OQ4 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



A fire is commonly carried upon a layer of gravel in the middle of 

 the boat : a custom which appears to arise either from a natural or 

 superstitious reluctance to be without a fire at any time. In this 

 custom, as will be recollected, they resemble the Fuegians, who, 

 however, far excel them in the art of constructing canoes. 



The social system and intercourse of the Australians is regulated 

 by custom alone. As no system of government exists, or any 

 acknowledgment of power to enact laws, they are solely guided by 

 old usage, and can give no account whatever of its origin. The 

 universal reprobation of their associates which follows a breach of 

 ancient customs, has a strong tendency to preserve a strict observance 

 of them. Many of these customs struck us as remarkable; those 

 that have not been actually seen by the officers of the Expedition, 

 have been described by persons entitled to the fullest credit. 



The custom, (to use the language of the settlers,) "of making 

 young men," is singular. The object of the institution seems to be to 

 imprint forcibly upon the youth the rules and observances by which 

 his after life is to be governed ; and so strikingly are they adapted to 

 insure good conduct, that it can hardly be believed that they could 

 have originated among savages, such as the natives of Australia 

 now are. 



When the boys reach the age of fourteen, or that of puberty, the 

 elders of the tribe prepare to initiate them into the privileges of 

 manhood. A night or two previous, a dismal cry is heard in the 

 woods, which the boys are told is the Buhi calling for them. 

 Thereupon all the men of the tribe set off for some secluded spot, 

 previously fixed upon, taking with them the boys or youths to be 

 initiated. No white man is allowed to be present, and the precise 

 nature of the ceremony is therefore unknown ; but it is certain that 

 the ceremonies are designed to try their courage, fortitude, and the 

 expertness of the boys in reference to their future employments in 

 the chase and in war. There is probably some difference in these 

 ceremonies among the different tribes. The Wellington station, or 

 those of the interior, for instance, never knock out a front tooth, 

 which is always done on the coast. 



From the time the youths are initiated, they are required to yield 

 implicit obedience to their elders. This is the only control that 

 seems to prevail, and is very requisite to preserve order and harmony 

 in their social intercourse, as well as to supply the place of distinc- 

 tions of rank among them. 



