328 KING GEORGES SOUND. [CHAP. xix. 



were thus also filled up with a hard pseudo-stalactitical stone. The 

 weather is now wearing away the softer parts, and in consequence the 

 hard casts of the roots and branches of the trees project above the 

 surface, and, in a singularly deceptive manner, resemble the stumps of 

 a dead thicket. 



A large tribe of natives, called the White Cockatoo men, happened 

 to pay the settlement a visit while we were there. These men, as well 

 as those of the tribe belonging to King George's Sound, being tempted 

 by the offer of some tubs of rice and sugar, were persuaded to hold a 

 41 corrobery," or great dancing-party. As soon as it grew dark, small 

 fires were lighted, and the men commenced their toilet, which con- 

 sisted in painting themselves white in spots and lines. As soon as all 

 was ready, large fires were kept blazing, round which the women and 

 children were collected as spectators ; the Cockatoo and King George's 

 men formed two distinct parties, and generally danced in answer to 

 each other. The dancing consisted in their running either sideways or 

 in Indian file into an open space, and stamping the ground with great 

 force as they marched together. Their heavy footsteps were accom- 

 panied by a kind of grunt, by beating their clubs and spears together, 

 and by various other gesticulations, such as extending their arms and 

 wriggling their bodies. It was a most rude, barbarous scene, and, to 

 our ideas, without any sort of meaning ; but we observed that the black 

 women and children watched it with the greatest pleasure. Perhaps 

 these dances originally represented actions, such as wars and victories ; 

 there was one called the Emu dance, in which each man extended his 

 arm in a bent manner, like the neck of that bird. In another dance, 

 one man imitated the movements of a kangaroo grazing in the woods, 

 whilst a second crawled up, and pretended to spear him. When both 

 tribes mingled in the dance, the ground trembled with the heaviness of 

 their steps, and the air resounded with their wild cries. Every one 

 appeared in high spirits, and the group of nearly naked figures, viewed 

 by the light of the blazing fires, all moving in hideous harmony, formed 

 a perfect display of a festival amongst the lowest barbarians. In 

 Tierra del Fuego, we have beheld many curious scenes in savage life, 

 but never, I think, one where the natives were in such high spirits, and 

 so perfectly at their ease. After the dancing was over, the whole 

 party formed a great circle on the ground, and the boiled rice and 

 sugar was distributed, to the delight of all. 



After several tedious delays from clouded weather, on the I4th of 

 March, we gladly stood out of King George's Sound on our course to 

 Keeling Island. Farewell, Australia I you are a rising child, and 

 doubtless some day will reign a great princess in the South ; but you 

 are too great and ambitious for affection, yet not great enough fot 

 respect. I leave your shores without sorrow or regret 



