第10章

Therats,soonafterourlanding,becamenotonlynumerousbutformidable,fromthedestructiontheyoccasionedinthestores.Latterlytheyhadalmostdisappeared,thoughtoaccountfortheirabsencewerenoteasy.

ThefirsttimeColbeesawamonkey,hecalled"wurra"(arat);

butonexaminingitspawsheexclaimedwithastonishmentandaffright,"mulla"(aman).

Attheheadofthebirdsthecassowaryoremu,standsconspicuous.

Theprintofitwhichhasalreadybeengiventothepublicissoaccurateforthemostpart,thatitwouldbemalignantcriticisminaworkofthiskindtopointoutafewtriflingdefects.

HereagainnaturalistsmustlookforwardtothatinformationwhichlongerandmoreintimateknowledgeofthefeatheredtribethanIcansupply,shallappear.Ihaveneverthelesshadthegoodfortunetoseewhatwasneverseenbutonce,inthecountryIamdescribing,byEuropeans——

ahatch,orflock,ofyoungcassowarieswiththeoldbird.Icountedten,butotherssaidthereweretwelve.Wecamesuddenlyuponthem,andtheyranupahillexactlylikeaflockofturkeys,butsofastthatwecouldnotgetashotatthem.Thelargestcassowaryeverkilledinthesettlement,weighedninety-fourpounds.Threeyoungones,whichhadbeenbyaccidentseparatedfromthedam,wereoncetakenandpresentedtothegovernor.Theywerenotlargerthansomanypullets,althoughatfirstsighttheyappearedtobesofromthelengthoftheirnecksandlegs.Theywereverybeautifullystriped,andfromtheirtenderstatewerejudgedtobenotmorethanthreeorfourdaysold.Theylivedonlyafewdays.

Asingleegg,theproductionofacassowary,waspickedupinadesertplace,droppedonthesand,withoutcoveringorprotectionofanykind.

Itsformwasnearlyaperfectellipsis;andthecolouroftheshelladarkgreen,fulloflittleindentsonitssurface.Itmeasuredeleveninchesandahalfincircumference,fiveinchesandaquarterinheight,andweighedapoundandaquarter.Afterwardswehadthegoodfortunetotakeanest.Itwasfoundbyasoldierinasequesteredsolitarysituation,madeinapatchofloftyfernaboutthreefeetindiameter,ratherofanoblongshapeandcomposedofdryleavesandtopsoffernstalks,veryinartificiallyputtogether.Thehollowinwhichlaytheeggs,twelveinnumber,seemedmadesolelybythepressureofthebird.

Theeggswereregularlyplacedinthefollowingposition.

O

OOO

OOOOO

OOO

Thesoldier,insteadofgreedilyplunderinghisprize,communicatedthediscoverytoanofficer,whoimmediatelysetoutforthespot.

Whentheyhadarrivedtheretheycontinuedforalongtimetosearchinvainfortheirobject,andthesoldierwasjustabouttobestigmatizedwithignorance,credulityorimposture,whensuddenlyupstartedtheoldbirdandthetreasurewasfoundattheirfeet.

Thefoodofthecassowaryiseithergrass,orayellowbell-flowergrowingintheswamps.Itdeservesremark,thatthenativesdenythecassowarytobeabird,becauseitdoesnotfly.

Ofotherbirdsthevarietiesareverynumerous.OftheparrottribealoneIcould,whileIamwriting,countupfrommemoryfourteendifferentsorts.

Hawksareverynumerous,soarequails.Asinglesnipehasbeenshot.

Ducks,geeseandotheraquaticbirdsareoftenseeninlargeflocks,butareuniversallysoshy,thatitisfounddifficulttoshootthem.

Someofthesmallerbirdsareverybeautiful,buttheyarenotremarkableforeithersweetness,orvarietyofnotes.Tooneofthem,notbiggerthanatomtit,wehavegiventhenameofcoach-whip,fromitsnoteexactlyresemblingthesmackofawhip.Thecountry,Iamofopinion,wouldaboundwithbirdsdidnotthenatives,byperpetuallysettingfiretothegrassandbushes,destroythegreaterpartofthenests;acausewhichalsocontributestorendersmallquadrupedsscarce.Theyarebesidesravenouslyfondofeggsandeatthemwherevertheyfindthem.Theycalltheroeofafishandabird"seggbyonename.

SomuchhasbeensaidoftheabundanceinwhichfisharefoundintheharboursofNewSouthWalesthatitlookslikedetractiontoopposeacontradiction.

