358 DUTY OF THE AUSTBALIANS. [CHAP. ix. 



were young men, and that none but older men who had 

 "gins" (wives) were allowed to eat it, adding that it. 

 would make young men all over boils, or eruptions. 

 This rule of abstinence was also rigidly observed by our 

 interpreter, Piper."* The untaught natives showed 

 that they had a little self-control, and gave a practical 

 rebuke to the reckless wastefulness of the Englishmen. 

 And thus the gentleness of the Emeu's disposition, 

 the ease with which they are approached and destroyed 

 by man, and run down by dogs, together with their in- 

 capability of flight, must insure their speedy and com- 

 plete extermination, notwithstanding their present (I 

 ought perhaps to write late) numbers, in surprisingly 

 few years, unless measures are taken by somebody 

 somewhere to propagate the species in captivity. And 

 where so fit a place to execute the task as Australia 

 itself? Australians in future ages will regret to find 

 themselves in possession of the preserved remains only 

 of a gigantic bird, which their ancestors might have re- 

 tained as an existing race ; and they ought not, like im- 

 provident children, to expect us, their parents, to exer- 

 cise for them a foresight in matters which are of most 

 interest to themselves, and most in their own power to 

 husband wisely. It will be curious if Australia has to 

 send off to England for a fresh stock of living Emeus ; 

 but such a case is far from an impossibility. Their di- 

 minution is going on with fearful ease and rapidity ; if 

 the object were to exterminate them utterly, it could not 

 proceeding to its completion better than it is. Austra- 

 lian discoverers have not seemed to anticipate such a 

 consequence. But just let us listen to the facts they 



* Eastern Australia, vol. ii. p. 29. 



