NEW SOUTH WALES. 193 



coast is three feet long by six or eight inches wide, with a handle in 

 the centre; it is made rounding. Those in the interior are only a 

 three-cornered piece of wood, with a hole on each side, through which 

 the hand is thrust. The size of the latter is smaller, being only two 

 feet long and three or four inches broad. It would seem almost im- 

 possible that so small a shield should be sufficient to guard the body of 

 a man ; and nothing but their quickness of eye and hand could make 

 it of any value as a protection against the spear or club. 



The mode in which the natives climb trees was considered ex- 

 traordinary by those who witnessed it, although they had been 

 accustomed to the feats of the Polynesians in the ascent of the cocoa 

 nut trees. The Australians mount a tree four or five feet in diameter, 

 both with rapidity and safety. As they climb they cut notches above 

 them, with a stone or metal hatchet, large enough to admit two of 

 their toes, which are inserted in them, and support their weight until 

 other holes are cut. 



The natives who reside upon the coast use canoes which are con- 

 structed as follows. 



A gum tree that has a thick and tough bark is selected ; this is 

 girdled, and the bark slit so that by care a piece of it may be stripped 

 from the tree large enough to make the canoe, which is usually about 

 fourteen feet long and seven wide. This piece of bark is charred on 

 the inside, after which it is folded in each end, so as to bring the edges 

 of the two halves of the entire circuit of the bark together; in this 

 position these edges are fastened by cords and wooden rivets. The 

 simple canoe is now complete, is usually about three feet wide in the 

 middle, and will convey half a dozen persons. 



They use paddles of different sizes, say from two to five feet in 

 length. In using the shorter kind, a paddle is held in each hand. 



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, how- 

 ever, 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 acknow- 

 ledgment of power to enact laws, they are solely guided by old usage, 

 and can give no account whatever of its origin. The universal repro- 

 bation 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 



vol. it. R 25 



