OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. 159 



a stick as they pass before her. They have also 

 the thunder-and-lightning dance, in which they stamp 

 with their feet and whirl round the fire. A frequent 

 manoeuvre during their corrobberrys is to leap from the 

 ground while running in a circle round the fire, and, in 

 descending, to turn their faces to it, crouching at the 

 same time to the ground on their haunches, and striking 

 the earth with their hands. The exertion during these 

 performances is often very violent, occasioning individuals 

 to drop out of the ring, bathed in perspiration, until they 

 have recovered. The good humour they exhibit through- 

 out the amusement, which generally lasts for some hours, 

 often till midnight, is remarkable, considering the excite- 

 ment that prevails. Sometimes one will jostle against 

 another, and perhaps occasion a fall to both, which is 

 sure to be succeeded by a general laugh. Though the 

 nudity of the men must necessarily offend the eye of a 

 European, there is not the slightest action or gesture 

 that would offend the modesty of the most scrupulous. 



On another evening we visited their shelters or 

 " breakwinds." From twenty to thirty sleep in each 

 shelter. Here they generally cook their food and eat 

 their meals, and here in the evening they sit round the 

 fire and talk, or one sings, while the rest listen with deep 

 interest and attention, frequently applauding by a general 

 shout. At the suggestion of Mr. Archibald Maclachlan, 

 the surgeon, they sang two of their songs for our benefit. 

 The first was sung by the chief of the Port Dalrymple 

 tribe. The same words were repeated many times in 

 succession, accompanied by many impassioned gestures, 

 and an exertion of breath almost painful to witness. 

 Occasionally the singer gave a short sigh, as if his breath 

 was spent, in which the rest united with one accord. 

 The shout that succeeded allowed the performer a 

 moment's pause, when he resumed the song with great 

 animation. During the course of the song the chief 

 often became highly excited, pointing significantly with 

 his finger, and showing remarkable expression in his 

 countenance, as if the subject was most important, the 

 people listening meanwhile with profound attention. 

 After the chief had concluded, the women began a song 

 in chorus, which showed a greater knowledge of music. 

 I was very much surprised to hear some sing tenor, while 

 others sang treble. It was a hunting song, enumerating 



