FIRE. 447 



from Cape York to Port Essington.* Mr. W. D. Campbell has 

 suggested that the idea of the boomerang was given by the leaf 

 of the " Blue Gum," Eucelyptus, which is very similar in form. 



The Australians obtain fire by rubbing together two pieces 

 of wood. The process, however, being one of considerable 

 labour, particularly in damp weather, great care is taken to 

 prevent the fire, when once lighted, from becoming extin- 

 guished. For this reason they often carry with them a cone 

 of banksia, which burns slowly, like amadou.^ 



Mr. Stuart informs me that some of the northern tribes 

 had no means of re-lighting their fires, but if they ever became 

 simultaneously extinguished, used to go to a neighbouring 

 tribe for a fresh light. So also, according to M. Angas, some 

 of the western tribes " have no means of kindling fire. They 

 say that it formerly came down from the north," and if it 

 happens to go out they procure it again from some neighbour- 

 ing encampment. J 



According to Capt. Cook, the Australians had " no idea of 

 traffic, nor," he says, " could we communicate any to them : 

 they received the things which we gave them, but never 

 appeared to understand our signs when we required a return. 

 The same indifference which prevented them from buying 

 what we had, prevented them also from attempting to steal : 

 if they had coveted more, they would have been less honest." 

 In other parts, however, they are more advanced in this respect. 

 Various kinds of pigments, feathers, shells, implements, and 

 especially flints, are the principal articles of barter. 



The Australians observed by Cook, Dampier and Flinders, 

 were entirely destitute of clothing, and their principal orna- 

 ment consisted of a bone, five or six inches long, and half an 

 inch thick, thrust through the cartilage of the nose. They 



* Voy. of the Rattlesnake, vol. i. J Savage Life and Scenes, vol. i. 

 p. 92. p. 112. 



t D'Urville, vol. i. p. 194. 1. c, p. 635. 



