THE NATIVE TRIBES OF POLYNESIA. 449 



as be approaclied the Gulf of Carpentaria; and Leichardt and his 

 followers fell victims to the spears of the same tribes a little more 

 to the eastward. But as a contrast to this, when Burke and his two 

 companions were left to starve at Cooper's Creek, they were sustained 

 for many days by the generous kindness of the natives whom they found 

 in that locality. I do not attribute these differences of character to 

 differences of origin. In the north the natives are better supplied with 

 food, and their ranks are frequently receiving accessions from the wild 

 tribes of the archipelago, and probably from the Malagar peninsular 

 itself; in the same manner, though in a less degree, as the Philippine 

 Islands receive reinforcements from China and the other Asiatic coasts. 

 The character of the average Australian is noted rather for its nega- 

 tive than for its positive features ; by which I do not mean that these 

 people are incapable of improvement. As a rule they are indolent and 

 apathetic. They dislike any thing that gives them trouble, and still 

 they are patient and persevering. They will pass two or three days 

 ■without food rather than exert themselves to find a daily supply, unless 

 at least it is close at hand and can be had without much effort. If 

 they are in want of fire, they will often prefer to travel for another day 

 or two, in the hope of getting some from their neighbours, than take 

 the trouble to " make " it for themselves. Yet they will plod along 

 over many long miles under a burning sun, without food, to change 

 their location ; or they will spend weeks diligently carving out a boom- 

 erang or a waddy, with a few rough stones. I have always found these 

 people faithful and trustworthy companions. I have travelled among 

 them through a wide area of country, and almost always alone. I have 

 associated with many tribes and met with them at different times under 

 very varied circumstances, and I have always found them uniformly 

 friendly and kind, ever ready to render me a service even at their owa 

 personal inconvenience. They have a keen sense of honour. They 

 will enter upon undertakings of hardship or danger for a master or one 

 whom they regard as a friend, and they will not hesitate to risk their 

 lives in his service. They are submissive and ever ready to do a kind- 

 ness to a friend, if they find him in need or distress. But while this 

 is the result of my experience among them, I must add that in all my 

 intercourse with aborigines tribes in any part of the world, I have ever 

 made it an invariable rule to treat them with kindness and confidence. 

 I believe that to trust in their right intentions will go farther to win 

 their friendship than a very large amount of bribery, and the effect is 



