NEW SOUTH WALES. 195 



of their initiation until their marriage to speak to 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 women. 



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 

 expertness and activity often enable him to escape any serious injury, 

 but instances do occur in which the party is killed. Such punishments 

 are inflicted with great formality, upon an appointed day, and the 

 whole tribe assemble to witness it. The person most injured has the 

 first throw, and it depends upon the feelings of the tribe respecting the 

 offence committed, w T hether they endeavour to do injury to the culprit 

 or not ; and thus it may be supposed that there is some judgment 

 evinced in this mode of punishment. 



The following account of the burial of their dead, was received from 

 the missionary who was an eye-witness to it. He was called out one 

 evening to see a native, who they said was dying. On repairing to 

 the camp, he was too late, for the man was already dead, and not- 

 withstanding the short space of time that had elapsed, the corpse was 

 already wrapped up for burial. The legs had been bent at the knees 

 and hips, and tied to the body, and the head bent downwards towards 



