35 8 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [October, 



though it mud be owned, that the refernblance confided folely in the 

 pofition. 



Both fexes ufe the difgufling pra&ice of rubbing fifh oil into 

 their {kins ; but they are compelled to this as a guard againfl the ef- 

 fects of the air, and of mufquitoes, and flies ; fome of which are large, 

 and bite or fling with much feverity. But the oil, together with the 

 perfpiration from their bodies, produces, in hot weather, a mo ft hor- 

 rible flench. Some of them have been feen with the entrails of huh 

 frying in the burning fun upon their heads, until the oil ran down 

 over their foreheads. To their hair, by means of the yellow gum, 

 they fallen the front teeth of the kangooroo, and the jaw-bones of a 

 large fifh, human teeth, pieces of wood, feathers of birds, the tail of 

 the dog, and certain bones taken out of a fifh, not unlike human teeth. 

 The natives who inhabit the fhore of Botany Bay divide the hair into 

 fmall parcels, each of which they mat together with gum, and form 

 them into lengths like the thrums of a mop. On particular occafions, 

 they ornament themfelves with red and white clay, ufing the former 

 when preparing to fight, the latter for the more peaceful amufement 

 of dancing. The fafhion of thefe adornments was left to each perfon's 

 tafle ; and fome, when decorated in their very befl manner, looked 

 perfectly horrible. Nothing could appear more terrible than a black 

 and difrnal face, with a large white circle drawn round each eye, 

 waved lines down each arm, thigh, and leg; fome with checquers 

 daubed and lines drawn over each rib : thefe prefented mofl fpeclxe- 

 like fi gures. Previous to either adance or a combat, they were always 

 found bufily employed in thefe necefTary preliminaries. Both fexes 

 are ornamented with fears upon the breafl, arms, and back, which 

 are cut with broken pieces of the fhell that they ufe at the end of the 

 throwing-flick. By their keeping open thefe incifions, the flefh grows 

 up between the fides of the wound, and after a time, fkinning over, 

 forms a large weal or feam. 



The women are early fubjected to an uncommon mutilation of the 

 two firft joints of the little finger of the left hand. This operation is 



performed 



