+The old gentleman looks rather more murderous but withal more pleasant,
+and as he begins to sharpen his second spear he chants out:
+
+I'll spear their liver,
+I'll spear their bowels,
+I'll spear their hearts,
+I'll spear their loins.
+
+As he warms on the subject he ships his spear in the throwing-stick,
+quivers it in the air, and imitates rapidly the adventures of the fight
+of the coming day: then the recollections of the deeds of his youth rush
+through his mind; he changes his measure to a sort of recitative, and
+commences an account of some celebrated fray of bygone times; the
+children and young men crowd round from the neighbouring huts, the old
+gentleman becomes more and more vociferous, first he sticks his spear
+point under his arm and lies on his side to imitate a man dying, yet
+chanting away furiously all the time, then he grows still more animated,
+occasionally adjusting his spear with his throwing-stick and quivering it
+with a peculiar grace. The young women now come timidly up to see what is
+going on; little flirtations take place in the background, whereat the
+very elderly gentlemen with very young wives, whose dignity would be
+compromised by appearing to take an interest in passing events, and who
+have therefore remained seated in their own huts, wax jealous, and
+despatch their mothers and aged wives to look after the younger ladies.
+These venerable females have a dread of evil spirits, and consequently
+will not move from the fire without carrying a fire-stick in their hands;
+the bush is now dotted about with these little moving points of fire, all
+making for a common centre, at which are congregated old and young; jest
+follows jest, one peal of laughter rings close upon the heels of another,
+the elderly gentleman is loudly applauded by the bystanders, and, having
+fairly sung the wrath out of himself, he assists in getting up the dances
+and songs with which their evening terminates.
+
+INFLUENCE OF THEIR SONGS.
+
+Is a native afraid, he sings himself full of courage; in fact under all
+circumstances he finds aid and comfort from a song. Their songs are
+therefore naturally varied in their form; but they are all concise and
+convey in the simplest manner the most moving ideas: by a song or wild
+chant composed under the excitement of the moment the women irritate the
+men to acts of vengeance; and four or five mischievously inclined old
+women can soon stir up forty or fifty men to any deed of blood by means
+of their chants, which are accompanied by tears and groans, until the men
+are worked into a perfect state of frenzy.
+
+NATIVE POETS.
+
+A true poet in Australia is highly appreciated. Simple as their songs
+appear, there are in them many niceties which a European cannot detect;
+it is probable that what is most highly estimated by this people is that
+the cadence of the song, and the wild air to which it is chanted, should
+express well to their ideas the feelings and passions intended to
+predominate in the mind at the moment in which it is sung: hence we find
+that the compositions of some of these poets pass from family to family,
+and from district to district, until they have very probably traversed
+the whole continent; the natives themselves having at last no idea of the
+point where they originated, or of the meaning of the words which they
+sing, successive changes of dialect having so altered the song that
+probably not one of the original words remains; but they sing sounds
+analogous to these, to the proper air. And this is not confined to
+Western Australia, for Mr. Threlkeld, in his Australian Grammar,* says:
+
+There are poets among them who compose songs which are sung and danced to
+by their own tribe in the first place, after which other tribes learn the
+song and dance, which itinerates from tribe to tribe throughout the
+country, until, from change of dialect, the very words are not understood
+by the blacks.
+
+(*Footnote. Page 90.)
+
+...
+
+A family seldom make a distant friendly visit to other tribes, but they
+bring back a new song or two with them, and these, for a time, are quite
+as much the rage as a new fashionable song in England. Occasionally the
+songs also bear the name of the poet who composed them, though this is
+not often the case; there are however two or three poets in Australia who
+enjoy a great celebrity, but whether they are living, or belonged to
+ancient times, or whether they are merely imaginary beings I have never
+been able to discover.
+
+DISREGARD OF EUROPEAN MUSIC. NATIVE OPINION OF EUROPEAN SINGING.
+
+Their own songs are, according to their idea, the very perfection of
+harmony, rude and discordant as they are to our ears; perhaps no more
+extraordinary instance of the force of habit and diversity of taste than
+this could be advanced. A native sings joyously the most barbarous and
+savage sounds, which rend asunder the refined ears of the European, who
+turns away in agony from the discordant noise while the surrounding
+natives loudly applaud as soon as the singer has concluded. But should
+the astounded European endeavour to charm these wild men by one of his
+refined and elegant lays they would laugh at it as a combination of silly
+and effeminate notes, and for weeks afterwards entertain their distant
+friends, at their casual meetings, by mimicking the tone and attitude of
+the white man; an exhibition which never fails to draw down loud shouts
+of applause.
+
+Some of the natives are not however insensible to the charms of our
+music. Warrup, a native youth who lived with me for several months as a
+servant, once accompanied me to an amateur theatre at Perth, and when the
+actors came forward and sang God save the Queen he burst into tears. He
+certainly could not have comprehended the words of the song, and
+therefore must have been affected by the music alone.
+
+ADAPTATION OF DANCES TO THEIR SONGS.
+
+The only accompaniment to their songs used in the southern parts of the
+continent is the clapping of hands or the beating of a short round stick
+against the flat board with which they throw their spears; in this latter
+case the rounded stick is held in its centre, between the fingers and
+thumb of the right hand, and its ends are alternately struck against the
+flat board in such a manner as to produce a rude kind of music, in time
+to the air they are singing. Although this appears to be so very simple
+an instrument it requires some practice to beat the time accurately, and
+by young men who desire to have the reputation of being exquisites this
+is considered to be a very necessary accomplishment.
+
+Some songs have a peculiar dance connected with them; this however is not
+always the case, and I have occasionally seen the same dance adapted to
+different songs.
+
+Having given this general outline of their songs I will now add such a
+selection of them as will convey some idea of the character of their
+poetry, at the same time there is reason to believe that a good deal of
+it is traditional, and may date its origin from a very remote epoch. Some
+of their dances have also a very peculiar mystical character about them,
+and these they very unwillingly exhibit in the presence of Europeans.
+
+The following is a very favourite song of the natives to the north of
+Perth; it is sung to a wild and plaintive air, and relates to some action
+of a native who lived in that part of the continent, of the name of
+Warbunga. A little boy, a descendant of his, is still living, who bears
+the same name.
+
+SPECIMENS OF SONGS. EXAMPLES OF SONGS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS.
+
+Kad-ju bar-dook,
+War-bung-a-loo,
+War-bung-a-loo.
+Kad-ju bar-dook,
+War-bung-a-loo,
+War-bung-a-loo,
+War-bung-a-loo.
+
+They then commence again, constantly repeating these words in the same
+order.
+
+TRANSLATION.
+
+Thy hatchet is near thee,
+Oh Warbunga,
+Oh Warbunga.
+Thy hatchet is near thee,
+Warbunga-ho,
+Warbunga-ho,
+Warbunga-ho.
+
+A favourite song of the natives in the district of the Murray in Western
+Australia is:
+
+Kar-ro yool, i, yool-a!
+Kar-ro yool, i, yool-a!
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+And these words they go on singing for an hour together, in the event of
+the absence of any of their relatives or friends upon a hunting or war
+excursion.
+
+TRANSLATION.
+
+Return hither, hither ho!
+Return hither, hither ho!
+
+The following is a very good specimen of one of their comic songs. It is
+often sung by the natives in the vicinity of King George's Sound.
+
+Mat-ta, mat-ta,
+Yungore bya,
+Mat-ta, mat-ta,
+Yungore bya,
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+TRANSLATION.
+
+Oh what legs, oh what legs,
+The Kangaroo-rumped fellows,
+Oh what legs, oh what legs,
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+FUNERAL CHANT.
+
+Nothing can awake in the breast more melancholy feelings than the funeral
+chants of these people. They are sung by a whole chorus of females of all
+ages and the effect produced upon the bystanders by this wild music is
+indescribable. I will give one chant which I have heard sung upon several
+occasions.
+
+The young women sing: Kar-dang.
+The old women sing: Mam-mul.
+Together: gar-ro.
+Me-la nad-jo
+Nung-a-broo.
+Kar-dang.
+Mam-mul.
+Together: gar-ro.
+Me-la nad-jo
+Nung-a-broo.
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+TRANSLATION.
+
+My young brother
+My young son
+(again)
+In future shall I
+never see.
+My young brother
+My young son
+(again)
+In future shall I
+never see.
+
+WAR-CHANTS. INFLUENCE OF SONGS IN ROUSING THE ANGRY PASSIONS OF THE MEN.
+
+In this chant the old and young women respectively sing "my young son,"
+and, "my young brother:" the metre and rhyme are also very carefully
+preserved, and the word Kardang is evidently expressly selected for this
+purpose; for were they speaking in prose they would use a term denoting
+eldest brother, youngest brother, second brother, or some similar one;
+whilst I have heard the word Kardang always used in this chant whether
+the deceased was the first, second, or third brother.
+
+The men have also certain war-chants or songs; these they sing as they go
+walking rapidly to and fro, quivering their spears in order to work
+themselves up into a passion. The following is a very common one:
+
+Yu-do dan-na,
+Nan-do dan-na,
+My-eree dan-na,
+Goor-doo dan-na,
+Boon-gal-la dan-na,
+Gonog-o dan-na,
+Dow-al dan-na,
+Nar-ra dan-na.
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+TRANSLATION.
+
+Spear his forehead,
+Spear his breast,
+Spear his liver,
+Spear his heart,
+Spear his loins,
+Spear his shoulder,
+Spear his thigh,
+Spear his ribs,
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+Thus rapidly enumerating all the parts in which they intend to strike
+their enemies.
+
+It is very rarely that any remarkable circumstance occurs but songs are
+composed in order to perpetuate the remembrance of it. For example, when
+Miago, the first native who ever quitted Perth, was taken away in H.M.
+surveying vessel Beagle in 1838, the following song was composed by a
+native and was constantly sung by his mother (at least so she says)
+during his absence, and it has ever since been a great favourite:
+
+Ship bal win-jal bat-tar-dal gool-an-een,
+Ship bal win-jal bat-tar-dal gool-an-een.
+etc. etc. etc. etc.
+
+Whither is that lone ship wandering,
+Whither is that lone ship wandering,
+etc. etc. etc. etc.
+
+Again, on Miago's safe return, the song given below was composed by a
+native after he had heard Miago recount his adventures:
+
+Kan-de maar-o, kan-de maar-a-lo,
+Tsail-o mar-ra, tsail-o mar-ra-lo.
+etc. etc. etc. etc.
+
+Unsteadily shifts the wind-o, unsteadily shifts the wind-o,
+The sails-o handle, the sails-o handle-ho.
+
+I will now add several other songs which are composed in different
+dialects; these will serve both as examples of their metre and style of
+poetry and as specimens for the purpose of comparison with the songs of
+the natives of the other portions of the continent.
+
+Number 1.
+
+One voice:
+Djal-lee-lee-na.
+
+Chorus:
+Mong-a-da, mong-a-da,
+Mong-a-da, mong-a-da,
+Mong-a-da, mong-a-da.
+
+One voice:
+Eee-dal-lee-na.
+
+Chorus:
+Wun-a-da, wun-a-da,
+Wun-a-da, wun-a-da,
+Wun-a-da, wun-a-da.
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+They all join in the chorus of:
+
+Mong-a-da, etc. etc.
+Wun-a-da, etc. etc.
+
+And clap their hands in time to the air to which this chorus is sung, so
+that the effect produced is very good. I am unable to render this song
+into English.
+
+Number 2.
+
+Dow-al nid-ja kotiay bool-a,
+Woor-ar wur-rang-een,
+Dow-al nid-ja kotiay bool-a,
+Woor-ar wur-rang-een
+Dow-al nid-ja kotiay bool-a,
+Woor-ar wur-rang-een.
+
+These lines are repeated three times more, and then follows the chorus:
+
+Chorus:
+Ban-yee wur-rang-een,
+Koong-arree, wur-rang-een,
+Ban-yee wur-rang-een,
+Koong-arree, war-rang-een.
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+Number 3.
+
+Kat-ta ga-roo,
+Ngia
+Bur-na-ri-noo.
+Yar-dig-o-roo,
+Ngia
+Bur-na-ri-noo.
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+Number 4.
+
+Yerib-a-balo, may-il boyne ga-ree,
+Yerib-a-balo, may-il boyne ga-ree.
+etc. etc. etc.
+
+Number 5.
+
+Mar-ra boor-ba, boor-ba nung-a,
+Mar-ra gul-ga, gul-ga nung-a.
+
+SONGS AND EXTEMPORANEOUS CHANTS.
+
+These songs give however no idea of the manner in which they chant forth
+their feelings. When irritated by any passionate emotions they then pour
+out with the greatest volubility torrents of reproach, all in a measured
+cadence and with at least the same number of syllables in each line, but
+even the rhyme is generally preserved; the two following translations of
+chants of this sort are rendered as literally into English as the great
+difference between the languages permits.
+
+CHANTS OF JEALOUSY AND REPROACH.
+
+The reader must imagine a little hut, formed of sticks fixed slanting
+into the ground with pieces of bark resting against them, so as to form a
+rude shelter from the wind; underneath this were seated round a fire five
+persons--an old man, and his four wives; one of these was considerably
+younger than the others, and being a new acquisition, all but herself
+were treated with cold neglect. One of her rivals had resolved not to
+submit patiently to this, and when she saw her husband's cloak spread to
+form a couch for the newcomer she commenced chanting as follows,
+addressing old Weer-ang her husband:
+
+Wherefore came you, Weerang,
+In my beauty's pride,
+Stealing cautiously
+Like the tawny boreang,*
+On an unwilling bride.
+'Twas thus you stole me
+From one who loved me tenderly:
+A better man he was than thee,
+Who having forced me thus to wed,
+Now so oft deserts my bed.
+
+Yang, yang, yang, yoh--
+
+Oh where is he who won
+My youthful heart,
+Who oft used to bless,
+And call me loved one:
+You Weerang tore apart,
+From his fond caress,
+Her, whom you now desert and shun;
+Out upon thee faithless one:
+Oh may the Boyl-yas** bite and tear,
+Her, whom you take your bed to share.
+
+Yang, yang, yang, yoh--
+
+Wherefore does she slumber
+Upon thy breast,
+Once again to-night,
+Whilst I must number
+Hours of sad unrest,
+And broken plight.
+Is it for this that I rebuke
+Young men, who dare at me to look?
+Whilst she, replete with arts and wiles,
+Dishonours you and still beguiles.
+
+(*Footnote. Boreang is the word for a male native dog.)
+
+(**Footnote. Boyl-ya is the native name for a sorcerer.)
+
+This attack upon her character was more than the younger female could be
+expected to submit to, she therefore in return chanted:
+
+Oh, you lying, artful one,
+Wag away your dirty tongue,
+I have watched your tell-tale eyes,
+Beaming love without disguise:
+I've seen young Imbat nod and wink,
+Oftener perhaps than you may think.
+
+What further she might have said I know not; but a blow upon the head
+from her rival, which was given with the stick the women dig up the roots
+with, brought on a general engagement, and the dispute was finally
+settled by the husband beating several of his wives severely about the
+head with a hammer.
+
+The ferocity of the women when they are excited exceeds that of the men;
+they deal dreadful blows at one another with their long sticks, and if
+ever the husband is about to spear or beat one of his wives the others
+are certain to set on her and treat her with great inhumanity.
+
+CHANT EXCITING TO REVENGE.
+
+The next translation is that of a chant sung by an old woman to incite
+the men to avenge the death of a young man who died from a natural cause,
+but whose death she attributed to witchcraft and sorcery; the natives,
+who listened to her attentively, called her chanting goranween, or
+abusing. She stood with her legs wide apart, waving her wanna, or long
+digging stick in the air, and rocking her body to and fro, whilst her
+kangaroo-skin cloak floated behind her in the wind. She was thus quite
+the beau ideal of a witch. The following is the sense of the words she
+used, at least as nearly as it is possible to express their force and
+meaning in English.
+
+The blear-eyed sorcerers of the north,
+Their vile enchantments sung and wove,
+And in the night they issued forth,
+A direful people-eating drove.
+Feasting on our loved one,
+With gore-dripping teeth and tongue,
+The wretches sat, and gnawed, and ate,
+Whilst their victim soundly slept.
+
+Yho, yang, yho yang, yang yho.
+
+Aye--unconsciously he rested
+In a slumber too profound;
+The vile boyl-yas sat and feasted
+On the victim they had bound
+In resistless lethargy.
+Mooli-go, our dear young brother,
+Where is another like to thee?
+Tenderly loved by thy mother,
+We again shall never see
+Mooli-go, our dear young brother,
+
+Yho, yang yho, ho, ho.
+
+Men, who ever bold have been,
+Are your long spears sharpened well?
+Is the keen quartz fixed anew?
+Let each shaft upon them tell.
+Poise your meer-ros long and true:
+Let the kileys whiz and whirl
+In strange contortions through the air;
+Heavy dow-uks at them hurl;
+Shout the yell they dread to hear.
+Let the young men leap on high,
+To avoid the quivering spear;
+Light of limb, and quick of eye,
+Who sees well has nought to fear.
+Let them shift, and let them leap,
+When the quick spear whistling flies;
+Woe to him who cannot leap!
+Woe to him who has bad eyes!
+
+FEMALE ENERGY IN CHANTING.
+
+When one of these old hags has entered upon a chant of this kind nothing
+but complete exhaustion induces her to stop, and the instant she pauses
+another takes up the burden of her song. The effect some of them produce
+upon the assembled men is very great; in fact these addresses of the old
+women are the cause of most of the disturbances which take place. The
+above translations, without being exactly literal, are as near the
+original as I could render them. As they are entirely uttered on the spur
+of the moment there is generally abundant evidence of passion and feeling
+about them; and although I might have added a great variety, I think that
+the above will give the English reader as good an idea of the peculiar
+mode of address of this people as it is in my power to do.
+
+
+CHAPTER 16. FUNERAL CEREMONIES, SUPERSTITIONS, AND REMARKABLE CUSTOMS.
+
+DEATH AND BURIAL OF A NATIVE NEAR PERTH.
+
+Friday June 14 1839.
+
+Yenna came to me this afternoon to tell me that Mulligo was now so ill
+there was but little chance of his living for many hours longer, and
+further to request that I would accompany him to see the sufferer. Nearly
+two months had elapsed since Mulligo had severely injured his spine by a
+fall from a tree; and immediately after the occurrence of this accident
+he had completely lost the use of his lower extremities, and had day by
+day declined until he was now reduced to a perfect skeleton. I was
+therefore but little surprised at the intelligence which Yenna brought
+me; and as I was anxious to see the ceremonies that would accompany his
+last moments I at once started for the native encampment.
+
+CONTENTION FOR MULLIGO'S WIDOWS.
+
+Mulligo was a Ngotak and had two wives, Kokoobung and Mugarwit, both of
+the Ballaroke family, and neither of them deficient either in youth, or
+in such personal charms as find favour in the eyes of the natives. I
+anticipated therefore that from some quarter or the other objections
+would be raised to allowing Miago, the uterine brother of Mulligo (and
+therefore also a Ngotak) to carry off unmolested two such attractive
+young widows. According to native custom however they of right, upon
+their husband's death, became the wives of Miago.
+
+On approaching the point where Mulligo was lying, distant about a mile
+from Perth, I found that my anticipations were correct. I fell in with
+the encampment of the friends of a native named Bennyyowlee, of the
+Tdondarup family. This native had signified his intention of asserting
+his claims to the possession of one of these young women, and even some
+of Miago's friends were disposed to favour him. Bennyyowlee was absent at
+the Canning River with a party of natives for the purpose of procuring
+spears, and thus preparing himself for coming events. His friends however
+had constructed their huts within a few hundred yards of those of
+Mulligo's relatives, so that in the event of the arrival of the
+Murraymen, who they were apprehensive would make an attempt to carry off
+Mulligo's wives, they might be able to assist Miago in his endeavours to
+prevent such an outrage, whilst at the same time their proximity to his
+party enabled them to see that no foul play took place.
+
+As I passed them they endeavoured to impress upon my mind that one wife
+was enough for Miago, and that if he surrendered the other to Bennyyowlee
+they would assist him against the Murraymen. I however resolved not to
+interfere in the business, and thus telling them I bent my steps to the
+other encampment.
+
+DYING SCENE IN HIS TENT.
+
+On my arrival I found poor Mulligo sinking fast; his two wives and his
+mother were watching by his side. He just recognised me, and faintly and
+slowly said, "men-dyke boola nganya" (I am very ill.) The native women
+near him were much alarmed because he could not swallow, and to support
+him were slowly dropping water into his ear. His last moment was
+evidently near at hand, and, after having felt his pulse and paid him a
+few little attentions, which always gratify them much, I turned away to
+examine the dispositions of the encampment.
+
+I found that Miago's hut was close to Mulligo's, and he himself was
+present, ready to assert his right to the wives of his dying brother
+should anyone appear to dispute his claims; he was evidently well
+supported, for the Nagarnook family mustered strong around his hut, and
+the two half-brothers of one of the ladies in dispute were members of it.
+Weyup, the half-brother of the other native girl, was also present, and
+therefore evidently favoured Miago's cause. They were all in anxious
+expectation of the return of Moorroongo, who had gone off with a party
+for the purpose of cutting spears, with which the friends of his stepson
+(Miago) might be able to act either offensively or defensively as
+circumstances should require. As I conceived that there was every
+possibility of Mulligo's having sufficient strength left to linger
+through the night, and as the evening was fast closing in, after a little
+casual conversation with the natives I returned home.
+
+MOURNING WOMEN. THEIR SONGS AND CEREMONIES.
+
+June 15.
+
+Soon after daybreak I reached the entrance of Mulligo's hut: he was alive
+but his respiration was scarcely visible. His head rested on his mother's
+knees, and her withered breasts now rested on his lips as she leant
+crying over him; other women were seated round, their heads all verging
+to a common centre over the wasted frame of the dying man; they were
+crying bitterly and scratching their cheeks, foreheads, and noses with
+their nails until the blood trickled slowly from the wounds. The men in
+the front of the huts were busied in finishing off their spears, ready
+for the coming fight.
+
+I stood for some time watching the mournful scene, but other native
+females soon began to arrive; they came up in small parties, generally by
+threes, marching slowly forward with their wan-nas (a long stick they use
+for digging up roots) in their hands; the eldest female walked first, and
+when they approached within about thirty or forty yards of the hut in
+which the dying man lay they raised the most piteous cries, and, hurrying
+their pace, moved rapidly towards the point where the other women were
+seated, recalling the custom alluded to by Jeremiah (9:17, 18) Call for
+the wailing women that they may come, and let them make haste, and take
+up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our
+eyelids gush out with waters.
+
+CEREMONY ON MULLIGO'S DEATH.
+
+As they came up to the bark hut many of them struck it violently with
+their wan-nas, producing by the blow a dull hollow sound; they then
+seated themselves in the circle, scratching their faces and joining in
+mournful chants, of which the one already given above was that most
+frequently uttered, and which, as I sat by the young men's fire, they
+slowly repeated to me.
+
+The female relatives standing in the relation of mothers to Mulligo,
+sang:
+
+Mam-mul, Mam-mul,
+My son, my son.
+
+Those in the relation of sister, sang:
+
+Kar-dang, kar-dang.
+
+And the next part was sung indifferently by both of them:
+
+Garro. Nad-joo,
+Meela,
+Nung-a-broo.
+
+Again, I shall
+Not see in future.
+
+Then one of the women, having worked herself to a pitch of frenzy, would
+now and then start up and, standing in front of the hut whilst she waved
+her wan-na violently in the air, would chant forth dire imprecations
+against certain boyl-yas, or magicians, or rather wizards, who she
+believed to be the cause of the death of poor Mulligo. Whilst thus
+chanting she faced and addressed her words to the men who were grouped
+around their huts, and it was strange to see the various effects produced
+on their minds by these harangues working in their savage countenances:
+one while they sat in mournful silence; again they grasped firmly and
+quivered their spears; and by-and-bye a general "Ee-Ee" (pronounced in
+their throat with the lips closed) burst forth as sign of approbation at
+some affecting part of the speech.
+
+Time wore on. Each withered beldame by turns addressed the party, whilst
+the poor wretch, the tranquillity of whose dying moments was interrupted
+by these scenes, gradually sank. At last the vital spark departed, and
+that moment an old woman started up, mad with grief and rage, tore the
+hut in which he had lain to atoms, saying, "this is now no good;"* and
+then poured forth a wild strain of imprecations against the
+before-mentioned boyl-yas.
+
+(*Footnote. Burckhardt remarked a similar custom among the Bedouin Arabs.
+He says: If the deceased have not left any male heir, or that the whole
+property is transferred to another family, or if his heir is a minor, and
+goes to live with his uncle or some other relative, the tent posts are
+torn up immediately after the man has expired, and the tent is
+demolished. Travels in Arabia page 58.)
+
+As she proceeded the men became more and more excited, and at last
+Moondee, the most violent of them, started forward and was on the point
+of spearing one of Mulligo's wives; none of the men attempted to
+interfere with him; but, as I anticipated, the women seized him, and held
+him, so as to prevent him from executing his purpose. This conduct on his
+part at first appeared to me to arise from passion alone, but the reason
+of it was soon explained.
+
+SUPPOSED CAUSE OF HIS DECEASE.
+
+It appears that some two or three months before this period Weenat, a
+native of the upper part of the Swan, had stolen a cloak belonging to
+Miago, Mulligo's brother, and had, according to their belief, from
+malicious motives given this cloak to one of the native sorcerers, or
+boyl-yas, who by this means acquired some mysterious power over either
+Miago or his brother, but selected the latter for his victim, when he
+fell and broke his back. Another of these boyl-yas (according to the
+usual custom) was called in to give his advice, and he applied fire to
+the injured part. This treatment not succeeding, and the poor fellow
+wasting daily away, the natives became convinced that the unfriendly
+boyl-yas were in the habit of rendering themselves invisible, and nightly
+descending for the purpose of feasting on poor Mulligo's flesh whilst he
+slept, and being under the influence of a charm he was not aware of what
+was taking place; but Moondee chose to imagine that if his wife had been
+more vigilant the boyl-yas might have been detected, and hence intended
+to spear her in the leg as a punishment for her imputed neglect.
+
+As I have before stated the women prevented this outrage from having
+effect, and the two trembling girls, neither of whom could have been more
+than fifteen, fled into Perth, to take refuge in some European's house.
+The native men and women, after their departure, indulged in the most
+unlimited abuse of boyl-yas in general, and of the Guildford boyl-yas in
+particular, against whom, according to the idea of the natives, they had
+very strong presumptive evidence from the circumstance of the cloak
+having been stolen by a Guildford man. It was still very doubtful what
+boyl-yas were the actual perpetrators of the crime, so they were
+contented with vowing to kill a great many of them in some direction or
+the other, as soon as anyone could detect that in which the suspected
+ones retired. This resolution having been formed the men went into Perth
+in order to see that no strange natives stole either of the young widows,
+whilst the women lay weeping over the dead body.
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR THE FUNERAL. FORMATION OF THE GRAVE.
+
+I accompanied the men into Perth, and in the course of an hour was
+summoned by the natives to witness the funeral ceremony. They had moved
+the body about half a mile from the spot where the man died; the women
+still leant over it, uttering the words, yang, yang, yang, and
+occasionally chanting a few sentences.
+
+There were but few men present, as they were watching the widows in
+Perth. Yenna and Warrup, the brothers-in-law of Mulligo, were digging his
+grave, which as usual extended due east and west; the Perth boyl-ya,
+Weeban by name, who, being a relation of the deceased, could of course
+have had no hand in occasioning his death, superintended the operations.
+They commenced by digging with their sticks and hands several holes in a
+straight line, and as deep as they could; they then united them, and
+threw out the earth from the bottom of the pit thus made; all the white
+sand was thrown carefully into two heaps, nearly in the form of a
+European grave, and these heaps were situated one at the head and the
+other at the foot of the hole they were digging, whilst the
+dirty-coloured sand was thrown into two other heaps, one on each side.
+The grave was very narrow, only just wide enough to admit the body of the
+deceased. Old Weeban paid the greatest possible attention to see that the
+east and west direction of the grave was preserved, and if the least
+deviation from this line occurred in the heaps of sand, either at the
+head or foot, he made some of the natives rectify it by sweeping the sand
+into its proper form with boughs of trees.
+
+Before the digging of the grave was completed many Europeans had arrived
+at the spot for the purpose of witnessing the ceremony; the natives were
+not a little annoyed at this, however they proceeded rapidly in their
+work, occasionally employing a spade, but from the extreme narrowness of
+the grave, it was by no means easy to make use of this tool. During the
+process of digging, an insect having been thrown up, its motions were
+watched with the most intense interest, and as this little animal thought
+proper to crawl off in the direction of Guildford, an additional proof
+was furnished to the natives of the guilt of the boyl-yas of that place.
+
+SUPERSTITIOUS RITES.
+
+When the grave was completed, they set fire to some dried leaves and
+twigs, then throwing them in they soon had a large blaze in it: during
+this part of the ceremony old Weeban knelt on the ground at the foot of
+the grave with his back turned towards the east, and his head bowed to
+the earth, his whole attitude denoting the most profound attention; the
+duty he had now to perform was a very important one, being no less than
+to discover in which direction the boyl-yas, when drawn out of the earth
+by the fire, would take flight. Their departure was not audible to common
+ears or visible to the eyes of ordinary mortals, but his power of boyl-ya
+gaduk enabled him to distinguish these sights and sounds which were
+invisible and inaudible to the bystanders.
+
+The fire roared for some time loudly in the grave, and every eye rested
+anxiously on old Weeban; the hollow, almost mysterious, sound of the
+flames as they rose from the narrow aperture evidently had a powerful
+effect upon the superstitious fears of the natives, and when he suddenly
+raised his meerro and then let it fall over his shoulder in a due east
+direction (the direction of Guildford) a grim smile of satisfaction
+passed over the countenances of the young men, who now knew in what
+direction to avenge the foul witchcraft which they felt assured had
+brought about the death of their brother-in-law.
+
+THE BURIAL.
+
+The next part of their proceedings was to take the body of Mulligo from
+the females: they raised it in a cloak; his old mother made no effort to
+prevent its being removed, but passionately and fervently kissed the cold
+rigid lips, which she could never press to hers again. The body was then
+lowered into the grave and seated upon a bed of leaves which had been
+laid there directly the fire was extinguished, the face being, according
+to custom, turned towards the east. The women still remained grouped
+together, sobbing forth their mournful songs, whilst the men placed small
+green boughs upon the body until they had more than half filled up the
+grave with them; cross-pieces of wood of considerable size were then
+fixed in the opposite sides of the grave, green boughs placed on these,
+and the earth from the two side heaps thrown in, until the grave was
+completed; which then, owing to the heaps at the head and foot, presented
+the appearance of three graves, nearly similar in size and form, lying in
+a due east and west direction.
+
+The men having now completed their task the women came with bundles of
+blackboy tops which they had gathered, and laid these down on the central
+heap so as to give it a green and pleasing appearance; they placed
+neither meerro nor spear on the grave, but whilst they were filling in
+the earth old Weeban and another native sat on their hams at the head of
+it, facing the one to the north, and the other to the south, their
+foreheads leaning on their clasped hands, which rested on one end of a
+meerro whilst the other end was placed on the ground. The ceremonies
+having been thus concluded I returned to Perth.
+
+WATCHING THE GRAVE.
+
+Sunday June 16.