Someshareofknowledgemay,however,besupposedtobelongtoexperience.

ManyanighthaveItoiled(inthetimesofdistress)onthepublicservice,fromfouro"clockintheafternoonuntileighto"clocknextmorning,haulingtheseineineverypartoftheharbourofPortJackson:andafteracircuitofmanymilesandbetweentwentyandthirtyhauls,seldommorethanahundredpoundsoffishweretaken.However,itsometimeshappensthataglutenterstheharbour,andforafewdaystheysufficientlyabound.

Buttheuniversalvoiceofallprofessedfishermenisthattheyneverfishedinacountrywheresuccesswassoprecariousanduncertain.

Ishallnotpretendtoenumeratethevarietyoffishwhicharefound.

Theyareseenfromawhaletoagudgeon.Intheintermediateclassesmaybereckonedsharksofamonstroussize,skait,rock-cod,grey-mullet,bream,horse-mackarel,nowandthenasoleandjohndory,andinnumerableothersunknowninEurope,manyofwhichareextremelydelicious,andmanyhighlybeautiful.Atthetopofthelist,asanarticleoffood,standsafish,whichwenamedlight-horseman.Therelishofthisexcellentfishwasincreasedbyournatives,whopointedouttousitsdelicacies.NoepicureinEnglandcouldpickaheadwithmoregleeanddexteritythantheydothatofalight-horseman.

Reptilesintheswampsandcoversarenumerous.Ofsnakestherearetwoorthreesorts:butwhetherthebiteofanyofthembemortal,orevenvenomous,issomewhatdoubtful.Iknowbutofonewellattestedinstanceofabitebeingreceivedfromasnake.Asoldierwasbittensoastodrawblood,andthewoundhealedasasimpleincisionusuallydoeswithoutshewinganysymptomofmalignity.Adogwasreportedtobebittenbyasnake,andtheanimalswelledanddiedingreatagony.ButIwillbynomeansaffirmthatthecauseofhisdeathwasfairlyascertained.

Itis,however,certainthatthenativesshow,onalloccasions,theutmosthorrorofthesnake,andwillnoteatit,althoughtheyesteemlizards,goannas,andmanyotherreptilesdeliciousfare.Onthisoccasiontheyalwaysobservethatifthesnakebitesthem,theybecomelame,butwhetherbythistheymeantemporaryorlastinglamenessIdonotpretendtodetermine.Ihaveofteneatensnakesandalwaysfoundthempalatableandnutritive,thoughitwasdifficulttostewthemtoatenderstate.

Summerhere,asinallothercountries,bringswithitalonglistofinsects.

Intheneighborhoodofriversandmorasses,mosquitoesandsandfliesareneverwantingatanyseason,butatSydneytheyareseldomnumerousortroublesome.Themostnauseousanddestructiveofalltheinsectsisaflywhichblowsnoteggsbutlargelivingmaggots,andifthebodyoftheflybeopeneditisfoundfullofthem.Ofantsthereareseveralsorts,oneofwhichbitesveryseverely.Thewhiteantissometimesseen.Spidersarelargeandnumerous.Theirwebsarenotonlythestrongest,butthefinest,andmostsilkyIeverfelt.

Ihaveoftenthoughttheirlabourmightbeturnedtoadvantage.Ithas,Ibelieve,beenprovedthatspiders,wereitnotfortheirquarrelsomedispositionwhichirritatesthemtoattackanddestroyeachother,mightbeemployedmoreprofitablythansilk-worms.

Thehardinessofsomeoftheinsectsdeservestobementioned.Abeetlewasimmersedinproofspiritsforfourhours,andwhentakenoutcrawledawayalmostimmediately.Itwasasecondtimeimmersed,andcontinuedinaglassofrumforadayandanight,attheexpirationofwhichperioditstillshowedsymptomsoflife.Perhaps,however,whatIfromignorancedeemwonderfuliscommon.

*****

Thelastbutthemostimportantproductionyetremainstobeconsidered.

WhetherploddinginLondon,reekingwithhumanbloodinParisorwanderingamidstthesolitarywildsofNewSouthWales——Maniseveranobjectofinterest,curiosityandreflection.

ThenativesaroundPortJacksonareinpersonrathermorediminutiveandslightermade,especiallyaboutthethighsandlegs,thantheEuropeans.

Itisdoubtfulwhethertheirsocietycontainedapersonofsixfeethigh.

