320 Account of the Nciv Colony of Western Australia. [Oct. 



eaten, and if it has indigested food in its stomach, they reject it; for, 

 if earen, they say it would cause violent vomiting. At the spring time 

 of the year they live principally upon the eggs and young of birds , 

 chiefly of the parrot tribe, but also of hawks, ducks, swans, pigeons, 

 cockatoos, land turtle, &c. They are extremely expert at climbing 

 trees, which they do by notching the bark w ith their hammers, in the 

 same manner as is practised in Port Jackson. Thus they procure op- 

 ossums, which they trace to their holes by the marks of their claws 

 upon the bark ; there are two species, one the common ring-tail 

 (uwarra), the other, comal : they are not often found in the same 

 districts, the cernul living chiefly in lofty and thick woods, whilst 

 the ring-tail is frequently found in sw 7 amps, and the low brush 

 which surrounds them. The comal is of larger size and much 

 lighter colour, with a brownish bushy tail ; it is also fatter, the fur is 

 longer, of a whitish colour, and is spun by the natives into a kind 

 of worsted, called by them peteroe, of which the noodle buls are 

 made; the fur of the ring-tailed opposum is not used. That of both 

 species is easily detached from the skin. The comal is frequently 

 hunted with clogs by moonlight, when it is either speared in its flight, 

 or driven to its haunt in some hollow tree ; the natives then make a 

 hole, and extract it, but should it be too difficult or troublesome, 

 they kindle a torch of grass-tree leaves and push it into the hole, 

 when, in attempting to escape, the animal is easily taken. 



During the summer and autumn months the natives derive a large 

 (proportion of their food from fish. They have no canoes, neither do they 

 swim well. They have neither nets, nor hook and line, and the only wea- 

 pon they use is the spear, with which they are very dexterous. In the 

 mouths of streams they take large quantities by weirs made of bushes ; 

 but the most common method is pursuing the fish into shoal water and 

 spearing them, or as they lie basking on the surface. Fish being 

 very plentiful, they often kill more than is sufficient for present 

 use ; in this case they roast them, and, separating the flesh in 

 large flakes from the bones, pack it carefully up in soft bark, in 

 which way it will keep good for several days. Immediately on killing 

 a large fish, they make a small opening just below the gills, through 

 which they extract the entrails; if there be any fat, it is carefully 

 separated ; the bowels, liver, &c. they cook and eat. Although sharks 

 are numerous, the natives are not at all alarmed at them ; sometimes 

 they will spear them, but never eat any part of the body. Sting-rays 

 and maiden-rays are also common, but not eaten ; though sometimes 

 killed for amusement. Crawfish (" challons") and prawns, are to be 



