BY FKl'lZ ]S0ETL1NU, M.A., I'H.D. 137 



sionally. Unfortunately, we are unable to decide this 

 question for ever. We are equally unable to say whether 

 the operation of rubbing ochre and fat into the hair was a 

 sort of distinction, or a sort of rite, to be performed on cer- 

 tain occasions only. The evidence of the picture only proves 

 that the custom of rubbing a mixtvire of red ochre and fat 

 into the hair existed, but that apparently the majority of 

 men wore the hair in its natui'al state. 



All the women, except one, have the hair closely 

 cropped ; in fact, it may be questioned if even this female 

 is not supposed to have the hair vei*y short; in fact, in 

 the engraving she does not differ from the other women 

 in that respect. The picture therefore fully confirms the 

 statement that the women habitually wore the hair closely 

 cropped. Thus we will never know whether the hair of 

 the Tasmanian females would attain a greater length than 

 that of the males or not. (3) 



Nothing need to be said about the spears, except that 

 the man who is scraping one, seated to the left, is holding 

 the terc-watta with his right hand. 



One word about the dogs. Two breeds can distinctly 

 be discerned, viz., two' collies and a greyhound. Did the 

 aborigines distinguish these two breeds, which are so very 

 different, by different names, or was any breed of dog to 

 them a kaeeta? 



The place of the fire which burns near the man 

 straightening a spear with his teeth, is in the oil sketch 

 occupied by a kangaroo. As it is not known that the 

 aborigines kept pet animals, except dogs, which were 

 rather their assistants in hunting than pets, the tame 

 kangaroo is probably an introduction by the artist to en- 

 liven the group. 



I am greatlv indebted to the Misses Cleburn, who 

 kindly permitted this oil sketch to be photographed by 

 Mr. Beattie. and the reproduction is published here for 

 the first time. 



(3) I regret to say that hitherto I entirely overlooked a passage in 

 Api)enflix I. of Ling Roth's "Alx)riigines of Tasmania." This api:>endix is 

 aiiparently an extract from the "Penny Magazine" of June 21, 1834, deal- 

 ing with the Duterrau Portraits. It says :— "His wife, Truganina, . . stands 

 beside him, with her head Shaved, according to custom, by her hne- 

 band, with a sharji-edged flint." This fully confirms my interpretation 

 of the mysterious sentence : TXigganna pugheranymee trautta. We may 

 further conclude thiit the noble savage whose hand Robinson grasps, is 

 meant t« represent Wooready, his trusted servant, from Bruni Island. 



