78 AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. 



erratic •weapon, and affords a fine opportunity for displaying the remarkable 

 activity of the aborigines. This activity is, no doubt, considerably roused by 

 fear of the severe cut which is inflicted by the boomerang. Mournere are not 

 allowed to join in these tournaments, as it would be considered disrespectful to 

 the dead. Women and children are generally kept at a safe distance. The 

 chiefs and aged warriors stand by to see fair play, and to stop the proceedings 

 when they think they have gone far enough. 



At the periodical great meetings trading is carried on by the exchange of 

 articles peculiar to distant parts of the country. A favourite place of meeting 

 for the purpose of barter is a hill called Noorat, near Terang. In that locality 

 the forest kangaroos are plentiful, and the skins of the young ones found there 

 are considered superior to all others for making rugs. The aborigines from the 

 Geelong district bring the best stones for making axes, and a kind of wattle gum 

 celebrated for its adhesiveness. This Geelong gum is so useful in fixing the 

 handles of stone axes and the splinters of flint in spears, and for cementing the 

 joints of bark buckets, that it is carried in large lumps all over the Western 

 District. Greenstone for axes is obtained also from a quarry on Spring Creek, 

 near Goodwood ; and sandstone for grinding them is got from the salt creek near 

 Lake Boloke. Obsidian or volcanic glass, for scraping and polishing weapons, is 

 found near Dimkeld. The Wimmera coimtry supplies the maleen saplings, found 

 in the mallee scrub, for making spears. The Cape Otway forest supplies the 

 wood for the bundit spears, and the grass-tree stalk for forming the butt piece of 

 the light spear, and for producing fire ; also a red clay, found on the sea coast, 

 which is used as a paint, being first burned and then mixed with water, and laid 

 on with a brush formed of the cone of the banksia while in flower by cutting off 

 its long stamens and pistils. Marine shells from the mouth of the Hopkins River, 

 and freshwater mussel shells, are also articles of exchange. 



Attendance at these gi-eat meetings is compulsory on all. As an instance of 

 the obedience paid to the usual summons, a very faithful native, who had 

 charge of a flock of .sheep at Kangatong, gave notice that he had received a 

 message directing him to attend a meeting at Mount Rouse, whenever he saw the 

 signal smoke, or a reflection in the sky of a fire in that direction. As there was 

 at that time a very great scarcity of shepherds, in consequence of the rush to the 

 goldfields, pennission to go was refused. Some days afterwards the signal was 

 seen. Next morning Gnaweeth was away, leaving his flock in the fold. Having 

 thus broken his engagement, he considered he had forfeited all claim to payment 



