SHAM BATTLE. 81 



them to act more like demons than members of the 

 human family. 



One afternoon I witnessed a sham battle between 

 about a score of them, equally divided. Twigs were 

 substituted for their spears ; the latter being pointed, 

 and armed with glass attached by means of a red 

 gum, are rather dangerous weapons to play with. 

 They charged each other, rallying and retreating, 

 and, when opportunities presented, darting their 

 weapons, all tlie time making a hoarse guttural 

 sound, and becoming much excited. The sport con- 

 tinued for some time, and, after they had finished, 

 tobacco was given to them. One of them demurring 

 at the quantity in rather an outrageous style, was 

 cooly knocked head over heels, and this arousing a 

 combatant spirit amongst our crew, the whole of the 

 natives, in a few moments, were flying as if for dear 

 life from the vicinity. From observation on diiferent 

 occasions, I should say that the men are possessed 

 of no courage ; the women fight brutal battles with 

 each other, armed with sticks, and never succumb 

 until powerless from exertion or injur}-. But few, if 

 any, of the females whom I have seen, were not 

 covered with welts, thicker than one's finger, on the 

 back and breast, the result, no doubt, in many in- 

 stances, X)f these encounters : but they have a custom, 

 I am told, of abrading their flesh on the death of a 

 relative, and to this cause is assigned most of the 

 scars they are covered with. They, like the men, 

 are dressed with the bouka or kangaroo skin, and 

 are squalid, dirty, lewd, and ignorant. Anj-thhig, a 

 chew of tobacco, or a mouthful of biscuit, will cause 



