241 



opinion, l)o attributed uiiusily to the poorei- and iiisulticient food- 

 supply in tliat district. 



As to the 31urchiKon natives on the otlier liaud, the greatei' 

 abundance of Hesli food has pvoljably had its beneficial influence 

 upon then). Kangaroos must be faii-ly abundant in ordinary 

 seasons in that district, although at the time of our visit they 

 had suffered a great deal through the drough*, as became ap- 

 parent by the number of dead ones found near every well, where 

 these poor brutes had come to drink, and got drowned. 



Summarising tlie foregoing, it may be said that in general the 

 })hysii|ue of the males is fairly good, but their stature is, with 

 few exceptions, not above the middle height, but frequently 

 below it, and that their appearance is as a rule emaciated. The 

 walking endurance of these blacks is undoubtedly great, but 

 beyond that I do not think that they are very joowerful, Isecause 

 tliey ai'e scarcely ever well-enough fed to develop much muscle, 

 nor do they exercise any other than those of their legs to any 

 extent. The throwing of tlie waddy and tliat of tlie spear requii'e 

 rather skill tlian gi'cat strength. 



(^wing to the excessive (juantities of food tJiey at times devour 

 most of them have a considerably distended abdomen that 

 becomes more conspicuous when contrasted with their generally 

 thin limbs. The few that are working at the stations and get 

 fed regularly contrast very favorably with the wild blacks, so far 

 as their outward appearance goes. It was quite surprising hoAv 

 rapidly those put on flesh who stayed for some time near our 

 camps. 



Many have a brcjad, and in some instances high, forehead, in- 

 dicating intellectual faculties, which, liowever, it seems in the 

 most cases are more difficult to cultivate than the appearance 

 of theii- head would lead one to expect. As a rule, the 

 forehead is slightly receding, and the brows prominently arched, 

 and protruding. Their senses of seeing and hearing are very 

 shai-p, and are no doubt much improved by the continuous train- 

 ing they get in the pursuit of game, but the other senses do not 

 appear to share these advantages. The clieek-bones are often 

 very prominent, and the face on the whole rather broad. The 

 nose is short and dilated at the nostrils, which is characteristic of 

 most al)origines ; but occasionally (juite aberrant types are met 

 with. Among the Blyth Range tribe was one who had almost a 

 European cast of features, with a narrow, well-siiaped nose ; and 

 among the Fraser Range blacks I found one who had a moder- 

 ately aquiline nose and a decidedly Jewish appearance. The 

 mouth is large with most individuals, and the lips thick ; their 

 jaws are very powerfully developed, and their teeth sharp and 

 strong. T have seen them frecpiently br'eak .sticks thicker than a 



