*228 "burning the bush." 



him on a visit to the out-stations. We were joined 

 by a person from the settlement, who owned some 

 kangaroo dogs, and by three or four natives. 



Leaving Albany, we reached the foot of a large 

 clearpiece of land called the Great Plain, about fifteen 

 miles distant, and a little off the Swan River road. 



On our way we met a party of natives engaged 

 in burning the bush, which they do in sections every 

 year. The dexterity with which they manage so 

 proverbially a dangerous agent as fire is indeed 

 astonishing. Those to whom this duty is especially 

 entrusted, and who guide or stop the running flame, 

 are armed with large green boughs, with which, 

 if it moves in a wrong direction, they beat it out. 

 Their only object in these periodical conflagrations 

 seems to be the destruction of the various snakes, 

 lizards, and small kangaroos, called wallaby, which 

 with shouts and yells they thus force from their 

 covert, to be despatched by the spears or throwing- 

 sticks of the hunting division. The whole scene is 

 a most animated one, and the eager savage, every 

 muscle in action and every faculty called forth, then 

 appears to the utmost advantage, and is indeed 

 almost another beinof. I can conceive no finer 

 subject for a picture than a party of these swarthy 

 beings engaged in kindling, moderating, and di- 

 recting the destructive element, which under their 

 care seems almost to change its nature, acquiring, 

 as it were, complete docility, instead of the un- 

 governable fury we are accustomed to ascribe to it. 