+
+This evening I walked out to Mulligo's grave and found his old mother
+seated there, crying bitterly. She had indeed good reason to weep, for
+those infamous boyl-yas, not content with eating the flesh of her son
+during his lifetime, and thereby causing his death, had been detected by
+her in the very act of sitting round his grave for the purpose of preying
+on his miserable remains. There could, it appears, be no doubt of the
+truth of this strange fact, for the poor old lady triumphantly pointed
+out their tracks, at the spot from whence they sprang into the air, in
+the direction of Guildford; but my eyes unfortunately were not good
+enough to detect the slightest vestige of any traces, either human or
+spiritual. However much this might have made me suspect the old lady's
+veracity it had no such effect upon the natives, and being now firmly
+convinced that the Guildford boyl-yas were the guilty parties, they
+announced their intention of starting in a few days for the purpose of
+putting Weenat to death.
+
+CONTEST FOR MULLIGO'S WIDOWS.
+
+June 17.
+
+Miago ought, according to custom, to have allowed three full days to
+elapse before his brother's widows entered his hut, but as Bennyyowlee
+appeared resolved not to renounce his intention of claiming the hand of
+one of the ladies Miago's friends thought it more prudent to bring
+matters to a speedy issue, lest, in the interim, his rival might carry of
+Mugawit, the young lady he was desirous of possessing. On Monday evening
+therefore when I went to the native encampment I found that the first
+forms of the marriage ceremony had taken place, which were as follows:
+
+Miago ordered the two widows of his brother to prepare his hut, that as
+soon as the sun had set he might sleep there. Bennyyowlee, who, with his
+friends and supporters were encamped within a few yards of the other
+party, went up to Mugawit and ordered her to follow him to his Mya, or
+bark hut; this she declined doing, and he immediately speared her in the
+thigh. Miago now, as in duty bound, threw a quartz-headed spear at
+Bennyyowlee, which, if the latter had not most dexterously avoided, must
+have proved fatal. A general disturbance would have taken place had not I
+and several other Europeans come up at the same moment and pacified
+Miago, whilst Bennyyowlee took advantage of this temporary calm to
+evacuate the field, followed by insulting shouts of laughter from Miago's
+friends.
+
+A circumstance strongly illustrating the peculiar family customs of this
+people occurred this evening. Moorroongo, Miago's stepfather, was a
+Tdondarup, and as such stood in the relation of matta-gyne to
+Bennyyowlee; his hut stood therefore amongst those of this native's
+friends, and Miago's future wives remained in the care of his mother, and
+of course amongst the friends of his rival. When however Bennyyowlee
+departed Miago's mother and the two native girls went over to the Ngotak
+and Nagarnook party, who were, on this occasion, united. They then built
+a hut for Miago and lighted a fire; the old mother herself swept out the
+hut, so as to make it perfectly clean and nice; the brides then laid down
+in it, one on each side, so as to leave a vacant place in the centre for
+their new lord and master; and Miago's mother, having seen all these
+arrangements completed, returned once more to the hut of her husband.
+This was a remarkable instance of a stepfather and son being by custom
+compelled to espouse opposite sides of a quarrel because they bore
+different family names.
+
+BURIAL OF A NATIVE IN THE LESCHENAULT DISTRICT. BURIAL AT THE VASSE.
+
+As these forms of interment have considerable interest and are somewhat
+varied in their details in different localities, I have subjoined the
+following account of the burial of a native, as described in an extract
+of a letter from Mr. Bussel, a gentleman resident near the Vasse River in
+Western Australia:
+
+PROCESSION TO THE GRAVE.
+
+The funeral is a wild and fearful ceremony. Before I had finished in the
+stockyard the dead man was already removed and on its way to the place of
+interment, about a quarter of a mile from where the death took place,*
+and I left our house entirely guided by the shrill wailing of the female
+natives as they followed, mourning, after the two men who bore the body
+in their arms.
+
+(*Footnote. He had been murdered by his countrymen whilst tending Mr.
+Bussel's cattle.)
+
+The dirge, as distance blended all the voices, was very plaintive, even
+musical; nor did the diminution of distance destroy the harmony entirely;
+some of the chants were really beautiful, but rendered perhaps too harsh
+for our ears in actual contact: for as I joined myself to the procession,
+and became susceptible of the trembling cadence of each separate
+performer--the human voice in every key which the extremes of youth and
+age might produce, there was a sensation effected which I cannot well
+describe--a terrible jarring of the brain. The fact that the involuntary
+tears rolled down the cheeks of those infants who sat passively on their
+mothers' shoulders, not appreciating the cause of lament, but merely as
+listeners, must prove that these sounds are calculated to affect the
+nervous system powerfully.
+
+CEREMONIES ON INTERMENT.
+
+The procession moved slowly on and at length arrived at the place fixed
+upon for the burial. There had been a short silence previous to coming
+thus far, as if to give the voice a rest; for as the body touched the
+ground, and the bearers stood erect and silent, a piercing shriek was
+given, and as this died away into a chant some of the elder women
+lacerated their scalps with sharp bones until the blood ran down their
+furrowed faces in actual streams. The eldest of the bearers then stepped
+forward and proceeded to dig the grave. I offered to get a spade, but
+they would not have it; the digging stick was the proper tool, which they
+used with greater despatch than from its imperfect nature could have been
+expected at first sight. The earth being loosened with this implement was
+then thrown out with the hands with great dexterity, in complete showers
+so as to form, in the same line with the grave, at both ends, two
+elongated banks, the sand composing them so lightly hurled as to seem
+almost like drift-sand on the seashore. In the throw, if perchance the
+right limit was outstepped, the proper form was retained by sweeping.
+
+The digging, notwithstanding the art displayed, was very tedious: they
+all sat in silence, and there were no chants to understand, or to fancy
+one understood, or perhaps to make meanings to.
+
+But at length the grave was finished, and they then threw some dry leaves
+into it, and, setting fire to them, while the blaze was rising up,
+everyone present struck repeatedly a bundle of spears with the mearu
+which they held with the butts downwards, making a rattling noise. Then,
+when the fire had burnt out, they placed the corpse beside the grave, and
+gashed their thighs, and at the flowing of the blood they all said, "I
+have brought blood," and they stamped the foot forcibly on the ground,
+sprinkling the blood around them; then, wiping the wounds with a wisp of
+leaves, they threw it, bloody as it was, on the dead man; then a loud
+scream ensued and they lowered the body into the grave, resting on the
+back, with the soles of the feet on the ground and the knees bent; they
+filled the grave with soft brushwood, and piled logs on this to a
+considerable height, being very careful all the time to prevent any of
+the soil from falling into the apertures; they then constructed a hut
+over the woodstack, and one of the male relations got into it and said,
+"Mya balung einya ngin-na" ("I sit in his house.") One of the women then
+dropped a few live coals at his feet, and, having stuck his dismantled
+meerro at the end of one of the mounds, they left the place, retiring in
+a contrary direction from that in which they came, chanting.
+
+...
+
+BURIAL AT KING GEORGE's SOUND.
+
+The two foregoing descriptions exhibit the native funeral ceremonies as
+practised at Perth, and at the Vasse on the sea-coast to the south of
+Perth. I shall now add a third description of the usages at King George's
+Sound as given by Mr. Scott Nind in the first volume of the Journal of
+the Royal Geographical Society page 46:
+
+Their funeral solemnities are accompanied by loud lamentations. A grave
+is dug, about four feet long and three wide, and perhaps a yard in depth;
+the earth that is removed is arranged on one side of the grave in the
+form of a crescent; at the bottom is placed some bark, and then small
+green boughs, and upon this the body, ornamented and enveloped in its
+cloak, with the knees bent up to the breast, and the arms crossed.* Over
+the body are heaped more green boughs and bark, and the hole is then
+filled with earth. Green boughs are placed over the earth, and upon them
+are deposited the spears, knife, and hammer of the deceased, together
+with the ornaments that belonged to him; his throwing-stick on one side,
+and his curl (kiley) or towk (dowak) on the other side of the mound. The
+mourners then carve circles in the bark of the trees that grow near the
+grave, at the height of six or seven feet from the ground; and, lastly,
+making a small fire in front, they gather small boughs and carefully
+brush away any portion of the earth that may adhere to them. The face is
+coloured black or white, laid on in blotches across the forehead, round
+the temples, and down the cheek bones, and these marks of mourning are
+worn for a considerable time. They also cut the end of the nose, and
+scratch it for the purpose of producing tears.
+
+(*Footnote. Charlevoix, in describing the funeral of the North American
+Indians, says: Le cadavre est expose a la porte de la cabanne dans la
+posture qu'il doit avoir dans le tombeau, et cette posture en plusieurs
+endroits est cela de l'enfant dans la sein de sa mere. Nor was this
+custom confined to these races, for, in the words of Cicero:
+Antiquissimum sepulturae genus id fuisse videtur, quo apud Xenophontem
+Cyrus utitur; redditur enim terrae corpus, et ita locatum ac situm, quasi
+operimento matria obducitur. De Legibus 11 66.)
+
+...
+
+CUSTOMS OF SELF-LACERATION, AND OF REMAINING WATCHING AMONG THE GRAVES.
+
+The foregoing relations of the ceremonies practised at a native funeral
+exhibit some instances of the way in which they lacerate themselves in
+the exercise of certain superstitious rites, a custom very prevalent
+throughout all the yet known parts of Australia, and according with those
+described in the first book of Kings chapter 18 verse 28: And they cried
+aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets till
+the blood gushed out upon them.
+
+And again, Jeremiah chapter 48 verse 37: For every head shall be bald,
+and every beard clipped; upon all the hands shall be cuttings, etc.
+
+The natives of many parts of Australia when at a funeral cut off portions
+of their beards, and, singeing these, throw them upon the dead body; in
+some instances they cut off the beard of the corpse, and, burning it, rub
+themselves and the body with the singed portions of it.
+
+"It may be also remarked," says Major Mitchell,* "that a superstitious
+custom prevailed among the Gentiles in mourning for the dead. They cut
+off their hair, and threw it into the sepulchre with the bodies of their
+relations and friends, and sometimes laid it upon the face or breast of
+the dead as an offering to the infernal gods, whereby they thought to
+appease them, and make them kind to the deceased." See Maimonides de Idol
+112 1, 2, 5.
+
+(*Footnote. Australian Expedition volume 1 page 254 note.)
+
+It is enjoined in Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 1: Ye are the children of
+the Lord your God, ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness
+between your eyes for the dead. Now the native females invariably cut
+themselves and scratch their faces in mourning for the dead; they also
+literally make a baldness between their eyes, this being always one of
+the places where they tear the skin with the finger nails.
+
+The custom of remaining amongst the graves is found among the natives of
+nearly all known portions of Australia. A similar practice is reprehended
+in Isaiah chapter 45 verses 4 and 5: A people that provoke me to anger
+continually to my face, that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense
+upon altars of brick, which remain among the graves, and lodge in the
+monuments. See also on this subject, Lewis's Origines Hebraeae, volume 3
+page 381.
+
+In Australia the object supposed to be obtained by this custom is a
+revelation as to what individual caused the death of the deceased; this
+revelation is made either by the means of actual visions or by dreams.
+
+MYSTERIOUS BONES.
+
+Although the natives of the different portions of Australia have various
+modes of effecting the discovery of the sorcerers who caused the death of
+the deceased, as well as different modes of avenging his death, I feel
+sure that they have all one common object in view. In another part of
+this work I have given an account of an old woman watching by a grave
+with this intention; I have frequently however seen their sorcerers
+fulfil this duty; and the following extract from Mr. Threlkeld's
+Vocabulary will show the prevalence of this custom on the eastern side of
+the continent:*
+
+Mur-ro-kun, the name of a mysterious bone which is obtained by the
+Ka-ra-kul, a doctor or conjuror, three of which sleep on the grave of a
+recently interred corpse; when in the night, during their sleep, the dead
+person inserts a mysterious bone into each thigh of the three doctors,
+who feel the puncture not more severe than that of the sting of an ant.
+The bones remain in the flesh of the doctors without any inconvenience to
+them, until they wish to kill any person, when by unknown means, it is
+said and believed, they destroy in a supernatural manner their ill-fated
+victim by the mysterious bone, causing it to enter into their bodies, and
+so occasion their death.
+
+(*Footnote. Threlkeld's Vocabulary page 88.)
+
+...
+
+THE BOYL-YAS OR NATIVE SORCERERS.
+
+I have already had occasion to mention incidentally, on more than one
+occasion, the Boyl-yas, or native sorcerers, and their supposed powers
+have a mighty influence upon the minds and actions of the natives of
+Western Australia, in whose superstitious belief the boyl-yas are objects
+of mysterious dread. It is supposed that they can transport themselves
+through the air at pleasure, and can render themselves invisible to all
+but other boyl-yas. If they have a dislike to a native they can kill him
+by stealing on him at night and consuming his flesh. They enter him like
+pieces of quartz, and the pain they occasion is always felt. Another
+boyl-ya has however the power of drawing them out and curing the affected
+person by certain processes of disenchantment. When this operation is
+effected the boyl-yas are drawn out in the form of pieces of quartz,
+which are kept and considered as great curiosities by the natives. All
+natural illnesses are attributed to these boyl-yas, or to the Wau-guls,
+hence the reason of some native being killed when another dies. The
+individual dies either by the hands of another native, from the effects
+of accident, or from some natural cause. In the first case his death is
+avenged on his murderer, or on some near relative of his; in either of
+the other two cases it is avenged on some connexion of the supposed
+boyl-yas against whom they have a spite.
+
+KAIBER'S ACCOUNT OF THE BOYL-YAS.
+
+Interested by an account I had received of the boyl-yas from the women,
+after Mulligo's death, I endeavoured to obtain from Kaiber a more ample
+statement of their belief relative to these people. The difficulty I
+laboured under upon this head, as well as the dread they entertain of
+these sorcerers, will be best shown by the following account of his
+answers to my questions, together with his incidental remarks:*
+
+(*Footnote. His words were nearly as follows:
+
+Boyl-ya yongar boyl-ya gaduk. Djerral, way-lo, wor-rar ngin noween;
+Boyl-ya windoo; boko-djee wattoo; boorda nganya men-dyke ngoomon. Boyl-ya
+yongar boola ngan-noween, kalla moquoin, boorda ngin-nee nganya men-dyke
+ngoomon. Boyl-ya donga gaduk, boorda gurrang ngoomon, nadjoo nginnee
+wangow broo.
+
+Boyl ya kote yan-na, ngin-nee bid-jar, bal-goon kote yan-na; kote yool
+yannow boyl-ya. Boyl-ya windoo-buk; boorda nganneel men-dyke ngoomon;
+nadjoo wanga-broo. Goodjyte yool yannow. Boyl-ya wunja nginnee? Nganya
+goree katta mendyke. Boorda nginnee nganya goodjall waingur; Yoongar
+nungow broo. Boyl-ya bakkan broo kote ngan-now. Ko-tdje ngannow broo.
+Yel-line ngan-now (ngin-nee nganya yonga, nadjoo wattoo yan-na.) Boyl-ya
+yoongar bogal boola ngin-now. Yoongar mendyke, boyl-ya wal-byne,
+wal-byne, wal-byne, etc. etc. boorda bar-rab-a-ra yoongar.)
+
+The boyl-yas are natives who have the power of boyl-ya; they sit down to
+the northward, the eastward, and southward; the boyl-yas are very bad,
+they walk away there (pointing to the east). I shall be very ill
+presently.
+
+The boyl-yas eat up a great many natives, they eat them up as fire would;
+you and I will be very ill directly. The boyl-yas have ears: by-and-by
+they will be greatly enraged. I'll tell you no more.
+
+The boyl-yas move stealthily, you sleep and they steal on you, very
+stealthily the boyl-yas move. These boyl-yas are dreadfully revengeful;
+by-and-by we shall be very ill. I'll not talk about them.
+
+They come moving along in the sky, cannot you let them alone. I've
+already a terrible headache, by-and-by you and I will be two dead men.
+
+The natives cannot see them. The boyl-yas do not bite, they feed
+stealthily; they do not eat the bones, but consume the flesh. Just give
+me what you intend to give, and I'll walk off.
+
+The boyl-yas sit at the graves of natives in great numbers. If natives
+are ill, the boyl-yas charm, charm, charm, charm, and charm, and by and
+by the natives recover.
+
+...
+
+I could learn nothing further from him.
+
+The Wau-gul is an imaginary aquatic monster, residing in fresh water and
+endowed with supernatural power which enables it to consume the natives,
+although it generally attacks females. The person it selects for its
+victim pines away almost imperceptibly and dies.
+
+SUPERSTITION AND THEIR OPINION REGARDING THE NIGHTMARE.
+
+The natives believe that the nightmare is caused by some evil spirit. The
+way in which they get rid of this evil being is by jumping up, seizing a
+lighted brand from the fire, twirling it round the head, and muttering a
+variety of imprecations; they then throw the stick away in the direction
+they conceive the spirit to be in. Some of them have explained this
+custom to me by stating that this evil spirit wants a light, and that
+when he gets it he will go away. They however also take the precaution of
+moving their position and getting as far as they can into the group of
+natives who are sleeping round the fire.
+
+If they are obliged to move away from the fire after dark, either to get
+water or for any other purpose, they carry a light with them and set fire
+to dry bushes as they go along.
+
+VENERATION FOR CRYSTAL STONES.
+
+The natives of South-western Australia likewise pay a respect, almost
+amounting to veneration, to shining stones or pieces of crystal, which
+they call Teyl. None but their sorcerers or priests are allowed to touch
+these, and no bribe can induce an unqualified native to lay his hand on
+them.
+
+The accordance of this word in sound and signification with the Baetyli
+mentioned in the following extract from Burder's Oriental Customs (volume
+1 page 16) is remarkable:
+
+And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had
+put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the
+top of it, and he called the name of that place Bethel. Genesis 28:18.
+
+From this conduct of Jacob and this Hebrew appellation, the learned
+Bochart, with great ingenuity and reason, insists that the name and
+veneration of the sacred stones called Baetyli, so celebrated in all
+Pagan antiquity, were derived.
+
+These Baetyli were stones of a round form, they were supposed to be
+animated by means of magical incantations, with a portion of the Deity;
+they were consulted on occasions of great and pressing emergency as a
+kind of divine oracle, and were suspended either round the neck or some
+other part of the body.
+
+...
+
+That this veneration for certain pieces of quartz or crystal is common
+over a very great portion of the continent is evident from the following
+extracts from Threlkeld's Vocabulary, page 88:
+
+Mur-ra-mai: The name of a round ball, about the size of a cricket-ball,
+which the Aborigines carry in a small net suspended from their girdles of
+opossum yarn. The women are not allowed to see the internal part of the
+ball; it is used as a talisman against sickness, and it is sent from
+tribe to tribe for hundreds of miles on the sea-coast, and in the
+interior; one is now here from Moreton Bay, the interior of which a black
+showed me privately in my study, betraying considerable anxiety lest any
+female should see its contents.
+
+After unrolling many yards of woollen cord made from the fur of the
+opossum, the contents proved to be a quartz-like substance of the size of
+a pigeon's egg, he allowed me to break it and retain a part. It is
+transparent like white sugar-candy; they swallow the small crystalline
+particles which crumble
+off as a preventative of sickness. It scratches glass, and does not
+effervesce with acids. From another specimen the stone appears to be
+agate of a milky hue, semi-pellucid, and strikes fire. The vein from
+which it appears broken off is one inch and a quarter thick. A third
+specimen contains a portion of cornelian, partially crystallized, a
+fragment of chalcedony, and a fragment of a crystal of white quartz.
+
+...
+
+And again in Mitchell's Expeditions into Australia, volume 2 page 338: In
+these girdles the men, and especially their coradjes or priests,
+frequently carry crystals of quartz or other shining stones, which they
+hold in high estimation, and very unwillingly show to anyone; invariably
+taking care, when they do unfold them, that no woman shall see them.
+
+...
+
+FORMS ON MAKING VOWS AND PLEDGES.
+
+Genesis chapter 24 verse 9. And the servant put his hand under the thigh
+of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning that matter.
+
+This is exactly the form that is observed in South-western Australia,
+when the natives swear amity to one another, or pledge themselves to aid
+one another in avenging a death.
+
+One native remains seated on the ground with his heels tucked under him,
+in the Eastern manner; the one who is about to narrate a death to him
+approaches slowly and with averted face, and seats himself cross-legged
+upon the thighs of the other; they are thus placed thigh to thigh, and
+squeezing their bodies together they place breast to breast. Both then
+avert their faces, their eyes frequently fill with tears, no single word
+is spoken; and the one who is seated uppermost places his hands under the
+thighs of his friend; having remained thus seated for a minute or two he
+rises up and withdraws to a little distance without speaking, but an
+inviolable pledge to avenge the death has by this ceremony passed between
+the two.
+
+One remarkable custom prevalent equally amongst the most ancient nations
+of whom any records are preserved, and the modern Australians, is that of
+naming children from some circumstance connected with their birth or
+early infancy. Thus in Genesis chapter 30 verse 11: And Leah said, A
+troop cometh, and she called his name Gad; etc. etc. etc.
+
+Burckhardt observed the same custom among the Bedouins and says:
+
+A name is given to the infant immediately on his birth; the name is
+derived from some trifling accident, or from some object which had struck
+the fancy of the mother or any of the women present at the child's birth.
+Notes on the Bedouins, page 55.
+
+CUSTOM OF CIRCUMCISION.
+
+The natives of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and also those on the eastern
+shores of St. Vincent's Gulf, practise the rite of circumcision. That is,
+this remarkable rite is known to be observed in two points of the
+continent of Australia exactly opposite to one another, and which are
+separated by a distance of about twelve hundred miles.
+
+OTHER SCRIPTURAL CUSTOMS.
+
+The injunctions contained in Deuteronomy chapter 23 verses 12 and 13 are
+literally fulfilled by the natives in several parts of the continent. In
+addition to my own testimony on this point I will refer to Wilson's
+Voyage round the World, page 165, where he states:
+
+They are cleanly in their manners, and in some respects superior to the
+Europeans, fulfilling the injunction of Moses in the twelfth and
+thirteenth verses of the twenty-third chapter of Deuteronomy.
+
+This passage relates to the natives of Raffles Bay on the extreme north
+of the continent of Australia, whereas I have observed the custom in the
+South-western parts of Australia.
+
+They also conform strictly to the injunctions in Leviticus chapter 15
+verse 19.
+
+
+CHAPTER 17. CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES.
+
+The following casual anecdotes, though trivial in themselves, will assist
+in illustrating some of the peculiarities of the native mind and
+character.
+
+MIAGO'S IMAGINARY SPEECH AS GOVERNOR.
+
+Speech that the native Miago would have addressed to the aborigines of
+Perth if he had landed as Governor instead of His Excellency Mr. Hutt. He
+came into my room directly after the Governor had landed, and made this
+imaginary address.
+
+Yiee, nap yongar Perth bak-ad-jee yuado--Moon-dee Moondee gurrang,
+gurrang boola: Mir-ga-na, Mir-ga-na gurrang, gurrang boola: Yal-gon-ga,
+Yal-gon-ga, gurrang, gurrang boola; yarn bal?
+
+Buck-il-bury Wattup gidjee, yam bal gurrang boola?
+
+Bun-bury gurrang, gurrang boola.
+
+Golam-bidie gwab-ba: Mam-me-rup wan-gow-een boola.
+
+Goo-lam-bidie wilgey nab-bow, yago mial, Goo-lam-bidie donga broo:
+mam-me-rup meno been boola, mam-me-rup gurrang gaduck, golambidie
+gid-jee; Dule.
+
+Waumma Governor yool: yahi Perth yongar bak-ad-jee yu-a-do;
+gwab-ba-litch.
+
+MIAGO'S SPEECH AS GOVERNOR.
+
+Henceforth this people of Perth must not fight. Moon-dee, Moon-dee, you
+are always quarrelling. Mir-ga-na, Mir-ga-na, you are always quarrelling.
+Yal-gon-ga, Yal-gon-ga, you are quarrelsome--what is the reason of this?
+
+Bucklebury speared Wattup, what reason had he to be in such a passion
+(or, why was he so very angry)?
+
+Bun-bury, you are very quarrelsome.
+
+The young men behave very well, the old ones are always wrangling.
+
+The young men paint themselves, and the women look at them; the young men
+are not aware of this, but the old men are very jealous--and being in a
+passion spear the young men--this is very wrong.
+
+Now another Governor is come, and you people of Perth must fight no more.
+This is very good.
+
+...
+
+WARRUP'S ACCOUNT OF HIS JOURNEY WITH MR. ROE.
+
+The following is Warrup's account of his journey with Mr. Roe in search
+of the party left by me under Mr. Walker. (See above.):
+
+1st day.
+
+At Dundalup we ate fish; then onwards, onwards, onwards, till we slept at
+Neerroba.
+
+2nd day.
+
+Onwards, onwards, till we reached Nowergoop, where the horses drank
+water; then onwards, onwards, onwards, until Manbabee, where we ate flesh
+and bread. Onwards, onwards, onwards, until Yungee, where we shot ducks,
+and the horses drank water. Onwards, onwards, onwards, onwards, to
+Boongarrup, where we slept one sleep.
+
+3rd day.
+
+Onwards through a forest, onwards through a forest, onwards through a
+forest. We slept at Neergammy, a pleasant resting-place; the land was
+good, the herbage good; pleasant was our resting-place, and our hut was
+good.
+
+4th day.
+
+Onwards, onwards, onwards, we entered a woody country. Onwards, through a
+forest, onwards through a forest; we now see the waters of Kajeelup: we
+eat flesh and bread. Onwards through the forest, onwards through the
+forest, onwards through the forest. We see the tracks of natives; we
+shout aloud, and then proceed conversing with natives; they sit down.*
+
+(*Footnote. They halt or remain.)
+
+Onwards go we, onwards, onwards, onwards; the horses drink water;
+by-and-bye we see tracks. Onwards, onwards, onwards; we see a large
+water; we shoot ducks. On the one side we see two waters, on the other
+side one water we see. Onwards, onwards, onwards, onwards, onwards; we
+see no other water. Onwards through the forest, onwards through the
+forest, onwards through the forest; we see a river. You had here eaten
+freshwater mussels: at this river we sleep. Barramba is the place's name.
+
+5th day.
+
+Onwards through the forest, through the forest, through the forest,
+through the forest onwards; water we see not. Through the forest onwards;
+through the forest onwards; we see a water, but a worthless water. Yours
+and Kaiber's footsteps we see. Here there is no grass. You had here shot
+a bird--a cockatoo you shot. Maribara was this place's name.
+
+Onwards through the forest, through the forest onwards, through the
+forest onwards; we see no other water; the herbage is worthless. We still
+go onwards, onwards through the forest. We see natives; a few natives we
+see: the men are two, the women one, the children two. We see the place
+called Nowergup.
+
+We say, "Where is there water? here the water is bad." The natives say,
+"Yonder the water is good, here it is bad: at Boranyup the water is
+good."
+
+We go onwards, onwards, onwards: at Boranyup we sleep; rain falls as we
+sleep at Boranyup.
+
+6th day.
+
+Onwards through the forest, onwards through the forest, onwards through
+the forest some of the others sit down; Auger sits down; Hunt sits down.
+Mr. Roe, Mr. Spofforth, and I on horseback, go onwards, onwards, onwards,
+onwards, through the forest onwards, through the forest onwards, through
+the forest onwards, through the forest onwards. We see the sea; then
+onwards, onwards, onwards; along the sea-shore onwards, along the
+sea-shore onwards, along the sea-shore onwards. We see the tracks of
+white men.
+
+Then we turn back again, away we go back again, back again away; through
+the forest away, through the forest away, through the forest away; back
+again. We move, move, till we sit at Boranyup; we then eat kangaroo; Hunt
+and Auger had brought it in. At Boranyup we lie down: we sleep.
+
+7th day.
+
+The next day away, away, away, away, returning, returning, on our tracks
+returning, on our tracks returning, on our tracks returning. At Barramba
+we sit down: we eat bread and meat; they eat freshwater mussels; the
+natives eat not freshwater mussels.
+
+Away, away, away, away, away; we see the water of Djunjup; we shoot game.
+Away, away, away, through a forest away, through a forest away; we see no
+water. Through a forest away; along our tracks away, along our tracks
+away, along our tracks away, along our tracks away. We sleep at
+Ka-jil-up: rain falls; the water here is good: the horses feed, well did
+the horses feed.
+
+8th day.
+
+Away, away; along our tracks away, along our tracks away; hills
+ascending: then pleasantly away, pleasantly away, away; through a forest
+away, through a forest away, through a forest away; we see a water--the
+water of Goonmarrarup. Along the river away, along the river away; a
+short distance along the river we go: then away, away, away, through a
+forest away; a short distance through a forest we go.
+
+Then along another river away, away; we cross the river; away, a short
+distance away. At Neergammy we sleep, raising huts.
+
+The others continue returning; we go away, away: in the forest we see no
+water; we see no footsteps; we see some papers, the papers put by Mr.
+Mortimer we see: still we go onwards, along the sea away, along the sea
+away, along the sea away: through the bush away, through the bush away:
+then along the sea away, along the sea away. We see white men--three of
+them we see; they cry out, "Where is water;" water we give them--brandy
+and water we give them. We sleep near the sea.
+
+Away, away go we (I, Mr. Roe, and Kinchela) along the shore away, along
+the shore away, along the shore away. We see no fresh water; along the
+shore away, along the shore away. We see a paper, the paper of Mortimer
+and Spofforth. Away we go, away, away, along the shore away, away, away,
+a long distance we go. I see Mr. Smith's footsteps ascending a sandhill,
+onwards I go regarding his footsteps. I see Mr. Smith dead. We commence
+digging the earth.
+
+Two sleeps had he been dead; greatly did I weep, and much I grieved. In
+his blanket folding him, we scraped away the earth.
+
+We scrape earth into the grave, we scrape the earth into the grave, a
+little wood we place in it. Much earth we heap upon it, much earth we
+throw up. No dogs can dig there, so much earth we throw up. The sun had
+just inclined to the westward as we laid him in the ground.
+
+...
+
+The following are extracts from a journal kept by me whilst resident at
+King George's Sound.
+
+ROBBERY BY PEERAT'S WIVES. TRANSACTIONS WITH THE NATIVES IN A CASE OF
+POTATO STEALING.
+
+Thursday January 23.
+
+Directly after breakfast a soldier came to me with a complaint that the
+natives had last night robbed his garden in the settlement of nearly one
+hundred weight of potatoes; I was determined to have here no repetition
+of scenes similar to what had recently taken place; and therefore
+resolved to act promptly and vigorously upon this first offence.
+
+My first object was, in my punishment, not to involve the innocent and
+guilty together, which is too often done by the Europeans in these
+colonies.
+
+I therefore got hold of an intelligent native of the name of Moyee-e-nan,
+and, accompanied by him, visited the garden whence the potatoes had been
+stolen; he found the tracks of three natives and, availing himself of the
+faculty which they possess of telling who has passed from their
+footmarks, he informed me that the three thieves had been the two wives
+of a native of the name Peerat, and a little boy named Dal-be-an, the son
+of Peerat. Being now well acquainted with the natives I was well
+satisfied that this evidence was of the most conclusive nature, and
+proceeded to act upon it by trying to arrest the delinquents; but I found
+that they had, immediately after committing the theft, walked off into
+the bush, thereby hoping to avoid suspicion and with the intention of
+remaining absent until the affair had blown over.
+
+MEASURES FOR APPREHENDING THEM.
+
+My mind was soon made up to pursue my friend Peerat and his fugitive
+wives, but it was necessary that I should proceed with great caution in
+order not to alarm the guilty parties when they saw us approaching, in
+which case I should have had no chance of apprehending them; and I did
+not intend to adopt the popular system of shooting them when they ran
+away. I therefore determined to take no Europeans, but only four natives
+who could track the delinquents.
