15 



tlie art. It lias been asserted that Masonic signs have been 

 discovered among the natives in North Australia ; but during 

 my whole eleven years' residence here, during which time I have 

 come in contact with a great many different tribes, I have 

 noticed nothing approaching to Masonic signs, with which I 

 am well acquainted. Xo doubt the above-mentioned system of 

 telegraphing has been mistaken for these signs. 



DRAWINGS 



By natives are met with among all tribes, generally represent- 

 ing existing objects. The only imaginary object I have seen 

 painted is the so-called "Devil-devil" (appellation borrowed 

 from Europeans), an evil spirit in whose existence all natives 

 believe, but for whom each tribe has a different name. Natives 

 are constantly in dread of this evil spirit when travelling in 

 the bush. 



ORIGIIT. 



I once listened to a conversation between a Port Darwin and 

 a Port Essington native. Being of different tribes, and speak- 

 ing different languages, they commenced in broken English, 

 which both spoke fairly. The subject of conversation was the 

 origin of their race. Being at that time well- acquainted with 

 the tradition of the Port Essington natives as to their origin, 

 I felt anxious to obtain what information I could from the 

 Port Darwin native on the same subject, and on questioning 

 him he stated that he knew very little about it, but that 

 " Lirrawah," of the Southport branch of the Larrakeah tribe, 

 could give me the whole history, but that he was very reluctant 

 to communicate to the other blackfellows. This native is a 

 doctor, and held in great esteem by the whole tribe as a learned 

 man, who, as they term it, " knows plenty all about." I 

 embraced the first opportunity of " Lirrawah's" visit to Port 

 Darwin to gain what information I could from him on the 

 origin of his race, and on the promise that I would not tell 

 other blackfellows, elicited from him the following disjointed 

 statement: — A very good man, called "Mangarrah," lives in 

 the sky among the stars, a place called " Teelahdlah." He 

 made all living creatures upon earth, except blackfellows. He 

 also made the trees, grass, water, and everything ; and makes 

 wind, rain, and thunder. He never dies, and likes all black- 

 fellows. 



Another good man called " Nanganburrah " lives in the 

 bowels of the earth, a place called " Ahbybuggah." He a long 

 time ago made one blackfellow, called him "Dawed," and 

 taught him how to make blackfellows. " Dawed " made plenty 

 of boys and girls, who grew up and multiplied. When 

 " Dawed " was an old man the blackfellows growled plenty, 



