GAME. 173 



Polygamy is permitted among the Australian 

 aborigines : each takes as many wives as he 

 pleases, or can maintain, and can dismiss or 

 assign them over at pleasure ; but many have 

 only one wife, not taking another until she 

 is dismissed. Some of the women of the in- 

 terior tribes have fine forms, tolerably hand- 

 some features, and fine curled hair ; the gene- 

 rality, however, of both males and females, are 

 not conspicuous for personal beauty. 



After wet weather they track game with 

 much facility, and from the late rains the 

 hunting expeditions had been very successful ; 

 game was therefore abundant at the camp, which 

 consisted of opossums, flying squirrels, bandi- 

 coots, snakes, &c. I purchased, for a small 

 piece of tobacco, the skin (the fur of which is 

 remarkably fine) of a verj^ handsome light grey 

 flying squirrel, called by the natives Min, ugo, 



" it is very common for several families to quit their abodes 

 and settle where new fruits are ripening, or where the chase 

 is more productive." — Spix and Martins Travels in Brazil, 

 8vo. Eng. Trans, vol. ii. p. 248. 



And why, we may ask, do the inhabitants of civilized 

 countries emigrate ? It may be answered, to gain recompence 

 for their labour, and to be able to maintain themselves and 

 families. Yet we blame savages for acting upon the same 

 principle, their wants causing them to lead a wandering 

 life. 