ThetallestIevermeasured,reachedfivefeeteleveninches,andmenofhisheightwererarelyseen.Baneelon,whotoweredabovethemajorityofhiscountrymen,stoodbarelyfivefeeteightincheshigh.Hisotherprincipaldimensionswereasfollows:

GirthoftheChest.2feet10inchesGirthoftheBelly.2feet61/2inchesGirthoftheThigh.181/8inchesGirthoftheLegattheCalf.121/8inchesGirthoftheLegattheSmall.10inchesGirthofarmhalfwaybetweentheshoulderandelbow.9inchesInstancesofnaturaldeformityarescarce,nordidweeverseeoneofthemleft-handed.Theyare,indeed,nearlyambidexter;butthesword,thespearandthefish-gigarealwaysusedwiththerighthand.

Theirmuscularforceisnotgreat;butthepliancyoftheirlimbsrendersthemveryactive."Givetocivilizedmanallhismachines,andheissuperiortothesavage;butwithoutthese,howinferiorishefoundonopposition,evenmoresothanthesavageinthefirstinstance."

ThesearethewordsofRousseau,andlikemanymoreofhispositionsmustbereceivedwithlimitation.WereanunarmedEnglishmanandanunarmedNewHollandertoengage,thelatter,Ithink,wouldfall.

Mr.Cookseemsinclinedtobelievethecoveringoftheirheadstobewool.

Butthisiserroneous.Itiscertainlyhair,whichwhenregularlycombedbecomessoonnearlyasflexibleanddocileasourown.TheirteetharenotsowhiteandgoodasthosegenerallyfoundinIndiannations,exceptinthechildren,buttheinferiorityoriginatesinthemselves.

heybitesticks,stones,shellsandallotherhardsubstances,indiscriminatelywiththem,whichquicklydestroystheenamelandgivesthemajaggedandunevenappearance.Ahighforehead,withprominentoverhangingeyebrows,istheirleadingcharacteristic,andwhenitdoesnotoperatetodestroyallopennessofcountenancegivesanairofresolutedignitytotheaspect,whichrecommends,inspiteofatruenegronose,thicklips,andawidemouth.

Theprominentshinbone,soinvariablyfoundintheAfricans,isnot,however,seen.Butinanotherparticulartheyaremorealike.Therankoffensivesmellwhichdisgustssomuchinthenegro,prevailsstronglyamongthemwhentheyareintheirnativestate,butitwearsoffinthosewhohaveresidedwithusandhavebeentaughthabitsofcleanliness.

Theirhandsandfeetaresmall*,especiallytheformer.

[*Imentionedthis,amongothercircumstances,tocolonelGordonwhenIwasattheCape,andhetoldmethatitindicatedpovertyandinadequacyofliving.

HeinstancedtometheHottentotsandCaffres.Theformerfarepoorly,andhavesmallhandsandfeet.TheCaffres,theirneighbours,liveplenteouslyandhaveverylargeones.Thisremarkcannotbeappliedtocivilizednations,wheresomanyfactitiouscausesoperate.]

Theireyesarefull,blackandpiercing,butthealmostperpetualstraininwhichtheopticnerveiskept,bylookingoutforprey,renderstheirsightweakatanearlieragethanweingeneralfindoursaffected.

Theselargeblackeyesareuniversallyshadedbythelongthicksweepyeyelash,somuchprizedinappreciatingbeauty,that,perhapshardlyanyfaceissohomelywhichthisaidcannotinsomedegreerenderinteresting;

andhardlyanysolovelywhich,withoutit,bearsnotsometraceofinsipidity.

Theirtoneofvoiceisloud,butnotharsh.Ihaveinsomeofthemfounditverypleasing.

Longevity,Ithink,isseldomattainedbythem.Unceasingagitationwearsouttheanimalframeandisunfriendlytolengthofdays.Wehaveseenthemgreywithage,butnotold;perhapsneverbeyondsixtyyears.

Butitmaybesaid,theAmericanIndian,inhisundebauchedstate,livestoanadvancedperiod.True,buthehashisseasonsofrepose.Hereapshislittleharvestofmaizeandcontinuesinidlenesswhileitlasts.

Hekillstheroebuckorthemoose-deer,whichmaintainshimandhisfamilyformanydays,duringwhichcessationthemusclesregaintheirspringandfithimforfreshtoils.WhereaseverysunawakesthenativeofNewSouthWales(unlessawhalebethrownuponthecoast)toarenewaloflabour,toprovidesubsistenceforthepresentday.

