THE AUSTRALIAN RACE. 



139 



amid the heavy waves of the Southern Ocean, or in the comparatively 

 quiet waters along the northern coast. 



The occupants of the canoe, a man and his wife, crossed the water, 

 and were afterwards seen strolling along, attired in worn-out Euro- 

 pean clothing. At our place of debarkation, three or four other 

 natives were seen ; and one of them, who held some implements of 

 warfare, announced himself in English, as "king of the country." 

 On inquiring further respecting his place of residence, he added, that 

 " he Hved in his master's kitchen." 



Although the range or territorial limits of the different Australian 

 communities, are carefully observed, the idea of any ownership in the 

 soil, does not appear to have occurred to these people. They neither 

 at any time, resisted the new-comers from Europe, nor did they 

 withdraw from the contact; but they continue to ramble over their 

 old domain, complaining only of the disappearance of the kangaroo. 

 For this loss, which they attribute to the "White man's kangaroo 

 (the sheep and bullock) having driven away their own," they con- 

 sider themselves entitled to indemnity. 



On the frontiers, the natives doubtless occasionally spear the cattle; 

 though it was evident, that they have been far more sinned against 

 than sinning. They have further, been peculiarly unfortunate, in 

 being exposed to the contact of such a class of people as the escaped 

 convicts. 



According to common report, " the natives cannot be induced to 

 cultivate the soil, and are ec^ually averse to all other kinds of labour;" 

 but in the towns, I met with one or two individuals, who appeared to 

 be engaged in some occupation. I am not aware, however, that any 

 instance is on record, of an Australian being employed as a mariner. 



A striking difference from the aboriginal Americans, and perhaps 

 from all other known people, is found in the absolute rejection of all 

 innovation by the wild communities. European customs or articles 

 of manufacture, do not make the slightest progress among them ; and 

 relations of commercial intercourse continue altogether unknown. 



In a region which has not added to the list of esculent plants, it 

 does not appear surprising that cultivation should be unknown ; 

 especially as the soil rarely affords the capability. Moreover, such is 

 the forbidding character of the natural vegetation, that this contributes 

 very slightly to the sustenance of man ; and I have sometimes doubted 

 whether any different branch of the human family, could have main- 

 tained its existence on the slender natural resources of Interior Aus- 

 tralia. The original population, notwithstanding its sparseness, was 



