260 THE ABOBIGINES OF AUSTBALIA. 



about to leave its own territory for a distant part of the country, or 

 when some mighty question, having reference, perhaps to a general 

 expedition against another tribe, has to be discussed and planned. 



During the summer months the tribes of the interior generally 

 make towards the sea coast for the purpose of enjoying a feast on 

 the various kinds of fish which are there to be obtained. They 

 have several methods of proceeding in this sport, but that usually 

 adopted is for the whole of the natives in the neighborhood to 

 assemble together near some shoal or sand bank, which at low water 

 is left covered with but a few inches of water. Early in the fine 

 mornings of summer, just as the sun breaks forth, these sand banks 

 may be seen sparkling with innumerable fish which seem to frolic 

 about in sportive glee, now darting along and chasing each other 

 with the speed of an arrow ; now flinging themselves far out of the 

 water as if to exhibit their bright armour in the shining rays of the 

 sun. But man, the universal enemy of creation, has to satisfy the 

 cravings of nature ; he also is up and stirring, and cannot permit so 

 tempting an opportunity to pass, and so calling to his companions 

 they all pull armfuls of branches from the trees and then hurry to 

 the beach intent upon the sport. The attack is commenced by 

 erecting a sort of weir with the branches and twigs; this is made 

 in a semicircular form with one end touching the beach and the 

 other towards the edge of the shoal. The whole party now wade 

 into the water and spread themselves over the shoal at some distanc 

 apart from each other, then gradually drawing in toward the open 

 side of the weir, their splashing and noise cause the fish to rush into 

 the snare laid for them. Thus entrapped, spears pour in from every 

 point, each man trying to outdo his neighbour in shrieking, kicking, 

 and splashing; here some may be seen probing right and left with 

 their spears within the weir, there others are skipping through the 

 shoal water in chase of runaways who have managed to dart through 

 or over the bounds, and thus in a short space of time an immense 

 supply of food is secured. It is astonishing indeed to see the quan- 

 tities of fish taken in this manner. These fishing parties may num- 

 ber perhaps some forty or fifty men, and it is no unusual thing to see 

 each one come off with as many fish as he can well stagger under. 

 "When I add, however, that it is not uncommon to see upwards of 

 five cwt. of a fish called the skipjack taken in a single haul of the 

 seine, what I have related will excite less surprise. 



On the approach of winter the tribes draw off from the coast into 

 the interior of the country, where, encamped in the depth of the for- 

 est, they lie sheltered from the severe storms with which the Aua- 