Thewomenareproportionallysmallerthanthemen.Inevermeasuredbuttwoofthem,whowereboth,Ithink,aboutthemediumheight.

Oneofthem,asisterofBaneelon,stoodexactlyfivefeettwoincheshigh.

Theother,namedGooreedeeana,wasshorterbyaquarterofaninch.

ButIcannotbreakfromGooreedeeanasoabruptly.ShebelongedtothetribeofCameragal,andrarelycameamongus.Oneday,however,sheenteredmyhousetocomplainofhunger.SheexcelledinbeautyalltheirfemalesIeversaw.Herageabouteighteen,thefirmness,thesymmetryandtheluxuriancyofherbosommighthavetemptedpaintingtocopyitscharms.

Hermouthwassmallandherteeth,thoughexposedtoallthedestructivepurposestowhichtheyapplythem,werewhite,soundandunbroken.

Hercountenance,thoughmarkedbysomeofthecharacteristicsofhernativeland,wasdistinguishedbyasoftnessandsensibilityunequalledintherestofhercountrywomen,andIwaswillingtobelievethatthesetraitsindicatedthedispositionofhermind.Ihadneverbeforeseenthiseleganttimidfemale,ofwhomIhadoftenheard;buttheinterestItookinherledmetoquestionheraboutherhusbandandfamily.

SheansweredmebyrepeatinganamewhichIhavenowforgotten,andtoldmeshehadnochildren.IwasseizedwithastrongpropensitytolearnwhethertheattractionsofGooreedeeanaweresufficientlypowerfultosecureherfromthebrutalviolencewithwhichthewomenaretreated,andasIfoundmyquestioneitherillunderstoodorreluctantlyanswered,Iproceededtoexamineherhead,thepartonwhichthehusband"svengeancegenerallyalights.WithgriefIfounditcoveredbycontusionsandmangledbyscars.Thepoorcreature,grownbythistimemoreconfidentfromperceivingthatIpitiedher,pointedoutawoundjustaboveherleftkneewhichshetoldmewasreceivedfromaspear,thrownatherbyamanwhohadlatelydraggedherbyforcefromherhometogratifyhislust.

Iafterwardsobservedthatthiswoundhadcausedaslightlamenessandthatshelimpedinwalking.Icouldonlycompassionateherwrongsandsympathizeinhermisfortunes.Toalleviateherpresentsenseofthem,whenshetookherleaveIgaveher,however,allthebreadandsaltporkwhichmylittlestockafforded.

AfterthisIneversawherbutonce,whenIhappenedtobeneartheharbour"smouthinaboat,withcaptainBall.Wemetherinacanoewithseveralmoreofhersex.Shewaspaintedforaball,withbroadstripesofwhiteearth,fromheadtofoot,sothatshenolongerlookedlikethesameGooreedeeana.Weofferedherseveralpresents,allofwhichshereadilyaccepted;butfindingoureagernessandsolicitudetoinspecther,shemanagedhercanoewithsuchaddressastoeludeourtoonearapproach,andactedthecoquettoadmiration.

Toreturnfromthisdigressiontomysubject,Ihaveonlyfarthertoobservethattheestimationoffemalebeautyamongthenatives(themenatleast)

isinthiscountrythesameasinmostothers.WereaNewHollandertoportrayhismistress,hewoulddrawherthe"Venusauxbellesfesses".

WheneverBaneelondescribedtoushisfavouritefair,healwayspaintedherinthis,andanotherparticular,aseminentlyluxuriant.

Unsatisfied,however,withnaturalbeauty(likethepeopleofallothercountries)theystrivebyadscititiousembellishmentstoheightenattraction,andoftenwithaslittlesuccess.HencethenakedsavageofNewSouthWalespiercestheseptumofhisnose,throughwhichherunsastickorabone,andscarifieshisbody,thecharmsofwhichincreaseinproportiontothenumberandmagnitudeofseamsbywhichitisdistinguished.

Theoperationisperformedbymakingtwolongitudinalincisionswithasharpenedshell,andafterwardspinchingupwiththenailstheintermediatespaceofskinandflesh,whichtherebybecomesconsiderablyelevatedandformsaprominenceasthickasaman"sfinger.Nodoubtbutpainmustbeseverelyfeltuntilthewoundbehealed.Buttheloveofornamentdefiesweakerconsiderations,andnoEnglishbeaucanbearmorestoutlytheextractionofhisteethtomakeroomforafreshsetfromachimneysweeper,orafaironesufferhertenderearstobeperforated,withmoreheroismthanthegrislynymphsonthebanksofPortJackson,submittheirsableshoulderstotheremorselesslancet.