+
+Previously however to my quitting the town one gentleman joined me, and
+thus reinforced we started on Peerat's tracks; these we followed for
+about seven miles in a west by north direction from the settlement, when
+we suddenly saw the bush set on fire and thus became aware of our
+proximity to a party of natives. My European friend was here
+unfortunately taken ill, and, as the natives were evidently more numerous
+than I expected to have found them, I was sorry to lose his services at
+this period; he however faithfully promised to await my return, and I
+thus knew that I had a point d'appui to retire on in the event of
+anything taking place.
+
+Accompanied by the natives I now pressed forward in the direction of the
+fire, and, after proceeding for about two miles further in a west by
+north direction, I fell in with several natives, one of whom was old
+Tooleegatwalee, well known in the settlement. I at once intimated to Mr.
+Tooleegatwalee and his friends the object of my mission; I told them that
+Peerat's wives and son had stolen potatoes, that I had come out to make
+them prisoners, that if they were given up to me they should only undergo
+the regular punishment for petty theft; but if they were not delivered
+over that I would stop the regular allowance of flour which was issued to
+all the natives every two months, thus punishing them all; and that I
+would moreover return home, and then come out with a party of soldiers
+and fire upon Peerat and his party wherever I found them. This last part
+of my announcement was made in a very decided tone, and with a most
+ferocious look.
+
+NATIVE DELIBERATIONS.
+
+The natives hereupon entered into a deliberation amongst themselves, and
+eventually were unanimously agreed on several points, as follows:
+
+1. That stealing potatoes was a very heinous offence, more particularly
+in women.
+
+2, That women were notorious thieves, and altogether worse characters
+than men.
+
+3, That beating women was an every-day occurrence.
+
+4, That losing flour was a great bore; and
+
+5, That in consequence of the above considerations, they would give
+Peerat, his wives, and son, up to me.
+
+Each of these propositions was lengthily discussed by them, but when they
+were all agreed to, they came in a body and asked me, did I speak the
+truth, and lie not, when I said that I myself was not angry with Peerat
+and his wives, and that they should not be killed but only slightly
+punished? I assured them that I told the truth, and lied not. We then
+proceeded in a body in search of Peerat, whom we found with some more
+natives about half a mile further on.
+
+DISCUSSION WITH PEERAT.
+
+He waited quietly to receive us, not having indeed the slightest idea of
+what was the object of my unexpected visit; when however he heard what I
+wanted he abused his wives in most unmeasured terms, and assured me that
+he would thrash them soundly, but as to giving them up prisoners, or his
+son either, that he declared he would not do; and then very openly and
+fairly challenged any one of the other natives, or all of them together,
+to take him up, assuring them that he would spear the first man through
+the heart that attempted to lay a finger on him. I interfered so far in
+this dispute as to announce to Peerat that I considered my own person as
+sacred, and I then cocked both barrels of my double-barrelled gun and
+concluded by assuring him I should shoot him if he resisted me.
+
+All native altercations are vociferous and noisy in the extreme, and are
+usually accompanied with a great deal of running and leaping about and
+quivering of spears; these circumstances I now took advantage of, and,
+whilst the others threatened to spear one another in all imaginable
+places, I wended my solitary way towards Peerat's fire, where I
+discovered Master Dalbean, but could see nothing whatever of the ladies,
+who, I presume, were absent digging roots.
+
+HIS PLEADINGS FOR HIS SON.
+
+The young native was seized hold of before he could attempt to escape,
+and, as I told him if he now moved I should shoot him, he accompanied me
+very quietly; the others meanwhile capering about and abusing one another
+in the distance. Peerat however soon found out what had taken place and
+came running after me. These natives are always ardently attached to
+their children, and this the boy's father now evinced in the strongest
+manner: he first of all declared that the boy had been asleep with him,
+and that it was the mother only who had stolen; and he produced about a
+dozen witnesses who all asserted that this was the case. I however
+refuted this evidence by mentioning the fact of his footmarks being in
+the garden. They then urged that Peerat's second wife had also been
+engaged in the theft, and that she was just the size of the boy; this
+however again was over-ruled from the fact of her footmarks having been
+also seen there.
+
+PEERAT'S SON SECURED.
+
+The father now urged upon me the youth of the boy, and that he was under
+the influence of the mother, and then fairly wept upon his child's neck,
+who begged his father, and all the other natives by name, to save him. I
+was now holding him by the wrist, for the feeling of the public began at
+this affecting exhibition to turn against me, even my own natives urging
+me to let the little fellow go; had I followed the dictates of my own
+heart I should have done so, but I knew that by being in this instance
+very determined I should effect eventually much good. I therefore held
+fast by my prisoner. I now saw some of the other natives giving Peerat
+spears, which is always a sign that they espouse a man's quarrel and
+expect him to make use of the weapons they give him. As matters therefore
+now were rather a serious aspect, I again told Peerat that I personally
+had no cause of quarrel with him, but that I was resolved not to allow
+either the natives to wrong the Europeans or the Europeans to wrong the
+natives; that it was far better for the natives themselves that I, an
+impartial person, should see that they were properly punished for theft,
+than that the Europeans should fire indiscriminately upon them, as had
+lately been done in another quarter; that I should now talk no more, but
+that if he did not instantly take himself off and bring his wives in to
+the settlement to be punished I would shoot him. He proceeded again to
+answer me, but I cut him short by saying that if he spoke again I would
+shoot him at once; I thus had the last speech and therefore, as a matter
+of course, was in possession of the public favour: Peerat was
+consequently hurried off by his friends, whilst myself, the young
+prisoner, and two of the natives who had accompanied me, started on our
+return for the settlement.
+
+Although the affair had so far terminated well I was by no means sure
+that Peerat might not after my departure induce the others to attempt a
+rescue. I therefore hurried on to the spot where I had left my European
+friend, but I only found a slip of paper on a tree, with the following
+words on it: "Returned slowly to the settlement." We moved rapidly on
+again and reached Albany without further adventure, and on our arrival I
+lodged Dalbean in the jail.
+
+January 24.
+
+Peerat did not bring in his wives, and to all the solicitations which
+were offered me on the part of the natives for the release of my little
+prisoner I answered that, when Peerat's wives were brought in and given
+over to the hands of justice, I would punish the boy and release him; but
+if the other delinquents were not given up I should conceive it to be a
+sign that the natives were not satisfied with my decision, and therefore
+send the boy on to Swan River to be tried. I further added that, if
+Peerat did not in the course of the next day appear with his wives, I
+should cease to act as mediator, and taking a party of soldiers would go
+out and apprehend him.
+
+HIS ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.
+
+January 25.
+
+This morning information was given me that little Dalbean had made an
+attempt to break out of jail. I therefore went up to the jail with
+another magistrate and found that the little fellow had yesterday, during
+the absence of the turnkey, taken up a loose stone from the floor and had
+battered a hole in the door with it. It evinced altogether more strength
+and determination than one could have supposed such a boy to have been
+endowed with. When I taxed him with it he stoutly denied it, asserting
+that whilst he was asleep sorcerers from the north, who had a spite
+against him, had entered the cell through some airholes in the wall and
+had done this; and in spite of all our cross-questioning and charging him
+with falsehood he still persisted in the same tale, and really appeared
+to think that he could persuade us of the truth of the assertion. I told
+him that it was his duty to have taken care that these sorcerers had not
+injured the door, and that in future if he did not give the alarm when
+they came he should be well whipped for neglect, and that in the meantime
+I had a great mind to have him whipped for telling a story; I however
+satisfied myself by giving him a severe lecture upon the crime of lying.
+He defended himself upon this head by ingenious arguments, altogether
+overlooking the abstract question of whether lying was a virtue or a
+vice, and defending himself solely upon the plea of its general
+usefulness and prevalence in the world. I got rather worsted in the
+argument, and therefore, confining myself to admonitions and a few
+common-place maxims, I departed.
+
+PEERAT'S WIVES SURRENDERED. THEIR PUNISHMENT.
+
+In the course of the forenoon Peerat presented himself at my window. The
+tale he told was a very pitiful one. He had two wives, and to govern them
+both required no ordinary ability; he assured me that he had beaten them
+both soundly, but notwithstanding he could not induce them to come into
+the settlement until, finally losing his temper, he had threatened to
+spear them, and had thus induced them to follow him; he assured me that
+he had done nothing but weep and lament since he had last seen me, at one
+time for the loss of his son, and then again at the obstinacy and bad
+temper of his wives, and as some recompense for his sufferings he begged
+to be allowed to beat his wives himself.
+
+I told him to bring them at once to the garden they had robbed, and then,
+followed by several natives, I repaired to the appointed place. The
+native women soon appeared, dreadfully cut and mangled from the beating
+they had already suffered. One was a nice-looking girl, about fourteen,
+but an incorrigible thief. Peerat threw back his skin to give his arm
+fair play, and then, brandishing his meerro, was going to hit her a
+tremendous blow upon the head, which must have laid it open. The poor
+girl stood with her back towards her husband, trembling and crying
+bitterly. I caught Peerat's arm, picked up a little switch from the
+ground, and told him to beat her on the shoulders with that. He gave her
+two slight blows, or rather taps, in order to know where it was I meant
+him to strike; but the poor girl cried so bitterly from fear that I
+stopped him, told her that for this time she should be pardoned, and then
+called the other woman up, but she had already been severely beaten and
+had at that moment a little child sitting on her shoulder, who cried
+piteously when he saw his mother weeping, so I let her also go free.
+Before they started however I gave them and the assembled natives a
+lecture, talking to them in a ferocious style about my future intentions
+in the event of robbery being committed, and warning them not to judge of
+me from my present clemency.
+
+During the five months I had been at King George's Sound this was the
+first act of petty theft, or indeed of theft of any kind, committed by
+the natives; there had on several occasions been as many as two hundred
+in the settlement who had no means of subsistence but a chance job from
+the colonists, and the spontaneous productions of the earth, yet during
+that period the only criminals had been those above mentioned, namely, a
+woman, a girl, and a boy, who had rooted up some potatoes from a retired
+garden, and they had even purposely left the large potatoes and had only
+taken away the small ones, in the hope that by so doing they would lessen
+the crime.
+
+RELEASE OF PEERAT'S SON.
+
+In the afternoon I walked up to the jail attended by Peerat, his wives,
+and a crowd of natives, to release little Dalbean. Peerat and myself
+alone entered the jail; I told the jailor to hand him the whip, he took
+it, and said, "Yes, yes, I will strike him; let not another beat him,
+Governor."
+
+The door of the cell was then opened and the little boy was led out: his
+father ran up to him, caught him in his arms, and began kissing him;
+having done this he told him he was going to beat him. The little fellow
+did not answer a word, but, standing as firm and erect as possible,
+presented his back to him, the father gave him one blow, and it was
+ended--justice was satisfied; the criminals had surrendered to salutary
+laws, of which they had but a vague and undefined knowledge. It was their
+first offence; I explained to them the nature of the laws they had
+broken, warned them to be careful in their future conduct, and let them
+go. Little Dalbean, directly we got outside the jail, walked up to me,
+took my hand, and squeezed it, and then turned to his mother; he just
+looked at her, she cried, but did not dare to kiss him, or to show any
+symptom of emotion; and the whole party, after showering thanks
+innumerable upon my head, moved off, saying, "What a good fellow--what a
+good fellow;" or, to give a literal translation, "One good man--one good
+man."
+
+Sunday January 26.
+
+Old Manniotte, a native dressed in an old uniform, attended the church
+service as usual this day and was apparently as attentive as any other
+member of the congregation.
+
+JUDICIAL CASE OF ASSAULT.
+
+February 14.
+
+This evening a native came up to me as I was in the Commissary's house,
+and said: "Djanga kain nganya goree bomb-gur"; "A white man has just
+struck me." At the same time he showed me his side which was severely
+bruised. I accompanied him to the beach and there found a number of
+liberty men from some American whalers walking about. There were also
+several natives on the beach who were in a state of great excitement, and
+came hurrying up to me. I had sent for the constable, and as I was coming
+up I saw a sailor moving off to the boats, on which the natives all
+shouted out, "Now, now, walk away."
+
+The natives were soon satisfied that strict justice would be done them,
+and as the sailor who had struck the native was a man belonging to the
+Russel, commanded by Captain Long, who had previously taken me to Shark
+Bay, it was arranged with him that the offender should be brought before
+me at 11 o'clock the next day to answer the charge.
+
+February 15.
+
+This morning Taalwurt the native, attended by his various friends, came
+to me before I went to the Courthouse, to insist upon his right to speak
+first, as he appeared to think that a great deal depended upon his having
+this advantage over his opponent. I explained to him that, as plaintiff,
+this right of course belonged to him, and he thereupon withdrew, followed
+by his adherents. At the appointed hour I repaired to the Courthouse and
+found the natives assembled; the Europeans had not yet arrived. I called
+therefore upon Taalwurt for an information, which was as follows:
+
+THE ACCUSATION. ATTEMPTS AT ELOQUENCE. ADJUDICATION OF THE CASE.
+
+Colony of Western Australia, to wit: The information and complaint of
+Taalwurt Tdondarup, of Albany, in the said Colony, made before me, George
+Grey, Esquire, one of H.M. Justices of the Peace in and for the said
+Colony, the fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one
+thousand eight hundred and forty.
+
+The said Taalwurt Tdondarup complaineth and saith:
+
+"Nganya kype yoor-ril gool-gur, boye bomb-gur."
+
+"I in the water carelessly walked along, a stone struck me."
+
+But at this point his eloquence totally deserted him, and he was pulled
+back by his friends, who pushed forward another native, and who stated as
+follows:
+
+Lindoll Mongalung saith: "Wal-bur wat-to Taalwurt: Djanga Taalwurt
+kyle-gut bomb-gur.
+
+"Taalwurt djanga neyp bomb-gur, kyle-gut Taalwurt neyp bomb-gur: Waum
+djanga Taalwurt matta boorn boola bomb-gur: Taalwurt yoor-ril watto, waum
+djunga nar-rail ngob-barn boye koombar bomb-gar."
+
+"Along the beach was walking Taalwurt; one of the dead struck him under
+the ear. Taalwurt then very slightly struck this one of the dead; under
+the ear Taalwurt very lightly struck him. Another of the dead then struck
+Taalwurt very forcibly on the legs with a stick: Taalwurt went walking
+along quickly; another of the dead, in the ribs with an exceedingly big
+stone, extremely hard hit him."
+
+A murmur of applause ran through the assembled natives. The ngob-burn
+boye, koom-bur bomb-gur, or exceedingly big-stone, extremely hard hit,
+was evidently regarded by them as a masterpiece of eloquence; and the
+contrast between this and the neyp bomb-gur, very gently struck, of Mr.
+Taalwurt, undoubtedly evinced its superiority in their estimation; but as
+Taalwurt was a stout able fellow, and one by no means given to deal
+gentle blows when in a passion, I did not place implicit faith in this
+poetical narration. I had however no doubt that Taalwurt had been first
+struck and was thus the injured party; but now I knew he had returned the
+blow I was also sure that he had given at least as good a one as he had
+taken.
+
+The case therefore did not tell in Taalwurt's favour as much as I
+expected it would; and on the offender being produced, I found that he
+was a native from the island of Timor, and not much more civilized than
+his opponent. The mate of the vessel who came up with him stated that the
+man bore an excellent character, and that he was willing to make any
+compensation Taalwurt might require. Before the case came on I had
+explained this to the King George's Sound native, who compounded the
+matter for half-a-crown, and then walked off with his friends, fully
+resolved to get assaulted again upon the first good opportunity.
+
+
+CHAPTER 18. INFLUENCE OF EUROPEANS ON THE NATIVES.
+
+CAUSES WHY IT HAS NOT HITHERTO BEEN BENEFICIAL. INFLUENCE OF EUROPEANS ON
+THE NATIVES.
+
+After reviewing the condition of the Aborigines of Australia as it
+appears to have existed from time immemorial it will not be irrelevant to
+examine what change or melioration of their social state is likely to
+arise from the settlement of a civilised European race among them.
+
+The colony of Swan River differing materially in the elements of its
+population from those established in the eastern parts of this continent
+and in Van Diemen's Land, a corresponding change in the intercourse
+existing between the natives and the white population might naturally be
+looked for.
+
+In modern times, with the exception of the new settlement of South
+Australia, no colony has been established upon principles apparently so
+favourable for the development of the better qualities of the Aborigines,
+and with so fair a chance of their ultimate civilization.
+
+The apparent advantages are that no convicts have been brought to Western
+Australia to corrupt the manners of either sex, or to lead them astray by
+their vicious example; and that a great want of labour has been always
+felt, so that any assistance that could have been procured from the
+natives would have been a material benefit to the settlers. With these
+advantages we might have hoped to see some important results.
+
+I wish not to assert that the natives have been often treated with wanton
+cruelty, but I do not hesitate to say that no real amelioration of their
+condition has been effected, and that much of negative evil and indirect
+injury has been inflicted on them.
+
+The first great fault committed was that no distinct rules and
+regulations were drawn up for the protection of the Aborigines. Their
+land is taken from them, and the only benefit given in return is that
+they are made British subjects, that is, having a right to the protection
+of British Laws, and at the same time becoming amenable to them.
+
+WRETCHED STATE OF THE NATIVE POPULATION.
+
+All past experience has shown that the existence of two different races
+in a country, one of which, from any local circumstances, is considered
+inferior to the other, is one of the greatest evils under which a nation
+can labour; a more striking instance of which could not be adduced than
+is shown in the present state of the free coloured population in America.
+
+In contemplating, then, the future destiny of the Australian races, at
+the same time laying aside all thought of their amalgamation with
+Europeans, the prospect is most melancholy. Only two cases can arise;
+either they must disappear before advancing civilization, successively
+dying off ere the truths of christianity or the benefits of civilization
+have produced any effect on them, or they must exist in the midst of a
+superior numerical population, a despised and inferior race; and none but
+those who have visited a country in which such a race exists can duly
+appreciate the evils both moral and physical which such a degraded
+position entails upon them.
+
+CAUSES OF THEIR DEPRESSED CONDITION. PREJUDICES AGAINST THEM.
+
+If we enquire into the causes which tend to retain them in their present
+depressed condition we shall find that the chief one is prejudice. The
+Australians have been most unfairly represented as a very inferior race,
+in fact as one occupying a scale in the creation which nearly places them
+on a level with the brutes, and some years must elapse ere a prejudice so
+firmly rooted as this can be altogether eradicated, but certainly a more
+unfounded one never had possession of the public mind.
+
+INADEQUACY OF SUPPORT BY LABOUR.
+
+Amongst the evils which the natives suffer in their present position one
+is an uncertain and irregular demand for their labour, that is to say,
+they may one day have plenty of means for exerting their industry
+afforded them by the settlers, and the next their services are not
+required; so that they are necessarily compelled to have recourse to
+their former irregular and wandering habits.
+
+Another is the very insufficient reward for the services they render. As
+an example of this kind I will state the instance of a man who worked
+during the whole season as hard and as well as any white man at getting
+in the harvest for some settlers, and who only received bread and
+sixpence a day whilst the ordinary labourers would earn at least fifteen
+shillings. In many instances they only receive a scanty allowance of
+food, so much so that some settlers have told me that the natives left
+them because they had not enough to eat.
+
+The evil consequence of this is that a native, finding he can gain as
+much by the combined methods of hunting and begging as he can by working,
+naturally prefers the former and much more attractive mode of procuring
+subsistence to the latter one.
+
+Many of the natives have not only a good idea of the value of money but
+even hoard it up for some particular purpose; several of them have shown
+me their little treasure of a few shillings, and have told me it was
+their intention to save more until they had enough to buy a horse, a gun,
+or some wished-for article, but their improvidence has always got the
+better of their thriftiness, and this sum has eventually been spent in
+treating their friends to bread and rice.
+
+EVIL EFFECTS FROM THEIR FEROCIOUS CUSTOMS REMAINING UNCHECKED.
+
+Another evil is the very extraordinary position in which they are placed
+with regard to two distinct sets of laws; that is, they are allowed to
+exercise their own laws upon one another, and are again held amenable to
+British law where British subjects are concerned. Thus no protection is
+afforded them by the British law against the violence or cruelty of one
+of their own race, and the law has hitherto only been known to them as
+the means of punishment, but never as a code from which they can claim
+protection or benefit.
+
+The following instances will prove my assertion: In the month of October
+1838 I saw early one morning some natives in the public street in Perth,
+in the act of murdering a native woman, close to the store of the Messrs.
+Habgood; many Europeans were present, amongst others a constable; but
+there was no interference on their part until eventually the life of the
+woman was saved by the courage of Mr. Brown, a gardener in Perth, who
+rushed in amongst the natives and knocked down the man who was holding
+her; she then escaped into the house of the Messrs. Habgood, who treated
+the poor creature with the utmost humanity. She was however wounded in
+several places in the most severe and ghastly manner.
+
+A letter I received from Mr. A. Bussel (a settler in the southern part of
+the colony) in May 1839 shows that the same scenes are enacted all over
+it. In this case their cow-keeper (the native whose burial is narrated
+above) was speared by the others. He was at the time the hired servant of
+Europeans, performing daily a stated service for them; yet they slew him
+in open daylight, without any cause of provocation being given by him.
+
+Again, in October, 1838, the sister of a settler in the northern district
+told me that, shortly before this period, she had, as a female servant, a
+most interesting little native girl, not more than ten or eleven years of
+age. This girl had just learned all the duties belonging to her
+employment, and was regarded in the family as a most useful servant, when
+some natives, from a spirit of revenge, murdered this inoffensive child
+in the most barbarous manner, close to the house; her screams were
+actually heard by the Europeans under whose protection and in whose
+service she was living, but they were not in time to save her life. This
+same native had been guilty of many other barbarous murders, one of which
+he had committed in the district of the Upper Swan, in the actual
+presence of Europeans. In June 1839 he was still at large, unmolested,
+even occasionally visiting Perth.
+
+CAUSES OF THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THEIR ROVING AND SAVAGE LIFE.
+
+Their fondness for the bush and the habits of savage life is fixed and
+perpetuated by the immense boundary placed by circumstances between
+themselves and the whites, which no exertions on their part can overpass,
+and they consequently relapse into a state of hopeless passive
+indifference.
+
+I will state a remarkable instance of this: The officers of the Beagle
+took away with them a native of the name of Miago, who remained absent
+with them for several months. I saw him on the north-west coast, on board
+the Beagle, apparently perfectly civilized; he waited at the gun-room
+mess, was temperate (never tasting spirits) attentive, cheerful, and
+remarkably clean in his person. The next time I saw him was at Swan
+River, where he had been left on the return of the Beagle. He was then
+again a savage, almost naked, painted all over, and had been concerned in
+several murders. Several persons here told me, "you see the taste for a
+savage life was strong in him, and he took to the bush again directly."
+Let us pause for a moment and consider.
+
+Miago, when he was landed, had amongst the white people none who would be
+truly friends of his. They would give him scraps from their table, but
+the very outcasts of the whites would not have treated him as an equal,
+they had no sympathy with him, he could not have married a white woman,
+he had no certain means of subsistence open to him, he never could have
+been either a husband or a father if he had lived apart from his own
+people; where amongst the whites was he to find one who would have filled
+for him the place of his black mother, whom he is much attached to? what
+white man would have been his brother? what white woman his sister? He
+had two courses left open to him: he could either have renounced all
+natural ties and have led a hopeless, joyless life amongst the whites,
+ever a servant, ever an inferior being; or he could renounce civilization
+and return to the friends of his childhood, and to the habits of his
+youth. He chose the latter course, and I think that I should have done
+the same.
+
+SUGGESTIONS ON THE MEANS OF PROMOTING THEIR CIVILIZATION.
+
+The information I had collected regarding the Aborigines of Western
+Australia encouraged me to address a report to Lord John Russell, the
+Secretary of State for the Colonies, embracing the general principles
+which I considered would best promote the civilization of the race. This
+report having been approved, copies of it were sent to the Governors of
+the Australian and New Zealand settlements, and with a transcript of it I
+shall now conclude my work:*
+
+(*Footnote. [This letter has subsequently been printed for Parliament at
+page 43 of the Sessional Paper Number 311 of 1841, the Colonization of
+New Zealand. ED.])
+
+Mauritius, June 4 1840.
+
+MY LORD,
+
+I have the honour to submit to your Lordship a report upon the best means
+of promoting the civilization of the aboriginal inhabitants of Australia,
+which report is founded upon a careful study of the language, prejudices,
+and traditional customs of this people.
+
+Feeling anxious to render this report as complete as possible I have
+delayed transmitting it to your Lordship until the latest possible
+period; portions of it have in the interim been laid before some of the
+local governments in Australia, and a few of the suggestions contained in
+it have been already acted upon.
+
+But as so small a portion of Australia is as yet occupied, and the
+important task of so conducting the occupation of new districts as to
+benefit the aborigines in the greatest possible degree yet remains to be
+performed, I have thought that it would be agreeable to your Lordship to
+be put in possession of all such facts relating to this interesting
+subject as are at present known.
+
+None but general principles, equally applicable to all portions of the
+continent of Australia, are embodied in this report; and I am
+particularly solicitous that that portion of it which commences at the
+21st paragraph should receive consideration from your Lordship, as the
+whole machinery required to bring this plan into operation now exists in
+the different Australian colonies, and its full development would entail
+no expense whatever upon either the Home or local Governments.
+
+I have, etc.,
+
+(Signed) G. GREY,
+
+Captain 83rd Regiment,
+
+Commanding Australian Expedition.
+
+Right Honourable Lord John Russell, etc. etc. etc.
+
+REPORT UPON THE BEST MEANS OF PROMOTING THE CIVILIZATION OF THE
+ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF AUSTRALIA.
+
+1. The aborigines of Australia having hitherto resisted all efforts which
+have been made for their civilization, it would appear that, if they are
+capable of being civilized, it can be shown that all the systems on which
+these efforts have been founded contain some common error, or that each
+of them involved some erroneous principle; the former supposition appears
+to be the true one, for they all contained one common element, they all
+started with one recognized principle, the presence of which in the
+scheme must necessarily have entailed its failure.
+
+2. This principle was that, although the natives should, as far as
+European property and European subjects were concerned, be made amenable
+to British laws, yet so long as they only exercised their own customs
+upon themselves, and not too immediately in the presence of Europeans,
+they should be allowed to do so with impunity.
+
+3. This principle originated in philanthropic motives and a total
+ignorance of the peculiar traditional laws of this people, which laws,
+differing from those of any other known race, have necessarily imparted
+to the people subject to them a character different from all other races;
+and hence arises the anomalous state in which they have been found.
+
+4. They are as apt and intelligent as any other race of men I am
+acquainted with; they are subject to the same afflictions, appetites, and
+passions as other men, yet in many points of character they are totally
+dissimilar to them; and, from the peculiar code of laws of this people,
+it would appear not only impossible that any nation subject to them could
+ever emerge from a savage state, but even that no race, however highly
+endowed, however civilized, could in other respects remain long in a
+state of civilization if they were submitted to the operation of such
+barbarous customs.
+
+5. The plea generally set up in defence of this principle is that the
+natives of this country are a conquered people, and that it is an act of
+generosity to allow them the full power of exercising their own laws upon
+themselves; but this plea would appear to be inadmissible; for, in the
+first place, savage and traditional customs should not be confounded with
+a regular code of laws; and secondly, when Great Britain insures to a
+conquered country the privilege of preserving its own laws, all persons
+resident in this territory become amenable to the same laws, and proper
+persons are selected by the Government to watch over their due and
+equitable administration; nothing of this kind either exists or can exist
+with regard to the customs of the natives of Australia; between these two
+cases then there is no apparent analogy.
+
+6. I would submit therefore that it is necessary from the moment the
+aborigines of this country are declared British subjects, they should, as
+far as possible, be taught that the British laws are to supersede their
+own, so that any native who is suffering under their own customs may have
+the power of an appeal to those of Great Britain; or, to put this in its
+true light, that all authorized persons should, in all instances, be
+required to protect a native from the violence of his fellows, even
+though they be in the execution of their own laws.
+
+7. So long as this is not the case the older natives have at their
+disposal the means of effectually preventing the civilization of any
+individuals of their own tribe, and those among them who may be inclined
+to adapt themselves to the European habits and mode of life will be
+deterred from so doing by their fear of the consequences that the
+displeasure of others may draw down upon them.
+
+8. So much importance am I disposed to attach to this point that I do not
+hesitate to assert my full conviction that, whilst those tribes which are
+in communication with Europeans are allowed to execute their barbarous
+laws and customs upon one another, so long will they remain hopelessly
+immersed in their present state of barbarism: and, however unjust such a
+proceeding might at first sight appear, I believe that the course pointed
+out by true humanity would be to make them from the very commencement
+amenable to the British laws, both as regards themselves and Europeans;
+for I hold it to be imagining a contradiction to suppose that individuals
+subject to savage and barbarous laws can rise into a state of
+civilization which those laws have a manifest tendency to destroy and
+overturn.
+
+9. I have known many instances of natives who have been almost or quite
+civilized being compelled by other natives to return to the bush; more
+particularly girls who have been betrothed in their infancy and who, on
+approaching the years of puberty, have been compelled by their husbands
+to join them.
+
+10. It is difficult to ascertain the exact effect the institutions of a
+country produce upon the character of its inhabitants; but it may be
+readily admitted that, if two savage races of equal mental endowments,
+and with the same capacity for civilization, were subject to two distinct
+sets of laws, the one mild and favourable to the development of
+civilization, the other bloodthirsty and opposed to it, the former race
+might gradually be brought to a knowledge of Christianity and
+civilization, whilst precisely similar efforts made with regard to the
+latter might be attended with no beneficial result.
+
+11. Again, it would be unfair to consider the laws of the natives of
+Australia as any indication of the real character of this people; for
+many races who were at one period subject to the most barbarous laws
+have, since new institutions have been introduced amongst them, taken
+their rank among the civilized nations of the earth.
+
+12. To punish the aborigines severely for the violation of laws of which
+they are ignorant would be manifestly cruel and unjust; but to punish
+them in the first instance slightly for the violation of these laws would
+inflict no great injury on them, whilst by always punishing them when
+guilty of a crime, without reference to the length of period that had
+elapsed between its perpetration and their apprehension, at the same time
+fully explaining to them the measure of punishment that would await them
+in the event of a second commission of the same fault, would teach them
+gradually the laws to which they were henceforth to be amenable, and
+would show them that crime was always eventually, although it might be
+remotely, followed by punishment.
+
+13. I imagine that this course would be more merciful than that at
+present adopted; namely, to punish them for the violation of a law they
+are ignorant of, when this violation affects a European, and yet to allow
+them to commit this crime as often as they like when it only regards
+themselves; for this latter course teaches them not that certain actions,
+such, for instance, as murder, etc., are generally criminal, but only
+that they are criminal when exercised towards the white people, and the
+impression consequently excited in their minds is that these acts only
+excite our detestation when exercised towards ourselves, and that their
+criminality consists not in having committed a certain odious action, but
+in having violated our prejudices.
