destitute of clothing. While travelling in tlie north-wc^t Capt. 

 George Grey* saw no opossum rugs in use north c>i L".t S. The 

 opossum rug serves equally well for mantle and hhiiikiM and forms 

 a receptacle on the mother's back in which she can carry lirr infant 

 when on the march. 



In making the rugs, the flesh is cleaned thoroughly oil' tlif skins, 



are generally ornamented with rude scratches represenrini; snakes, 

 emu's feet, and the like, the figures being coloured witli red ochre. 

 The skins are neatly sewn together, kangaroo sinews serving as 

 thread. I was told by a black boy that his people in th<^ Wide 

 Bay and Burnett Districts, Queensland, were wont fonncrly to 

 make the soft papery bark of the ti-tree supply the place of l)lanket.s. 

 It appears that the same practice obtains in the neiglihourliood of 

 Halifax Bay. t In many parts the females and Jiiore especially 

 young girls, wear a fringe suspended from a belt round tlie waist, 

 the fringe V)eing made of various materials such as veyetabie fibre, 



of the person, but a few simple ornaments are very generally worn. 

 Among tliese may he mentioned chaplets round the head, usually 

 painted with pipeclay or ochre, strings of bright yellow reed l)eads, 

 and a j.iece of shell-like mother-of-pearl susi)eii(l('(l on a string 



; they are filled with asl 



ise when healed, like a pair of lips. 



ibes the males pierce the septujii of tlu' 



more l)eneticial for infants than washing 

 ide of life. On special occasions mk h a- 

 •ef>s, and fights, the men smeai- their \uA\> 



