230 



several of the men were severely scratched by their 

 long claws. Sometimes a kangaroo would leap en- 

 tirely over the line of men, and escape uninjured ; 

 but many of them, by far the larger proportion, met 

 their death by the spear. 



Taken altogether, it was a very exciting scene ; and, 

 at a little distance, looked not unlike a desperate battle. 



After the hunt was over, the animals were dressed, 

 cut up into convenient pieces, and smoked, on a plat- 

 form built of sticks, over a fire. Afterwards, this 

 dried, smoked meat was stored in their houses until 

 needed for food. 



We left the natives at their meat-drying, and went 

 on our way across the level plain until we came to the 

 river, which we followed up some distance. A good 

 camping-ground was found, where we arranged our 

 things for a several days' hunt. On each side of the 

 river was the plain ; but a belt of forest bordered the 

 stream, where we found many birds and insects un- 

 familiar to us. This territory belonged to a strange 

 tribe, and toward evening one of their number made 

 his appearance on a little knoll, not far away. We 

 tried to persuade him to come down and see us, but he 

 appeared frightened, and soon went away. In a short 

 time he returned, bringing some sweet potatoes and 

 sugar-cane, which he held up to show us, then dropped 

 upon the ground, and ran away. 



We accepted his present, leaving in return a few 



