360 ON THE ABORIGINES OF THE LOWER MURRAY, 



They told me that if it was killed, one of their lubras would 

 be sure to die in consequence. They had their corobbories of a 

 moonlight night, keeping our party awake with monotonous 

 songs, and once they even had a sort of quarrel, and in conse- 

 quence a fight a woman, as usual, being at the bottom of it 

 but after all nobody was hurt, and I missed a good opportunity 

 of observing their burial rites. 



There were, however, a few graves in the neighbourhood of 

 Mr. Gardiner's station, in a thick pine scrub, enclosed by a rude 

 brush fence, and covered with large pieces of cork. They 

 appeared neglected, and were much more rude in shape than the 

 graves subsequently encountered farther down the river. The 

 settlers treated the poor blacks invariably with great kindness, 

 in return for which they would look after the squatters' property 

 with a keen eye. They would never allow the men to destroy 

 any old fences or huts for the sake of a few dry slabs or a piece 

 of bark ; and if no heed was taken of their remonstrances, would 

 invariably report it at the next station. If their watchful eyes 

 observed the tracks of a few stray sheep, they immediately 

 altered their course, and took me miles out of my road to as 

 it appeared no purpose whatever, until the stragglers were 

 overtaken, and safely delivered at the head-station. 



Like all the other tribes they would share their food with each 

 other, and if out hunting, and having too many followers for the 

 few pounds of flour and tea with which we started, it was 

 frequently found necessary to starve part of the garrison, by 

 making the natives who accompanied us, eat their rations before 

 our eyes, so that the idle camp followers were compelled to look 

 after opossums, and leave us alone. 



Following the course of the Murray, I noticed about 18 or 20 

 natives encamped near Campbell's Station, one of them a remark- 

 able character, being an aged woman in good condition, with a 

 large white beard ; the natives at this place appeared to subsist 

 principally upon fish, of which 3 or 4 kinds including the Murray 

 Cod (Oligorus macquariensis) , were roasting on their camp fires. 



At the Loddon Junction more natives were observed, all 

 armed with fishing spears, and freely offering their women for a 

 small number of hooks and lines. 



