18 Lower Murray Aborigines. 



grass, upon which they lay the joint to be cooked, covering- 

 it over also with damp grass, upon which more hot clay is 

 placed, the whole is then carefully covered over with sand. 

 It is a very perfect method, and can be made large enough 

 to roast an ox, or small enough to cook an opossum. 



They have no exhilarating drinks, but when half 

 civilised, become very fond of European ones. 



They have very little capacity for lengthened physical 

 exertion. This may probably arise from a want of energy, 

 rather than from lack of thews and sinews ; be that as it 

 may, an average Englishman will tire the natives one after 

 the other, when physical exertion is requisite. 



The males and females have no distinguishing dress ; the 

 only dress is the opossum rug, which is worn in many in- 

 stances very becomingly across the shoulders with one arm 

 out. They do not possess any holiday costume, for the sim- 

 ple reason that they have no particular holidays. They make 

 necklaces of reeds and crayfish legs, which they wear round the 

 neck ; this, with the reed through the middle cartilage of the 

 nose, and an occasional crimson band round the brow, are 

 the only ornaments they care about. Of course, this is 

 speaking of them in their natural state ; of late years they 

 have adopted many of the customs and habits of Europeans. 



They have great gatherings during the summer for wrest- 

 ling (in which exercise they excel), and corroberee dances, to 

 both of which they are very partial. The dances and songs 

 are generally of a lewd nature, the latter consisting of two or 

 three lines continuously repeated to a tune, the time of which 

 they keep admirably ; the former is only a series of grotesque 

 hops and lewd postures, all however in excellent time. 



They have not any idea of games of chance or gambling, 

 although prone to imbibe the other vicious habits of the 

 Europeans, with whom they come in contact. 



They have no religion, but believe in a Good Spirit, who, 

 if in good humour, looks down upon their nets and fishing 

 lines with a favourable eye, and the consequence is a great 

 haul. They have no ceremonies for propitiating the favour 

 of this Spirit, his good or bad humour being dependent 

 entirely upon his good or bad health. His name is 

 Gnawdenoorte. 



They have an idea of an Evil Spirit also whom they call 

 Gnambacootehela ; they are very much afraid of him in the 

 dark, and impute all their ill luck to his influence. If a 

 turkey's nest has been scratched out by a wild dog, or a swan's 



