188 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



each other, and a short time after may be again seen acting together 

 Their conflicts, for they do not deserve the name of wars, are con- 

 ducted after the following manner. The quarrel or misunderstanding 

 generally arises from some trivial affair ; when the aggrieved' party 

 assembles his neighbours to consult them relative to the course to be 

 pursued. The general opinion having been declared, a messenger is 

 sent to announce their intention to commence hostilities to the oppo- 

 site party, and to fix a day for the combat. The latter immediately 

 assemble their friends, and make preparations for the approaching 

 contest. The two parties on the day assigned meet, accompanied 

 by the women and children. The first onset is made by the oldest 

 women (hags they might be termed) vituperating the opposite side. 

 Then a warrior advances, and several throws of spears take place. 

 These are parried with much dexterity, for all the natives possess 

 great art and skill in avoiding missiles with their shields. This ex- 

 change of missiles continues for some time, and not unfrequently ends 

 without any fatal result. When one of either party is killed, a separa- 

 tion takes place, succeeded by another course of recrimination, after 

 which explanations are made, the affair terminates, and hostility is at 

 an end ; the two parties meet amicably, bury the dead, and join in the 

 corrobory dance. 



These dances are not only the usual close of their combats, but are 

 frequent in time of peace. They appear almost necessary to stir up 

 their blood ; and under the excitement they produce, the whole nature 

 of the people seems to be changed. To a spectator, the effect of one 

 of these exhibitions almost equals that of a tragic melodrame. 



A suitable place for the performance is selected in the neighbour- 

 hood of their huts. Here a fire is built by the women and boys, 

 while such of the men as are to take a share in the exhibition, usually 

 about twenty in number, disappear to arrange their persons. When 

 these preparations are completed, and the fire burns brightly, the per- 

 formers are seen advancing in the guise of as many skeletons. This 

 effect is produced by means of pipe-clay, with which they paint broad 

 white lines on their arms and legs, and on the head, while others of 

 less breadth are drawn across the body, to correspond to the ribs. 

 The music consists in beating time on their shields, and singing, and 

 to it the movements of the dancers conform. It must not be supposed 

 that this exhibition is a dance in our sense of the word, nor is it like 

 any thing that we saw in the South Sea islands. It consists of violent 

 and odd movements of the arms, legs, and body, contortions and vio- 

 lent muscular actions, amounting almost to frenzy. The performers 

 appear more like a child's pasteboard supple-Jack than any thing 

 human in their movements. 



