[50 THE ABORKilXKS 



possible effort was made to secure the well-being of the 

 tew Burvivors of the native tribes. They were well 

 supplied with food, and they supplemented the ordinary 

 supplies by taking mutton-birds and their eggs, and, 

 while the game lasted, by occasional hunting excursions. 

 Tea and potatoes were their favourite diet. Of tea 

 highly sweetened they seemed to be able to drink any 

 quantity. Milk they grew very fond of. Mutton and 

 beef they preferred to salt meat and even to kangaroo ; 

 but such rare luxuries they seldom had the opportunity 

 of enjoying. Their appetites were enormous. Da vies 

 states that a native woman at the settlement was one day 

 watched by an officer, and seen to eat between fifty and 

 sixty mutton-bird eggs— as large as those of a duck — 

 besides a double allowance of bread. Whether this 

 story is true or not, I do not venture an opinion. But it 

 is well known that the Australian native, like other 

 savages accustomed to long compulsory fasts, has a boa- 

 constrictor-like power of gorging himself far beyond the 

 extreme capacity of a European. 



The blacks on Flinders also developed an extreme 

 fondness for tobacco. When not occupied in cooking or 

 in hunting they were rarely without a pipe. One pipe 

 was made to serve several. After the husband had taken 

 a few whiffs it was passed to the wife, and then to 

 others. If a stranger was present, nothing would please 

 them more than that he also should take a whiff from 

 the pipe. 



The care of the authorities extended far beyond en- 

 suring them plentiful food. No exertion was spared to 

 drill these children of nature into the habits of a civilisa- 

 tion unto which they were not born. If not apt, they 

 were certainly docile pupils. Their good humour, which 

 struck the French voyagers as remarkable, is constantly 

 referred to by the Friends. They say : " The opportuni- 

 ties we have had of forming an estimate of the aboriginal 

 "character have strongly impressed us with the opinion 

 "that they are not naturally a treacherous and ferocious 

 "nor a vindictive people. Their uniform cheerfulness 

 " and agreeableness of manner forbid the idea of inherent 

 "ferocity. The treachery and outrages they have ex- 

 perienced at the hands of Europeans excited at one 

 "time a spirit of revenge, under the influence of which 

 "retaliation was made ou some of the innocent people of 



