138 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



curling in ringlets. The beard was by no means deficient, though 

 less abundant than in the Feejeean. 



For characteristic representations of Australians, I am hardly wil- 

 ling to refer to any except those in Mitchell's Tour, and the por- 

 traits taken by Mr. Agate : among which latter, I have been most 

 pleased with that of Bamboro-kain. The coloured figures in the 

 French Voyages are deficient in that depth of hue, wliich at once 

 arrests attention in the Australians : the best I have seen, is the full- 

 length portrait in the "Voyage aux Torres Australes." Natives in 

 a state of starvation, may have borne some sort of resemblance to the 

 delineations given in most publications; but in general, these have 

 appeared to me, simply caricatures. 



EASTERN AUSTRALIANS. 



On leaving the Samoa Islands in 1839, the vessels of the Squadron 

 proceeded to New South Wales; and arrived at Sydney at the close 

 of the month of November. An hour after landing, I happened to 

 meet an aboriginal in the street, wearing the European costume, but 

 who was instantly recognised; and this single example, seemed to 

 dispel all danger of subsequent!}^ confounding the Australian with 

 any other race of men. In short, I soon found, that while persons at 

 a distance are doubting and disputing, at Sydney, every one knows 

 that an Australian is not a Negro. 



Among other attentions shown us by residents, an invitation was 

 received from Mr. W. Stephens, to visit his estate at Peuen Beuen, 

 near the source of the Hunter River. Mr. Dana and myself, accord- 

 ingly went on board the steamboat, on the evening of the 2d of De- 

 cember; and after a night at sea, we entered on the following morn- 

 ing, the estuary of the Hunter. The channel led for many miles 

 directly towards the Interior ; and near the head of tide-water, where 

 the breadth was inconsiderable, we obtained a sight of a native canoe. 

 This appeared to have been formed without much art, from the hol- 

 low trunk of a tree; but I may have been deceived in this particular, 

 as I believe, bark is the usual material of construction ; most of the 

 Australian timber sinking in water. The natives are said to make a 

 rough bark canoe without much trouble, whenever occasion may 

 require. But their canoes are suitable only for a placid surface; and 

 the Australians do not appear to venture upon the open sea; either 



