388 



ANTHROPOLOGICAL NOTES, 



south-western parts of New South Wales or the north-eastern of 

 Victoria. 



The Omeo Blacks. 



This tribe, once numbering upwards of 140 to 150 souls, is now 

 extinct. They can still be remembered by some of the old 

 settlers, who not much more than 30 years ago saw them a 

 vigorous tribe in its fullest expansion. It is a lamentable fact 

 that through contact with Europeans within the time of one 

 generation, whole tribes of considerable numbers have entirely 

 vanished. This does not only apply to the tribe in question, 

 but is equally applicable to their neighbours, whether friends or 

 foes. The Monaro tribe, for instance, is also nearly extinct, and 

 of their once numerous hordes only two or three half-civilised, 

 demoralised individuals remain. Between 30 and 40 years ago 

 some of the old settlers have seen on special occasions as many as 

 500 to 700 aborigines of all ages and sexes assembled together, 

 but their grandchildren will know the blacks only from hearsay 

 and by what remains of their less perishable implements of war, 

 i.e., a few stone hatchets that may occasionally be turned up 

 during ploughing, or otherwise discovered. 



The Omeo Tribe occupied the north-western corner of Victoria, 

 and were friendly with the Buffalo Tribe (Ovens district) on their 

 side of the Murray, and on the other side of the river with the 

 Monaro and Queanbeyan Tribes. Probably the customs of these 

 four tribes were identical, because they lived in frequent inter- 

 course and combined against their common enemies. These 

 were the Braidwood, the Twofold Bay, the Gipj^sland Tribes, and 

 those living near the borders of the Murray from below Albury. 



A nearly constant feud was waged between these tribes, and 

 bloody contests frequently occurred. The mode of attack as a 

 rule was as follows : — After watching the enemy during the day- 

 time, and spying out their camping place, a couple of warriors 

 would stealthily sneak round it at night to reconnoitre the position 

 and its surroundings. If not detected, a raid would be made 

 upon it at the dawn of day by the whole of the attacking party, 

 who generally yelled loudly and made a fearful noise when close 



