BY GERARD KREFFT. 363 



bend easily, and soon loosen it from the trunk. With a couple 

 of grass-ropes around the bark, it is then allowed to slide down, 

 and is put upon the stocks in a regular way. Dry leaves, grass, 

 and small branches, having been collected and pub into the still 

 flat piece of bark, they are fired, and the sides soon begin to turn 

 up ; when sufficiently bent, 3 or 4 sticks are introduced, to 

 prevent the bark from curling any more ; accidental cracks or 

 holes in the canoe are filled up with clay from the river-bank, 

 and the boat is ready for use. 



These canoes are generally propelled with long elastic spears, 

 and considerable progress is made on smooth water, as lakes or 

 lagoons ; but to steer the frail bark dead against the stream in 

 such a river as the Murray is almost impossible ; when going up 

 stream, the natives keep close alongside the river banks, where 

 the current is less, but they never travel long distances up the 

 river, but frequently visit friendly tribes by going overland, and 

 having manufactured a canoe, they drift down the stream, back 

 to their own hunting grounds. 



A supply of clay is always kept in these canoes, and often 

 when the bark is not of sufficient depth, a clay rim or dam is 

 raised on both ends, to prevent the water from coming in ; being 

 all good swimmers, the natives appear very careless with their 

 frail craft, and if she sinks, which is however very seldom the 

 case, they quietly swim ashore and build another. To sit 

 perfectly quiet is the first rule, balance yourself well, keep 

 baling out any water which may run in, and trust to the native 

 who propels the boat ; the least motion from one side to the 

 other suffices to fill and sink it, there being seldom more than 

 about an inch of board. Being at 'home in the water, like New- 

 foundland dogs, they appear to think that every white man who 

 trusts himself to their bark canoes, must necessarily be the same, 

 and if half-a-dozen men are willing to cross the river at once, the 

 natives have generally no opposition to offer, and would almost 

 as soon see some of their passengers drowned as cross the 

 river twice. 



When out fishing at night, they have a small fire burning in 

 the bow of the canoe, which is for that purpose covered with 

 clay; some of the fishes are attracted hereby, and many of 



