XXI 



contained more than 30 to 40 individuals, men, women, and children. 

 At certain seasons of the year, however, large hunting parties were 

 formed, in which the whole tribe, or possibly more than one tribe, 

 joined forces to surround and drive the game. Such was doubtless 

 the gathering of the Oyster Bay natives at Risdon in 1804, which was 

 attended with such an unfortunate result. The number of natives, 

 men and women, then engaged in driving the kangaroo was variously 

 stated at from 300 to 500, though it is probable that even the smaller 

 number was an exaggerated estimate. Captain Kelly, in his evidence 

 before the committee, says that he saw a mob of 300 at Brown's River 

 in 1806, and about a dozen instances of mobs numbering from 150 to 

 300 are* reported between 1S04 and 1826, but all these statements must 

 be taken with considerable allowance for exaggeration. The natives 

 were in the habit of visiting the coast in the winter, it is said, between 

 June and October, Though certain of the tribes in the interior may 

 not have had access to the sea, certain tribes must have lived on the 

 coast almost constantly. Enopwood says that he had understood 

 that the natives crossed the country from east to west in the month of 

 March. This would apply to the East Coast tribes only. 



In 1830 Robinson stated that he had been in communication with 16 

 "tribes." As this was long after many of the native hunting-grounds 

 had been invaded by the whites, and the original tribal organisation 

 consequently much disturbed, it is probable that the number of tribes 

 was originally greater. Milligan conjecturally puts the number at 20. 

 Although Robinson dignifies the tribes with the name of " nations," 

 they were known to the settlers by the designation of "mobs." This 

 conveys a more correct idea of their numerical strength, which was 

 often as low as 30, and probably never exceeded 250. These " mobs," 

 or sub-tribes, group themselves into several broad divisions, more 

 properly deserving the name of "tribes," These large divisions spoke 

 separate languages or dialects, the vocabularies of which were widely 

 different, as appears from Milligan's vocabulary. Minor differences of 

 dialect must have been numerous, for Robert Clark, the catechist 

 states that on his arrival at the Flinders Settlement in 1834 there 

 were eight or ten different languages or dialects spoken amongst the 

 200 natives then at the establishment, and that the blacks had to instruct 

 each other to speak their respective tongues. Robinson, as already 

 cited, says that there were four main languages. Of these Milligan 

 gives us the vocabularies of three, viz. : — (1) South ; (2) West and 

 North-West ; and (3) East Coast. To these we may add as (4) North- 

 East tribes. 



The Chairman mentioned there were several places called " Native 

 Tier " " Native Corners," and so on. 



Mr. Mault had found a few native flint implements in the valley 

 of the Derwent, but of a very rude character. Probably they found 

 very little good fruit, and used shells to a great extent as implements. 



Mr. Morton mentioned that 750 miles from Perth he found the 

 natives using implements exactly similar to those that were used by the 

 Tasmanian ones. They 'had not the slightest idea of bevelled edges. 

 Their waddies were identical with those of the Tasmanian aboriginals, 

 and many of the natives of West Australia had fair hair. Mr. 

 Morrisby ploughed up some native weapons at Muddy Plains, which 

 were in the Museum. 



Mr. Walker wished to specially mention that he would be grateful 

 for any information that would help in the bringing out of a new 

 book (in hand) on this subject, by Mr. Ling Roth. 



In moving a vote of thanks to the readers of the papers which was 

 duly passed, the Chairman mentioned that this was the 56th year that 

 their venerable and respected friend, Sir James Agnew, had been con* 

 nected with the Society. 



