268 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. 



females. In the evening a number of the natives bivouaced on our 

 premises, where they had a Corroberry." 



Of the many strange facts that come before us in studying this 

 people, perhaps none is more extraordinary than the paucity of 

 weapons and implements in use amongst them ; and still more so is 

 the fact that they are probably the only savages on the face of the 

 earth, inhabiting the sea coasts, who have no means of aquatic trans- 

 port, and are unacquainted with the art of swimming. When we 

 examine their coast and find it dotted with innumerable Islands or 

 indented with Inlets swarming with fish, we are more struck with 

 this peculiar feature in the habits of the Aborigines of the western, 

 southern, and eastern coasts of Australia. Turn in what direction 

 we will, we find all other savage people excelling in these arts. The 

 'New Zealander and the South Sea Islander are noted for the beauty 

 and size of their War Canoes; and men, women and children appear as 

 much at home when diving and swimming about in the sea as any seal or 

 walrus. Again, the Indians of this vast Continent, from the Arctic 

 regions to Florida, are skilful and daring navigators in their bark and 

 other canoes. Let us even visit the northern coast of Australia itself, 

 and we find the Aborigines, much more savage it is true than those I 

 am describing, but at the same time furnished with Canoes and 

 catamaraus, or sallying forth even upon rough logs of wood, and 

 quite indifferent whether their bark carries them through the surf, or 

 parts company with them in the attempt, so fearless and expert are they 

 in the water. How is it, then, that those inhabiting the opposite 

 coasts should be thus deficient in arts that instinct itself should 

 force them to acquire? This peculiar feature in their economy, strange 

 as it may appear, will help us, I think, to trace their origin, and that 

 too to a people eminently maritime in their habits. I allude to the 

 Malays. 



The proximity of the Malay Islands, and the fact of immense fleets 

 of Malay prows having visited the Northern coast of Australia 

 annually from time immemorial, in search of the Trepang for the 

 Chinese Market, will go far to bear out this opinion. It may not be 

 improbable, therefore, that some of these people were thrown by 

 shipwreck, or other accident, on this coast, or upon one of the Islands 

 on the other side of Toms' Straits, and that thus the North was the 

 first portion of Australia peopled. The race, gradually increasing, 

 spread through the interior of this vast Continent. In their approach 

 to the western and southern shores they necessarily passed over an 

 extensive inland region, without doubt perfectly destitute of Eivers or 

 Lakes of any magnitude. When, therefore, ages after, they had ex- 



