1837.] Account of the New Colony of Western Australia. 31$ 



upon or chase it. When the owner does not wish the dog to follow, 

 lie ties the foreleg to the neck with a band of rushes, and leaves him 

 in a shady place ; he frequently carries the dog on his shoulders. They 

 are excellent watch dogs, and will attack strangers ; in the wild state 

 they are sometimes killed by the natives, who eat their flesh, but of 

 the skin no use is made. The mode in which they hunt the kangaroo 

 is in small parties, or singly ; they select a time when the rain is 

 pouring heavily, or the wind blowing hard, to prevent the noise of 

 their approach being heard, for the kangaroo is very quick in hearing, 

 and always on the alert. The hunter creeps upon them with the great- 

 est caution, and generally succeeds in approaching them unobserved. 

 If possible they keep the wind in their face, and when one is observed, 

 they take off their cloak, and when the animal stoops or turns his 

 back upon them they hastily advance, keeping a bush between them 

 for concealment. As they approach their prey, they move very light- 

 ly in a stooping posture, and only at the time when the noise of the 

 wind prevents their footsteps being heard. Should the kangaroo turn 

 round and observe them, they instantly stop and remain perfectly 

 motionless until he resumes his feeding. In this way they approach 

 within a few yards of their prey, and then pierce him with their 

 spears ; the instant he falls they run up and dispatch him with their 

 hammers by blows on the head. The first operation is to extract the 

 two front teeth of the lower jaw, which they use to sharpen spear 

 points ; then they seize the tail, and, taking the end in the mouth, bite 

 off the tip, and by pulling, extract the sinews which are inserted in it ; 

 these are bound round a stick, and dried for use, either for the purpose 

 of stitching the mantles or tying the barbs on the spears. Another 

 mode of hunting the kangaroo, when huntsmen are numerous, is by- 

 surrounding and gradually approaching the game, until they get suffi- 

 ciently near to spear them. 



The emu is speared chiefly in the winter, at which time they lay 

 their eggs ; when a nest is found, the hunters conceal themselves be- 

 hind a bush near it, and endeavonr to secure the male bird first ; the 

 female they are pretty certain of, unless she has been disturbed, when 

 she will forsake the nest. Emus however are not very often procured 

 by the natives, but with them kangaroos are highly esteemed as arti- 

 cles of food ; lizards also afford a favourite repast, and, at some seasons, 

 form a considerable portion of their food ; there are three species that 

 are eaten. The snakes which are eaten by the natives are of several 

 kinds ; when the natives kill one they are careful to beat its head to 

 pieces before they take it up ; they then examine if it has recently 



