240 



means of sustenance than that further ^^est, it is reasonable to 

 suppose that they represented their tribe in average pliysique, 

 particularly as they were in good condition. 



The Blyth Range men were decidedly inferior ni condition, 

 and considerably smaller in stature, more especially some ot those 

 that visited us at Camp 12. Others met with later on were 

 somewhat taller in stature than the average Blyth Kange speci- 

 mens Those seen, both at Camp I!-^ and near Mount Squires, 

 were all over live feet six inches ; amongst the latter assembly 

 was one about six feet. The improvement seems to be attribut- 

 able to the better water, and conseciuent better food-supply ot 

 this re<non. Their condition was, however, very poor, clue 

 no doubt, in some measure to the protracted dry season, that 

 would prevent them hunting over the full extent of their district, 

 and force them to keep close to the waterholes, where, m conse- 

 quence of the continual drain upon these contracted hmits, the 

 food-supply would soon become scanty. 



Of the Victoria Desert tribe, only once a party came under 

 my observation, between Camps 43 and 44. This was a very 

 variably-sized lot, including, however, one fine specimen, l.ut all 

 were much emaciated. 



The Blyth Range, Barrow llange, and Victoria Desert tribes 

 inhabit "spinifex country," where subsistence is di&cult to main- 

 tain, and but for the numerously-occurring Largocheste, hirsutns, 

 commonly called " Spinifex-Wallaby," and some other small 

 marsupials, it would probably be impossible for them to live in 

 such desolate districts. It can scarcely be wondered at that tlit 

 majority of them appeared lean and starvation-stricken. 



Those inhabiting the surroundings of Victoria Spring* 1 was 

 not fortunate enough to see, though plenty of indications proved 

 that blacks had congregated at times near to where we camped, 

 but not recentlv. They were evidently not far away because 

 tires were .seen about 12 to 15 miles from the spot It wouhl 

 have been interesting to have compared them with the other 

 tribes, because the food supply is much scantier m this region 

 The Lrgochestes is almost, if not totally, absent here,; and some 

 1.50 to 200 miles to the north, the eagle-nests, which we had 

 previously noticed daily, disappeared, which at once proved the 

 decrease of these small marsupials. 



The stunted physique of the Eraser Range natives must, m my 



*No doubt exists in nvy mind that Victoria Spring was neve sited by 

 tbeTxDe<lition. A cla^-pan, the surroundings of which do "ot *t, all 

 atvv^TtoS' description of the natural feature, was m,stakeu by the 

 Srfor Vlctorio Spring. We were, however, n. about the sanu. paial- 

 Icl of latitude, and cannot have been very far away from it. 



