432 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



says that opossum skins are ornamented with patterns scraped on 

 the fleshy side with a mussel shell. In Northern and Central 

 Australia the inner bark of a species of Melaleuca is frequently used 

 for a covering. 



In the art of weaving, progress was made among the coastal and 

 river tribes, fibres of plants being woven into strong and serviceable 

 cordage for fishing nets, which were often many yards in length ^ 

 Some fine examples are to be seen in our large museums. String 

 is also made from human hair and from fur, a spindle being used 

 in the manufacture. Some hair girdles have been seen many yards 

 in length. Among the Arunta and Urabinna we are told that bags 

 " as well-formed and skillfully knitted as those in use among highly 

 civilised peoples are often met with." In " dilly-bags " there is 

 a great variety. They are often pretty and neat in design and 

 cleverly executed, being niade of reeds, rushes, bark, cane grass, 

 string, or vegetable fibre^ according to locality. Near Halifax 

 Bay water-bags are formed from plaiting the Calamus australis 

 and by sewing palm leaves together. 



Among some coastal tribes fish hooks are made from tortoise- 

 shell, pearl, and mussel shells, particularly in North-Eastern 

 Queensland. Canoes are of the most primitive character, im- 

 proving, however, towards the north as a result of the influence 

 of Malaysian contact. 



The Australian aborigines, being nomads and living under a 

 favourable sky, require little in the form of dwellings. Their most 

 pretentious gunyahs are of a dome shape, and constructed of boughs, 

 grass, etc. However, in some of the northern parts they are of 

 better construction. The Reverend Mr. Morrison, of Yarrabah, 

 states, " The natives have learnt quickly, under a Torres Strait 

 islander, to build delightful houses of grass and cocoanut leaves, 

 in one of which I live." From Norman River to the north-east the 

 natives show considerable skill in building these huts of grass and 

 sticks. Captain Sturt mentions that on the Darhng one native 

 camp contained seventy huts, each capable of holding twelve to 

 fifteen men, and all facing the north-west. 



The Australian climate, which has given no creative stimulus in 

 regard to architecture, has also rendered clothing almost unneces- 

 sary to the aborigine. In the south and south-east opossum, and 

 other skins, were frequently used, but over the greater part of the 

 continent the native is naked and unashamed, the clothing being 

 more for ornamentation than for covering. A waist covering — 

 often of the scantiest — of hair, feathers, plant-down, or fibres, tail- 

 tips, etc., attached to a girdle of human hair or fur string wound 

 round and round the waist is sometimes worn, but more frequently 

 the body is nude. A head covering or forehead band of somewhat 

 similar construction is about the only other article of attire. 



As ornaments, necklaces of yellow cane or grass stems cut in 

 lengths, red berries, seeds, kangaroo or wild dog teeth, bones, shells, 

 feathers, etc., are worn among different tribes. Both forehead 



1 In Captain Sturt's Expedition to the Darling- in 1828 there is mention of native fishing-nets 

 beautifully made and ninety yards in length. 