+
+14. In the vicinity of towns where there is a certain judicial force, and
+where, on account of the facility of obtaining food, the natives always
+congregate, it would, by a steady and determined line of conduct, be
+comparatively easy to enforce an observance of the British laws; but,
+even partially to attain this object in the remote and thinly settled
+districts, it is necessary that each colony should possess an efficient
+mounted police, a portion of whom should be constantly in movement from
+district to district, whilst another portion, resident in a central
+situation, should be ready to act instantly in any direction where their
+presence was required. I do not apprehend that this body need be
+numerous, for their utility would depend more on their activity and
+efficiency than on their numbers. It is absolutely necessary, for the
+cause of humanity and good order, that such a force should exist; for so
+long as distant settlers are left unprotected and are compelled to take
+care of and avenge themselves, so long must great barbarities necessarily
+be committed; and the only way to prevent great crime on the part of the
+natives, and massacres of these poor creatures as the punishment of such
+crimes, is to check and punish their excesses in their infancy: it is
+only after becoming emboldened by frequent petty successes that they have
+hitherto committed those crimes which have drawn down so fearful a
+vengeance upon them.
+
+15. The greatest obstacle that presents itself in considering the
+application of the British laws to these aborigines is the fact that,
+from their ignorance of the nature of an oath, or of the obligations it
+imposes, they are not competent to give evidence before a court of
+justice; and hence in many cases it would be extremely difficult, if not
+impossible, to obtain evidence on which a prisoner could be convicted.
+
+16. One mode of evading this difficulty would be to empower the court to
+receive evidence from the natives in all cases relating solely to
+themselves without the witness being sworn, only allowing testimony of
+this nature to hold good when borne out by very strong circumstantial
+evidence; secondly to empower the court always to receive evidence from
+natives called on by a native prisoner in his defence, such evidence
+being subject to the before-named restrictions.
+
+17. The fact of the natives being unable to give testimony in a court of
+justice is a great hardship on them, and they consider it as such; the
+reason that occasions their disability for the performance of this
+function is at present quite beyond their comprehension, and it is
+impossible to explain it to them. I have been a personal witness to a
+case in which a native was most undeservedly punished, from the
+circumstance of the natives who were the only persons who could speak as
+to certain exculpatory facts not being permitted to give their evidence.
+
+18. There are certain forms in our colonial courts of justice as at
+present conducted which it is impossible to make a savage comprehend. I
+attended one quarter-sessions at which a number of natives were tried on
+a great variety of charges. Several of them were induced to plead guilty,
+and on this admission of their having committed the crime sentence was
+pronounced upon them. But when others denied their guilt, and found that
+this denial produced no corresponding result in their favour, whilst at
+the same time they were not permitted to bring forward other natives to
+deny it also, and to explain the matter for them, they became perfectly
+confounded. I was subsequently applied to by several intelligent natives
+to explain this mystery to them, but I failed in giving such an
+explanation as would satisfy them.
+
+19. The natives being ignorant of our laws, of the forms of our courts of
+justice, of the language in which the proceedings are conducted, and the
+sentence pronounced upon them, it would appear that but a very imperfect
+protection is afforded them by having present in the court merely an
+interpreter (very often an ignorant man) who knows nothing of legal
+proceedings and can be but very imperfectly acquainted with the native
+language: it must also be borne in mind that the natives are not tried by
+a jury of their peers, but by a jury having interests directly opposed to
+their own, and who can scarcely avoid being in some degree prejudiced
+against native offenders. From these considerations I would suggest that
+it should be made binding upon the local government in all instances (or
+at least in such instances as affect life) to provide a counsel to defend
+native prisoners.
+
+20. Some other principal preventives to the civilization of the
+aborigines, in addition to those I have already stated, are:
+
+1. The existence of an uncertain and irregular demand for their labour:
+thus they may have one day sufficient opportunity afforded them for the
+exertion of their industry, whilst the next day their services are not
+required, so that they are compelled once more to have recourse to their
+former irregular and wandering habits.
+
+2. Their generally receiving a very inadequate reward for the services
+they render; this, combined with their natural fondness for the bush,
+induces them to prefer that mode of subsistence which, whilst it is
+infinitely more agreeable and less laborious, procures for them nearly as
+great a reward as living with white people.
+
+3. Their not being taught that different values are attached to different
+degrees of labour, as well as to the skill and neatness with which it is
+performed.
+
+21. These impediments might all either be removed or modified in some
+districts by the establishment of native institutions and schools, but in
+forming a general plan for their removal which would be equally
+applicable to all parts of a colony, a very novel difficulty presents
+itself.
+
+22. Imagining that a native child is perfectly capable of being
+civilised, let it also be granted that, from proper preventive measures
+having been adopted, this child has nothing to fear from the vengeance of
+the other natives, so that it stands in these respects nearly or
+altogether in the position of a European.
+
+23. If this native child is a boy who is to pay the individual who
+undertakes to teach him some calling the fee usually given with an
+apprentice; who will indemnify this person for the time he spends in
+instructing the boy before he can derive any benefit from his labour, or
+for the risk he incurs of the boy's services being bestowed elsewhere as
+soon as they are worth having?
+
+24. Until this difficulty is got over it appears evident that the natives
+will only be employed in herding cattle, or in the lowest order of manual
+labour which requires no skill, and for which the reward they receive
+will be so small as scarcely to offer an inducement to them to quit their
+present wandering mode of life.
+
+25. The remedy I would suggest for this evil would have another advantage
+besides a tendency to ameliorate it, for it would give the settlers a
+great and direct interest in the aborigines without entailing any expense
+upon the Government. It is founded on the following fact:
+
+26. The Government, in order to create a supply of labour in the
+colonies, have been in the habit of giving certain rewards to those
+individuals who introduced labourers into them. Now it would appear that
+he who reclaims one of the aborigines not only adds another labourer to
+those who are already in the colony, but further confers such a benefit
+on his fellow-settlers by rendering one who was before a useless and
+dangerous being a serviceable member of the community, that this
+circumstance alone entitles him to a reward.
+
+27. I would therefore propose that, on the production of the
+hereafter-named documents, a settler should receive a certificate
+entitling him to a certain sum, which should either be allowed to reckon
+towards the completion of location duties, or else as a remission
+certificate in the purchase of land, or, in lieu of this, a grant of
+land; and that this sum or grant should be regulated according to a table
+specifying the various circumstances that are likely to occur, and drawn
+up by the local government of each place where such regulation should be
+introduced.
+
+28. The documents to which I allude are these:
+
+1. A deposition before the nearest magistrate to such settler's house
+that a native or natives have been resident with him constantly for the
+last six months, and have been employed in stated species of labour.
+
+2. A certificate from the government resident of the district that, to
+the best of his belief, such statement is true, for that, on his visiting
+this settler's house, the stated number of natives were there, and were
+respectively occupied in the kinds of labour described.
+
+3. A certificate from the protector of aborigines that he has visited
+this settler's house; that the stated number of natives were resident
+there, and appeared to be progressing in the knowledge of that branch of
+industry in which they were respectively stated to be employed.
+
+29. It would be further necessary that any settler who intended to
+endeavour to reclaim natives should give a short notice to the protector
+of aborigines previously to the commencement of the first six months.
+
+30. Could this plan be brought into operation the work of the
+civilization of the aborigines would at once be commenced upon a great
+scale; it would not be confined to a single institution, but a variety of
+individuals, endowed with different talents and capacities for this work,
+would at once be employed on it: it is indeed rather suited and intended
+for the outskirts of civilization, thinly populated by settlers, than for
+towns, yet it is applicable to both situations; whilst its direct
+operation would be to induce the settler adequately to remunerate the
+native for, as well as to provide him with, a constant supply of labour,
+and to use every exertion by kind and proper treatment to attach him for
+as long a period as possible to his establishment.
+
+31. In considering the kinds of labour in which it would be most
+advisable to engage natives it should be borne in mind that, in remote
+districts where the European population is small, it would be imprudent
+to induce many natives to congregate at any one point, and the kinds of
+labour in which they should be there engaged ought to be of such a nature
+as to have a tendency to scatter them over the country, and to distribute
+them amongst the separate establishments.
+
+32. Whilst in the well-peopled districts, where a force sufficient both
+to protect and control the aborigines exists, they should be induced to
+assemble in great numbers, for they work much more readily when employed
+in masses, and, by thus assembling them on one point, their numbers are
+diminished in those portions of the colony which have a small European
+population, and they are concentrated at a spot where proper means for
+their improvement can be provided.
+
+33. The first of these principles has been strictly attended to in the
+plan proposed in the 27th and following paragraphs of this report; the
+second has been carried into successful operation in Western Australia.
+
+34. In order that the work on which the natives are employed in the
+vicinity of towns should be of the most advantageous nature it is
+necessary that it should be productive of benefit both to themselves and
+the Government which employs them, so that it cannot be complained of as
+a useless expense, whilst at the same time it should be of such a kind as
+to accord with that love of excitement and change which is so peculiar to
+this people.
+
+35. Both of these ends would be attained by employing the aborigines
+either in opening new roads or in repairing old lines of communication;
+indeed this mode of employment is singularly suited to the habits of this
+people; they might be kept constantly moving from post to post, thus
+varying the scene of their operations; one portion of the party might be
+employed in hunting with kangaroo-dogs, or fishing, in order to supply
+the others with fresh meat; and the species of labour in which the main
+body were engaged might, if they wished it, be changed once or twice in
+the course of the day to prevent their being wearied by the monotonous
+character of their employment.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+36. Among other enactments which I believe would have a tendency to
+promote the civilization of the aborigines, and which are applicable to
+those districts in which for some time a great intercourse has existed
+between the natives and Europeans, are the following:
+
+37. That any native who could produce a certificate (from the protector
+of aborigines) of having been constantly employed at the house of any
+settler or settlers, for a period of not less than three years, should be
+entitled to a grant of land, the extent of which should be fixed by the
+local government of the colony to which such native should belong, and
+that, if possible, this grant should be given in that district to which
+this native by birth belonged.
+
+That, in addition to this grant, he should receive a sum of money, the
+amount of which should also be fixed by the local government, and which
+should be drawn from the fund raised by the sale of Government lands, and
+which sum should be expended in goats, poultry, etc., so as to enable the
+native in some manner to stock his land.
+
+That any native, having only one wife, who produced a certificate of the
+civil marriage contract having been performed between himself and her, by
+the resident of the district to which he belonged, should be entitled to
+a small reward.
+
+That any natives who registered duly the birth of any of their children
+should be entitled to a small reward.
+
+That some competent person should be paid to instruct two native boys in
+such a manner as to qualify them to act as interpreters in courts of law,
+and that as soon as they are found competent they should be employed for
+this purpose.
+
+I believe that many other regulations, similar to these, would be found
+to produce a very beneficial effect.
+
+...
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+APPENDIX A.
+
+GENEALOGICAL LIST TO SHOW THE MANNER IN WHICH A NATIVE FAMILY BECOMES
+DIVIDED.
+
+Nar-doo-itch or Mo-rel-li, a Ballar-oke, born about A.D. 1735,
+
+had two wives,
+
+Kan-dow-ree, a Ngotak,
+
+and
+
+Bol-ye-ree, a No-go-nyuk.
+
+Kan-dow-ree, had the following children:
+
+Yin-dee-ree, female.
+Wun-ya-ree, female.
+Kag-a-ree, female.
+Yung-al, male.
+Wal-luk-wur, male.
+
+These were all Ngotaks.
+
+Three of these children, Yin-dee-ree, Wun-ya-ree, and Kag-a-ree, were by
+Nar-doo-itch's brother, her former husband.
+
+Bol-ye-ree's children were:
+
+Kow-en-ung, female.
+No-gong-o, male.
+Jee-bar, male.
+Koon-a-ber-ra, male.
+Ko-teyne, male.
+By-er-man, male.
+
+These were all No-go-nyuks.
+
+Kim-be-yen-ung, a Tdon-dar-up, married, amongst other wives, Noo-yar, a
+Ballar-oke.
+
+Noo-yar's children were:
+
+Yow-at-ung, female.*
+Kad-jen-ung, female.
+Ban-in-yung, female.
+Now-ween-gool, female.
+
+These were all Ballar-okes.
+
+(*Footnote. Married to Yungal, a son of Nar-doo-itch.)
+
+...
+
+In order to show the way in which the different families marry into one
+another I will now trace up the descendants of some of the male children
+of Nar-doo-itch by each of his wives.
+
+Yung-al, the son of Nar-doo-itch,
+
+called also
+
+Be-ra-gore,
+
+married:
+
+Ming-an, a Ballar-oke,
+Ko-pan, a Nagar-nook,
+Yow-at-ung, a Ballar-oke, daughter of Kim-be-yen-ung.
+
+Ming-an's children were:
+
+Book-oop, female.
+Yu-yat, male.
+Me-kat, female.
+Tdan-up, female.
+
+These were all Ballar-okes.
+
+Ko-pan's children were:
+
+E-lar, male.
+Wat-up, male.
+Bil-yan, male.
+Mong-a-na, female.
+Wun-daile, female.
+
+These were all Na-gar-nooks.
+
+Yow-at-ung's children were:
+
+Im-bat, male.
+Jil-gar, male.
+Gi-mat, male.
+Dubin, female.
+Boo-yin female.
+
+These were all Ballar-okes.
+
+Jee-bar, a No-go-nyuk, another son of Nar-doo-itch, married:
+
+Kag-a-ree, a Ngotak.
+Bar-ri-kan, a Tdondarup.
+
+Kag-a-ree's children were:
+
+Mun-gal-wurt, male.
+Ell-yar, male.
+Wun-jan-ing, female.
+War-ran-ung, female.
+Bee-wul-lo, male.
+
+Ngotaks.
+
+Bar-ri-kan's children were:
+
+Djar-a-bung, female.
+Nag-a-bung, female.
+Yu-gat, male.
+Ka-ral-ung, male.
+
+Tdondarups.
+
+Bee-wul-lo, a Ngotak, the son of Jee-bar, married:
+
+Wun-daile, a Na-gar-nook,
+Noon-dup, a No-go-nyuk,
+Du-bin, a Ballar-oke,
+Ek-kan, a Ballar-oke,
+Ming-up, a Ballar-oke,
+We-jee-bung, a Ballar-oke.
+
+Wun-daile's children were:
+
+Yen-na, male.
+War-rup, male.
+Tu-yin, male.
+Dow-eer, male.
+Wil-gup, female.
+Ka-bin-yung, female.
+Bate-up, female.
+
+Na-gar-nooks.
+
+Noon-dup's children were:
+
+Mee-nung, male.
+Kow-elwurt, male.
+Ngar-ra-jil, male.
+Kau-mar, male.
+Koot-in, male.
+Il-gat, male.
+
+No-go-nyuks.
+
+Du-bin had but one child:
+
+Waj-jup, female, a Ballar-oke.
+
+Ek-kan's children are:
+
+Wy-up, male.
+Kok-o-bung, female.
+Wee-muk, female.
+
+Ballar-okes.
+
+Ming-up has but one child living:
+
+Win-bill, male, a Ballar-oke.
+
+...
+
+APPENDIX B.
+
+MOUNT FAIRFAX, THE WIZARD HILLS, AND CHAMPION BAY.
+
+(From the Nautical Magazine for July 1841 page 443.)
+
+The only part of the West coast (to the northward of Swan River) that has
+been visited by the Beagle is that part immediately to the eastward of
+the Abrolhos, and it is remarkable from being under the high tableland of
+Moresby's Flat-topped Range, which is a considerable elevation, and in
+clear weather is visible from a ship's mast-head at the Abrolhos.
+
+This range of hills extends north-north-west six miles from Mount
+Fairfax, which, although a detached hill, may be considered its southern
+extreme. Mount Fairfax is a table-topped hill, the summit of which is an
+elevated part at its southern edge, and is 590 feet high. It is in
+latitude 28 degrees 45 1/4 minutes, and longitude 1 degree 3 3/4 minutes
+west of Swan River, and 4 miles from the coast. To the south-east of
+Moresby's Flat-topped Range are the Wizard Hills, the highest of which,
+Wizard Peak, is 640 feet. It is in latitude 28 degrees 49 minutes 37
+seconds south and longitude 0 degrees 58 1/2 minutes west of Swan River.
+For 10 1/2 miles to the northward of Moresby's Flat-topped Range are some
+remarkable detached ranges of tableland, from 500 to 600 feet high, at
+the northern extreme of which are the Menai Hills. Some of them show as
+peaks, but appear only to be the gable ends, as it were, of table-topped
+ridges.
+
+In latitude 28 degrees 47 minutes south there is a narrow neck of low
+land projecting about 1 3/4 miles from the coastline, to the northward of
+which there is good anchorage in Champion Bay.
+
+Point Moore, which is the extreme of this low projection, bears west 13
+degrees south (magnetic) from Mount Fairfax, and west 17 degrees north
+(magnetic) from Wizard Peak. The anchorage is protected from the westward
+by a reef that extends upwards of a mile to the northward from Point
+Moore: but half a mile to the northward of the reef is a detached shoal
+patch which breaks occasionally, between which and the reef there is a
+passage through which the Beagle passed, and had not less than six
+fathoms. But perhaps it would be advisable in standing into the bay to
+pass to the northward of this danger, which may be done by not bringing
+Mount Fairfax to bear to the southward of east 1/4 south (magnetic) until
+Point Moore bears south.
+
+This bay is open to the northward, but, as the winds from that quarter
+are not frequent, and then only in the winter season, it may be
+considered as affording shelter from the prevailing winds on the coast.
+The water is shoal in the head of the bay, but a good anchorage may be
+taken three-quarters of a mile off shore in four fathoms sandy bottom,
+with Point Moore bearing south 50 degrees west and a remarkable bare
+brown sandhill in the south-east part of the bay, bearing south 31
+degrees east. Mount Fairfax will then bear north 87 minutes east, and the
+north extreme of the reef from Point Moore north 50 minutes west. Wizard
+Peak is not seen from this anchorage.
+
+South of Point Moore is another bay formed by a continuation of the same
+reef that shelters Champion Bay from the westward; but it is quite
+exposed to the prevailing winds. From Champion Bay the coast to the
+northward is sandy, and fronted by sandhills slightly covered with
+shrubs. This description of coast continues for nearly twenty miles. In
+latitude 28 degrees 25 minutes is a remarkable white sand-patch 274 feet
+above the sea, between two and three miles south of which is a deep
+ravine where there is probably a stream of fresh water. Here the shore
+becomes steeper, and rises abruptly from the sea, forming downs about 300
+feet high. Native fires were seen in this neighbourhood, and the country
+had a more fertile appearance than in the vicinity of Champion Bay. This
+part of the coast is bold too, and is free from outlaying dangers, the
+depth of water from two to three miles off shore being taken between 16
+and 29 fathoms. High-water at Champion Bay takes place on change days at
+9 hours 30 minutes P.M. nearly, and the range is from 12 to 24 inches.
+The stream of tide is not perceptible, but there is generally a current
+along the coast to the north-north-west from half a mile to one mile an
+hour.
+
+Champion Bay appears to be the only anchorage on the coast between Swan
+River and Shark Bay: it is preferable to Gage's Road, and may at no very
+distant period become of importance to Western Australia in consequence
+of a considerable tract of fine country having lately been discovered
+immediately to the eastward of Moresby's Flat-topped Range.
+
+...
+
+
+APPENDIX C.
+
+CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE MAMMALIA OF
+AUSTRALIA, WITH NOTES ON SOME RECENTLY DISCOVERED SPECIES, BY J.E. GRAY,
+F.R.S., ETC. ETC., IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR.
+
+British Museum, 10th July 1841.
+
+MY DEAR SIR,
+
+The very little attention which has hitherto been paid to the
+distribution of the animals of Australia, and the very incorrect manner
+in which the habitats of the different species are given in collections
+and systematic works, have induced me to send you, with the description
+of the new species recently brought from that country, a table showing at
+one view the distribution of the different species which have hitherto
+been recorded as found in Australia, as far as the materials at my
+disposal will allow me.
+
+I am the more induced to do so as I believe I have now under my care the
+richest collection of the animals of this country in any Museum; as,
+besides the specimens which we have been collecting from different
+quarters, with the kind assistance of Mr. Ronald Gunn, Mr. Harvey, and
+yourself, we have just purchased a complete series of all the species and
+varieties brought by Mr. Gould from different parts of this Continent;
+and these specimens were all marked with the habitat immediately after
+they were procured.
+
+The first column in the following table indicates the species found in
+New South Wales, and the east part of the Continent; the number in the
+column specifying the particular habitats where the species has been
+observed,
+
+1. Sydney, and its neighbourhood.
+2. The Rivers Hunter and Maitland, and Goulburn Plains.
+3. Liverpool Plains.
+4. Liverpool Range.
+5. The Namoi and Mokai Rivers.
+6. Bong-Bong.
+7. Yarrundi.
+8. Interior (generally).
+9. Australian Alps.
+10. Murrumbidgee River.
+11. Moreton Bay.
+12. Clarence River.
+13. Port Phillip.
+14. Bathurst.
+15. Interior of Australia Felix.
+16. Murray River.
+17. Bayunga River.
+18. Darling River.
+19. Glenelg River.
+20. Port Stevens Mountains.
+21. Port Macquarie.
+
+The second column refers to South Australia, and the numbers in it to:
+
+1. Adelaide and its vicinity.
+2. Kangaroo Island.
+3. The South Coast.
+4. Port Lincoln.
+5. Murray River.
+
+The third column refers to Western Australia, as:
+
+1. Perth.
+2. King George's Sound.
+3. Northam.
+4. Canning River.
+5. Rottnest and Garden Islands.
+
+The fourth column refers to the North-west Coast of Australia:
+
+1. Hanover Bay.
+2. Islands in Shark Bay.
+3. Dirk Hatterick's Bay.
+4. Generally, the peculiar locality not being marked.
+
+The fifth column to the North Coast:
+
+1. Port Essington.
+
+The sixth column to the Island of Van Diemen's Land, the numbers to:
+
+1. Hobart Town.
+2. Circular Head.
+3. Bass Strait and King's Island.
+4. New Norfolk.
+5. Kangaroo Point.
+6. Tasman's Peninsula.
+7. Launceston.
+8. Acteon Island.
+9. Mount Wellington.
+
+The seventh column to Norfolk Island, marked Number 1.
+
+PRIMATES. Family Vespertilionidae.
+
+1. Rhinolophus megaphyllus Gray. 1:10.
+
+2. Nyctophilus geoffroyii Leach ? 1:1 1:7 3:1 6:1.
+Barbastellus pacificus Gray.
+Nyctinomus ---- ? Bennett.
+Var. major 3:1.
+
+Scotophilus.
+
+* Wings and interfemoral membranes with lines of hairs.
+
+3. Scotophilus morio, new species.
+
+4. S. gouldii, new species. 1:2 6:7.
+
+5. S. australis, new species. 1:1 1:4 2:1 3:4 6:1.
+
+** Wings nearly bald.
+
+6. S. pumilus, new species. 1:7.
+
+7. Molossus australis 5:1.
+
+8. Pteropus poliocephalus Temm. 1:11 1:12.
+Pt. edwardsii G. Bennett not Desm.
+
+FERAE. Family Felidae.
+
+9. Canis familiaris australasiae. 1:1 2:1 ?
+Canis Dingo Blumenb.
+Family Phocidae.
+
+10. Otaria peronii. 1:1 ?
+
+Family Didelphidae.
+
+11. Thylacinus cynocephalus Fischer 6:2.
+Didelphis cynocephalus Harris.
+
+12. Diabolus ursinus 6:1 6:2.
+Didelphis ursina Harris.
+Sarcophilus ursinus F. Cuv.
+
+Dasyurus.
+
+* Thumb small, clawless.
+
+13. D. maculatus 6:1 6:2.
+Viverra maculata Shaw.
+Dasyurus macrurus Geoff.
+
+14. D. geoffroyii Gould 1:3.
+
+** Thumb none.
+
+15. Dasyurus viverrinus Geoff. 1:1 1:2 1:3 6:1 6:2.
+Didelphis viverrina Shaw. 1:6.
+Var. Das. maugei Geoff.
+
+Phascogale Temm.
+
+* Tail end tufted.
+
+16. Ph. penicillata Temm. 1:2 1:11 2:1.
+Didelphis penicillata Shaw 1:3.
+Dasyurus tafa Geoff.
+
+** Tail conical, end pencilled.
+
+17. Ph. minima Temm. 6:3.
+Dasyurus minimus Geoff.
+Ph. swainsonii Waterh.
+
+18. Ph. affinis, new species. 6:6.
+
+19. Ph. rufogaster, new species. 2:1.
+
+20. Ph. flavipes Waterh. 1:2 1:3.
+
+21. Ph. murina Waterh. 1:2 3:4.
+
+22. Ph. leucogaster, new species 3:1.
+
+23. Myrmecobius fasciatus Waterh. 3:1.
+
+24. ---- ---- ? rufus Mitchell.
+Red shrew mouse G. Bennett 1:8 ?
+
+Perameles.
+
+a Tail tapering.
+* Rump banded.
+
+25. Per. gunnii Gray 6:1.
+
+26. Per. fasciata new species 1:3 2:1.
+
+** Hair grizzled, ears acute, long.
+
+27. Per. nasuta Geoff. 1:1.
+P. aurita Mus Par.
+P. bougainvillii Quoy.
+
+*** Hair grizzled, ears rounded. 3:2.
+
+28. Per. fusciventer, new species.
+
+29. Per. obesula Geoff. 1:1 ? 3:1 6:4 6:5.
+Didelphis obesula Shaw.
+
+b. Hair soft, tail end tufted, ears very long, Paragalia.
+
+30. Per. lagotis Reid 3:3.
+
+31. Choeropus ecaudatus Ogilby 1:16.
+Perameles ecaudatus Ogilby.
+
+32. Phalangista vulpina Desm. 1:7 1:4 2:2 3:2 3:3 5:1 6:1.
+Didelphis vulpina Shaw 1:5 1:10.
+Didelphis lemurina Shaw 1:11.
+Didelphis peregrina Bodd.
+Var. 1. 3:1.
+Var. 2. 1:5.
+
+33. Phal. fuliginosa Ogilby 6:2.
+Var. grisea.
+
+34. Phal. xanthopus Ogilby 1:19.
+
+35. Phal. canina Ogilby 1:2.
+
+36. Phal. cuvieri Gray 1:8 ?
+Ph. cookii Cuvier.
+Petaurus cookii F. Cuv.
+
+37. Dromicia nana 6:1.
+Phalangista nana Geoff.
+Phal. gliriformis Bell.
+
+38. Hepoona cookii 1:1 1:3 1:4 3:1 3:2 6:1.
+Phalangista cookii Gray 1:7.
+Phalangista banksii Gray.
+Balantia cookii Kuhl.
+Phalangista viverrina Ogilby.
+
+39. Petaurista taguanoides Desm. 1:1 1:21.
+
+40. Petaurista leucogaster 1:16.
+Petaurus leucogaster Mitchell.
+
+41. Petaurus macrurus Geoff. 1:8 1:14.
+Didelphis macrura Shaw.
+
+42. Petaurus flaviventer Desm. 1:3.
+
+43. Petaurus breviceps 1:8.
+Belideus breviceps Waterh.
+
+44. Petaurus sciureus Desm. 1:1 1:2 7:1.
+Didelphis sciurea Shaw. 1:3 1:13.
+
+45. Petaurus peronii Desm. ? 1:2.
+
+46. Acrobates pygmaeus Desm. 1:8.
+Didelphis pygmaea Shaw.
+
+Macropus.
+
+* Tail end simple; fur one-coloured.
+
+47. Mac. major Shaw. 1:1 1:4 2:1 6:1 6:9.
+Macropus giganteus Shaw. 1:8 1:15.
+Halmaturus labiatus Geoff.
+Halmaturus rufogriseus Lesson ?
+Var. Macropus albus Gray.
+
+48. Mac. laniger Lesson 1:5 1:10 2:15.
+Kangurus rufus Lesson 1:21 1:19.
+
+49. Mac. fuliginosus Lesson 2:2.
+
+** Tail end simple, back coloured.
+
+50. Mac. lunatus Gould 3:1.
+
+*** Tail end clawed. (Onychogalea.)
+
+51. Mac. frenatus Gould 1:3 1:8.
+
+52. Mac. unguifer Gould 4:1.
+Halmaturus.
+
+* Tail long, end slightly tufted.
+
+53. Hal. parryii Gray 1:20.
+Macropus parryii Bennett 1:3.
+Var. pallida Gray.
+
+54. Hal. manicatus Gould 3:1.
+Hal. irma Jourdan.
+** Tail simple, back one-coloured.
+
+55. Hal. bennettii Waterh. 4:1.
+Hal. ualabatus Gray 4:2 4:3.
+Halm. fruticus Ogilby 4:5 4:7.
+
+56. Hal. ualabatus Lesson 1:2.
+Halm. lessonii Gray.
+
+57. Hal. elegans 1:6 1:15.
+Mac. elegans Lambert.
+Hal. ruficollis Lesson, Gould.
+
+58. Hal. billardieri Lesson 6:1 6:2.
+Hal. tasmanii Gray 6:3 6:7.
+Hal. rufiventer Ogilby.
+
+59. Hal. eugenii Gray 1:1 1:2 2:1 ?
+Hal. thetis Lesson.
+Kangurus eugenii Desm.
+
+60. Hal. brachyurus Quoy 3:2.
+Hal. thylogale brevicaudatus Gray
+
+*** Tail simple, back streaked.
+
+61. Hal. dorsalis Gray 1:8 1:5 1:17 1:3.
+
+62. Hal. parma Gould 1:1.
+
+63. Hal. derbianus Gray 2:2.
+Var. obscurior 3:5.
+
+64. Hal. ? banksianus Lesson 1:1 ?
+
+65. Hal. fasciatus Goldf. 4:2.
+Kangurus fasciatus Lesson.
+
+Petrogale.
+
+* Tail conical, slightly tufted.
+
+66. P. robusta Gould 1:4 1:8.
+
+** Tail end tufted.
+
+67. P. brachyotis Gould 4:1.
+
+68. P. penicillata Gray 1:3 1:21.
+Heteropus albogularis Jourdan.
+
+69. P. lateralis Gould 3:1.
+
+70. Hypsiprymnus minor Cuv. 1:1 6:1.
+Macropus minor Shaw.
+Hyps. myosurus Ogilby.
+
+71. Hyps. ? lesueurii Quoy 4:3.
+
+72. Hyps. gilbertii Gould 3:2.
+
+73. Lagorchestes leporoides Gould 1:3 1:5.
+
+Bettongia Gray.
+
+* Tail end blackish.
+
+74. Bett. setosa Gray 1:3 1:5.
+Hypsiprymnus setosus Ogilby.
+Hyp. murinus Ogilby.
+Var. Bett. penicillata Gray.
+
+75. Bett. ogilbii Gould 3:1.
+
+** Tail end brown, white tipped.
+
+76. Bett. whitei Gould 1:1.
+Hypsiprymnus whitei Quoy.
+H. formosus Ogilby.
+Hyp. phillipii Ogilby.
+
+77. Bett. grayii 2:4.
+Hyp. grayii Gould.
+
+*** Tail grey, ears black.
+
+78. B. rufescens Gray 1:1.
+Bett. melanotis Ogilby.
+
+79. Phascolarctos fuscus Desm. 1:1 1:8.
+Ph. cinereus Fischer.
+Lipurus cinereus Goldf.
+
+80. Phascolomys ursinus 1:8 2:1 6:1 6:2.
+Didelphis ursina Shaw 1:15 6:3.
+Wombatus fossor Geoff.
+Phasc. fuscus Desm.
+Amblotis fossor Illiger.
+
+Order GLIRES. Family Muridae.
+
+81. Hydromys chrysogaster Geoff. 1:3 1:11 3:1 6:1 6:2 6:8.
+Hyd. leucogaster Geoff.
+
+82. Pseudomys australis Gray 1:3.
+
+83. Mus setifer Horsf. 6:1.
+
+84. Mus lutreola new species 1:2 2:1 6:5 6:3.
+
+85. Mus greyii new species 2:1.
