288 



The physique of the Murchison tribes is mucli superior to that 

 of Fraser Range. Most of the men observed by me were over 

 five feet six inches high, and proportionately muscular. The 

 women are mostly well-shaped, particularly the younger. Both 

 men and women tattoo, tiie latter generally on the chest, where 

 the scars often form bands from breast to breast. With several 

 men I noticed the front tooth knocked out, but it seems that this 

 custom is not a universal one. I did not notice any of them 

 bestowing much attention upon their hair, of which some possess 

 a profuse growth. Ochre they use freely (and probably also 

 other colors at times) upon their body, and also paint most of 

 their weapons and implements with it. 



Venereal diseases have been introduced among them during 

 late years, more especially since the discovery of gold on the 

 Murchison. 



Notes about thk Thiuks in-jiabiting tiik Costal District 

 FROM Geraldton to Albany, and those of terkitoriks nearest 

 ADJOINING them. Information received from Mr. C. A. Paterson, 

 of Perth ■— 



Formerly the native population of these districts were very 

 considerable, but through an epidemic of measles that made its 

 appearance among them about 26 years ago, it was reduced to 

 about half its number, which has steadily diminished since. The 

 exact number of the population of these tribes could not easily 

 be ascertained, but scarcely one-tenth of those existing thirty 

 years ago now survive. Diseases and vices not known to 

 them prior to their contact with the whites have told heavily 

 upon them, and seems to enervate them with increasing rapidity : 

 perhaps in another thirty years these aborigines will have dis- 

 appeared entirely. 



None of these tribes either circumcise or practice subincision, 

 and in this respect they differ entirely from the tribes living 

 further inland, but otherwise their customs, habits, and cere- 

 monies arc very similar. They also do not knock any of their 

 teeth out, but they pierce their noses and tattoo their bodies with 

 scars both in front and at the back. The painting of the body, 

 particularly for corrobories, is greatly in vogue among them, and 

 they also adorn themselves for these dances in various ways, by 

 putting feathers and fancy articles made of sticks in their hair. 

 Cannibalism has never been practised by them as far as is known. 



They believe in, and possess a pronounced reverence for aii 

 Almighty being, whom they call Mamma guarra, the father of all. 

 An evil spirit or terrifying agent they fear in Jinki. 



The names of the tribes are those of their habitats, that is to 



