CH. VIII.] NATIVE INHABITANTS ON ITS BANKS. 335 



best and grass most abundant, the latter consisted of one or 

 two kinds only, and, on the contrary, that where the surface 

 was nearly bare, the greatest variety of grasses appeared, as 

 if nature allowed more plants to struggle for existence where 

 fewest were actually thriving. 



The aborio-inal inhabitants of the banks of the Bogan in- 

 elude several distinct tribes. 



1st. Near the head of the river is the tribe of " Bultje," 

 composed of many intelligent natives, who have acquired a 

 tolerable knowledge of our language; the number of this 

 tribe is about 120, One, or in some cases two, of the front 

 teeth of males, is extracted on arriving at the age of 14. 



2nd. The next is the Myall tribe, who inhabit the central 

 parts about Cudduldury, at the great bend of the Bogan to 

 the northward. These natives can scarcely speak a word of 

 our language, and they have several curious customs. Some 

 o»f the young men are gaily dressed with feathers, are all 

 called by one name ' Talambe,' and great care is taken of 

 them. The chief and many of the tribe say they have no 

 name, and when any others are asked the names of such 

 persons, they shake their heads, and return no answer. The 

 tribes in various parts of the colony, give the name of Myall 

 to others less civilized than themselves, but these natives 

 seemed to glory in the name, and had it often in their 

 mouths. They were the only natives I ever knew, who ac- 

 knowledged that they were " Myalls ;" and I can say of 

 them, as far as our own intercourse enabled me, that they 

 were the most civil tribe we ever met with. They do not 

 extract the front teeth. 



3rd. The Bungan tribe, with whom the one last mentioned 

 made us acquainted, inhabits the Bogan between Cambelego 

 and Mount Hopeless. They are perhaps less subtle and dis- 

 simulating than the Myalls, and if possible more ignorant 

 than they, of our language and persons. Yet the Bungans 

 came forth from their native bush to meet us, with less hesi- 

 tation, observing, at the same time, that downcast formality, 

 which is the surest indication of the natives' respect for the 



