THE AUSTRALIAN NEGRO. 



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AUSTRALIA. 



AUSTRALIAN NEGRO. 



two distinct parties, and generally danced in answer to each 

 other. The dancing con- 

 sisted in their running, 

 either sideways or in 

 Indian file, into an open 

 space, and stamping the 

 ground with great force 

 as they marched togeth- 

 er. Their heavy foot- 

 steps were accompanied 

 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, with- 

 out any sort of mean- 

 ing; but we observed 

 that the black women 

 and children watched 

 it with the greatest 

 pleasure. Perhaps these 

 dances originally repre- 

 sented actions, such as 

 wars and victories. 

 There was one called 

 the Emu dance, in 

 which each man ex- 

 KANGAROO. tended his arm in a 



