306 SUPERSTITIONS. [CH. VII. 



toes, so as to do many things surprising- to men who wear 

 shoes.* This power they acquire chiefly by ascending trees 

 from infancy, their mode of cHmbing depending as much 

 on the toes as the fingers. With the toes, they gather 

 fresh-water muscles (unto) from the muddy bottom of rivers 

 or lagoons ; and the heaps of these shells beside their old fire 

 places, which are numerous along the banks, shew that this 

 shell-fish is the daily food of, at least, the gins and children. 

 In their attempts to steal from us, their feet were much em- 

 ployed. They would tread softly on any article, seize it with 

 the toes, pass it up the back, or between the arm and side, 

 and so conceal it in the arm-pit, or between the beard and 

 throat. The hoary old priest of the Spitting-tribe was intent 

 on tricks of this kind, assisted by his people, and while he 

 was thus plotting or effecting mischief he chaunted that extra- 

 ordinary hymn to " some deity", or devil. It was evident, 

 that these people were actuated by superstitious ideas of some 

 kind ; but which, judging by their acts, had no connexion 

 with any good principle. When the two old men paced 

 thrice round our lowest position on the Darling, chaunting 

 their song, throwing their arms to the sky, and rubbing them- 

 selves with dust ; arrangements were no doubt in progress, 

 for the destruction of strangers, of whose good will towards 

 them, they had seen abundant ])roofs, not only in our conduct, 

 but in the useful presents we had made them. They had 

 no grounds for any suspicion of danger from us ; yet, that 

 these ceremonies were observed, the better to ensure success 

 in the plans for our destruction, admitted of little doubt, for 

 they were connected with all their hostile movements. Yet 

 even in defence of such an inijdacable disposition towards 

 the civilized intruder, much may be urged. No reflecting 



* " AIoiTuda, ycTiiiba, tuiidy kin arrii, 



Morrudu, yorrabii, min yin guiny wife mi hV." 



Sonff of WoUondilhj natives ; meaning 

 " On lond the wliitP man walks with croaking shoes ; 

 He cannot, walk up trees, nor \ihjei-t-fiiii/ci\i use." 



