OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



377 



other, which is made of folic! wpod, and hardened by fire ; but it is 

 not fo much ufed, on account of its great weight. Of clubs they 

 have feveral forts ; one of which is of very large dimenfions. They 

 have yet another inftrument, which they call Ta-war-rang. It is 

 about three feet long, is narrow, but has three fides, in one of which 

 is the handle, hollowed by fire. The other fides are rudely carved 

 with curved and waved lines, and it is made ufe of in dancing, being 

 ftruck upon for this purpofe with a club. Thefe, with a (tone hatchet, 

 make the whole of their weapons ; in which, it was obferved, each of 

 the principal tribes had fomething peculiar, by which it was known to 

 what part of the country they belonged. The fame peculiarity ex- 

 tended to their fifhing-lines, nets, and even to their dances, fongs, and 

 dialed:. 



The fhedding of blood, among thefe favages, is always followed 

 by puniftiment ; the party offending being compelled to expofe his 

 perfon to the fpears of all who choofe to throw at him; for in fuch 

 punifhments the ties of consanguinity or rriendihip are of no avail. 

 On the death of a perfon, whether male or female, old or young, the 

 friends of the deceafed muft be puniihed, as if the death Were occa- 

 fioned by their neglect. This is fometimes carried farther than can 

 be reconcilable with humanity, as the following inftance will con- 

 firm : 



A native had been murdered. His widow, being obliged to avenge 

 his death on fome of the relations of the murderer, and meeting with 

 a little girl, who was fomeway related to him, took her to a retired 

 place, where, with a club and a pointed (tone, {he beat her fo cruelly 

 that fhe was taken to the town almoft dead. In the head were fix or 

 feven deep incifions, and one ear was divided to the bone, which, 

 from the nature of the inftrument with which fhe was beaten, had 

 been greatly injured. The poor child died in a few days. The na- 

 tives to whom this circumftance was mentioned exprefled no concern 

 at it, but feemed to think it quite right, neceffary, and inevitable. It 

 was underftood that whenever women have occafion for this fangui- 



3 c nary 



