in particular of the Port Lincoln District. 175 



whole hand stretched out horizontally for fish, and similar 

 signs for every kind of game. 



The opposum and Avild cat they hunt -when the sky is 

 slightly cloudedj saying that with a clear sky the animals can 

 see them, and will escape before they can approach them. 

 "When they discover kangaroo rats in the holes of rocks, 

 or under lieavy stones, and find that they cannot drive them 

 out with their hands or a stick, they will light a fire at the 

 hole in order to smoke them out. 



Having no fish-hooks, they are, with respect to fishing, be- 

 hind the other tribes of Australia. The larger fish they spear, 

 but the small ones they catch in the following manner : — As 

 they move in swarms, a body of natives, armed with branches 

 of trees, go into the water, regularly surround and draw them 

 together, and then with these branches push them on the shore. 

 When engaged in this occupation they allow no stranger to 

 be near, on account of the idea they have that the fishes would 

 smell them and disappear. 



Some fishes are in the night attracted to light, and then 

 easily killed ; the blacks, provided with torches, made of long 

 strips of bark, go into the water, and catch them with the 

 hand, striking them or spearing them. 



There are great rejoicings with them if they have had good 

 luck in their hunting or fishing expeditions. Quite excited, 

 slapping their stomachs with both hands, every one exclaims — 

 " Ngaitye paru, ngaitye paru.,^' which means " my food, my 

 food,'' and most liberally bestow their praise upon those whom 

 they are indebted to for the great treat. 



They roast all their meat on the fire. The large animals, 

 such as kangaroos and emus, are cut up before cooking, and 

 the former are skinned; but the smaller ones, excepting those 

 of which they want to preserve the skins, are put on the fire 

 with their skins on. They first singe oft' the hair, and ha^dng 

 taken out the entrails, Avhich are generally given to the women 

 and children, they close up the opening with some small 

 wooden pegs, and, thus prepared, place it on the fire for roast- 

 ing. If connected with more cleanliness, this method of pre- 

 paring the food might be strongly recommended, for the meat 

 gains a most inviting fiavour, and retains all its strength and 

 juice ; but the filthiness of these natives is so excessive, that 

 they do not even take the pains to cleanse and wash the en- 

 trails, but, having squeezed out their contents only, they roast 

 and cat them. 



The superstitious simplicity of these natives is strikingly 



