1 Saki a dia Baeele” 
e 
MURRUMBIDGEE, LOWER LACHLAN, AND LOWER DARLING. 55 
round, the skippers jump in one after another, until there will be 
as many as a dozen skipping away at once. As they become 
tired they jump out, but the vacancies thus caused are always 
filled up as soon as made, by fresh muscle and wind, abundance of 
which, in the shape of stalwart young men and vi girls, 
who are both ready and willing to make a display of their agility, 
and merely await the longed-for opportunity. 
us the rope is kept going, until those swinging it become 
tired, when they cease, and two fresh hands take their places ; and 
so the fun continues, till they are all pretty well fatigued by the 
violent though pleasing exercise. 
ey do not award any trophies for superiority in their various 
games ; even the historical “ pickle parsley for their pains ” is not 
given, therefore the victors have to content themselves with a 
consciousness of their superiority, and without doubt this sense of 
premiership lends considerable self-importance to the deportment 
of the successful ones during these tribal gatherings, as indeed 
have frequently seen demonstrated, yes, even to the verge of the 
ludicrous, 
CRIME AND ITS PUNISHMENT. 
in judgment on the culprit ; one of the old men, generally a friend 
of the murdered man, officiates as Crown Prosecutor after a mild 
_ g distance, and there to remain perfectly nude with only a 
simple shield to protect himself, for about twenty minutes, whil 
young men of the tribe essay their marksmanship. e 
dexterity usually displayed by such criminals in turning aside the 
Spears which are hurled at them, by the aid of the shield alone, is 
truly marvellous, and in the most of such cases gs heir 
Persons through the trying ordeal in safety, with the exception 