ThatthesescarificationsareintendedsolelytoincreasepersonalallurementIwillnot,however,positivelyaffirm.Similar,perhaps,tothecauseofanexcisionofpartofthelittlefingerofthelefthandinthewomen,andofafronttoothinthemen;*orprobablyafterallourconjectures,superstitiousceremoniesbywhichtheyhopeeithertoavertevilortopropagategood,areintended.Thecolourswithwhichtheybesmearthebodiesofbothsexespossiblydatefromthesamecommonorigin.

Whitepaintisstrictlyappropriatetothedance.Redseemstobeusedonnumberlessoccasions,andisconsideredasacolouroflessconsequence.

Itmayberemarkedthattheytranslatetheepithetwhitewhentheyspeakofus,notbythenamewhichtheyassigntothiswhiteearth,butbythatwithwhichtheydistinguishthepalmsoftheirhands.

[*Itistobeobservedthatneitheroftheseceremoniesisuniversal,butnearlyso.WhythereshouldexistexemptionsIcannotresolve.

Themannerofexecutingthemisasfollows.Thefingeristakenoffbymeansofaligature(generallyasinewofakangaroo)tiedsotightastostopthecirculationoftheblood,whichinducesmortificationandthepartdropsoff.IremembertohaveseenColbee"schild,whenaboutamonthold,onwhomthisoperationhadbeenjustperformedbyhermother.

Thelittlewretchseemedinpain,andherhandwasgreatlyswelled.

Butthiswasdeemedtootriflingaconsiderationtodeserveregardinacaseofsomuchimportance.

Thetoothintendedtobetakenoutisloosenedbythegumbeingscarifiedonbothsideswithasharpshell.Theendofastickisthenappliedtothetooth,whichisstruckgentlyseveraltimeswithastone,untilitbecomeseasilymoveable,whenthe"coupdegrace"isgivenbyasmartstroke.

Notwithstandingtheseprecautions,Ihaveseenaconsiderabledegreeofswellingandinflammationfollowtheextraction.Imeerawanyee,Iremember,sufferedseverely.Butheboastedthefirmnessandhardihoodwithwhichhehadenduredit.Itisseldomperformedonthosewhoareundersixteenyearsold.]

AsthisleadstoanimportantsubjectIshallatoncediscussit.

"Havethesepeopleanyreligion:anyknowledgeof,orbeliefinadeity?——

anyconceptionoftheimmortalityofthesoul?"arequestionswhichhavebeenoftenputtomesincemyarrivalinEngland:Ishallendeavourtoanswerthemwithcandourandseriousness.

Untilbeliefbeenlightenedbyrevelationandchastenedbyreason,religionandsuperstition,aretermsofequalimport.Oneofourearliestimpressionsistheconsciousnessofasuperiorpower.Thevariousformsunderwhichthisimpressionhasmanifesteditselfareobjectsofthemostcuriousspeculation.

ThenativeofNewSouthWalesbelievesthatparticularaspectsandappearancesoftheheavenlybodiespredictgoodorevilconsequencestohimselfandhisfriends.Heoftentimescallsthesunandmoon"weeree,"thatis,malignant,pernicious.Shouldheseetheleadingfixedstars(manyofwhichhecancallbyname)obscuredbyvapours,hesometimesdisregardstheomen,andsometimesdrawsfromitthemostdrearyconclusions.

IrememberAbaroorunningintoaroomwhereacompanywasassembled,andutteringfrightfulexclamationsofimpendingmischiefsabouttolightonherandhercountrymen.Whenquestionedonthecauseofsuchagitationshewenttothedoorandpointedtotheskies,sayingthatwheneverthestarsworethatappearance,misfortunestothenativesalwaysfollowed.

Thenightwascloudyandtheairdisturbedbymeteors.Ihaveheardmanymoreofthemtestifysimilarapprehensions.

Howeverinvolvedindarknessanddisfiguredbyerrorsuchabeliefbe,noonewill,Ipresume,denythatitconveysadirectimplicationofsuperioragency;ofapowerindependentofanduncontrolledbythosewhoaretheobjectsofitsvengeance.Butproofstopsnothere.

