30 Voyage of the No vara. ; 



profoundly acquainted with that remarkable race, whose 

 idiom, as spoken in this district, he can converse in with 

 the utmost fluency. For tliis gentleman's attention we were 

 indebted not merely for repeated opportunities of inter- 

 course with the natives, but also for the excitement, to us 

 thorouglily novel, of a kangaroo-hunt. 



A number of natives were living in an improvised sort of 

 settlement outside the town, and camped around the forest 

 under low sheds of bark. At a little distance off Mr. Hill 

 uttered a sharp, shrill whistle, which was immediately re- 

 sponded to from the forest. Presently two young natives 

 made their appearance, and shook hands with Mr. Hill. An 

 old man with grey hair remained cowering upon the ground 

 without stirring. There were altogether four men, two 

 women, and two children, all pretty well made, their skin 

 of a black or dull brown hue, broad nostrils, and black crisp 

 hair, which, however, had nothing woolly in its texture. 

 One of the women carried a child, whose features and 

 complexion were obviously the result of white parentage on 

 one side. However, she did not seem, as is the case with other 

 races that are proud of their colour,' to be looked down upon 

 on that account by her own race, who, so low is their stand- 

 ard of morality, rather consider it an honour for a black 

 woman to bear a child to a white. Men and women alike 

 showed on tlieir skins the protuberant cicatrices of artificial 

 incisions, two or three inches long, chiefly on the breast, 

 arms, and back. 