+
+86. Mus adelaidensis new species 2:1.
+
+87. Mus ? platurus Mitchell 1:18.
+
+88. Mus ? hovellii Mitchell 1:17.
+
+89. Hapalotis albipes Licht. 1:3 1:9 ?
+Conilurus destructor Ogilby 1:18.
+
+90. Hapalotis mitchellii 1:16.
+Dipus mitchellii Ogilby.
+
+91. Hapalotis gouldii new species 3:1.
+
+Order UNGULATA. Family Dasypidae.
+
+92. Echidna aculeata 1:4 1:8.
+Myrmecophaga aculeata Shaw.
+Tachyglossus aculeatus Illiger.
+Echidna hystrix Cuv.
+
+93. Echidna setosa 6:1 6:2.
+Ornithorhynchus hystryx var. Home.
+Tachyglossus setosus Illiger.
+
+94. Platypus anatinus Shaw 1:1 6:4.
+Ornithorhynchus paradoxus Blum.
+Orn. rufus and O. fuscus Leach.
+O. crispus and elvis Macgillivray.
+O. brevirostris Ogilby.
+
+Order CETAE.
+
+95. Delphinorhynchus pernetttensis 5:1.
+
+96. Balaena physalis 4:1.
+
+Total of species found in each country 1:60 2:18 3:20 4:6 5:3 6:22 7:1.
+
+Total of species peculiar to each country 1:45 2:6 3:12 4:6 5:2 6:11 7:0.
+
+Of these species there are:
+
+Non-Marsupial:
+
+Primates 8.
+
+Ferae 2.
+
+Cetae 2.
+
+Glires 11.
+
+Total 23
+
+Marsupial (Didelphidae) 71.
+
+Monotrematous 3.
+
+Total 97.
+
+This list shows the progress which has taken place in the knowledge of
+the Australian animals; for only a few years ago it was generally stated
+that the Australian dog was the only non-Marsupial animal found on the
+continent.
+
+The following species appear to be new to science.
+
+Number 1. Rhinolophus megaphyllus, Gray Proceedings of the Zoological
+Society 1834 52.
+
+Brown, end of the hairs of the back with small, and on the lower side of
+the body with longer, grey tips. Ears with two hairy lines on each side.
+Wings with little tufts of short hairs near the side of the body beneath.
+(Nose leaf destroyed.) Body, 2 inches 3-12; fore-arm, 1 11-12; tail
+11-12; fore-legs, 9-12; ears, 7-12.
+
+Number 2. Scotophilus morio, Gray.
+
+Back uniform, brownish black, scarcely paler beneath; cheeks nearly
+black; underside of wings, and interfemoral membrane with lines of hairs;
+heel bone elongated, slender; ears moderate rounded; tragus oblong blunt;
+fore-arm bone, 1 10-12; shin bone, 9-12 of an inch.
+
+Number 4. Scotophilus gouldii, Gray.
+
+Blackish, hinder half of the back brownish; sides and abdomen brownish
+ash; ears rather large, broad; tragus half ovate; underside of the wings
+and interfemoral membrane with lines of hairs.
+
+Var. 1. Hinder part of the back greyish; sides of the abdomen grey.
+Inhabits Australasia, Mr. Gould.
+
+Number 5. Scotophilus australis, Gray.
+
+Back blackish; tips of the hairs rather browner; beneath rather paler on
+the sides of the abdomen; ears small; tragus oval lanceolate, rather
+crescent-shaped; wings, with sixteen or eighteen oblique cross lines of
+hairs under each fore-arm, and scattered hairs on the sides of the body;
+fore-arm, bone, 1 5-12; shin bone, 15-24. Var. rather larger fore-arm
+bone, 1 7-12; shin bone, 17-24.
+
+Number 6. Scotophilus pumilus, Gray.
+
+Grey brown, base of the fur blackish, beneath paler; cheeks blackish;
+ears small, rather thin, longer than the fur; tragus elongate, half as
+long as the ears, rounded at the end; wings nearly bald, except near the
+arm-pit; interfemoral membrane hairy at the base; heel-bone elongate,
+two-thirds the length of the margin of the interfemoral membrane. Head
+and body, 1 2-12; tail 11-12; fore-arm bone, 1 2-12.
+
+This species, Mr. Gould notes, flies quick and low over water.
+
+Number 7. Molossus australis. See Gray, Magazine of Zoology and Botany
+volume 2 501.
+
+Number 15. Dasyurus viverrinus.
+
+Mr. Gould has observed that the black and yellowish varieties are
+sometimes found together in the same litter. There is an intermediate
+variety, blackish, with olive tips to the hairs. Dr. Shaw's specific name
+should be retained.
+
+Number 18. Phascogale affinis, Gray.
+
+Above brown, grizelled with yellowish-brown tips to the hairs; beneath
+grey brown; under fur lead colour; tail short. Male darker; length of
+body and head 6 1/2; tail 4 1/2. Female, length of the body and head 4
+1/2; tail 2 3/4 inches. Inhabits Tasman's Peninsula, Mr. Gould.
+
+This may be the same as P. minima of Geoffroy, but the tail is longer for
+its size.
+
+Number 19. Phascogale rufogaster, Gray.
+
+Head grey; back and sides brown, with longer black hairs; sides of the
+belly and feet bright rufous; lips and chin whitish; under fur lead
+colour; tail end blackish-brown, slightly pencilled. Body and head, 4;
+tail, 2 inches. Inhabits South Australia, Mr. Gould.
+
+Number 22. Phascogale leucogaster, Gray.
+
+Head and shoulders grey, behind rather browner, with scattered longer
+black-tipped hairs; chin and beneath pure white; feet brownish grey. Body
+and head, 4; tail, 2 1/2 inches.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia, banks of the Canning River, April 1839, Mr.
+Gould.
+
+More specimens and further observations may prove these to be only local
+varieties of one species; but the specimens we have from the same
+localities are similar in character, which is not the case with the
+different specimens of Hepoona.
+
+Number 26. Perameles fasciata, Gray.
+
+Grey brown, rump with three black bands; tail white, with a black streak
+along the upper side. Inhabits Liverpool Plains and South Australia;
+smaller than P. gunnii.
+
+Number 28. Perameles fusciventer, Gray.
+
+Brown, yellow grizelled; tail above blackish, beneath grey; head short,
+conical; belly grey brown, with broad rufous channelled hairs. This
+species is like P. obesula in colour, but the head is shorter, and the
+belly of that species is white, with white bristles.
+
+Number 37. Dromicia nana.
+
+The dentition and the peculiar form and character of the tail of this
+species at once point out that it should constitute a distinct genus from
+the other Phalangers, from which it differs in many of its habits.
+
+Number 38. Hepoona cookii.
+
+Specimens from the same locality differ from one another in the extent of
+the white on the tail, in the darkness of the colour of the fur, and in
+the limbs and sides of the body being of the colour of the back, or more
+or less rufous. There are either five or six species, or only one.
+
+Number 39.
+
+I have retained the name of Petaurista for the flying Phalangers with
+hairy ears, as Dr. Shaw's Didelphis petaurus is evidently the same as P.
+flaviventer, and has naked ears, like the other species, and his name
+Petaurus should be used rather than Mr. Waterhouse's Belideus for this
+genus.
+
+Number 40.
+
+Petaurista leucogaster, may only be a variety of P. taguanoides.
+
+Number 42. Petaurus macrourus.
+
+This species is only known from the figures of Dr. Shaw. They have a
+specimen of a young Petaurista taguanoides, under this name, in the Paris
+Museum.
+
+Number 43. Petaurus breviceps.
+
+This is probably the species called P. peronii in Mr. G. Bennett's
+catalogue of the Australian Museum. It may also be M. Desmarest's; if
+this is so, the latter name will have to be adopted, and the one first
+used erased from the list.
+
+Number 47.
+
+The Macropi with hairy muffles are found in grassy places, while the
+Halmaturi are confined to the scrubs; and the Petrogalae, or
+Rock-Kangaroos, to the rocky districts; the latter, like Bettongia, sit
+with their tail between the legs. Mr. Gould informs me the animals of the
+latter genus also use their tails for the purpose of carrying the grass
+to their nests. The tree Kangaroos of New Guinea have a tail somewhat
+like a squirrel. These differences of habit show the propriety of
+dividing this group of animals into genera.
+
+Number 48. Macropus laniger.
+
+This name must be rejected as the animal is not wool-bearing. The skin in
+the Paris Museum is made up with the skin of a sheep. M. Desmarest's
+description of the female M. rufogriseus in the New Dictionary, very
+nearly agrees with this species, but Mr. Gould is inclined to consider
+the specimen he was shown for that species in the Paris Museum was M.
+major.
+
+Number 57. Halmaturus elegans.
+
+The description of Mr. Lambert is so short that it has hitherto been
+considered impossible to determine it with accuracy; but on comparing the
+coloured plate which is bound up with Sir Joseph Banks' copy of the
+volume of the Transactions containing the paper, now in the Museum
+Library, with the specimens of kangaroos in the Museum collection, I have
+very little doubt of its being intended for one which Mr. Gould considers
+as identical with M. ruficollis of M. Desmarest. M. Desmarest's animal is
+said to come from King's Island, in Bass Strait, while Mr. Gould's
+animal, like the one Mr. Lambert described, is from New South Wales. Mr.
+Gunn remarks that H. billardieri is common in the locality indicated by
+M. Desmarest.
+
+Number 67. Petrogale brachyotis.
+
+This species was discovered by Captain G. Grey, in his expedition, and
+the specimens he collected he gave to Mr. Gould, who described them, and
+is now about to figure them in his forthcoming monograph of the species
+of kangaroos: a work which will be as far superior to any other published
+on Mammalia in beauty of design and accuracy in the execution of the
+plates as his work on Birds has been to any that has hitherto appeared
+either in England or on the Continent. The specimens are now in the
+collection of the British Museum.
+
+Number 84. Mus lutreola.
+
+Back black and yellowish grizelled, with longer black hairs; sides
+yellowish grey, beneath grey lead colour, under fur lead colour; ears
+with scattered short adpressed hairs; whiskers black; front teeth yellow;
+tail with short black adpressed bristles; length of body and head 7, tail
+4, hind-feet 1 1-4 inches. The water-rat of the South Australian
+Colonist. Inhabits South Australia, River Torrens, Bass Strait, New South
+Wales; Musquito Islands and Macdonald's River, Van Diemen's Land,
+Tasman's Peninsula. J. Gould, Esquire.
+
+Number 85. Mus greyii, Gray.
+
+Fur brown, with close long slender pale-tipped black hairs; sides
+yellowish-brown; throat and beneath yellowish; feet whiteish; ears nearly
+naked, with close-pressed short greyish hairs; tail with close-pressed
+brown hairs. Variety; belly rather more greyish-white. Inhabits South
+Australia, June. Length, body and head 6, tail 4 3/4, hind-feet 1 1/12 of
+an inch.
+
+Number 86. Mus adelaidensis.
+
+Fur soft, brown, with scattered rather longer black tipped hairs, beneath
+pale grey brown; the under fur lead coloured; whiskers black; ears
+moderate, covered with short close-pressed hairs; tail elongate, brown;
+cutting teeth pale yellow, compressed; body and head 3, tail 3 inches,
+hind-feet 8-12. Inhabits South Australia. J. Gould, Esquire.
+
+In examining the Geographical distribution of the Genera, as exhibited in
+the foregoing table, as far as our present knowledge of these animals
+extends we may state that the genera Choeropus, Acrobates, Petaurista,
+Lagorchestes, Phascolarctos, Hapalotis, and Pseudomys, are peculiar to
+New South Wales. The genus Petaurus is also found in New South Wales, but
+not in the Island of Van Diemen's Land and the rest of the continent, but
+one of the species living there is also said to be an inhabitant of
+Norfolk Island, where it may probably have been introduced.
+
+The species of the genera Petrogale and Bettongia are common to New South
+Wales, South Australia, and the North-west Coast; but they are not found
+in Van Diemen's Land, and the genus Myrmecobius appears to be peculiar to
+Western Australia, for it is not by any means certain that the red
+shrew-mouse discovered in Australia Felix by Sir T. Mitchell belongs to
+this genus.
+
+The Genera Thylacinus, Diabolus, and Dromicia, are peculiar to Van
+Diemen's Land.
+
+The species of the genera Dasyurus and Perameles are very abundant in Van
+Diemen's Land, but they have also representatives which are found in New
+Holland.
+
+The species of the genera Nyctophilus, Phalangista, Hepoona, Phascogale,
+Macropus, Halmaturus, Hypsiprymnus, and Hydromys, appear to be common to
+all parts of the continent, and also to Van Diemen's Land.
+
+The genera Echidna and Ornithorhynchus are found in New Holland and Van
+Diemen's Land, but I have not heard of their having been discovered in
+the Western or Southern parts of the continent of Australia.
+
+There are some of the genera of the non-Marsupial animals, as Rhinolophus
+and Pteropus, which are common to various parts of Australia and the
+different parts of the Old World, and others, as Canis, Mus, Scotophilus,
+and Molossus, which are common to it and to both Hemispheres. Two
+Marsupial genera, Halmaturus and Perameles, have species found in New
+Guinea, but most probably, when they have been more carefully examined,
+they will be found to form a peculiar genus, allied to the Australian
+animals, as is the case with the tree-kangaroos (Dendrolegus) and the
+Phalangers (Cuscus) of that country. We have a specimen of the Halmaturus
+in the British Museum, from the Leyden collection, but like many of the
+specimens in that collection, where the zoological specimens are made
+subservient to the anatomical predilections of the conservator, it has no
+skull, and false claws, which renders it impossible for me to define its
+characters. The tail has rings of scales under the hair, but this is also
+the case with most Halmaturi.
+
+Before proceeding to the consideration of the distribution of the
+species, over the different districts of Australasia, it may be remarked
+that this is a subject surrounded with considerable difficulty, as
+different naturalists do not always apply the same test to determine the
+distinction of the species, some considering the differences found in the
+specimens from different localities, as merely local varieties, and
+others regarding them as distinct; and others again declaring that
+several specimens, which cabinet naturalists are in the habit of
+regarding as only accidental varieties from the examination of the skins,
+are quite distinct when they are observed alive in their native habitat.
+In the preceding list, when all the specimens I have seen from a
+particular habitat have a similar and peculiar character, I have
+considered them as species; on the contrary when the specimens from the
+same locality offer variations among themselves, as in those of the genus
+Hepoona, where the extent of the whiteness on the tail, and the variation
+in the colour of the body appear to differ in the specimens from the same
+place, I have regarded them as belonging to the same species, believing
+it to be a variable species which has an extensive range.
+
+From the Table already given it appears that, of the species found on the
+Australian Continent, 71 are confined to it, 12 common to it and Van
+Diemen's Land, and one common to it and Norfolk Island; while of the 24
+species found on Van Diemen's Land, 11 are found in it alone.
+
+The species common to the Australian Continent and Van Diemen's Land,
+are:
+
+2. Nyctophilus geoffroyii.
+
+4. Scotophilus gouldii.
+
+5. Scotophilus australis.
+
+15. Dasyurus viverrinus.
+
+27. Perameles obesula.
+
+32. Phalangista vulpina.
+
+38. Hepoona cookii.
+
+70. Hypsiprymnus minor.
+
+81. Hydromys chrysogaster.
+
+84. Mus lutreola.
+
+94. Platypus anatinus.
+
+The species common to Australia and Norfolk Island, but not found in Van
+Diemen's Land is:
+
+44. Petaurus sciureus.
+
+The eleven species peculiar to Van Diemen's Land, are:
+
+11. Thylacinus cynocephalus.
+
+12. Diabolus ursinus.
+
+13. Dasyurus maculatus.
+
+17. Phascogale minima.
+
+18. Phascogale affinis.
+
+37. Dromicia nana.
+
+34. Phalangista fuliginosa.
+
+58. Halmaturus billardieri.
+
+80. Phascolomys ursina.
+
+93. Echidna setosa.
+
+83. Mus setifer.
+
+The last species is also found in Java, from whence it might have been
+introduced. It has been known in Van Diemen's Land some years, and does
+not appear to have found its way to Australia.
+
+Of the 72 species found in the Australian continent six have only been
+recorded as having been found on the North-west coast:
+
+52. Macropus unguifer.
+
+55. Halmaturus bennettii.
+
+65. Halmaturus fasciatus.
+
+67. Petrogale brachyotis.
+
+71. Hypsiprymnus lesueurii.
+
+Peculiar to the Western Australian district are:
+
+22. Phascogale leucogaster.
+
+23. Myrmecobius fasciatus.
+
+28. Perameles fuscoventer.
+
+29. Perameles obesula.
+
+30. Perameles lagotis.
+
+51. Macropus lunatus.
+
+54. Halmaturus manicatus.
+
+60. Halmaturus brevicaudatus.
+
+69. Petrogale lateralis.
+
+72. Hypsiprymnus gilbertii.
+
+72. Bettongia ogilbii.
+
+91. Hapalotis gouldii.
+
+To the South Australian district:
+
+19. Phascogale rufogaster.
+
+49. Macropus fuliginosus.
+
+63. Halmaturus derbianus.
+
+77. Bettongia grayii.
+
+85. Mus greyii.
+
+86. Mus adelaidensis.
+
+To the North Coast:
+
+7. Molossus australis ?
+
+In the New South Wales district there have been recorded the following:
+some of them may have a larger distribution on the Continent, when these
+countries become better known, and some of them (marked with a star*) are
+common to this district, and Van Diemen's Land:
+
+1. Rhinolophus megaphyllus.
+
+4.* Scotophilus gouldii.
+
+6. Scotophilus pumilus.
+
+8. Pteropus poliocephalus.
+
+9. Canis familiaris Australis.
+
+10. Otaria peronii.
+
+14. Dasyurus geoffroyii.
+
+15.* Dasyurus viverrinus.
+
+16. Phascogale penicillata.
+
+20. Phascogale flavipes.
+
+21. Phascogale murina.
+
+25. Myrmecobius ? rufus.
+
+26.* Perameles fasciatus.
+
+27.* Perameles nasuta.
+
+31. Choeropus ecaudatus.
+
+33. Phalangista xanthopus.
+
+35. Phalangista canina.
+
+36. Phalangista cuvieri.
+
+39. Petaurista taguanoides.
+
+40. Petaurista leucogaster.
+
+41. Petaurus macrurus.
+
+42. Petaurus flaviventer.
+
+43. Petaurus breviceps.
+
+44. Petaurus sciureus.
+
+45. Petaurus peronii.
+
+46. Acrobates pygmaeus.
+
+47. Macropus major.
+
+50. Macropus fraenatus.
+
+53. Halmaturus parryii.
+
+57. Halmaturus elegans.
+
+56. Halmaturus ualabatus.
+
+59. Halmaturus eugenii.
+
+61. Halmaturus dorsalis.
+
+62. Halmaturus parma.
+
+64 ? Halmaturus banksianus.
+
+66. Petrogale robusta.
+
+68. Petrogale penicillata.
+
+70.* Hypsiprymnus minor.
+
+73. Lagorchestes leporoides.
+
+74. Bettongia setosa.
+
+76. Bettongia whitei.
+
+78. Bettongia rufescens.
+
+79. Phascolarctos fuscus.
+
+82. Pseudomys australis.
+
+87. Mus platyurus ?
+
+88. Mus hovellii ?
+
+89. Hapalotis albipes.
+
+90. Hapalotis mitchellii.
+
+92. Echidna aculeata.
+
+94.* Ornithorhynchus paradoxus.
+
+Two species are remarkable as being common to the East and South sides of
+the Continent, namely:
+
+48. Macropus laniger.
+
+84. Mus lutreola.
+
+26.* P. fasciata.
+
+The latter is also found in Van Diemen's Land. And the four following
+species are common to the South, West, and East sides of the Continent:
+
+5. Scotophilus australis.
+
+32. Phalangista vulpina.
+
+38. Hepoona cookii, and varieties.
+
+81. Hydromys chrysogaster.
+
+These are all also found in Van Diemens' Land, and may therefore be
+considered as the most generally distributed of all the Australian
+animals. Both the Phalangista and the Hepoona are very variable in their
+colours, and may prove to comprise different species when we are enabled
+to examine a larger number of specimens from different localities.
+
+...
+
+
+APPENDIX D.
+
+Mr. Gould, who is now engaged in a work upon the Ornithology of
+Australia, having been solicited to furnish a list of the Birds of the
+Western coast, has kindly forwarded the following enumeration of the
+species which have come under his notice as inhabiting that part of the
+country. The list, although necessarily incomplete, is the most perfect
+that has yet been published, and will doubtless be of considerable
+interest to the scientific as well as the general reader.
+
+ORDER RAPTORES.
+
+Aquila fucosa, Cuv.
+Buteo melanosternon, Gould.
+Haliaeetus canorus, Vig. and Horsf.
+Pandion leucocephalus, Gould.
+Falco hypoleucos, Gould.
+Falco melanogenys, Gould.
+Falco frontatus, Gould.
+Ieracidea berigora, Gould.
+Astur approximans, Vig. and Horsf.
+Accipiter torquatus, Vig. and Horsf.
+Milvus isurus, Gould.
+Elanus axillaris.
+Circus affinis? Jard. and Selb.
+Nyctale ? Boobook, Gould.
+Strix cyclops, Gould.
+Strix delicatulus, Gould.
+
+ORDER INSESSORES, Vig.
+
+Aegotheles novae-hollandiae, Vig. and Horsf.
+Podargus brachypterus, Gould.
+Eurostopodus guttatus, Gould.
+Halcyon sanctus, Vig. and Horsf.
+Merops ornatus, Lath.
+Hirundo pacifica ? Lath.
+Collocalia ? leucosterna, Gould.
+Cotyle pyrrhonota.
+Cotyle familiaris, Gould.
+Seisura volitans, Vig. and Horsf.
+Microeca assimilis, Gould.
+Rhipidura albiscapa, Gould.
+Rhipidura isura, Gould. (North-West Coast.)
+Piezorhynchus nitidus, Gould. (North-West Coast.)
+Ceblepyris humeralis, Gould.
+Graucalus melanops, Vig. and Horsf.
+Artamus albovittatus, Vieill.
+Artamus personatus, Gould.
+Artamus cinereus, Vieill.
+Artamus leucorhynchus, Vieill.
+Falcunculus leucogaster, Gould.
+Cracticus destructor.
+Cracticus argenteus, Gould.
+Gymnorhina tibicen ? G.R. Gray.
+Strepera tibicen ?
+Eopsaltria griseogularis, Gould.
+Colluricincla rufiventris, Gould.
+Colluricincla brunnea, Gould. (North-West Coast.)
+Oreoica gutturalis, Gould.
+Pachycephala gutturalis, Vig. and Horsf.
+Pachycephala pectoralis, Vig. and Horsf.
+Dasyornis longirostris, Gould.
+Salicaria ? longirostris ?
+Petroica multicolor, Swains.
+Petroica goodenovii, Jard. and Selb.
+Petroica bicolor, Swains.
+Zosterops chloronotus, Gould.
+Ephthianura albifrons, Gould.
+Acanthiza chrysorrhoea, Gould.
+Acanthiza inornata, Gould.
+Acanthiza (Like A. diemenensis, Gould.)
+Pyrrholaemus brunneus, Gould.
+Gerygone brevirostris, Gould.*
+Gerygone culicivorus, Gould.*
+(* These birds have been characterised by me under the generic name of
+Psilopus; but that term having been previously employed in Entomology I
+propose to alter it to Gerygone.)
+Sericornis frontalis ? Gould.
+Malurus elegans, Gould.
+Malurus lamberti, Vig. and Horsf. (North-West Coast.)
+Malurus splendens, Gould.
+Stipiturus malachurus, Less.
+Calamanthus campestris, Gould.
+Cinclorhamphus cruralis, Gould.
+Cinclorhamphus rufescens, Gould.
+Anthus australis ? Vig. and Horsf.
+Pardalotus ornatus, Temm.
+Pardalotus punctatus, Vieill.
+Cinclosoma castanotus, Gould.
+Dicaeum atrogaster, Less.
+Amadina ? acuticauda, Gould. (North-West Coast.)
+Amadina ? pectoralis, Gould. (North-West Coast.)
+Estrilda bella.
+Estrilda ? annulosa, Gould. (North-West Coast.)
+Grallina melanoleuca, Vieill.
+Climacteris rufa, Gould.
+Sittella melanocephala, Gould.
+Chalcites lucidus, Less.
+Cuculus cinereus, Vig. and Horsf.
+Cuculus inornatus, Vig. and Horsf.
+Eudynamys Orientalis ? Vig. and Horsf. (North-West Coast.)
+Centropus affinis, Gould.
+Platycercus zonarius, Wagl.
+Platycercus icterotis, Wagl.
+Platycercus pileatus, Vig.
+Polytelis melanura, Wagl.
+Nymphicus novae-hollandiae, Wagl.
+Pezoporus formosus, Ill.
+Euphema elegans, Gould.
+Euphema splendida, Gould.
+Euphema petrophila, Gould.
+Trichoglossus porphyrocephalus, Diet.
+Plyctolophus leadbeateri, Vig.
+Plyctolophus galeritus, Vieill.
+Licmetis pastinator, Gould.
+Calyptorhynchus naso, Gould.
+Calyptorhynchus baudinii, Vig.
+Anthochaera lewinii, Vig. and Horsf.
+Anthochaera lunulata, Gould.
+Myzantha obscura, Gould.
+Meliphaga mystacalis, Gould.
+Meliphaga novae-hollandiae ? Vig. and Horsf.
+Ptilotis ornata, Gould.
+Ptilotis leucotis, Swains.
+Ptilotis plumula, Gould.
+Ptilotis sonora, Gould.
+Glyciphila ocularis ? Gould.
+Glyciphila albifrons, Gould.
+Haematops lunulatus ? Gould.
+Acanthorhynchus superciliosus, Gould.
+Myzomela nigra, Gould.
+
+ORDER RASORES.
+
+Turtur spilonota.
+Peristera chalcoptera, Swains.
+Peristera scripta.
+Petrophassa albipennis, Gould. (North-West Coast.)
+Coturnix australis, Temm.
+Turnix* varius, Vieill.
+Turnix velox, Gould.
+Turnix castanotus, Gould.
+(*The term Turnix having been published long prior to that of Hemipodius
+it must necessarily be employed in preference to the latter; the
+Australian species of this form will therefore stand as:
+Turnix varius, Vieill.
+Turnix melanogaster, Gould.
+Turnix castanotus, Gould.
+Turnix velox, Gould.
+Turnix pyrrhothorax, Gould.
+Turnix melanotus, Gould.)
+Leipoa ocellata, Gould.
+
+ORDER GRALLATORES.
+
+Otis australasianus, Gould.
+Dromaius novae-hollandiae, Vieill.
+OEdicnemus novae-hollandiae, Lath.
+Charadrius virginianus, Borkh.
+Squatarola helvetica ? Cuv.
+AEgialitis nigrifrons, Gould.
+AEgialitis ruficapillus.
+Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould.
+Chladorhynchus pectoralis, G.R. Gray.
+Vanellus ? pectoralis.
+Erythrogonys cinctus, Gould.
+Strepsilas collaris, Temm.
+Pelidna australis, Jard.
+Limosa australis, Briss.
+Totanus stagnatilis ? Bechst.
+Haematopus picatus ?
+Haematopus niger ?
+Numenius australasianus, Gould.
+Recurvirostra rubricollis, Temm.
+Porphyrio bellus, Gould.
+Tribonyx ventralis, Gould.
+Fulica novae-hollandiae, Gould.
+Rallus phillipensis, Linn.
+Zapornia phillipensis ?
+Botauras stellaris ? Steph.
+Nycticorax caledonicus, Less.
+Ardea novae-hollandiae, Lath.
+
+ORDER NATATORES.
+
+Larus leucomelas, Vieill.
+Xema jamesonii.
+Sterna poliocerca, Gould.
+Sterna caspia ? Pall.
+Sterna caspia ? (like minuta).
+Sterna dougallii, Mont.
+Diomedea exulans, Linn.
+Diomedea melanophrys, Temm.
+Diomedea chlororhyncha, Gmel.
+Diomedea fuliginosa, Gmel.
+Procellaria gigantea, Auct.
+Puffinus brevicaudus, Gould.
+Puffinus chlorhynchus, Less.
+Cygnus atratus, Linn.
+Anser atratus ?
+Casarka tadornoides, Eyton.
+Malacorhynchus membranaceus, Swains.
+Nyroca australis, Gould.
+Anas novae-hollandiae, Steph.
+Anas naevosa, Gould.
+Mareca castanea, Eyton.
+Rhynchaspis rhyncotis, Steph.
+Biziura lobata, G.R. Gray.
+Oxyura australis, Gould.
+Podiceps cristatus, Lath.
+Podiceps gularis, Gould.
+Podiceps poliocephalus ? Jard. and Selb.
+Pelecanus spectabilis, Temm.
+Phalacrocorax Carbo? Cuv.
+Phalacrocorax pica.
+Phalacrocorax melanoleucus, Vieill.
+Spheniscus minor.
+
+...
+
+
+APPENDIX E.
+
+A Catalogue of the Species of Reptiles and Amphibia hitherto described as
+inhabiting Australia, with a description of some New Species from Western
+Australia, and some remarks on their geographical distribution, by JOHN
+EDWARD GRAY, F.R.S. etc. etc. in a note to the author.
+
+Order 1. SAURI.
+
+Family MONITORIDAE.
+
+1. Odatria punctata, Gray Annals of Natural History 1 394.
+Grey olive, with narrow black reticulated lines, leaving large hexagonal
+spots. Head, limbs, and tail blackish, with a few pale spots.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+2. Hydrosaurus varius, Gray Annals of Natural History 1 394.
+Uaranus varius, Merrem. Gray King's Voyage 2 427.
+Lacerta varia, Shaw. White Journal New South Wales 246 t. 3. f 2. Shaw N.
+Misc. t. 83.
+Tupinambis variegatus, Dauden.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+3. Hydrosaurus gouldii, Gray Annals of Natural History 1 394.
+With two yellow streaks on the side of the neck. Scales over the orbits
+small, flat.
+Inhabits Australia.
+
+4. Uaranus bellii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 493 t. 35 f. 1.
+Inhabits New Holland, T. Bell, Esquire.
+
+Family SCINCIDAE.
+
+5. Trachysaurus rugosus, Gray King's Voyage 2 421. Annals of Natural
+History 2 288.
+T. peronii, Wagler Icon t. 36.
+Scincus pachyurus, Peron. manuscript.
+Stump-tailed Goanna, Colonist's.
+Inhabits Western Australia, Perth.
+
+6. Trachysaurus typicus.
+Brachydactylus typicus, A. Smith South African Journal 1.
+Inhabits Western Australia, Perth.
+
+7. Egernia cunninghami, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 288.
+Tiliqua cunninghami, Gray Proceedings of the Zoological Society.
+Inhabits New Holland, Liverpool Plains.
+
+8. Tiliqua whitei, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 288.
+Tiliqua tuberculata, Gray King's Voyage 2 429.
+Lacerta scincoides. Shaw Zool t. 81.
+Scincus gigas, Bodd. S. crotaphomelas, Lacep. A. Museum H. N. 4 192. S.
+tuberculatus, Merrem. 73.
+Cyclodus flavigularis, Wagler Icon t. 6.
+Inhabits New Holland; Java ?
+
+9. Tiliqua casuarinae.
+Cyclodus casuarinae, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 749.
+Inhabits "New Holland," Dumeril.
+
+10. Tiliqua nigrolutea, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 290.
+Scincus nigroluteus, Quoy and Gaim. Voyage Uran t. 41.
