238 CAPTAIN STURT. 



recourse to a curious expedient to assuage his 

 burning thirst, namely, to bleed the horse he rode, 

 which was the means of preserving both himself 

 and the quadruped also. 



On our arrival in Adelaide the town was full of 

 the Overlanders, and every one was engaged in 

 buying or selling stock, which gave the place quite 

 an animated appearance. From one of these gentle- 

 men I learned undeniable proofs that the Australians 

 indulge in cannibalism. He had seen in a woman's 

 bag the hand of a child that had been partly 

 eaten. Since that time the matter has been placed 

 beyond a doubt by the report of the Protector, Mr. 

 Sievewright, who witnessed with his own eyes a most 

 horrible feast off the body of a young woman.* It 

 is extraordinary that a custom so remarkable should 

 have so long wanted confirmation. 



At Adelaide I had the pleasure of making the 

 acquaintance of the intrepid traveller Capt. Sturt, 

 who has since again taken the field, endeavouring to 

 penetrate to the interior of the Australian continent, 

 and to remove the veil of mystery that now hangs 

 over it. From him I learnt that the same strange 

 kind of bird, a species of rail, that once visited 

 Swan River, also made its appearance in South 

 Australia on one occasion. I have already alluded 

 to this remarkable circumstance in a former chapter. 



During our stay we visited Mount Lofty, placed 

 by our observations in lat. 34'' 58' 20" S., and 



* See Mr. Eyre's " Discoveries in Central Australia." 