Whentheyhearthethunderrollandviewthelividglare,theyfleethemnot,butrushoutanddeprecatedestruction.Theyhaveadanceandasongappropriatedtothisawfuloccasion,whichconsistofthewildestandmostuncouthnoisesandgestures.Wouldtheyactsuchaceremonydidtheynotconceivethateitherthethunderitself,orhewhodirectsthethunder,mightbepropitiatedbyitsperformance?Thatalivingintellectualprincipleexists,capableofcomprehendingtheirpetitionandofeithergrantingordenyingit?Theyneveraddressprayerstobodieswhichtheyknowtobeinanimate,eithertoimploretheirprotectionoraverttheirwrath.Whenthegum-treeinatempestnodsoverthem;

ortherockoverhangingthecaverninwhichtheysleepthreatensbyitsfalltocrushthem,theycalculate(asfarastheirknowledgeextends)

onphysicalprinciples,likeothermen,thenearnessandmagnitudeofthedanger,andfleeitaccordingly.Andyetthereisreasontobelievethatfromaccidentsofthisnaturetheysuffermorethanfromlightning.

Baneelononceshowedusacave,thetopofwhichhadfalleninandburiedunderitsruins,sevenpeoplewhoweresleepingunderit.

Todescend;isnoteventheridiculoussuperstitionofColbeerelatedinoneofourjourniestotheHawkesbury?Andagainthefollowinginstance.

Abaroowassick.Tocureher,oneofherownsexslightlycutherontheforehead,inaperpendiculardirectionwithanoystershell,soasjusttofetchblood.Shethenputoneendofastringtothewoundand,beginningtosing,heldtheotherendtoherowngums,whichsherubbeduntiltheybledcopiously.Thisbloodshecontendedwasthebloodofthepatient,flowingthroughthestring,andthatshewouldtherebysoonrecover.Abaroobecamewell,andfirmlybelievedthatsheowedhercuretothetreatmentshehadreceived.Arenotthese,Isay,links,subordinateonesindeed,ofthesamegoldenchain?Hewhobelievesinmagicconfessessupernaturalagency,andabeliefofthissortextendsfartherinmanypersonsthantheyarewillingtoallow.TherehavelivedmensoinconsistentwiththeirownprinciplesastodenytheexistenceofaGod,whohaveneverthelessturnedpaleatthetricksofamountebank.

Butnottomultiplyargumentsonasubjectwheredemonstration(atleasttome)isincontestable,IshallclosebyexpressingmyfirmbeliefthattheIndiansofNewSouthWalesacknowledgetheexistenceofasuperintendingdeity.Oftheirideasoftheoriginanddurationofhisexistence;ofhispowerandcapacity;ofhisbenignityormaleficence;

oroftheirownemanationfromhim,Ipretendnottospeak.Ihaveoften,incommonwithothers,triedtogaininformationfromthemonthishead;

butwewerealwaysrepulsedbyobstacleswhichwecouldneitherpassbyorsurmount.Mr.DawesattemptedtoteachAbaroosomeofournotionsofreligion,andhopedthatshewouldtherebybeinducedtocommunicatehersinreturn.Butherlevityandloveofplayinagreatmeasuredefeatedhisefforts,althougheverythinghedidlearnfromherservedtoconfirmwhatishereadvanced.Itmayberemarked,thatwhentheyattendedatchurchwithus(whichwasacommonpractice)theyalwayspreservedprofoundsilenceanddecency,asifconsciousthatsomereligiousceremonyonoursidewasperforming.

Thequestionof,whethertheybelieveintheimmortalityofthesoulwilltakeupverylittletimetoanswer.Theyareuniversallyfearfulofspirits.*Theycallaspirit"mawn".Theyoftenscrupletoapproachacorpse,sayingthatthe"mawn"willseizethemandthatitfastensupontheminthenightwhenasleep.**Whenaskedwheretheirdeceasedfriendsaretheyalwayspointtotheskies.Tobelieveinafterexistenceistoconfesstheimmortalityofsomepartofbeing.Toenquirewhethertheyassigna"limited"periodtosuchfuturestatewouldbesuperfluous.Thisisoneofthesubtletiesofspeculationwhichasavagemaybesupposednottohaveconsidered,withoutimpeachmenteitherofhissagacityorhappiness.

[*"Itisremarkable,"saysCicero,"thatthereisnonation,whetherbarbarousorcivilized,thatdoesnotbelieveintheexistenceofspirits".]