+Cyclodus nigroluteus, Wagler Syst. 162.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+11. Tiliqua trivittata ? Gray Syn. Griffith A. K. 68. Illust. Ind. Zool
+t. Annals of Natural History 2 289.
+Scincus ocellatus, and S. leuerinensis, Peron. manuscript. S. Whitei,
+Lacep. Ann. Museum H. N. 4 192. S. taeniolatus and S. quadrilineatus,
+Merrem. S. moniliger, Valenc. Museum Paris.
+Inhabits New Holland, Peron. India.
+
+12. Tiliqua taeniolata, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 289.
+Lacerta taeniolata, Shaw Zool. 3 239. White Journal t. 32.
+Scincus undecimstriatus, Kuhl Beytr. S. octolineatus, Daud. S. a dix
+raies, Lacep. A. mus. H. N. 4 192.
+S. multilineatus, Lesson Voyage Coq. t. 3 f. 2.
+Inhabits New Holland, Sydney.
+
+13. Tiliqua labillardieri, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 289.
+Scincus labillardieri, Cocteau British Museum.
+Lygosoma labillardieri, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 731.
+Inhabits New Holland, Islands of Waigiou and Rawack.
+
+14. Tiliqua napoleonis, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 290.
+Scincus napoleonis, Cuv. British Museum. S. trifasciatus, Peron.
+Tropidolepisma dumerilii, var. c. Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 745.
+Psammite de Napoleon, Coct.
+Inhabits "New Holland."
+
+15. Tiliqua kingii, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 290.
+Scincus nicittensis, Peron manuscript.
+Psammite de Dumeril, Coct. Tab.
+Tropidolepisma dumerilii beta, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 745.
+Inhabits New Holland, British Museum.
+
+16. Tiliqua aterrima.
+Scincus aterrimus, Peron.
+Tropidolepisma dumerilii alpha, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 745 t. 50.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+17. Tiliqua tenuis, Gray Griffith A.K. 71. Annals of Natural History 2
+291.
+Scincus erucotis, Peron manuscripts.
+Lygosoma erucata, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 726.
+Inhabits New Holland, British Museum.
+
+18. Tiliqua stoddardtii, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 291.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Chatham.
+
+19. Tiliqua vachelli, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 291.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Chatham.
+
+20. Tiliqua leucopsis, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 291.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Chatham.
+
+21. Tiliqua australis, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 291.
+Inhabits New Holland, British Museum.
+
+22. Tiliqua buchananii, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 291.
+Inhabits New Holland. British Museum.
+
+23. Tiliqua trilineata, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 291.
+Inhabits New Holland, British Museum.
+
+24. Tiliqua duperreyii, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 292.
+Scincus duperreyii, Cocteau.
+Lygosoma duperreyii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 715.
+Inhabits South Australia, Kangaroo Island.
+
+25. Tiliqua entrecasteaux, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 292.?
+Scincus entrecasteaux, Cocteau.
+Lygosoma entrecasteaux, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 717.
+Tiliqua reevesii, Gray Annals of Natural History 1 292 ?
+Scinque a flanc noir, Quoy and Gaim. Voyage Uranie Zool. t. 42 f. 1 ?
+Lygosoma quoyii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 728.
+Inhabits New Holland. Var. beta China.
+
+26. Tiliqua lesueurii.
+Lygosoma lesueurii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 733.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+27. Tiliqua guichenoti.
+Lygosoma guichenoti, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 713.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+28. Tiliqua bougainvilii, Coct.
+Lygosoma bougainvillii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 716.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+29. Tiliqua naevia.
+Scincus naevius, Peron. S. melanopogon, Muller. S. erythrolaemus, Muller.
+Museum Leyd.
+Lygosoma melanopogon, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 723.
+Inhabits New Holland, New Guinea, and Timor.
+
+30. Riopa bougainvillii, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 332.
+Scincus bougainvillii, Cocteau.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+31. Lygosoma australis, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 332.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Chatham.
+
+32. Chiamela duvaucellii, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 333.
+Scincus duvaucellii, Cocteau. Museum Paris. fide Bibron. Museum British.
+Inhabits Australia, King George's Sound, Museum Paris.
+
+33. Tetradactylus decresiensis, Peron. Cuv. Gray Annals of Natural
+History 2 233. Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 764.
+Inhabits Australia, King George's Sound, Kangaroo Island.
+
+34. Tridactylus decresiensis, Peron. Gray Annals of Natural History 2
+333.
+Hemiergis decresiensis, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 766.
+Zignis decresiensis, Fitz.
+Inhabits Australia, Kangaroo Island.
+
+35. Ronia catenulata, t. 4 f. 1. Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+Family GYMNOPHTHALMIDAE.
+
+36. Cryptoblepharis poecilopleurus, Gray Annals of Natural History 1 335.
+Ablepharis poecilopleurus, Weigm. N. Act. Nat. Cuv. 17 183 t. 8 f. 1. A.
+peronii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 813. A. leschenaultii, Coct. Mag.
+Zool t. 1.
+Crypt. peronii, Coct. Etudes, t.
+Scincus boutonii, Desjard.
+S. arenarius and S. furcatus, Museum Leyd.
+Inhabits New Holland, Java, and Isle of France.
+
+37. Cryptoblepharis lineo-ocellatus.
+Ablepharis lineo-ocellatus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 817.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Paris.
+
+Family LIALISIDAE.
+
+38. Lialis burtonii, t. 3 f. 1 t. 5 f. 4. Gray Proceedings of the
+Zoological Society 1834 134. Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 831.
+Inhabits Australia, Western Australia.
+
+Family PYGOPIDAE.
+
+39. Pygopus lepidopus, Merrem Syn. 77.
+Bipes lepidopode, Lacep. Ann. Museum H. N. 4 193, 209 t. 55 f. 1.
+Sheltopusik novae hollandiae, Oppell.
+Hysteropus lepidopus, Boug.
+H. novae hollandiae, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 832.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+There are sometimes some scales between the anterior frontal plates.
+
+40. Delma fraseri, t. 4 f. 3 Gray Zool. Misc.
+Inhabits New Holland, Liverpool Plains ? Western Australia, J. Gould.
+
+Family RHODONIDAE.
+
+41. Rhodona punctata, Gray Annals of Natural History 2 335.
+Brachystopus lineato-punctatus, A. Smith manuscript ? Dumeril and Bibron
+Erp. Gen. 5 779.
+Inhabits New Holland, South Africa, Dumeril !
+
+42. Soridia lineata, t. 3 f. 2 Gray Annals of Natural History 2 335.
+Prepaeditus lineatus, Dumeril and Bibron 5 788.
+Inhabits Australia, Western Australia, J. Gould, common.
+
+43. Chelomeles quadrilineatus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 5 774.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Paris.
+
+Family APRASIADAE.
+
+44. Aprasia pulchella, t. 4 f. 2 Gray Annals of Natural History 2 331.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+Family GECKOTIDAE.
+
+45. Platydactylus ornatus, Gray.
+Phelsuma ornata, Gray King's Voyage 2 428.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+46. Phyllodactylus strophurus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 397 t. 32
+f. 1.
+Inhabits West Coast of Australia, Shark Bay, Quoy and Gaimard.
+
+47. Phyllodactylus porphyreus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 393.
+Gecko porphyreus, Daud.
+Sphaerodactylus porphyreus, Wagler.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+48. Phyllodactylus lesueurii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 392.
+Inhabits New Holland and New Guinea.
+
+49. Diplodactylus vittatus, Gray Proceedings of the Zoological Society
+1832 40.
+Phyllodactylus vittatus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 400.
+Inhabits New Holland, Liverpool Plains.
+
+50. Peropus variegatus.
+Hemidactylus variegatus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 353.
+Inhabits West Coast of Australia, Shark Bay, and Van Diemen's Land.
+
+51. Phyllurus platurus, Cuv. R. A. 2 58. P. cuvieri, Borg.
+Lacerta platura, Shaw. White Journal New South Wales 246 t. 3 f. 2. L.
+discosura, Lacep.
+Stellio phyllurus, Schneider. S. platurus, Daud.
+Gecko platicaudus, Schinz.
+Agama platyura and A. discosura, Merrem.
+Gymnodactylus platurus, Wagler.
+G. phyllurus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 428.
+Cyrtodactylus platurus, Gray.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+52. Phyllurus miliusii, Bory St. Vincent Dict. Class H. N. 7 183 t.
+Cyrtodactylus miliusii, Gray.
+Gymnodactylus miliusii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 450 t. 33 f. 1.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Paris.
+
+Family AGAMIDAE.
+
+53. Chlamydosaurtis kingii, Gray King's Voyage Australia 2 424 t. Dumeril
+and Bibron Erp. Gen. 4 441 t. 45. Inhabits West Coast of Australia,
+Careening Bay, A. Cunningham, Esquire, Port Nelson. Captain Grey sent a
+fine specimen of this species to the Museum during his travels.
+
+54. Lophura lesueurii, Gray Syn. Griffith A. K. 60.
+Istiurus lesueurii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 4.
+Inhabits Australia, New Holland.
+
+55. Grammatophora barbata, Kaup Isis. Gray. Dumeril and Bibron ?
+Agama barbata, Cuv. R. A. 2 35.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+56. Grammatophora muricata, Kaup Isis 1827 621. Gray. Dumeril and Bibron.
+Lacerta muricata, Shaw Zool. 3 t. 63 f. 1.
+Agama muricata, Daud. A. jacksoniensis, Kuhl. Guerin Icon t. 3 f.
+Amphibolus muricatus, Wiegmann.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+Var. 1 diemenensis, Gray Annals of Natural History 1840.
+Inhabits Van Diemen's Land.
+Var. 2 adelaidensis. Gray Annals of Natural History 1840.
+Inhabits Western Australia, Adelaide.
+
+57. Grammatophora gaimardii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 4 470.
+Inhabits West Coast of Australia, Shark Bay.
+
+58. Grammatophora decresii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 4 472.
+Inhabits Australia, Kangaroo Island.
+Var. 1. Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+59. Grammatophora cristata, Gray Annals of Natural History 1840.
+Inhabits Western Australia, J. Gould.
+
+60. Moloch horridus, t. 2. Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia, Captain G. Grey. J. Gould.
+
+61. Uromastix griseus, Cuv. R. A. 2 34.
+Inhabits "New Holland." Peron.
+It is very probable that this species was established on a variety or
+discoloured specimen of U. hardwickii, and it is very doubtful if it is a
+native of New Holland.
+
+Family CHAMAELEONIDAE.
+
+62. Chamaeleo bifurcus, Brongn. Bull. Soc. Philom. number 36 f. 2.
+Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 3 233 t. 27 f. 3.
+Cham. bifidus, Latr.
+Inhabits "New Holland."
+Messieurs Dumeril and Bibron, in the work cited, state that this species
+is found in New Holland, but I believe this is a mistake, as I have
+neither seen nor heard of any species of this genus being found in
+Australia.
+
+Order 2. OPHIDII.
+
+Family VIPERIDAE.
+
+63. Acanthophis palpebrosa. A. cerastinus, Lacep. Ann. Museum 4 100.
+Guerin Icon. t. 24 f. 2.
+A. brownii, Leach Zool. Misc. 1 t. 3.
+Boa palpebrosa, Shaw Zool. 3 362.
+Ophryas acanthophis, Merrem. 147.
+Schlingende Natter, Merrem Beytr. 2 t. 3.
+Vipera acanthophis, Schlegel. 2 605 t. 21 f. 21, 22, 23.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+Family COLUBRIDAE.
+
+64. Tropidonotus mairii, Gray.
+Inhabits New Holland, Dr. Mair, 39th Regiment Museum Chatham.
+
+65. Leptophis punctulatus, Gray, King's Voyage 2 432.
+Inhabits Careening Bay, James Hunter, Esquire.
+
+66. Leptophis spilotus, Gray, King's Voyage 2 433.
+Inhabits Australia Cape, P.P. King, R.N.
+
+67. Naja custa, Schlegel Phy. Serp. 2 486.
+Inhabits Australia, King George's Sound, Museum Paris.
+
+68. Naja bungaroides, Schlegel Phys. Serp. 2 477.
+Inhabits New Holland, Port Jackson, and India, Museum Paris.
+Var. 1. New Holland. Dr. Mair.
+
+69. Trimesurus leptocephalus, Lacep. Ann. Museum 4 196 t. 56 f. 1.
+Crimson-sided Snake, Coluber porphyraicus, Shaw Zool. t. 110. New
+Holland, t. 10.
+Hurria porphyraica, Merrem.
+Boa laevis, Lacep. Ann. Museum 4 195.
+Duberia porphyriaca, Fitz.
+Acanthophis tortor, Lesson Voyage t. 6. Guerin Icon. t. 24 f. 1.
+Pseudechis porphyriacus, Wagler.
+Alecto, Wagler.
+Oplocephalus, Cuv. R. Anim. 2 94.
+Naja porphyraica, Schlegel. 1 181 2 479 t. 17 f. 6, 7.
+Inhabits New Holland, Sidney.
+
+70. Trimesurus olivaceus, Gray.
+Inhabits New Holland, Dr. Mair.
+
+71. Calimaria diadema, 65 f. 3. Schlegel Phys. Serp. 1 131 2 32.
+Inhabits Australia, New Holland, Quoy and Dr. Mair.
+Western Australia, Mr. Gould.
+
+72. Calimaria annulata, Gray.
+Snake, n. 2. White Journal Appendix 259 t. f. 2.
+Inhabits New Holland, Dr. Lewis.
+
+73. Tortrix pseudo-eryx, Schlegel Phys. Serp. 1 128 2 19.
+Inhabits New Holland, Port Jackson, Peron.
+
+74. Tortrix australis, Gray.
+Inhabits New Holland, Museum Chatham, n. 68.
+
+75. Elaps psammophis, Schlegel Phys. Serp. 1 182 2 454.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+76. Elaps coronatus, Schlegel Phys. Serp. 1 184 2 454.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+77. Elaps gouldii, t. 5 f. 1. Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+78. Elaps ? lewisii, Gray.
+Inhabits New Holland, Dr. Lewis.
+
+Family BOIDAE.
+
+79. Python spilotes.
+P. punctatus, Merrem Tent. 150.
+P. peronii, Cuv. R. A. Wagner, Icon. t. 1.
+Coluber spilotes, Lacep. Ann. Museum 4 195.
+Echidna spilotes, Merrem.
+Australian Snake, Shaw's Zool. 505.
+Snake, n. 1. and 5. White Voyage Appendix 159 t. f. 5 and t. f. 1.
+Inhabits New Holland, White. King George's Sound, Quoy.
+
+Family HYDRIDAE.
+
+80. Aspisurus laticaudatus.
+Coluber laticaudatus, Linn. Museum Ad. t. 16 f. 1.
+Platura fasciata, Latreille.
+Pl. semi-fasciata, Reinw.
+Laticauda imbricata, Laur.
+Aspisurus laevis, Lacep. Ann. Museum 4 197 t. 56 f. 3.
+Hydrus colubrinus, Schlegel Phys. Serp. 514 t. 18 f. 18 to 22.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+81. Pelamis bicolor, Daud.
+Anguis platura, Linn. S. N. 391.
+Hydrophis platura, Latr.
+Hydrus bicolor, Schneider.
+Inhabits New Holland. Port Jackson, Forster.
+
+82. Disteria doliata, Lacep. Ann. Museum 4 199 t. 57. f. 2.
+Hydrophis schistosus, Daud. Schlegel Phys. Serp. 500.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+Order 3. CHELONIA.
+Family CHELYDAE.
+
+83. Platemys macquaria, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 2 458.
+Hydraspis macquaria, Gray Syn. Rept. 1 40.
+Emys macquaria, Cuv. R. Anim. 2 11.
+Inhabits New Holland ?
+
+84. Hydraspis australis, t. 6. new species.
+Inhabits.
+
+85. Chelodina longicollis, Gray Syn. Rep. 39. C. novae hollandae, Dumeril
+and Bibron Erp. Gen. 2 445 t. 21 f. 2.
+Testudo longicollis, Shaw Gen. Zool. 3 62 t. 16. Zool. New Hol. 1 19 t.
+7.
+Emys longicollis, Schw. Prod. 1 309, 433.
+Hydraspis longicollis. Bell Zool. Journal 3 512.
+Inhabits New Holland, Sydney.
+
+86. Chelodina oblonga, t. 7 new species.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+Family CHELONIADAE.
+
+87. Chelonia caretta.
+Testudo caretta, Solander manuscript Banks Icon. ined. in British Museum
+n. 41, 42, 43.
+Inhabits Sea. Latitude 37 South, December 23 1768. Captain Cook.
+
+88. Chelonia imbricata.
+Inhabits Sea, New Holland, New Guinea.
+
+89. Chelonia mydas.
+Testudo mydas, Solander manuscript. Banks Icon. ined. in British Museum
+n. 39, 40.
+Inhabits New Holland, Endeavour River, Cook's Voyage.
+
+Order EMYDOSAURI.
+
+Family CROCODILIDAE.
+
+90. Crocodilus vulgaris, Cuv. Ann. Mus. 10 40 t. 1 f. 5 12 t. 2 f. 7.
+Inhabits New Holland, Mouth of Endeavour River, Captain Cook.
+
+Class AMPHIBIA.
+
+Family RANIDAE.
+
+91. Cystignathus peronii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 409.
+Inhabits New Holland ? Peron.
+
+92. Cystignathus dorsalis, Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+93. Crinia georgiana, Tschudi, 2 78.
+Cystignathus georgianus, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 416.
+Inhabits Australia, King George's Sound.
+
+94. Heleioporus albopunctatus, tab. 1 f. 2 Gray Annals of Natural History
+1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+Family HYLIDAE.
+
+95. Litoria freycinetii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 504 t. 88 f. 2.
+Inhabits New Holland, Port Jackson.
+
+90. Hyla peronii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 569.
+Dendrohyas peronii, Tschudi, 75.
+Inhabits New Holland, Peron.
+
+97. Hyla coerulea.
+Hyla cyanea, Daud. Schlegel. Dum.
+Blue Frog, White Journal Appendix 248.
+Rana australasiae, Schneider.
+R. coerulea, Shaw Gen. Zool. 3 113. Daud. Mer.
+Calamites cyanea, Fitz. Tschudi.
+Calamites coerulea, Wagler.
+Inhabits New Holland, New Guinea, Timor.
+
+98. Hyla jervisiensis, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 580.
+Inhabits New Holland, Jervis Bay.
+
+99. Hyla lesueurii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 595. H. oculata, Peron
+manuscript.
+Inhabits New Holland, Port Jackson.
+
+100. Hyla ewingii, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 597.
+Inhabits Van Diemen's Land.
+
+101. Hyla citropa, Peron and Lesueur. Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 600.
+Dendrohyas citropa, Tschudi, 75.
+Inhabits New Holland, Port Jackson.
+
+102. Hyla aurea.
+Rana aurea, Lesson Voyage Coq. t. 7 f. 2.
+Hyla jacksoniensis, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 602.
+Ranoidea jacksoniensis, Tschudi.
+Inhabits New Holland, Port Jackson.
+
+103. Hyla adelaidensis, t. 8 f. 2. Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+104. Hyla bioculata, t. 8 f. 1. Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+105. Uperoleja marmorata, Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+Family BUFONIDAE.
+
+106. Phreniscus australis, Dumeril and Bibron Erp. Gen. 8 725.
+Bombinator australis, Gray Proceedings of the Zoological Society.
+Inhabits New Holland.
+
+107. Breviceps gouldii; Gray Annals of Natural History 1841.
+Breviceps heliogabali, Gray, tab. 1 f. 1.
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+I have been induced to add to the foregoing list the following
+observations on the more obscure and hitherto unknown genera and species.
+
+RONIA, Gray. Head rather shelving, shielded with one transverse frontal
+and two large vertebral plates, the hinder largest; the rostral plates
+large, with two unequal superciliary plates. The nasal plate triangular,
+interposed between the rostral plate and the frontal ones, with the
+nostrils in its centre; loreal plates two, square; labial plates large;
+ears none, only a very indistinct sunk dot in their place. Body
+cylindrical; tail conical, tapering. Scales smooth, ovate, imbricate,
+those of the belly 6-sided. The front limbs very small, rudimentary,
+undivided; the hinder limbs moderately developed, ending in two very
+unequal toes, with distinct claws.
+
+35. Ronia catenulata, Gray, t. 4 f. 1.
+
+Back grey, with eight series of small black dots, one dot on the centre
+of each scale; cheeks black speckled; sides and beneath whitish.
+
+Body 3 1/2, tail 2 1/2 inches.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia. Mr. J. Gould.
+
+The scales under the tail are rather larger, and the spots on the tail
+are also rather larger than those on the back.
+
+38. Lialis burtonii, t. 3 f. 1. Gray Proceedings of the Zoological
+Society 1834 134. Dumeril and Bibron H. R. 831.
+
+Pale brown, back with three longitudinal brown streaks, each occupying
+half of two series of scales; the centre streak divided into two over the
+nape and head, uniting together again over the tip of the nose.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia. J. Gould.
+
+Family Pygopidae.
+
+Head short, with two or three pairs of narrow frontal shields, similar
+to, and behind the nasal shield, with two odd large vertebral shields;
+nostrils oblong, in the suture between the outer angle of the nasal
+shield and the front loreal shields; ears distinct, tympanum sunk; eyes
+surrounded with a series of scales; belly with two or four series of
+broad 6-sided ventral shields; tail with three series of broader shields,
+the central the broadest; limbs two, rudimentary, undivided, scaly, on
+the side of the vent; throat covered with small scales; lower labial
+plates large.
+
+Pygopus. The scales of the back keeled, with a series of numerous
+praeanal pores; pupil round; the hinder limbs elongate.
+
+Delma. The scales smooth; praeanal pores none; pupil elliptical, erect;
+hinder limbs short.
+
+42. Soridia lineata, t. 3, f. 2.
+
+M. Bibron in the work quoted observes: La Soridia lineata de M. Gray
+n'est pas different d'une espece de Scincoiden du Cap que nous avons vue
+dans la collection de M. Smith a Chatham et de laquelle nous avions pris
+une description qui s'est malheureusement egaree. Page 787. And again:
+Nous croyons que c'est par erreur que M. Gray a indique cette espece
+comme provenant de la Nouvelle Hollande, nous pensons plutot qu'elle est
+originaire du Cap, et la meme que celle dont nous parlions tout a l'heure
+ou le Scincoidien que d'accord avec le Dr. Smith nous nous proposions
+d'appeller Praepeditus lineatus. Page 788.
+
+I do not know what Dr. Smith's animal may be, but the account of
+Praepeditus, given by M. Bibron, is only a translation of my description
+of Soridia! It is not probable that this animal should come both from
+Australia and the Cape. It is certainly from New Holland.
+
+44. APRASIA.
+
+The head small, shielded; muzzle rounded, rather produced, with two pairs
+of large frontal shields, covering the cheeks, a large six-sided
+elongated vertebral shield, and a pair of small superciliar shields;
+rostral and labial shields large, few; the nostrils small, in the sutures
+between the tip of the front upper labial, and the anterior frontal
+plates; eyes circular, edged with a series of small scales; pupil round;
+ears none; body and tail cylindrical, tapering, covered with hexangular
+scales, the ventral shields rather broader; limbs none.
+
+By some mistake the slip containing the description of this genus in my
+synopsis of the slender-tongued Saurians got into the wrong place with
+the Tiliquae instead of being near Anguis.
+
+56. Grammatophora muricata.
+
+The young animals have a series of small spines on each side of the base
+of the tail, and a series of spots on each side of the back.
+
+Mr. Gould has brought home two very distinct local varieties.
+
+Var. 1 diemenensis. Young dark-coloured, with vermiculated marks on the
+chin, chest, and abdomen. The adult dark, beneath gray, varied with black
+spots placed in irregular lines.
+
+Inhabits Van Diemen's Land.
+
+Var. 2 adelaidensis. Young pale above and beneath, with three broad
+diverging black lines on the chin, leaving an oblong spot in the centre
+of the throat, with a broad streak on the chest separated into three
+lines on the abdomen, which unite together again on the pubis. The adult
+gray, with a few spots beneath.
+
+58. Grammatophora decresii, Dumeril and Bibron, Erp. Gen. 4 472. ?
+
+Tail conical, with nearly regular scales, the base rather swollen,
+without any series of spines on the side; the nape and back with a series
+of rather larger, low, compressed scales; back with small sub-equal
+scales, and a few larger ones in cross series; side of the head near the
+ears and side of neck with two or three ridges crowned with short conical
+spines. In spirits black, yellow spotted and varied, beneath gray,
+vermiculated with blackish; tail black-ringed.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+So much smaller than G. muricata that I might have considered them as
+young animals if one of them had not had the body filled with well-formed
+eggs; and the tail is much shorter in comparison than even in the young
+of that species.
+
+They agree in most points with the description given by Messieurs Dumeril
+and Bibron, but not in the colour and in the size of the tail. The
+specimens in our collection greatly differ in their colour, but are all
+very different from any other species.
+
+59. Grammatophora cristata. Nape with a crest of distinct, rather short,
+curved, compressed, spinose scales; back and tail with a series of
+compressed keeled scales, forming a slight keel; occiput with separate
+short strong conical spines: sides of the neck and back with folds
+crowned with series of short compressed scales; base of the tail with
+some scattered larger scales. In spirits, dull olive; crown black with
+large white spots, beneath black; middle of the belly, and undersides of
+the base of the tail white; tail with black rings at the end; feet
+whitish.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia. Mr. J. Gould.
+
+The underside is coloured somewhat like G. maculatus (G. gaimardii,
+Dumeril and Bibron) but the sides of the head near the ears are spinose,
+and the nape is distinctly crested.
+
+But as Dumeril and Bibron's species is only described from a single
+specimen which is in a bad state, and has lost its epidermis, and as the
+description itself, though long, refers chiefly to parts which do not
+differ in the species of the genus, this species may prove not to be
+different from it.
+
+These authors, in giving the character of Grammatophora gaimardii and G.
+decresii, appears to place great reliance on the one having tubular and
+the other non-tubular femoral pores, which is a fact entirely dependent
+on the state in which the animal might be at the time when it was put
+into the spirits, as I have verified by comparing numerous specimens of
+different reptiles furnished with these pores.
+
+But in this genus the size of the pores is apparently of less importance
+than in many others, for they appear to be quite invisible in some states
+of the animal: thus out of many specimens of G. muricata brought by Mr.
+Gould from Van Diemen's Land and Western Australia, eight specimens have
+no visible pores; these specimens differ from the others in being of a
+rather paler colour beneath. This state of the pores may entirely depend
+on the manner in which they were preserved, for all these specimens had a
+slit made into their abdomen to admit the spirits; while in all the
+specimens in which this care had not been taken the pores are distinctly
+seen, sometimes moderately sized, and at others tubularly produced.
+
+60. MOLOCH, Gray.
+
+Body depressed, covered with irregular, unequal, small, granular plates,
+each furnished with a more or less prominent central spine, and with a
+series of large, conical, convex, acute spines; head and limbs covered
+with similar scales and spines; head small, with very large spines over
+each of the eyebrows; tail with irregular rings of large acute spines;
+femoral and subanal pores none; teeth small, subequal; toes 5.5, short,
+covered above and below with keeled scales; claws long, acute.
+
+The external appearance of this Lizard is the most ferocious of any that
+I know, the horns of the head and the numerous spines on the body giving
+it a most formidable aspect. The scales of the back are small and
+unequal; they gradually increase in size as they approach the base of the
+conical spines, which is surrounded with a ring of larger scales with
+longer spines; the large spines are conical; rather compressed, spinulose
+below, smooth and acute at the tip, and are usually furnished with a
+sharp-toothed ridge on the front edge, and sometimes on both. These
+spines only consist of a horny sheath, placed on a fleshy process of the
+exact form and appearance of the spines they bear.
+
+The scales of the underside of the body are of the same form as those of
+the back, and are furnished with similar but smaller and less produced
+spines. The back of the neck of the two specimens I have seen is
+furnished with a large rounded protuberance like a cherry, covered with
+large granular spinous scales, and armed on each side with a large
+conical spine; but I do not know if this is common to the species or
+merely accidental in these individuals; at any rate it adds considerably
+to the singularity of their appearance.
+
+I have named this genus, from its appearance, after "Moloch, horrid
+king."
+
+60. Moloch horridus, t. 2.
+
+Pale yellow, marked with dark regular spots; sides and beneath with
+black-edged dark red similar spots.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia. The Honourable Captain G. Grey, and John
+Gould, Esquire.
+
+The marks on the body are very definite, but from the irregularity of
+their form they are not easily described.
+
+The lips are dark brown, with two streaks up to the small spines on the
+forehead; there is a dark cross-band from the base of the two large horns
+over the eyebrows, running behind, and then dividing into broad streaks,
+one along each side of the centre of the back of the neck to between the
+shoulders, crossing the nuchal swelling. In the middle of the back there
+is a very large black patch nearly extending from side to side, and over
+the loins are two oblong longitudinal black spots; the dark lines
+commencing from the lower angle of each eye extend along the upper part
+of each side to the upper part of the groin; the front of the fore- and
+hind-legs, and the sides are marked with similar dark bands.
+
+A dark band commences from the hinder part of the lower lip, merging in
+the throat, and expanding out so as to be united together at the back
+part of the chin. There is a large rather oblong spot in the centre of
+the chest and the hinder part of the abdomen, separated from each other
+by a large somewhat triangular spot on each side of the middle of the
+abdomen.
+
+Body 4 1/2 inches.
+
+This is the Spinous Lizard exhibited by Mr. Gould at the meeting of the
+Zoological Society in October 1840.
+
+64. Tropidonotus mairii, Gray.
+
+Olive, beneath pale olive, vertebral scales darker, slightly spotted;
+labial shield pale, dark edged. The dorsal and lateral scales keeled,
+placed in longitudinal series; the keels continued, equal; chin shields
+two pairs, long; throat scaly on the sides, shielded in the middle;
+loreal shields equal; one high anterior, and three small posterior ocular
+shields; temples shielded; nostrils in the suture between the scales; the
+anterior frontal narrow, moderate; eyes large, convex, pupil round.
+
+Inhabits New Holland, Dr. Mair, 39th Regiment.
+
+White, in the Appendix to his Journal, mentions and figures two snakes
+(n. 1 and 2 page 258) but his descriptions are so short, and his figures
+so indistinct, compared with what are now required to determine the
+species of snakes, that I am unable to apply them with certainty to any
+of the species here recorded.
+
+68. Naja bungaroides, var.
+
+Brown. Varied with a few whitish cross bands; last series of scales and
+beneath whitish ventral shield black in front; subcaudal plates,
+one-rowed; throat scaly; chin shields two pairs; eyes lateral, pupil
+round; front pair of frontal plates short; nostrils lateral, in two small
+shields, loreal shields none; one large anterior, and two moderate
+posterior ocular shields; lower temporal shield in the labial ones.
+Scales quite smooth, broad.
+
+Inhabits New Holland. Dr. Mair.
+
+69. Trimesurus leptocephalus.
+
+Lacepede described this species twice, once as a Boa, and then as a
+Trimesurus. Mr. Schlegel observes that there is one of Baudin's original
+specimens in the Leyden collection, and that the scales are not in the
+least keeled, though Lacepede described them to be so. Lesson believing
+it to be an undescribed species formed for it his genus Acanthophis;
+Wagler has also formed two genera for this single species; and Cuvier
+formed from a variety of it with subcaudal bands a third genus, under the
+name of Oplocephalus.
+
+70. Trimesurus olivaceus, Gray.
