280 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



dialect is represented as quite different, notwithstanding the physical 

 characteristics, habits, and customs, are said to be similar to those of 

 the other aborigines. It is not believed, however, that the difference 

 is as great as has been represented, and farther researches, it is 

 thought, will prove the accounts of it to have been exaggerated. 

 The language differs radically from that of the Malay tribes, being 

 highly artificial in its construction, abounding in consonanted sounds, 

 and remarkable for the number and variety of its grammatical in- 

 flexions. The verbal modifications are as numerous and compre- 

 hensive as in the American languages, but the manner of inflecting 

 is different: the root or radical verb (which is usually a monosyllable) 

 is placed first, and to this the various inflexions or modifying syllables 

 are attached, until they protract the word to an extraordinary length. 

 Thus, in the w r ord Bumarce, 1 strike, (Bu or Bum being the root.) 

 Then comes bumal-guaim, I have struck; bumal-gurani, I struck 

 yesterday; bumal girri, I shall strike; bumalugidyillinga, I strike 

 myself; bumallanna, we two strike each other; bumalalinga, I strike 

 again ; bumalmamblina, I permit to strike again ; bumabumara, I 

 continue striking ; bumalngarriawagirri, I shall strike to-morrow ; and 

 filially, bumalbumalalimambilngarriawagirri, I shall permit to con- 

 tinue striking again to-morrow. Those who are desirous of farther 

 information, relative to this language, are referred to the results of the 

 Philological department. 



Mr. Peale made a journey into the interior, in the direction of 

 Argyle, passing through Liverpool, and visiting Camden, Clifton, and 

 Strathara. The last two were the country-seats of gentlemen. 

 Clifton is the residence of James M'Arthur, Esq., who possesses a 

 large estate in its neighbourhood. Mr. M'Arthur, father of the 

 present owner, was the first who introduced sheep into this country. 

 The facts connected with this transaction, as related to me at Sydney, 

 are as follows : Captain M'Arthur, about the year 1797, had procured 

 three rams and five ewes from Captain Kent, R. N., who brought 

 them from the Cape of Good Hope. They were of Spanish blood, 

 and had been sent out by the Dutch government to that colony. 

 Captain M'Arthur soon found by experience, that his ideas as to the 

 fitness of the country for the support of this animal, had not been too 

 extravagant. 



In 1803, he visited England, and there made a statement, which 

 was communicated to the government, a copy of which will be found 

 in Appendix XXIII. 



