NOTES ON THE NATIVES OF WEST KIMBERLEY, 

 N.W. AUSTRALIA. 



By Walter W. Froggatt. 



The natives of tlie portion of North West Australia known 

 as West Kiraberley, though differing little in habits, may be 

 divided in two groups, namely, the coast tribes and the inland 

 natives. The former are characterised by prominent foreheads, 

 round faces and often a pleasant cast of countenance ; the latter 

 have retreating foreheads, some of the old men being most 

 villianous-looking fellows, and though much more warlike they 

 are smaller and not such well-built men as those of the coast. 



Living among the rugged limestone ranges that intersect this 

 country, the inland natives do not use shields or boomerangs, but 

 trust to their stone-headed spears, or to the opportunity of throwing 

 rocks down upon anyone following them into their native fast- 

 nesses. They are, I am credibly informed, cannibals, eating any of 

 their own dead that are killed in battle ; but I have never had 

 personal proof of this fact. They build no mi-mis as they obtain 

 ample shelter in the numerous limestone caves. 



Their food is principally mussels (Unio) which abound in the 

 lagoons and river-beds, the nuts of the baobab tree ( AdansoniaJ 

 and the roots of an Arum which grows on the moist flats ; this 

 diet is sometimes varied by snakes, kangaroos, or a crocodile, the 

 capture of one of the last-named being a great event, for as long 

 as the gins can get anything to eat the men lie about too lazy to 

 hunt. The men wear nothing but a band of twine, made from 



