318 Account of the New Colony of Western Australia. [Oct. 



are generally erected in a sheltered spot, near water, with the back 

 towards the prevailing wind, and a fire is kept burning constant- 

 ly in the front ; one hut contains several individuals in a 

 crowded state — the dogs, also, are admitted to a share of their 

 bed. An encampment rarely consists of more than seven or eight 

 huts; for, except during the hunting and fishing season, at which 

 time large parties assemble together, their numbers are generally 

 small, and two or three huts suffice. The number of individuals, how- 

 ever, seldom exceed fifty. The huts are so arranged as not to over- 

 lock each other ; the single men have one to themselves, the children 

 sleep with the women in a large hut near the husbands : these encamp- 

 ments generally consist of near relatives, and comprise families ra- 

 ther than tribes. 



Those families who have locations on the sea coast, quit it during 

 the winter for the interior, and the natives of the interior in like man- 

 ner pay visits to the coasts during the fishing, seasons. As the country 

 does not abound in food, they are seldom stationary, removing, accord- 

 ing to the time of year, to those parts which produce the articles of 

 provision which may be in season. During the winter and early- 

 spring they are very much scattered, but as summer advances they 

 assemble in greater numbers. It is at this season that they procure 

 the greatest abundance of game ; it is done by setting fire to the dry 

 underwood and grass which rapidly burns. With a kind of torcbj 

 made of the dry leaves of the grass tree, they set fire to the sides of 

 the covert, by which the game is inclosed and cannot escape. The 

 hunters, concealed by the smoke, stand in the paths most frequented 

 by the animals, and spear them with facility as they pass by. On 

 these occasions vast numbers of animals are destroyed; the violence 

 of the fire is frequently very great, and extends over many miles of 

 the country, but this is generally guarded against by their burning 

 it in consecutive portions. The women also kindle fires, but 

 only for the purpose of taking bandicoots ; they sometimes 

 however, accompany the men at the larger firings for kangaroos 

 or waleby. As soon as the fire has passed over the ground, they walk 

 over the ashes in search of lizards and snakes, which are thus destroy- 

 ed in great numbers, and those which have escaped their holes are 

 easily discovered. In the chase the hunters are assisted by dogs, 

 which they catch young and domesticate; but they take little pains 

 to train them to any particular mode of hunting. In size and appear- 

 ance they resemble our fox hounds; they appear to have a very fine 

 scent, and draw upon their game like a pointer, after which they spring 