+
+Olive-green, scales black; head dark with a black streak along each side,
+enclosing the eyes and united by a black band across the nape; lips, and
+beneath white; lips and chin black dotted, front of ventral shields
+blackish, throat scaly, chin shields two pairs. Under the epidermis
+bluish green; body elongate, tapering; tail moderate tapering, subeaudal
+shields one-rowed, longer towards the tip; scales all smooth, imbricated,
+subequal, rather larger below; head small, rather tapering in front,
+rounded; eyes rather small, pupil round, head shields normal; the
+nostrils lateral in the suture between two shields, hinder shield
+elongate; loreal shields none; one large anterior and two moderate
+post-ocular shields; labial shields subequal, lower temporal inserted.
+
+Inhabits New Holland. Dr. Mair.
+
+71. Calamaria diadema, t. 5 f. 3.
+
+Body cylindrical, scales small; ventral shields brown, rounded; tail
+rather short, tapering; subcaudal plates two, round. Head small,
+indistinct, moderately long; head shields normal, first frontal small;
+nostril lunate, in the middle of a triangular nasal shield; no loreal;
+one rather large upper anterior, two posterior ocular shields, lowest
+largest; temples shielded; labial shield moderate. White dorsal scales
+with a distinct brown edge; head and nape black, with a broad white
+occipital band; beneath white.
+
+New Holland. Dr. Mair.
+
+72. Calamaria annulata, Gray. Snake, n. 2. White's Journal Appendix 259
+f. 2.
+
+White (in spirits) with twenty-eight black rings (twenty-five on the body
+and three on the tail;) head with two black bands, one on the end of the
+nose and the other with the eyes in front of it. Tip of the tail black;
+eyes small, pupil round; nostrils in the centre of a shield, lateral,
+erect; loreal shields none; one anterior oblique, and two small
+post-ocular shields.
+
+Inhabits New Holland. Dr. Lewis.
+
+74. Tortrix australis.
+
+Pale olive, scales black-edged, on the sides widest; beneath bluish, with
+a white edged black band across the end of the muzzle; a white band
+before the front and back of the eyes, and a triangular black spot at the
+lower hinder angle of the eyes; pupil round; one large and two posterior
+ocular shields, no loreal shields; nostrils lateral, in the suture
+between the two nasal shields; scales smooth imbricate, those of the
+sides larger, of the tail six-sided.
+
+77. Elaps gouldii, Gray, t. 5 f. 1.
+
+Pale yellowish; the scales of the back small, 6-sided, with a dark
+anterior margin, giving the back a netted appearance. Top of the head and
+nape black, with a yellow spot on the rostral scale on each side just
+before the eyes. Head small, the occipital plates large elongate; the
+nasal plate triangular; one moderate anterior, and two subequal posterior
+ocular shields; six upper and lower labial shields, the fourth under the
+eyes; eyes small, pupil round. There is an indistinct small yellow spot
+behind the upper part of the eye; but this may be an accidental variety,
+as the spots on the two sides are not equally defined.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+This species resembles Calamaria diadema, which is also found in Western
+Australia, but it is larger, and the head is larger in comparison with
+the body, and in this species it is the base of scales, while in the
+later it is the outer margin, that is dark.
+
+78. Elaps lewisii, Gray.
+
+Olive green, submetallic; edge of the scales blackish; upper lip, chin,
+and ventral plates greenish-white; head moderate, elongate, depressed;
+head shields normal; hinder frontal and front of superciliary shield
+expanded on the sides, and bent down on the cheeks. Nostrils in the
+suture between the two small nasal plates. Loreal plates small oblong;
+one small front and two smaller posterior oculars. Temples shielded;
+labial plates moderate; chin shields two pair; middle of the throat
+shielded, sides scaly. Eyes large, pupil rounded; body elongate,
+sub-cylindrical, moderately thick, covered with cross bands of elongated
+narrow scales. The vertebral series broad, six-sided, long; of the nape,
+small, like those on the sides; of the tail, broader and more uniform;
+ventral plates distinctly keeled and erect on the sides. Tail elongate,
+tapering, with two rows of shields, keeled on the sides.
+
+80. Hydrus.
+
+Captain G. Grey informs me that these snakes coil themselves upon the
+shore, living on the seaweed, and that they lay their eggs on the shore.
+They are often found asleep upon the sea, when they are easily caught, as
+they cannot sink without first throwing themselves on the back, probably
+to empty their large vesicular lungs.
+
+83. Platemys macquaria.
+
+This species was originally indicated by Cuvier, from a single specimen
+brought from the Macquarie River by Messieurs Lesson and Garnot. It has
+been doubted if it really is an inhabitant of that country, and might not
+have been imported from South America, whence all the other species of
+the genus come, and sold to the French collectors for a native species.
+
+84. Hydraspis australis, t. 6.
+
+Body ovate, back dark olive, rather convex, rounded on the middle of the
+sides, with a narrow reflexed edge, shelving behind with a broad expanded
+margin; vertebral shields broad, six-sided, last subtriangular; beneath
+rather convex, yellow, shelving on the sides; the second marginal plate
+with an angular lobe produced into the suture between the vertebral and
+first costal plates; claws sharp, black; skin of head and limbs smooth.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia ?
+
+The back covered with conferva.
+
+85. Chelodina longicollis.
+
+Mr. Gould brought two large specimens of this species, which are much
+more ovate and convex than Dr. Shaw's specimens. They are 7 inches long
+by 6 wide. It may be a particular variety, or they may become more ovate
+as they increase in size, The sternal shields (in specimens preserved in
+brine) are pale yellow, with black edges.
+
+86. Chelodina oblonga, t. 7.
+
+Shell oblong, rather contracted in front, with a broad impression on the
+middle of the back; back olive brown, with irregular anastomosing lines
+on the shields; beneath reddish-yellow. The marginal plates longer than
+broad, the second larger than the first and third; and rather angularly
+produced in the middle of the inner edge, opposite the suture between the
+first dorsal and first costal plate; the sternum high, flat, strongly and
+sharply keeled on the sides.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+This species is at once known from Chelodina longicollis by the form of
+its high, flat sternum, which is strongly keeled on the sides, and by
+this part being of a uniform reddish colour, without any dark margin to
+the plates; the hinder part of the sternum is only slightly concavely
+truncated, and not deeply notched.
+
+It is also known from that old well-known species by its oblong depressed
+form, and by the form of the marginal plates, and especially from the
+second and eleventh marginal plates on each side being placed more
+forwards, so that the centre of their inner edge is opposite the suture
+of the first and last costal plates with the dorsal ones; instead of
+their front margin, as is the case with all the specimens of Chelodina
+longicollis I have seen.
+
+This species grows to a large size. Mr. Gould brought a specimen which he
+gave to Mr. Bell, which is 11 inches long, and the neck is nearly equally
+long, very thick, and studded with large warts; the head is broad and
+depressed, covered with a thin skin, like a Trionyx, and marked with
+small thin scales.
+
+92. Cystignathus dorsalis.
+
+The palatine teeth in a single large straight line, just behind the inner
+nostrils; tongue large, slightly nicked behind, the tympanum nearly hid
+under the skin; gray-brown (in spirits) marbled with dark irregular
+spots, with a white streak down the middle of the forehead and front of
+the back; sides pure white, spotted and marbled with black; beneath
+white; toes elongate, slender, tapering; back part of thighs brown, white
+speckled.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia. Mr. Gould.
+
+This species is very distinct from C. peronii and C. georgianus, the two
+Australian species described by Messieurs Dumeril and Bibron. It agrees
+with the former in the disposition of the palatine teeth.
+
+HELIOPORUS, Gray.
+
+Head short, swollen; eyes large, convex; palatine teeth in a straight
+interrupted ridge between the two internal nostrils; teeth very small;
+body swollen; skin of the back minutely granular, of the belly smooth;
+legs rather short; toes 4.5, short, warty beneath, quite free; the hind
+wrist with a large, oblong, compressed, internal tubercle; the base of
+the inner finger with a conical wart, ending in a small acute bony
+process; tongue large, entire behind.
+
+This genus has many of the characters of Cystignathus, but differs from
+it in being warty and swollen, and in having short toes like a toad.
+
+94. Helioporus albo punctatus, t. 1 f. 2.
+
+Lead-coloured (in spirits) with white spots; beneath dirty white, with
+some small white warts at the angle of the mouth; legs smooth.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+103. Hyla Adelaidensis, Gray, t. 8 f. 2.
+
+Slender; fore-toes quite free, hinder toes webbed to the last joint; (in
+spirits) gray-blue, with a series of small oblong tubercles; the sides
+purple-brown with a white streak from the underside of the eyes to the
+shoulders; sides of the belly and region of the vent purplish, with small
+white spots; the hinder side of the thighs purple-brown, with three large
+oblong white spots; belly and under side of thighs granular; chin white,
+brownish dotted; palatine teeth in two roundish groups between the
+internal nostrils.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+104. Hyla binoculata, Gray, t. 8, f. 1.
+
+Slender; fore-toes quite free; hinder toes webbed to the last joint.
+Grayish white (in spirits) with a series of very small, indistinct,
+oblong tubercles, with a dark streak from the nostrils to the shoulder,
+enclosing the eyes, and a white streak below it from the underside of the
+eye; sides purplish, with small white spots; back of the thighs purple,
+with two yellow spots; belly and underside of thighs whitish, granular.
+
+Var. 1. Back of thighs with one or two additional yellow spots.
+
+Var. 2. Back bluish gray; back of the thighs with six or seven small
+subequal yellow spots.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+UPEROLEIA, Gray.
+
+Head large; palate quite toothless; upper jaw with small close teeth;
+tympanum hid under the skin; toes of the fore and hind feet elongate,
+slender, quite free; ankle with a roundish external and a small conical
+inner tubercle; tongue small, oblong, roundish, and entire behind.
+
+This genus is most nearly allied to Leiuperus of Messieurs Dumeril and
+Bibron, with which it agrees in having no teeth on the palate, but it
+differs from it in the tympanum being quite hid.
+
+The internal nostrils are some distance in front of the cross-ridge on
+which the palatine teeth are generally placed.
+
+105. Uperoleia marmorata.
+
+Black and green marbled, leaving a triangular greenish spot on the
+forehead, beneath lead colour.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+Dr. Tschudi has formed a genus under the name of Crinia, which appears by
+his characters to be nearly related to the above; but Messieurs Dumeril
+and Bibron (Erp. Gen. 8 416) observe that the specimens he described have
+two very small groups of teeth on the vomer.
+
+107. Breviceps gouldii, t. 1 f. 1.
+
+Smooth, with a few scattered low tubercles; gray-brown (in spirits),
+yellowish beneath.
+
+Inhabits Western Australia.
+
+This animal has all the external appearance and character, as far as they
+are given in Messieurs Dumeril and Bibron's work, of the Breviceps
+gibbosus of the Cape of Good Hope, except that it has not the yellow
+dorsal band, and the back is scarcely to be designated as granular. It is
+the second species of the genus, and only the second Toad found in
+Australia.
+
+...
+
+
+APPENDIX F.
+
+Notes on some Insects from King George's Sound, collected and presented
+to the British Museum by CAPTAIN GEORGE GREY, by ADAM WHITE, Esquire,
+British Museum, in a letter addressed to the author.
+
+DEAR SIR,
+
+Fabricius was the first, or among the earliest, Entomologists who
+described the Annulose animals of New Holland, New Zealand, and the
+Pacific Islands. At the time he published his Systema Entomologiae (1775)
+these parts of the world had been visited by but few persons, and I
+believe that all the species he described as coming from them he found in
+the collection which was made by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander on
+their well-known voyage with Captain Cook; that collection was presented
+to the Linnean Society of London. Several of the original specimens have
+been figured in the works of Olivier and Donovan, and it is perhaps
+unnecessary to say that modern Entomologists often refer to these
+specimens as the typical examples. As far as I am aware the next
+important addition to the Entomology of New Holland was made by Dr.
+Schreibers of Vienna,* which was followed by that of Mr. Marsham.** All
+the specimens described by these entomologists were most probably
+collected by travellers touching only at certain points on the coast.
+
+(*Footnote. Linnean Transactions 6 pages 185 to 206, tab. 19 to 21 1802.
+Descriptions of some Singular Coleopterous Insects by Charles Schreibers,
+M.D., Deputy Professor of Natural History in the University of Vienna.
+Lucanus aeneus (Lamprima Latr.) Scarabaeus proboscideus (Elephastomus
+Macleay). Cetonia philipsii (Schizorhina Kirby) Silpha lachrymosa
+(Ptomaphila Hope). Clerus fasciculatus. Prionus lepidopterus (Tragocerus
+Dejean) Cerambix giraffa (Gnoma) Cer. fichtelii (Enicodes G.R. Gray)
+Scarites schroetteri (Hyperion Lap.) all new, and a singular Brasilian
+genus, Scarabaeus dytiscoides (near Anamnesis Vigors and supposed to be
+the Eucranium arachnoides Dejean Cat. page 150 ed 1837) are all admirably
+described and figured here.)
+
+(**Footnote. Linnean Transactions 9 pages 283 to 295, tab. 24 to 25 1808.
+Description of Notoclea, a new genus of Coleopterous Insects from New
+Holland by Thomas Marsham, Esquire. Tr. L.S. This contains 20 species,
+some of which however had been previously described by Olivier under
+Paropsis, the appellation now universally applied to this "convex-backed"
+genus. The Reverend William Kirby in a note added the more latent
+characters.)
+
+As New Holland became colonized and settlements increased Entomology was
+not altogether neglected, for we find a resident, John W. Lewin, A.L.S.,
+of Paramatta, New South Wales, in 1805, publishing an elegant and curious
+quarto volume of plates in which he describes many species of crepuscular
+and nocturnal Lepidoptera, in most cases figuring the insects in all
+their stages; it is highly to be regretted that this interesting work was
+not continued, and it is to be feared that want of encouragement alone
+prevented the industrious and acute author from persevering in the design
+of his work, which the title he gave it* shows he intended to have made
+of a general nature on the subject. The accounts of the habits of
+Cryptophasa and Agarista are peculiarly interesting, and it is much to be
+wished that some of the many entomologists now in New Holland and the
+islands of the Pacific Ocean would publish similar notes (however short)
+on the habits, etc., of the insects they may find.
+
+(*Footnote. Prodromus, etc., Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of
+New South Wales, collected, engraved, and faithfully painted after nature
+by J.W.L. etc. London 1805 4to.)
+
+Dr. Robert Brown, when on Flinders' voyage, collected many interesting
+insects which were described by Kirby in the 12th volume of the Linnean
+Transactions.* Several specimens were deposited by this celebrated
+botanist in the British Museum. We find Dr. Leach commencing the
+description of New Holland insects in his Zoological Miscellany; and
+Macleay in his Horae Entomologicae described many curious Lamellicornes.
+Since that time the communication with the great South Continent has been
+so uninterrupted that collections have been continually coming to Europe,
+and scarcely a ship now arrives without some additions being made to this
+branch of science.
+
+(*Footnote. Volume 12 1818 pages 454 to 478. A description of several new
+species of Insects collected in New Holland by Robert Brown, Esquire,
+F.R.S. etc., by the Reverend W. Kirby, M.A., F.R.S. etc. 33 species
+described, 13 figured on tab. 23. Mr. Kirby, in his century of Insects
+published in the same volume, described 17 New Holland species, and in
+the same celebrated paper founded four new genera upon Australasian
+Insects, Adelium, Rhinotia, Eurhinus and Rhinaria. He would have
+described other genera but for his fear of interfering with Germar's
+labours on the Curculionidae. N.B. Strongylium chalconotum is from Brazil
+and not from Australasia as indicated.)
+
+The French voyages of discovery under Freycinet,* Duperrey, D'Urville,
+and Laplace have contributed very much to extend our knowledge of the
+Natural History of the Southern islands, as the publication of the
+History of the Voyages of the Uranie, Coquille, Astrolabe, and Favorite,
+amply testify; we are more especially indebted to Admiral D'Urville, who
+seems to unite the seemingly incompatible duties of commander of an
+expedition with an enthusiastic love of and search after insects. M.
+Guerin-Meneville published the Annulose animals of the Voyage de la
+Coquille, in which New Holland genera and species take a prominent place.
+Dr. Boisduval described those collected on the expedition of the
+Astrolabe, he also published the first Fauna Entomologica of New Holland
+and the Pacific; in his two volumes he gives a synoptical description of
+all the species he met with in the Parisian collections, indicating also
+such as he found in books whether he had seen the specimens or not. More
+detailed descriptions are looked for on some future occasion by the
+entomologists of this country from the learned and talented author of so
+many well-known works.
+
+(*Footnote. Voyage autour du monde etc. sur les corvettes de S.M.
+l'Uranie et la Physicienne 1817 a 1820 Paris 1824 Partie Zoologie.
+Freycinet's Voyage, but for the lamentable shipwreck of one of his
+vessels, would have added much to our acquaintance with the Natural
+History of the places visited. Messrs. Quoy and Gaymard, Medecins de
+l'expedition, published the Zoological part of their notes. They refer
+with regret to the disastrous accident which deprived them of large
+collections of Insects made more particularly in the environs of Port
+Jackson. They describe and figure but one insect from New Holland
+(Curculio lemniscatus from Shark Bay) a spider from Port Jackson (Aranea
+notacautha Quoy, Dolophones notacantha Walckenaer Apt. 1 383) in which
+the brown callosities at the end of the cylindrical abdomen were taken
+for eyes, a position rectified by Walckenaer as above and by Kirby in his
+Bridgewater Treatise where he gives a copy of the French figure of this
+singular spider--Two Crustacea, one (Ocypode convexus) from Dirk
+Hatterick's and the other (Pagurus clibanarius) from Shark Bay, are all
+the Annulose animals described or figured as coming from New Holland,
+from the pitiable circumstance above alluded to.)
+
+The figures and descriptions of Guerin, though fewer in number, are more
+detailed than those of Dr. Boisduval, who was much limited for space.
+
+It would take up too much time to give a tithe of the names of the
+entomologists who have described New Holland insects* as nearly every
+working student of insects abroad and at home has added to the list.
+
+(*Footnote. The entomologist who would attempt to do this must give a
+Universal Entomological Bibliography, as scarcely a Journal or volume of
+Transactions of any Scientific Society appears without containing fewer
+or more species from the great Australasian Continent and its islands.)
+
+Messieurs Audouin, Blanchard, and Boisduval will shortly publish
+descriptions of the insects etc. collected on D'Urville's last voyage.
+Latreille, Dejean, Schoenherr, and Klug must be specially particularized;
+Gory, Percheron, Chevrolat, Aube, Serville, Reiche, Spinola, Fischer, and
+Mannerheim have all more or less added to our acquaintance with the
+species. Many New Holland Arachnida and Pacific Ocean Crustacea have been
+described in the well-known works of the Baron Walckenaer and Dr. Milne
+Edwards. In this country Kirby, Hope, Curtis, G.R. Gray, Waterhouse,
+Shuckard, Newman, and Westwood have been the principal scientific men who
+have attended to species of annulosa. Bennett, Mr. Surgeon Hunter, Darwin
+and Major Mitchell, when opportunities offered, collected many species
+and neglected not the subject of their habits; the last-mentioned having
+also described (specifically) one or two species in his interesting work.
+Macleay's Appendix to Captain King's voyage* is universally known.
+
+(*Footnote. King (Captain Philip P., R.N., F.R.S. etc.) Narrative of a
+Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia performed
+between the years 1818 and 1822 2 volumes London 1827. Appendix Catalogue
+of Insects collected by Captain King, R.N., 192 species of Annulosa, 188
+Insects, 4 Arachnida pages 438 to 469; "eighty-one of the species are
+new." In this paper Macleay institutes a Curculionidous genus near
+Phalidura, which he names Hybauchenia, the type being H. nodulosa.
+Carpophagus type C. Banksiae "would probably with Linnaeus have been a
+Bruchus." Megamerus "has an affinity to Sagra, but differs from that
+genus in having setiform antennae, porrect mandibles, and securiform
+palpi, its habit is also totally different, and more like that of some of
+those insects which belong to the heterogeneous magazine called Prionus;
+it is undoubtedly the most singular and novel form in Captain King's
+collection." Type M. kingii.)
+
+Curtis and Haliday have published and are engaged in publishing the
+description of Annulosa collected by Captain King, while those collected
+by Mr. Darwin on the voyage of the Beagle have been entrusted to Mr.
+Waterhouse, who has published descriptions of some in the Entomological
+Society's Transactions and in the Annals of Natural History. Hope's
+papers in the Zoological Transactions and the Coleopterist's Manual are
+well known, as are Mr. Newman's in different Magazines and Annals. We
+rejoice to see in a late number of a small periodical sheet exclusively
+devoted to Entomology* and edited by this gentleman a letter from Mr.
+Davis, containing some interesting information regarding the insects of
+Adelaide; and in the same periodical there are many New Holland insects
+described. Much may be expected from Messrs. Macleay and Swainson, both
+at present in the South Sea islands, and it is to be hoped that in a
+short time the fruits of their researches will be before the public. Mr.
+Gould collected many insects on his Ornithological expedition to New
+Holland, descriptions of which, from the pen of the Reverend F.W. Hope,
+may shortly be looked for.
+
+(*Footnote. The Entomologist, conducted by Edward Newman. London Van
+Voorst in Monthly Numbers.)
+
+The north-west coast of New Holland has been but little investigated, and
+yet in that quarter the late Allan Cunningham gathered a rich harvest of
+rare and unknown species; but it would take too much space to tell what
+parts have not been searched for insects, suffice it to say that the Swan
+River settlement, Kangaroo and Melville islands, Adelaide, Sydney, and
+Hobart Town seem all peculiarly rich in species, and what may we not
+expect from New Zealand, from the samples already given of its entomology
+by Fabricius and Shuckard, not to mention others who have described
+species from that locality.
+
+We yet hope to see a general work on the subject similar to the truly
+national work on the Birds and Kangaroos at present publishing by Mr.
+Gould. Mr. G.R. Gray commenced such a work in quarto, and the beautiful
+number illustrated by the late Charles Curtis, containing species of
+Phasmidae, it is to be hoped will not be left single.* I have only room
+to add that, owing to many other occupations, I can at present give only
+a very imperfect list of the species you have presented to the National
+Museum, which were all collected by you on the shores of King George's
+Sound. A.W.
+
+(*Footnote. I see in Laporte and Gory's Histoire Naturelle et
+Iconographic des Coleopteres, a work on Australian Insects, by the
+Reverend Frederick W. Hope, often quoted as Synopsis of the Insects of
+New Holland, but this must be privately printed, as I have never seen it
+or heard of it elsewhere.
+
+...
+
+COLEOPTERA.
+
+CARENUM, Bon. Carenum perplexum.
+
+I think this may be the Scarites cyaneus Fabricius described from the
+Banksian Cabinet in 1775 (Systema Entomologiae page 249 g. 68 sp. 2.) It
+differs however from his description in the appendiculated thorax (the
+sides of which are rounded) being abruptly cut off behind, and in having
+the somewhat dilated margin there, slightly emarginate. The general
+surface of the thorax is not so bright in colour as the elytra, it has
+more of a purple reflection; a dark greenish hue prevails over the
+elytra, the anterior edge of each having, towards the margin, a slight
+bend upwards, which forms a kind of tooth, projecting slightly over the
+somewhat dilated margin of the elytra, along the margin of these are at
+least eight points, at first seemingly impressed, but when more
+particularly examined they appear to be raised and to have an impressed
+line round each of them. The head is black, the antennae and palpi
+piceous, the third joint in the former is longer than the second or
+third, the terminal joints are (more especially) furnished with pitchy
+hairs. Long. lin. 8.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound. Captain George Grey.
+
+The genus Carenum was founded by Fr. A. Bonelli in the second part of his
+Observations Entomologiques, read the 3rd May 1813 and published in the
+Turin Transactions for 1813,* upon a specimen contained in the Paris
+Museum of Natural History, which he regarded as the Scarites cyaneus of
+Fabricius figured by Olivier.
+
+(*Footnote. Memoires de l'Academie Imp. des Sciences etc. page 479.)
+
+Guerin* has shown that the Arnidius marginatus Leach of the letter-press
+to the Voyage de l'Astrolabe, page 33, is synonymous with Carenum cyaneum
+of Bonelli, as he has seen the two specimens, the former of which is in
+Dupont's collection.
+
+(*Footnote. Crust. Arachn. et Ins. of the voyage of the Coquille
+avant-propos page 7.)
+
+M. Brulle* observes well that the Carenum cyaneum of Bonelli must be
+different from the Scarites cyaneus of Fabricius, as both these authors
+speak of its being blue (or deep blackish green) over the whole upper
+surface, while in the C. cyaneum the blue is confined to the margin of
+the elytra; besides Olivier expressly states that the Scarites cyaneus is
+smaller than the Scarites subterraneus, which will not at all suit the
+original specimen from which the learned Bonelli derived his generic
+character. In the British Museum is the original specimen of Arnidius
+marginatus (catalogued by Dr. Leach) presented by J. Huey, Esquire, and
+it is very different both in size and in colour from the descriptions of
+Fabricius and Olivier, and the figure of the latter,** all derived from
+the original specimen formerly contained in the Banksian collection. Dr.
+Boisduval's concise description (op. cit. page 2, page 23) answers the
+specimen so named by Leach.
+
+(*Footnote. Histoire Naturelle des Ins. par Messieurs Audouin and Brulle
+5 page 64.)
+
+(**Footnote. Coleopt. 3 Number 36 l. 2 f. 17.)
+
+If the figure of Carenum cyaneum, given by Audonin and Brulle in their
+Work (tome 5 plate 2 f. 6) be correctly drawn, it differs very
+considerably from Leach's specimens of Arnidius, which is a broader
+insect.
+
+I have not been able to see the original specimen of the Scarites
+cyaneus, so that in all probability it has been destroyed; it is much to
+be desired that accurate figures and descriptions were made and published
+of the original specimens described by Linnaeus and Fabricius, which
+exist in the Banksian and Smithian Cabinets in the possession of the
+Linnean Society, as well as those to be found in the Hunterian and
+British Museums. The genus Eutoma of Newman* seems to me to be synonymous
+with Carenum, but different from Arnidius of Leach.
+
+(*Footnote. Entomological Magazine 5 page 170 Eu. tinctilatus.)
+
+CHLAENIUS, Bon.
+
+Chlaenius greyianus, new species.
+
+C. supra laete viridi-smaragdinus, elytris costis tribus, suturaque
+elevatis cupreis, laevibus, interstitiis laevibus; margine utraque linea
+punctorum impressorum instructa; subtus piceo-niger, antennis pedibusque
+piceo-nigris.
+
+I have named this beautiful species after the Governor of South
+Australia; in the system it would come close to the European Chlaenius
+quadrisulcatus, Illiger. (Dejean and Boisduval Iconogr. et Histoire
+Naturelle des Coleopt. d'Europe 2 page 185 plate 94 f. 3) which it seems
+singularly to represent.
+
+It is however rather a larger insect, and of a brighter green above than
+any specimens of the other species which I have seen, there is less of
+the coppery tinge about its upper surface. The thorax is much narrower,
+the lateral margins can hardly be called depressed, and they are not at
+all longitudinally scooped out there, as they are in the C.
+quadrisulcatus. The elytra are very distinctly sinuated towards the
+extremity, and the three elevated ribs are smooth and of a coppery bronze
+colour, with the intervening spaces smooth (at least not granulated as in
+the C. quadrisulcatus) and have two longitudinal lines of impressed
+points, one on each side of the smooth interval.
+
+This short description may suffice to distinguish this beautiful species.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey. (British Museum.)
+
+Staphylinus erythrocephalus, Fabricius.
+
+Systema Entomologiae 265 to 266 1775 Syst. Eleuth. 2 593 19.
+
+Oliv. Ent. 3 Number 42 sp. 9 page 12 plate 2 figure 9.
+
+Erichs. Genera et species Staphyl. sp. 8 page 351 1840.
+
+Habitat Australia (King George's Sound) Captain George Grey, Museum
+British.
+
+The specimens brought home by Captain Grey seem to me identical with the
+above. Fabricius describes the thorax (truncated in front and rounded
+behind) as having the anterior margin rufous in the middle, it being
+wholly of a deep shining black, and as Olivier (l.c.) remarks, the neck
+or narrowed collar (qui joint la tete au corcelet) is rufous yellow as is
+the squareish transverse head with a black spot on the crown. The
+scutellum and elytra are minutely punctured or chagrined, and hairy
+(except a small smooth oblong space on the shoulder of the latter) and
+are black with a violet tinge; in one specimen the elytra have scarcely
+any of the blue tinge, and the spot on the shoulder is of a ferruginous
+hue; the wings are violaceous. Dr. Leach had regarded this as a distinct
+subgenus, but as the name he had given it is pre-occupied in Botany, and
+has not been published with or without characters, as far as I am aware,
+I have not given it.
+
+CRYPTODUS, Macleay.
+
+C. variolosus, Burmeister (Westwood Monograph ined.)
+
+Smaller than Mr. Macleay's species and of a pitchy brown, it is less
+depressed; the head is squarer and not so broad, the two tubercles are
+more prominent, the mentum is deeply emarginate: antennae nine-jointed;
+basal joint dilated, prothorax not so transverse, much more closely
+punctured: the elytra are scarcely dilated behind, shorter, and are
+covered with exceeding minute punctures in addition to the larger ones.
+
+Inhabits King George's Sound, Captain George Grey. (British Museum.)
+
+Mr. Westwood informed me that Professor Burmeister had sent him a
+description of this species under the above-mentioned name; the
+characters are the principal of those which will appear in Mr. Westwood's
+elaborate memoir. I had written a description of this species and
+assigned a name to it, which however I withdraw. There are more than two
+species of this curious genus, first published in the Horae
+Entomologicae.
+
+BRACHYSTERNUS, Guerin. (s.g. Epichrysus.)
+
+B. ? (E.) Lamprimoides, new species. Illustration 18 Insects 1.
+
+Viridi aureus, thorace corporeque subtus tomentosis.
+
+Yellowish metallic green, legs darker. The head is somewhat square, the
+transverse suture being rather indistinct; the margin of the clypeus is
+distinctly reflexed. Antennae dark brown, ten-jointed; 1st joint longest,
+thickened at the end, with ferruginous hairs behind; 2nd rounded, thin;
+3rd, 4th, and 5th, with the separating lines very indistinct, those
+before the 3 lamellated joints short, transverse. Maxillary palpi with
+the terminal joint dilated, rather blunt at the tip, depressed above, and
+hollowed out at its base. Legs rather thick, the outer of the two tarsal
+claws of the third pair of legs, cleft at the end, anterior tibiae
+externally sub-tridentate. Thorax with the sides somewhat angulated and
+narrowly margined, rounded behind, but the sides of the posterior margin
+are straight, the surface is minutely punctured and covered with brown
+hairs, the sternum of the mesothorax is without a spine, or projecting
+angle; elytra in some specimens of a rich, lively, metallic, yellowish
+green, in other coppery green with the suture and margin dark green, the
+surface chagreened and punctured. Underside of the body and legs dark
+green, the former covered with ash-grey pubescence, or rather longish
+soft hairs.
+
+This insect seems to be one of those links which connect such genera as
+Anoplognathus, Amblyterus and Brachysternus, and it is very difficult to
+say to which of these genera it is most allied. Professor Burmeister has
+begun to eradicate the Phyllophagous genera of Beetles, and from his deep
+knowledge of Entomology, and the particular acquaintance which he has
+with the principles of general Zoology, as well as the thorough manner in
+which he means to go through all the species, much light may soon be
+expected to be thrown on the subject; how true is Darwin's remark, made
+in speaking of a somewhat anomalous bird, "this, from its varied
+relations, although at present offering only difficulties to the
+systematic Naturalist, ultimately may assist in revealing the grand
+scheme, common to the present and past ages, on which organized beings
+have been created." (Journal and Remarks Voyage of Beagle 3 page 112.)
