2S 



of a boiler supplied by well-water during a period of three years " 

 —from the estate of J. Todd, Esq., Blue Hills. 



A specimen of coal of a peculiar character from Rostrevor, Spring Bay, 

 was exhibited by the Ven, the Archdeacon. On testing, it was found 

 to be incombustible. In appearance it resembled lignite, and contained 

 no trace of bitumen. 



The Bishop brought forward some specimens of iron ore, from Mount 

 Pleasant, Swansea ; and Mr. Allporfc exhibited a collection of tin ore 

 from Mount Bischoff. 



A letter from Dr. G. F. Story was read, giving, from information he 

 had received, some account of certain habits of the aborigines. As to 

 the implements used by them, the information was very similar to that 

 already laid before the Society. 



The following statement from Mr. Robert Thirkell was read, and 

 possesses some interest as coming direct from the actual observer and 

 eye-witness of the subjects referred to : — "Mr. Robert Thirkell, of 

 Woodstock, near Longford, arrived in Tasmania in the year 1820, and 

 was constantly amongst the natives. He found them a peaceable and 

 inoffensive race of people, and in no case had he to resort Ito force to 

 prevent mischief. On the first occasion the natives visited his place of 

 residence on the Macquarie River, about 20 men and the same number of 

 women and children came, after which various numbers came at inter- 

 vals. When he was engaged building a house the men came and 

 curiously inspected the work, and would use gimlets and other tools. 

 At other times, Mr. Thirkell states that he met them in the bush, and 

 in no case had he any cause for fear. Their mode of climbing trees 

 was to get a grass band twisted, put it round the tree and hold the twa 

 ends in one hand, and then with a sharp flint stone they would chip the 

 bark downwards and make a notch for the big toe, then change hands 

 and do the same on the other side. They had no handle to the stone, 

 merely an indent for the thumb, and the edge ground (? chipped) as 

 sharp as they could against another stone. When the opossum was got 

 out of a hole in the tree, they would knock its head against the tree 

 and throw it down. Those below would catch it if not dead. Their 

 spears were made of wood entirely, and jagged at the sharp end. They 

 used a shield made of a piece of flat wood, and waddie about 2 feet 

 6 inches long. They had merely a piece of kangaroo skin round their 

 loins, or rather hanging in front, no other covering, and no rugs or 

 bedding. Each family had a fire separate from the others at night. 

 They would not move about after dark, in fact not until sunrise. Mr. 

 Thirkell never considered it necessary to carry firearms to protect him- 

 self against them. He has met the Chief, who would walk up and put 

 his hand on the horse's neck, talk as well as he could, and be quite 

 friendly. Mr. Thirkell considered any injury sustained by the white 

 people was entirely occasioned by their own ill-usage of the females. 

 They used to half- cook the opossums whole, and were much pleased to 

 get potatoes from the white people. " 



The Hon. C. Meredith did not agree with the idea that the emnity 

 of the aborigines was due to the ill-treatment of their females by the 

 whites. Among the blacks there was no such feeling as jealousy, and 

 it was notorious to the early settlers that the blacks were in the habit 

 of forcing their gins to visit the whites in order to obtain what they 

 could from them. In the eastern districts, with which Mr. Meredith 

 was familiar, the blacks never jagged their spears, nor did they make 

 use of a shield. The jagged spears and shields would therefore appear 

 to have been used more particularly by the northern tribes, which were 

 specially referred to by Mr. Thirkell. 



The Secretary read a paper by Mr. R. M. Johnston, of the Railway 



