152 R. H. MATHEWS. 
But when the pens in the lower portions of the river floor | 
were submerged, those situated on a higher level, referred 
to in an earlier paragraph, could be availed of. When the 
river was falling these conditions were reversed—when 
the higher yards became dry, the lower ones were resorted 
to. In very uneven portions of the river bed there were 
several grades, to meet the exigencies of the rise and fall 
of the water. 
The water of the Darling is never clear, but always of a 
greyish hue, owing to the light-coloured clays along its 
banks. This has given it the name, among poets and 
novelists, of ‘‘The old, grey river!’’ During long periods 
of dry weather, however, a good deal of the clayey matter 
held in solution sinks to the bottom and the stagnant water 
becomes somewhat clearer. In times of flood the water is 
muddy and of a slightly reddish shade, due to the storm 
water draining in from surface soils of that colour. Owing 
to this sudden change in the character of the liquid, the 
fish often flee before the advancing turbid stream, which 
appears to nauseate them. When sucha fish-laden current 
reached the Ngtnnhu at Brewarrina, the aborigines had 
the ‘“‘up-stream’’ ends of their traps ready for action. 
The Brewarrina fishing pens were situated within the 
territory of the Ngéumba tribe, who always mustered there 
in considerable numbers in the fishing season, or at other 
times when fish were expected to be plentiful. The same 
people did not remain there all the time, but when certain 
families moved away into the back country to hunt for 
kangaroos and other game, other families came in to the 
river, and participated in the piscatorial harvest. Although 
the fishing grounds were apportioned among specified 
people, as already stated, the ownership was not of the 
exclusive character existing among Europeans. For 
example, if a man were not present, his ““claim’’ might be 
