1836.] COEEOBEEY, OH NATIVE DANCE. 433 



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, wo 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 14th 

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

 course to Keeling Island. Farewell, Australia ! 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 for respect. I leave your shores without sorrow or 

 regret. 