+
+BIPHYLLOCERA, g.n.
+
+Antennae (seemingly) nine-jointed, the first joint long, much thickened
+at the end, and furnished with several stiff hairs, the five last are
+lamelliform, the lamellae in the male long, and pinnated on one side;
+labium deeply grooved in the middle, notched at the tip; palpi with the
+terminal joints longest, sub-cylindrical; head moderate; clypeus
+separated by a distinct line, basal part slightly hollowed out, as is the
+head between the eyes; thorax short; elytra elongate, somewhat rounded on
+the lateral edge, truncated at the end; legs slender; tibiae of first
+pair anteriorly sub-tridentate, tibiae of second and third pairs with
+many spines, claws of posterior tarsi entire, joints of tarsi, slender,
+elongate.
+
+In the system this would come at no great distance from the genus Serica,
+the compound lamellated joints are, I believe, the first noticed amongst
+Phyllophagous Coleoptera.
+
+Biphyllocera kirbyana, sp. n. Illustration 19 Insects 2 Figure 1 a and
+b.)
+
+Piceo-brunnea, subtus piloso-fulvescens, thoracis margine flavescente,
+dorso, hirtello; elytris 9 (saltem) lineis longitudinalibus impressis,
+interstitiis transverse substriolatis quasi squamulatis.
+
+Shining, more especially on the head and clypeus, the crown of the head
+very smooth, the space between the eyes with impressed punctures, the
+clypeus slightly notched in front; antennae pale-ferruginous; thorax with
+short rust-coloured hairs, and the lateral margin slightly reflexed and
+paler than the dorsal part, which is covered with short striolae, giving
+a squamulate appearance to it; when narrowly examined, just above the
+rather large and bluntish scutellum, there are some distinct scattered
+punctures; thorax beneath covered with fulvous hairs.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+There are two more or less injured specimens of this species in the
+collection of the British Museum. In the same collection, from the same
+locality, are two specimens of what I regarded as the females of the B.
+kirbyana; they are larger and of a pale brown; one of these is figured in
+the accompanying wood-cut figure 2. In the lamellae of the antennae of
+the two specimens there is considerable difference, so that probably
+there may be a second species of Biphyllocera. I have given it the name
+of B. fabriciana.
+
+Lamprima micardi, Reiche in Guerin's Rev. Zool. 1841, Number 2, page 51.
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Porrostoma rufipenne (Fabricius) Laporte Histoire des Anim. Art.
+Lycus rufipennis, Fabricius Syst. El. 2 page 114 to 120.
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+Porrostoma serraticorne (Fabricius) Lap.
+Lycus serraticornis, Fabricius Syst. El. 2 3 page 6.
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+Saprinus cyaneus (Fabricius) Erichson Uebers. der Hister. in Klug's
+Jahrb. d. Insectenk. 1 page 178.
+Hister. cyaneus Fabricius Systema Entomologiae page 52 7 3. Syst. El. 1
+86 13. Oliv. Ent. 1 number 8 plate 3 f. 17.
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Stigmodera roei, Hope, Synopsis of Austr. Insects page 2 number 15.
+Buprestis dejeaniana, Boisduval Voyage de l'Astrolabe Ent. 2 page 63
+plate 6 f. 6.
+Stigmodera cancellata, Lap. and Gory (nec Donovan) Histoire Naturelle
+etc. des Col. plate 2 f. 6.
+Habitat King George's Sound, Capt George Grey.
+
+Donovan's B. cancellata is surely a distinct species, the serrated
+margins of the elytra and other characters would separate it. I have not
+seen the work of the Reverend F. Hope, referred to by Messrs. Gory and
+Laporte, so that I am not aware whether the specific name roei or
+dejeaniana had the priority in publication.
+
+Stigmodera iospilota, Hope, var. "Syn. etc." Lap. and Gory, op. c. plate
+7 f. 39.
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Diphucrania scabiosa, Gory ? Boisduval Voyage de l'Astrolabe.
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Ptomaphila lacrymosa (Schreiber) Hope. The Coleopterist's Manual part 3
+page 150.
+
+Silpha lacrymosa, Schreibers Linnean Transactions 6 page 194 tab. 20
+Figure 5.
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Belus suturalis, Boisduval Voyage de l'Astrolabe, Ent. 2 page 304 plate 7
+Figure 20.
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Catasarcus rufipes (Hope) Schoenh. Gen. and Spec. Curc. 5 gen. 109 sp. 2
+page 814.
+Cneorhinus stigmatipennis, Boisduval Voyage de l'Astrolabe 2 page 349.
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+Helaeus echidna, new species. Illustration 20 Insects 3.
+H. elytris triseriatim spinosis.
+
+The dilated sides of thorax meeting in front, and projecting beyond head,
+a short spine in the middle near the hind margin. Elytra with two rows of
+spines close to the suture, and another close to the edge, where the
+dilated part commences: the central rows of spines are not continued to
+the tip, the spines being placed irregularly; they are also much larger
+than those of the side row. General surface of thorax and elytra very
+smooth, shining, the dilated parts of thorax and elytra with the surface
+somewhat undulated.
+
+Inhabits King George's Sound, Captain Grey.
+
+EMCEPHALUS, Kirby Zool. Journal 3 page 524.
+
+Emcephalus (Cilibe) tricostellus, new species.
+
+Much larger than the E. gibbosus, of a dirty brown, glossed, and wide
+margin of elytra flat, the extreme edge somewhat turned up, the sides of
+the elytra at base are somewhat straight, but the edge soon gradually
+gets rounded off towards tip. Towards the suture the elytron is raised so
+as to form a very prominent keel down the back of elytra; the general
+surface of the elytra is somewhat pustulose, and there are three slightly
+elevated, longitudinal lines, nearly meeting (but indistinctly) behind on
+the convex part of each elytron. The middle of thorax is more shining
+than the other parts, and seems to have two impressions on the back on
+each side of a longitudinal, elevated dorsal line.
+
+King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+This species may belong to the genus "Cilibe Kirby," shortly alluded to
+by Dr. Boisduval in the Entomological part of the Voyage of the
+Astrolabe.
+
+Hesthesis cingulatus (Kirby) Newman. Annals of Natural History 5 page 17.
+Molorchas cingulatus, Kirby, Linnean Transactions 12 page 472.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Phoracantha semipunctata (Fabricius) Newman, Annals of Natural History 5
+page 19.
+Stenocorus semipunctatus, Fabricius Systema Entomologiae 180 8 Syst. El.
+2 306 8. Donovan Epitome etc. figure.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Hebecerus marginicollis, Dejean.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Bardistus cibarius, Newman, Entomologist March 1841 Number 5 page 80.
+Illustration 21 Insects 4.
+
+Of a yellowish bay colour, the head, thorax, and basal part of the three
+first joints of the antennae darker; the elytra soft, margined, with
+three parallel raised lines, not reaching the tip, the outer is on the
+side and not so distinct as the other two; there is also a short one
+running from the base of the elytron near the scutellum, and soon forming
+a margin to the suture. The antennae are slightly hairy outside. (In the
+accompanying figure they are represented much too short.) There are a few
+short hairs at the rounded tip of the elytra.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, where it seems to be very abundant, forming
+a favourite article of food with the natives who call it Barde; it is
+eaten in its imago as well as its larva and pupa states.
+
+"It is found in the Xanthorrhoea. The grubs are white, have a fragrant
+aromatic flavour, and form a favourite article of food amongst the
+natives. They are eaten either raw or roasted, and frequently form a sort
+of dessert after native repasts. The presence of these grubs in a
+grass-tree is thus ascertained. If the top of one of these trees is
+observed to be dead, the natives give it a few sharp kicks with their
+feet, when, if it contains any Barde, it begins to give way; if this
+takes place, they push it over, and breaking the tree in pieces with
+their hammers, extract the Barde." Captain Grey's manuscript.
+
+Paropsis, Oliv.
+
+There are several beautiful species of this genus found at King George's
+Sound, where they seem to take the place of the Tortoise beetles
+(Cassididae). When alive, they have, like many of the Cassidae, the most
+brilliant lustre, their resplendent colours disappearing soon after
+death.
+
+Coccinella tongataboae, Boisduval Voyage de l'Astrolabe Ent. it. page 595
+plate 8 figure 24.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+...
+
+
+ORTHOPTERA.
+
+Blatta subverrucosa, new species.
+
+Apterous, oval; thorax in front semicircular, shrouding the head;
+posterior angle sharp, rounded behind, the frontal edge bent slightly
+back, and yellowish; the upper surface brown, rather obscure, the surface
+irregularly raised, below deep shining pitchy brown. Abdomen yellowish
+brown, above sprinkled with dark brown, the edges of each segment with
+several small wart-like prominences; two first segments being also
+shagreened at the sides, beneath pitchy brown, segments at the base black
+with green reflections; the femora are pitchy brown; the tibiAe pale
+yellowish with black spines; the tarsi of a deeper yellow; head dark
+brown, the trophi and a narrow line on the cheeks yellowish; antennae
+somewhat ferruginous.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+A large apterous species.
+
+Mantis latistylus, Serville, var. Orthopt. Suites de Buffon page 179.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Mantis rubrocoxata, Serville ? Orthopt. page 203.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Acheta ? marginipennis, new species.
+
+Thorax black with a yellow line above; head as wide as the thorax, with a
+blunted projection in front between the antennae, which are very long and
+situated in a groove in front of the eyes, and have their basal joint
+very large. No ocelli visible. Thorax wider than long, somewhat narrower
+in front than behind. Hemelytra very transparent, longer than the
+abdomen, lying flat upon one another, the outer margin bent down; the
+horizontal portion has many irregular nerves; there are two longitudinal
+nerves at the angle formed by the bent down outer margin, which extend
+from base almost to the tip, the spaces between these nerves being of a
+yellowish colour, the general colour greyish, there are several oblique
+parallel veins on the bent down margin; wings very short; posterior legs
+very long; femora much thickened, brown, at the base very pale; anal
+appendages very long and hairy. Somewhat allied to the Acheta arachnoides
+of Westwood, figured in the Naturalist's Library, Introduction to
+Entomology, volume 1 plate 6.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Tympanophora pellucida, new species. Illustration 22 Insects 5.
+
+Antennae very long, arising from between the eyes, labrum heart-shaped,
+eyes very large, prominent; ocelli 3, the first the largest, situated
+between the antennae, the two others being placed on the sides of a
+slight groove behind them. Prothorax widest behind, in front not so wide
+as the head; abdomen small, two of the segments on the back with
+projecting knobs; anal appendages in the male short cylindrical, slightly
+hooked inwardly, furnished at the end with two teeth, the surface is
+rough with short bristly hairs. The elytra are much longer than the wing,
+which again are at least twice the length of the abdomen; the first and
+second pair of legs are rather stout, the tibiae having two rows of
+strong spines on the underside; the hind legs are long and slender, the
+under surface of the tibiae being but slightly denticulated. The head is
+green, the front inclining to yellow, the crown is reddish brown, eyes
+green, ocelli yellow, two basal joints of antennae green, the remainder
+rust coloured; prothorax green, brown behind, with a broadish line of
+same colour down the middle; body rusty green, each segment with a dusky
+ring; elytra pale green with few longitudinal nerves, but many cross
+ones; wings of a very pale green; anterior legs of a pale brown, femora
+of second and third pair green; the tibiae pale brown, the tarsi and
+joints darker.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+This genus is not far removed from AEcanthus Serville; when the wings are
+closed it somewhat resembles a species of the African genus Pneumora;
+(the figure should be reversed.)
+
+Saga denticulata, new species.
+
+Head yellowish green with a brownish tint; the cheeks below the eyes and
+an irregular mark above the clypeus brownish in some specimens; labrum
+yellow, in some at the base brown; mandibles pale at base, succeeded by a
+reddish brown hue, the cutting edges being black and shining; antennae
+lower half green, terminal portion brownish green; prothorax without
+transverse grooves, the surface with minute wart-like prominences; elytra
+(in male) pale green with darker reticulations, the inner edge with a
+rosy hue; abdomen of a dark dull green above, beneath pale; legs green,
+changing into yellowish and brownish; the two rows of spines on the
+underside of the femora and tibiae short and blackish; anal appendages in
+the male knife-shaped, with a broad tooth at base. The ovipositor of
+female has the edges quite smooth beneath.
+
+This species is but half the size of the Saga serrata.
+
+Inhabits King George's Sound.
+
+This species belongs to Serville's second division, or may possibly form
+a third, as in the males there exist rudiments of wings. Each of the
+elytra has a clear space like a tympanum; the upper part of the prothorax
+is smooth, the sides and posterior part are very slightly bent back, the
+last segment of abdomen notched at the end.
+
+Tropinotus cinnamomeus, Serville Orthopt. page 620.
+Gryllus australasiae, Leach Zool. Misc. 1 page 56 tab. 24 ?
+
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+Calliptamus carbonarius, Serville Orthopt. page 691.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.
+
+Calliptamus brunneus, new species.
+
+Head smooth, of a light brown; antennae somewhat red, at the tip
+brownish; ocelli yellow; the four facial keels distinct; thorax light
+brown behind with foveated impressions, amidst which arise a few longish
+prominences, transverse grooves feeble, dorsal keel very distinct. Elytra
+longer than the body, slightly opaque, light brown, with a few indistinct
+spots; wings scarcely as long as the elytra, with a greenish hue, except
+at the tip which is brownish; abdomen brown, shining, palest beneath,
+segments keeled above, posterior tibiae of a bright red, sides at the
+base yellowish, spines black, posterior femora with two brown bands on
+the upper edge about the middle.
+
+Inhabits King George's Sound.
+
+...
+
+
+HYMENOPTERA.
+
+ONCORHINUS, Shuckard.
+
+[Family Thynnidae Shuckard.]
+
+My reasons for establishing the family Thynnidae I shall expose in my
+monograph of that family, which would have been published ere this but
+for the difficulty of procuring specimens for dissection; and as I must
+for a similar reason defer the positive character until I publish the
+synopsis of the whole, I will give those negative ones which are
+comprised in the differences which distinguish it from Scotaena of Klug,
+and from which it may be separated by its much swollen and protuberant
+clypeus, being considerably less emarginate. Genae scarcely conspicuous.
+Antennae longer and more porrect; second submarginal cell as long as the
+third; abdomen broader at the base, its ventral surface concave;
+hypopygium scarcely carinated laterally, and pygidium prominent and
+deeply emarginate, its lateral edges produced into acute teeth. External
+differences apparently so small, and which might elsewhere be deemed
+inadequate to the establishment of genera, become important in this
+remarkable family, from their being confirmed by the structure of the
+trophi, and the strong distinctions exhibited in their females in every
+instance that has yet presented itself to me, wherever I have had the
+certainty of specific identity in these heterogynous insects, from the
+direct observation of my friends in Australia.
+
+Oncorhinus xanthospilos, Shuckard.
+
+Black--clypeus, mandibles, lower portion of face in front of eyes, a
+narrow streak above and behind them--anterior margin of collar, tegulae,
+tubercles and adjacent part of epimerae--a round spot on each side of
+each segment of the abdomen, except the terminal one--apex of the femora,
+the tibiae and tarsi, all yellow; the posterior tibiae being only brown
+within, and the extreme apex of the joints of their tarsi also brown.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound. Length 11 lines, expansion of the wing 18
+lines.
+
+This is a unique species in the genus as far as I have yet had the
+opportunity of ascertaining.
+
+W.E.S.
+
+NEUROPTERA.
+
+Bittacus australis, Klug. Monogr. Panorp. Berlin Transactions sp. no. 11.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+HEMIPTERA.
+
+CHOEROCYDNUS, n.g.
+
+Head broad, in front somewhat truncated; ocelli wanting; antennae
+five-jointed, second joint longest, third, fourth and fifth, somewhat
+thickened and nearly equal; beak reaching to base of last pair of legs,
+if not beyond; third joint the longest; thorax in front notched for
+reception of head, not so wide as the body; scutellum long and pointed,
+the line separating it from hemelytra very indistinct; hemelytra without
+a membrane at the end; tibiae very spiny; abdomen broadest behind; tarsi
+of fore-legs very feeble, two-jointed, second joint shorter than the
+first, and ending in two claws.
+
+Choerocydnus foveolatus, new species. Illustration 23 Insects 6.
+
+Dark pitchy brown; head, thorax, and body margined with hairs; head above
+minutely punctured, an elongated space in the middle, smooth; thorax
+above minutely punctured with some larger impressed dots, and irregularly
+shaped smooth spaces, the coriaceous part pitted; antennae and tarsi
+light ferruginous.
+
+Inhabits King George's Sound.
+
+LEPIDOPTERA.
+
+Papilio liris, Godart. Encycl. Meth. 9 Papilio page 72 no. 132. Boisduval
+Spec. gener. des Lepidopt. 1 page 269 number 92. De Haan. Bijdr. etc.
+Verh. Nat. geschied. etc. Zool. Insecta tab. 4 f. 3 page 40.
+
+It may perhaps be not altogether foreign to the purpose of this list to
+say that in the collection of the British Museum there are two specimens
+of this species from the North-west coast of New Holland, where they were
+collected by the late Mr. Allan Cunningham. The whole of his collection
+was bought by Mr. Children, and many of the rare Lepidoptera in it were
+named by Mr. G.R. Gray. Godart's description of the body agrees exactly
+with the male in the national collection, les cotes et le bout de
+l'abdomen d'un rouge-carmin tendre. Boisduval, in the standard work above
+alluded to, says of this species, dessous et extremite de l'abdomen d'un
+rouge carmin. FEMELLE SEMBLABLE AU MALE, sur quatre individus que nous
+possedons, AUCUN NE VARIE. In one of the Museum specimens (a female) the
+abdomen is nearly entirely black, and the brown in both specimens is of
+the same rich deep shade that is found in the Papilio polydorus. The
+abdomen may possibly be that of some other species, as the specimen is
+not in very good condition. I regard the specimens from the north-west
+coast of New Holland as a slight local variety. Godart's specimens came
+from the East Indies and Boisduval's from Timor. I find that Monsieur W.
+de Haan, in the splendid work published at Leyden on the Natural History
+of the Dutch colonies in the East and West Indies, etc. has described and
+figured "the female" of this species with the following note; his
+specimens were from Timor-Kupang. On the lower side of both wings there
+is a carmine anal spot placed at the end of the yellow band and gradually
+running into it, this spot is larger and more deeply coloured in the male
+than in the female; in the former it shows itself on the upper side,
+along the inner edge, as a small streak which is not visible in the
+latter (l.c. page 40). I may add that his figure of the abdomen is red,
+and the specimens are larger than those in the Museum (Bijdragen tot de
+Kennis der Papilionidea, in the Verhandel. over de Natuurl. Geschied etc.
+Zool. No 3 tab. 4 f. 3 1840.)
+
+Pieris aganippe (Donovan) Boisduval var. Lepidopt. 1 page 457.
+Papilio aganippe Donovan Ins. of New Holland.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+Hipparchia merope (Fabricius).
+
+Habitat King George's Sound.
+
+Hesperia ? Sophia. Illustration 24 Insects 7.
+
+Above, brownish black; upper wings varied with bluish grey scales, many
+near the outer margin arranged into a somewhat regular series; a
+transverse, slightly bent, white band runs from near the outer edge close
+to the tip, to near the middle of the wing; wings fringed with greyish
+and black; under wings brownish black, with fulvescent orange spots and a
+band, one small spot somewhat transverse, near the middle, beneath this a
+broadish band extends from the anal margin nearly to the outer side of
+wing, which is divided by a brown line, leaving an irregular squareish
+spot, attenuated towards the outer margin; on the margin are three
+differently-shaped dots beginning from the internal margin, and in one of
+the specimens are four slight lunules, growing fainter as they approach
+the outer margin. Beneath, upper wings with two transverse fulvescent
+orange bands, one near the centre, the other at the tip, broadest
+externally, with three black spots, the outer largest running into it
+near the margin, interiorly it is much contracted ending in spots; the
+base of the wings is yellowish grey, under wings yellowish grey at base,
+otherwise very similarly marked, the outer part of the orange band having
+two longitudinal whitish lines on it; antennae at base fringed with
+white; club brown. Body above silky yellowish brown; borders of segments
+lighter; beneath, greyish white.
+
+Inhabits King George's Sound. Capt George Grey.
+
+This seems to belong to a new genus not far removed from Castnia or
+Coronis.
+
+Hecatesia thyridion, Feisthamel. Illustration 25 Insects 8.
+
+1. Hecatesia thyridion female.
+1a. do. male upper side.
+1b. under.
+1c. fenestra in wing of male.
+1d. section of fenestre.
+2. Hecatesia fenestrata male.
+
+Lepidopt. Voyage Favorite Supplement plate 5 f. 1 male.
+
+Female alis longioribus, maculis albis triseriatis alarum anticarum
+majoribus, nulla macula diaphana fenestrata ad costam.
+
+The genus Hecatesia was founded by Boisduval in 1829,* upon a singular
+Zygenidous insect sent to Latreille by Mr. Alexander Macleay, from New
+Holland, in some part of which it does not seem to be uncommon.
+
+(*Footnote. Essai sur une Monographie des Zygenides page 11.)
+
+The species H. fenestrata Boisduval (l.c. page 11 plate 1 f. 2) was
+brought by Mr. Hunter, Surgeon of Captain King's expedition, and by him
+presented to the British Museum. Another species has been described by
+the Baron Feisthamel in the voyage of the Favorite (page 19 plate 5 f. 1)
+under the name of H. thyridion.* Of this species there are specimens in
+the collection presented to the British Museum, and I take the present
+opportunity of describing the female of this species, only remarking that
+it wants the fenestrated clear space in the upper wing.**
+
+(*Footnote. Lepidopteres nouveau, etc. Supplement a la Zoologie du voyage
+autour du monde de la Favorite sous le commandement de M. Laplace
+capitaine de Fregate.)
+
+(**Footnote. At first, from the body being so much more slender than in
+the fenestrated specimens, I thought it might be the male but, on showing
+the specimen to Mr. Edward Doubleday, he pronounced it a female.
+
+The H. thyridion is distinguished from the H. fenestrata by its larger
+size, and a third yellowish white interrupted band close to the base of
+the first pair of wings; the fenestrated spot is narrower, more lunated,
+and is much smaller in proportion than in the corresponding part in Dr.
+Boisduval's species. The body beneath is girded with four yellowish white
+and black bands, the black bands are continuous on the sides, while the
+white pass on the sides into the deep ochry-yellow of the upper side; the
+abdomen has a single row of black spots (at least seven) down the middle,
+one at the base of each segment, the two nearest the thorax have a
+whitish spot behind them.
+
+The female of this species brought by Captain Grey has the upper wings
+more developed; the three interrupted whitish bands are composed, at
+least the two outer, of three spots, larger than in the female; the
+little bluish white spots on the deep brown part of the under side of the
+lower wing are also nearly obsolete; the sides of the body are not
+fringed as in the male; and the apical tuft is very small indeed.
+
+The most marked character however is the want of the fenestrated
+diaphanous spot in the upper wing, which being a most prominent
+characteristic in the examples of this species already recorded, makes it
+highly probable that they have all been females, and that this is the
+first time that the male has been alluded to.
+
+The beautifully striated and waved surface of the glassy spot, taken in
+connection with the fact of the noise made by the insects possessing it,
+would seem to indicate that the fenestrated spot must act as a tympanum.
+
+Cossodes lyonetii, new species. Illustration 26 Insects 9.
+
+Wings black, with violet, purple, and green reflections; upper with a
+longitudinal line, broken by the black of the wing near the base, the
+other part extending to the tip of the wing, sinuated anteriorly, and
+elbowed posteriorly; near the posterior margin are two irregular white
+spots, the upper sub-triangular, the under squareish; on the apical
+margin are seven whiteish spots, the first very minute, the second
+largest, the others gradually diminishing towards the long white line
+where they terminate. The fringe is black, slightly greyish on the edge;
+the underside of the wing is greyish at the base, and on the inner edge,
+then violet, the apical portion being of a silky yellowish brown; the
+lower wings are purplish violet, the outer margin at the base is whitish,
+the fringe is black at the base, at the end white--the white forming a
+broader line than the black; beneath it is violet black, and black with a
+greenish tinge. The thorax and body in the specimen described is rubbed;
+the latter seems to be blackish green, banded with white. I have seen a
+species closely resembling the above in Dr. Boisduval's immense
+collection.
+
+Habitat King George's Sound. Captain George Grey.*
+
+(*Footnote. The Saturnia laplacei, described and figured by the Baron
+Feisthamel in his description of the Lepidoptera collected on the voyage
+of the Favorite is synonymous with the Chelepteryx collesi, described by
+Mr. G.R. Gray in the First Volume of the Transactions of the
+Entomological Society of London page 122.)
+
+Odonestis elizabetha, new species.
+
+Antennae, with the pectinations rusty brown, lighter at the tips, the
+stem densely covered with white scales, palpi and head in front deep
+ferruginous. Thorax thickly clothed with fawn-coloured hairs; body above,
+shining ochrey inclined to orange; short tuft at the end of the body;
+underside lateritious; upper surface of first pair of wings fawn, with a
+reddish hue, densely covered with hair-like scales, with shorter and
+somewhat square scales beneath, the scales over the nervures, being
+reddish; an indistinct line of seven obscure spots still more
+indistinctly connected by a zigzag reddish line, runs across the wing
+nearly parallel to its apical margin, and nearer the tip of the wing than
+the middle. (In one of the two specimens this band of spots is obsolete,
+or nearly so, as are the reddish coloured nervures.) Second pair of wings
+of a blush red, the fringe fawn coloured; underside of both wings, more
+of a brick colour than the upper surface of second pair; the fringes fawn
+coloured; the second pair with a very indistinct band, nearly parallel to
+the posterior margin; the nerves on the first pair of wings are lighter
+than the general ground, on the second pair darker; space between the
+first pair of legs densely clothed with long ferruginous hair; two hind
+pair of legs with two strong spurs, one rather shorter than the other;
+the tibiae have each a tuft of yellowish white hairs, the legs themselves
+are covered with short ferruginous scales or hair, those on the soles of
+the tarsus being somewhat ochrey in colour.
+
+Trichetra isabella. Illustration 27 Insects 10.
+
+Alis anticis albis, fasciis tribus apiceque nigris, maculis subocellatis
+duobus inter fasciam secundam tertiamque, maculis octo apicalibus;
+posticis nigris, basi anguste, apiceque marginali ochraceis. (10 figures
+1 and 3)
+
+Antennae destroyed. Triangular tuft between the eyes, reddish ochre, the
+sides brown; hairs on thorax white, with a yellowish tinge. The upper
+wings have their general surface white, the margin at the base being
+ochrey-orange; there are two black parallel bands suffused towards the
+outer margin, and in this way connected; a third somewhat diagonal band
+is in this manner also connected with the second; near the margin there
+is also a connection between the second and third bands by means of a
+brownish band interspersed with white scales, and in this are two
+subocellated spots, white, with an ochrey-orange roundish pupil; the
+second just in front of the third band white in front, and ochrey-orange
+behind; behind the third black band there comes a narrow band of white
+scales, with an ochrey-orange spot at the end near the outer margin. The
+tip of the wing is (broadly) velvety brown, with eight marginal whitish
+spots; the fringe is mixed with black and ochrey; the ochrey tingeing the
+posterior margin of some of the outer spots.
+
+The under wings are velvety brown; the base being obscurely ochrey; the
+yellowish colour running up into brown; the fringe behind is ochrey.
+
+The under wings are ochrey at the base; the outer margin of the first
+pair being dark brown; the brown of the second pair is scolloped on the
+margin as is that of the first. The body above, on the sides and on the
+margin beneath, is covered with velvety black hair; beneath there is a
+somewhat indistinct longitudinal brownish band down the middle.
+
+The hairs on the end of the body are longish, and not in a dense close
+effused tuft as in the female; the legs are hairy, the brushes being
+black and yellowish white.
+
+Female: Alis anticis albis fasciis tribus brunneo-nigris apice
+brunneo-nigris.
+
+Maculis 8 (saltem) marginalibus antice albis, postice ochraceis.
+
+Alis posticis, basi ochraceis, fascia, apiceque late brunneo-nigris,
+margine postico subaurantiaco. Illustration 28 Insects 11.
+
+Since the figure of this was drawn from one of the two rather injured
+specimens presented by Captain Grey, I have seen another specimen in
+finer condition, from which I shall take the more particular description
+of the bands on the upper wing.
+
+The head and thorax are covered with long and close hairs; the tuft
+between the eyes being of a brownish ochrey colour; the sides blackish.
+The hairs on the fore-part of the thorax are ochrey-brownish, gradually
+passing into white on its general surface, which however has more or less
+of a yellowish tinge.
+
+The upper wings are white and covered with longish loose scales. Near the
+base is a narrowish transverse dark brown band, with another considerably
+before the middle of the wing running parallel to it; behind the middle
+there is a third band, the inner extremity being at the same distance
+from the second band as the second is from the first; but it gradually
+slopes away towards the outer margin, and is thus nearly parallel to the
+posterior margin, which has also a brown band, scolloped behind, and with
+at least eight spots on the margin, which is of a brownish yellow, as in
+the outer margin.
+
+The under-wings, from the base to the middle, and (narrowly) on the outer
+margin and behind, are brownish ochrey; the other half of the wing is
+blackish brown, scolloped behind; and having an indistinct ochrey band
+passing transverse through it, which ochrey band has some darker-coloured
+scales mixed with it.
+
+The undersides of both wings differ but little from the upper sides; the
+upper pair more especially however have on the basal and submarginal
+parts longish ochrey coloured hairs instead of white scales.
+
+The body above is, at the base, ochrey; the sides, and two or three other
+segments brownish black, darkest just in front of the large thick-set
+tuft of brownish orange hairs at the extremity; beneath, down the middle,
+is a band of brownish orange, the segments to the sides of this being
+black at the base and orange at the tip; the legs are varied with black
+and ochrey white.
+
+This seems congeneric with the Arcturus sparshalli of Mr. Curtis,
+described in the 7th volume of the British Entomology, folio 336, as a
+British insect; but there seems doubt of the correctness of this. The
+name, having been pre-occupied in Natural History, has been changed by
+Mr. Westwood to Trichetra, in page 92 of the Generic Synopsis, appended
+to his Introduction to the modern Classification of Insects.
+
+The Bombyx tristis is figured (figure 2) on the same block with the T.
+Nephthis.
+
+Agagles amicus, new species.
+
+A new species, at first sight resembling Leptosoma annulatum, Boisduval
+(Voyage de l'Astrolabe 1 page 197 plate 5 figure 9) but differs; the
+thorax having four longitudinal, narrow, light-coloured lines, the band
+across the upper wings is more continuous, and the circular spot on
+lower, larger. It is about the same size, and has the body ringed with
+black and yellow; the legs are brown; the femora on underside fringed
+with whitish hairs, simply pectinated; many of the pectinations of the
+antennae end in a bristle-like hair; palpi somewhat prominent; last joint
+pointed.
+
+...
+
+The illustrative figures were drawn by Mr. B. Waterhouse Hawkins, and
+engraved on wood by Mr. Robert Hart, of Gloucester Street, Queen's
+Square.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Journals Of Two Expeditions Of
+Discovery In North-West And Western Australia, Vol. 2 (of 2), by George Grey
+
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