[**Astheyofteneattosatiety,eventoproducesickness,maynotthisbetheeffectofanoverloadedstomach:thenightmare?]

Theirmannerofinterringthedeadhasbeenamplydescribed.Itiscertainthatinsteadofburyingtheysometimesburnthecorpse;butthecauseofdistinctionweknownot.Adeadbody,coveredbyacanoe,atwhosesideaswordandshieldwereplacedinstate,wasoncediscovered.Allthatwecouldlearnaboutthisimportantpersonagewasthathewasa"Gweeagal"

(oneofthetribeofGweea)andacelebratedwarrior.

Toappreciatetheirgeneralpowersofmindisdifficult.Ignorance,prejudice,theforceofhabit,continuallyinterferetopreventdispassionatejudgment.Ihaveheardmensounreasonableastoexclaimatthestupidityofthesepeoplefornotcomprehendingwhatasmallshareofreflectionwouldhavetaughtthemtheyoughtnottohaveexpected.AndothersagainIhaveheardsosanguineintheiradmirationastoextolforproofsofelevatedgeniuswhatthecommonestabilitieswerecapableofexecuting.

Iftheybeconsideredasanationwhosegeneraladvancementandacquisitionsaretobeweighed,theycertainlyrankverylow,eveninthescaleofsavages.

TheymayperhapsdisputetherightofprecedencewiththeHottentotsortheshiveringtribeswhoinhabittheshoresofMagellan.ButhowinferiordotheyshowwhencomparedwiththesubtleAfrican;thepatientwatchfulAmerican;ortheeleganttimidislanderoftheSouthSeas.Thoughsufferingfromthevicissitudesoftheirclimate,strangerstoclothing,thoughfeelingthesharpnessofhungerandknowingtheprecariousnessofsupplyfromthatelementonwhosestorestheyprincipallydepend,ignorantofcultivatingtheearth——alessenlightenedstateweshallexclaimcanhardlyexist.

Butiffromgeneralviewwedescendtoparticularinspection,andexamineindividuallythepersonswhocomposethiscommunity,theywillcertainlyriseinestimation.Inthenarrativepartofthiswork,Ihaveendeavouredrathertodetailinformationthantodeduceconclusions,leavingtothereadertheexerciseofhisownjudgment.ThebehaviourofArabanoo,ofBaneelon,ofColbeeandmanyothersiscopiouslydescribed,andassuredlyhewhoshallmakejustallowanceforuninstructednaturewillhardlyaccuseanyofthosepersonsofstupidityordeficiencyofapprehension.

Tooffermyownopiniononthesubject,IdonothesitatetodeclarethatthenativesofNewSouthWalespossessaconsiderableportionofthatacumen,orsharpnessofintellect,whichbespeaksgenius.

Allsavageshatetoilandplacehappinessininaction,andneithertheartsofcivilizedlifecanbepractisedortheadvantagesofitfeltwithoutapplicationandlabour.Hencetheyresistknowledgeandtheadoptionofmannersandcustomsdifferingfromtheirown.Theprogressofreasonisnotonlyslow,butmechanical."DetouteslesInstructionspropresal"homme,cellequ"ilacquiertleplustard,etleplusdifficilement,estlaraisonmeme."Thetranquilindifferenceanduninquiringeyewithwhichtheysurveyedourworksofarthaveoften,inmyhearing,beenstigmatizedasproofsofstupidity,andwantofreflection.Butsurelyweshoulddiscriminatebetweenignoranceanddefectofunderstanding.

Thetruthwas,theyoftenneithercomprehendedthedesignnorconceivedtheutilityofsuchworks,butonsubjectsinanydegreefamiliarisedtotheirideas,theygenerallytestifiednotonlyacutenessofdiscernmentbutalargeportionofgoodsense.Ihavealwaysthoughtthatthedistinctionstheyshewedintheirestimateofus,onfirstenteringintooursociety,stronglydisplayedthelatterquality:whentheywereledintoourrespectivehouses,atoncetobeastonishedandawedbyoursuperiority,theirattentionwasdirectlyturnedtoobjectswithwhichtheywereacquainted.

Theypassedwithoutraptureoremotionournumerousartificesandcontrivances,butwhentheysawacollectionofweaponsofwaroroftheskinsofanimalsandbirds,theyneverfailedtoexclaim,andtoconferwitheachotheronthesubject.Themasterofthathousebecametheobjectoftheirregard,astheyconcludedhemustbeeitherarenownedwarrior,oranexperthunter.

