188 RAMBLES TO CHAMPION BAY 



showing clearly how nearly the lizards and snakes are 

 related in an evolutionary point of view. Of the habits 

 of this extraordinary reptile I had not here an opportunity 

 of learning anything. There seem to be two or three 

 species of these jumping snakes inhabiting the western 

 side of the continent, but in many places they are very 

 scarce animals, and all I was ever able to learn with 

 exactitude about their daily life was that their food con- 

 sists mainly of soft-bodied animals, such as slugs, worms, 

 and grasshoppers. They are quite harmless creatures. 



The black snake was the species which here attracted 

 most attention, because it is the most dangerous of the 

 western snakes. Those seen here were about four feet 

 long, and before we left one was seen to capture a frog 

 and swallow it. 



The 7th was a bright, fine day, and the atmosphere hot 

 during the middle hours. Early in the morning as many 

 as fifty-seven natives were seen at the distance of two 

 miles. As soon as they perceived us they came up with 

 great confidence, several running on ahead of the main 

 body making friendly signals. At first I was doubtful if 

 it were wise to permit so large a body to surround us, 

 but when I saw that more than half of the party consisted 

 of women, some of them with babies slung to their backs, 

 my alarm subsided. This tribe was very friendly, and 

 seemed much pleased with the few small presents I gave 

 them. They appeared to be better fed than most of the 

 aborigines of this district. One very old man was blind, 

 and it was astonishing to witness the skill and ease with 

 which he moved about, avoiding obstacles with as much 

 facility as the best sighted of his companions. I was glad 

 to see that his fellows were kind to him, for there can be 

 no doubt it is a prevalent custom among the blacks to 

 destroy old people, cripples and others, who become a 

 burden to the tribe. 



These people had been much in intercourse with the 

 colonists in various parts of the coast district, and had 

 evidently benefited by the association. They possessed 

 many useful articles, which had been given to them ; and 



