44 



secreted my knife under his foot. In the occupied country tliey 

 often get accused, and probably justly so, of stealing sheep, but 

 if hunger pinches, and temptation is afforded, they can hardly 

 be severely blamed for such thefts, because, after all, through the 

 introduction of sheep, their supply of natural food gets considei'- 

 ably reduced. 



A remarkable lusus natura', was observed amongst the women 

 of the IVazer Range, one of whom had six perfect fingei's on each 

 hand and the same number of toes on each foot. Not only were 

 these limbs perfectly formed, but the corresponding metacarpal 

 and metatarsal bones were also perfect. (See pi. ."iB.) Two of 

 her brothers and a sister had, I was told, exactly the same 

 deformity. 



Habits and Customs. 



The tribes of the interior are probably more iiomadio than 

 those inhabiting the coast districts oi- the river borders, which is, 

 no doubt, entirely due to the more scanty food supply in this 

 locality. Their vast territories have almost constantly to be 

 roamed over by them for the purpose of securing a living ; and it 

 is only near the larger rock-holes that they are sometimes able to 

 make a prolonged stay. Tliis is prcjbably also the reason why, 

 as a rule, only small assemblages arc; met with, because large 

 numbers would find it difficult to get sufficient food in the same 

 place. 



Their sleeping-place is the bare ground, on which they lie 

 without the least covering, and only warmed by a couple of small 

 fires, one on each side, tliat require frequent remaking during 

 the night. Whe)i a numlier are together, they make a row of 

 fires, and lie between them alternately, and in this way make 

 one fire serve two of them. The custom of lying (juite naked 

 they are so used to that the native who accompaiued us for some 

 time would divest himself of all the clothes we had given liim 

 before he laid himself to sleep, although the nights were very 

 frosty. The habit of going almost instantly to sleep at will 

 is an enviable advantage of their constitution, because without 

 it their night's rest would not refresh them much, on account of 

 the frequent necessity for replenishing the fires. As soon as they 

 begin to feel cold, and wake up in consequence, they rake .the 

 embers together, and having put a few fresh sticks upon them, 

 they lay their Iieads down again, and are off to sleep in a few 

 moments. 



During wet weather they build brush huts, or rather slielters, 

 which are easily erected when required. Two forked saplings are 

 placed together, forming a triangle with the ground, and leaning 

 a little away from the weather side, are suppcjrted by a tliird 

 sapling. The apex of this triangle is about five feet from the 