Oursurgeonsgrewintotheiresteemfromalikecause.Inaveryearlystageofintercourse,severalnativeswerepresentattheamputationofaleg.

Whentheyfirstpenetratedtheintentionoftheoperator,theywereconfounded,notbelievingitpossiblethatsuchanoperationcouldbeperformedwithoutlossoflife,andtheycalledaloudtohimtodesist;butwhentheysawthetorrentofbloodstopped,thevesselstakenupandthestumpdressed,theirhorrorandalarmyieldedtoastonishmentandadmiration,whichtheyexpressedbytheloudesttokens.Iftheseinstancesbespeaknotnatureandgoodsense,Ihaveyettolearnthemeaningoftheterms.

Ifitbeaskedwhythesameintelligentspiritwhichledthemtocontemplateandapplaudthesuccessofthesportsmanandtheskillofthesurgeon,didnotequallyexcitethemtomeditateonthelaboursofthebuilderandtheploughman,Icanonlyanswerthatwhatweseeinitsremotecauseisalwaysmorefeeblyfeltthanthatwhichpresentstoourimmediategraspbothitsoriginandeffect.

TheirleadinggoodandbadqualitiesIshallconciselytouchupon.

Oftheirintrepiditynodoubtcanexist.Theirlevity,theirfickleness,theirpassionateextravaganceofcharacter,cannotbedefended.

Theyareindeedsuddenandquickinquarrel;butiftheirresentmentbeeasilyroused,theirthirstofrevengeisnotimplacable.Theirhonesty,whentemptedbynovelty,isnotunimpeachable,butintheirownsocietythereisgoodreasontobelievethatfewbreachesofitoccur.

Itwerewellifsimilarpraisecouldbegiventotheirveracity:buttruththeyneitherprizenorpractice.Whentheywishtodeceivetheyscruplenottoutterthegrossestandmosthardenedlies.*Theirattachmentandgratitudetothoseamonguswhomtheyhaveprofessedtolovehavealwaysremainedinviolable,unlesseffacedbyresentment,fromsuddenprovocation:then,likeallotherIndians,theimpulseofthemomentisaloneregardedbythem.

[*Thismayservetoaccountforthecontradictionsofmanyoftheiraccountstous.]

Someoftheirmanufacturesdisplayingenuity,whentherudetoolswithwhichtheywork,andtheircelerityofexecutionareconsidered.Thecanoes,fish-gigs,swords,shields,spears,throwingsticks,clubs,andhatchets,aremadebythemen.Tothewomenarecommittedthefishing-lines,hooksandnets.AsveryamplecollectionsofallthesearticlesaretobefoundinmanymuseumsinEngland,Ishallonlybrieflydescribethewayinwhichthemostremarkableofthemaremade.Thefish-gigsandspearsarecommonly(butnotuniversally)madeofthelongspiralshootwhicharisesfromthetopoftheyellowgum-tree,andbearstheflower.Theformerhaveseveralprongs,barbedwiththeboneofkangaroo.Thelatteraresometimesbarbedwiththesamesubstance,orwiththeprickleofthesting-ray,orwithstoneorhardenedgum,andsometimessimplypointed.Dexterityinthrowingandparryingthespearisconsideredasthehighestacquirement.Thechildrenofbothsexespracticefromthetimethattheyareabletothrowarush;

theirfirstessay.Itformstheirconstantrecreation.Theyafterwardsheaveateachotherwithpointedtwigs.Hewhoactsonthedefensiveholdsapieceofnewsoftbarkinthelefthand,torepresentashield,inwhichhereceivesthedartsoftheassailant,thepointsstickinginit.Nowcommenceshisturn.Heextractsthetwigsanddartsthembackatthefirstthrower,whocatchesthemsimilarly.Inwardingoffthespeartheyneverpresenttheirfront,butalwaysturntheirside,theirheadatthesametimejustclearoftheshield,towatchtheflightoftheweapon;

andthebodycovered.Ifaspeardropfromthemwhenthusengaged,theydonotstooptopickitup,buthookitbetweenthetoesandsoliftituntilitmeetthehand.Thustheeyeisneverdivertedfromitsobject,thefoe.Iftheywishtobreakaspearoranywoodensubstance,theylayitnotacrossthethighorthebody,butuponthehead,andpressdowntheendsuntilitsnap.Theirshieldsareoftwosorts.Thatcalled"illemon"