NEW SOUTH WALES. 205 



The youths are likewise restricted to articles of diet, not being 

 allowed to eat eggs, fish, or any of the filler kinds of opossum or 

 kangaroo. Their fare is consequently of a very poor description, but 

 as they grow older these restrictions are removed, although at what 

 age we have not learnt ; but after having passed the middle age, they 

 are entirely at liberty to partake of all. The purpose of this is 

 thought to be not only to accustom them to a simple and hardy way 

 of riving, but also that they should provide for the aged, and not be 

 allowed to appropriate all to themselves. Selfishness is therefore no 

 part of their character, and all observers are struck with their custom 

 of dividing any thing they may receive among each other, a disin- 

 terestedness that is seldom seen among civilized nations. 



To protect the morals of the youths, they are forbidden from the 

 time of their initiation until their marriage to speak or even to approach 

 a female. They must encamp at, a distance from them, and if, per- 

 chance, one is seen in the pathway, they are obliged to make a detour 

 in order to avoid her. Mr. Watson stated he had been often put to 

 great inconvenience in travelling through the woods with a young 

 native for his guide, as he could never be induced to approach an 

 encampment where there were any Avomen. 



The ceremony of marriage is peculiar. In most cases the parties 

 are betrothed at an early age, and as soon as they arrive at the proper 

 age, the young man claims his gin or wife. 



The women are considered as an article of property, and are sold 

 or given away by the parents or relatives without the least regard to 

 their own wishes. As far as our observation went, the women appear 

 to take little care of their children. Polygamy exists, and they 

 will frequently give one of their wives to a friend who may be in 

 want of one; but notwithstanding this laxity they are extremely 

 jealous, and are very prompt to resent any freedom taken with their 

 wives. Their quarrels for the most part are occasioned by the fair 

 sex, and being the cause, they usually are the greatest sufferers ; for 

 the waddy is applied to their heads in a most unmerciful style, and 

 few old women are to be seen who do not bear unquestionable marks 

 of the hard usage they have received. The husband who suspects 

 another of seducing his wife, either kills one or both. The affair is 

 taken up by the tribe, if the party belongs to another, who inflict 

 punishment on him in the following manner. 



The guilty party is furnished with a shield, and made to stand at a 

 suitable distance, and the whole tribe cast their spears at him ; his 



vol. ii. 52 



