30 
The men who possess wives sleep with their families apart from 
the main body of men. When a native sleeps with his lubra 
only two fires are employed, one in front of either person, the 
backs of both lying in close contact along the centre. When a 
child is presen; it occupies a position in front of its mother, 
usually clasped within her arms. When the weather is extra 
cold additional fires are lit at the feet of each individual, who in 
this case curls himself up and places his hands between his thighs 
to keep them warm. 
A remarkable fact is that in cold weather the native, if he has 
been given any article of clothing, cannot be induced to sleep 
with it on during the night, although he may be shivering with 
cold. During the day, however, when itis tolerably warm, he 
will be quite willing to keep on any article of white man's 
clothing. 
The systematic plan of their camps has apparently impressed 
the minds of the natives themselves, as in several cases it was 
represented in their rock drawings. (See Plate XIV., fig. 7.) 
The native, after he has consumed his evening's meal, does not 
take long to fall to sleep. Usually a few members assemble for 
a short time to talk, the conversation mostly referring to the 
day's experiences. 
Another amusement at the camp fire is the imitation of 
various tracks in the sand: For instance, an emu track is 
made by impressing lengthwise thumb and pointer in the 
sand ; then, changing the thumb to the other side without 
lifting the pointer, a second impression is made with the thumb 
in this position at about the same angle as the first. 
Often the pad of the emu foot is added by an impression of 
the thumb at the intersection of the three toes. A kangaroo 
track is simple, and mude with either finger or toe. A dog track 
is made with the fingers alone, the thumb making the impression 
for the pad, and the tips of the fingers those of the toes; the 
imprints of the claws are added by means of a small stick. A 
blackfellows’ track is made with the use of hand and fingers only. 
For the imprint of a left foot the right hand is employed, and 
vice versá. The hand, being held in a half-closed manner, is 
pressed into the sand on its outer side ; this will give the ball and 
heel of the foot. The toes are dabbed in with the finger tips. 
Snake tracks are produced by permitting the outside of the 
hand and lower arm to glide over the sand in à sinuous manner. 
Various other tracks are prepared with the hand and foot, and I 
was told that in certain parts a camel track is made out of the 
imprint left in the sand by the stern of a piccaninny. 
A humming chant is often ıesorted to by several members of 
the camp, who beat time to their tune by s'riking two sticks 
together, until one by one the whole group of natives falls to sleep. 
