JALAKURU TRIBE. 
231 
detect the origin after it has passed thi-ough several 
tribes, and been subjected to the varifttions introduced 
by each individual nan-ator. In connection with this 
subjectj I may mention a circumstaDce, which, although 
irrelevant to that I have now entered upon, may prove 
interestrng. The natives of New South Wales^ and, I 
believe, of South Australia also, have long been in the 
habit of alluding to certain monster amphibia that are 
said to exist to the north. We found the same report 
prevalent on the Coburg Peninsula, but here it was to the 
Boutb, in Van Diemen^s Gulf, that these creatures had 
their abode. They proved to be a species of ' dngong,' 
an animal, I believe, only i-eceutly known to naturalists. 
The flesh is esteemed a great delicacy by the natives, hut 
they can only succeed in taking the young ones, the ftill- 
grovm animals being too formidable for them to encounter 
in their frail vessels. I obtained two skulls, from which 
comparative anatomists may probably detect the class to 
which they belong. They are in the possession of Sir 
Everard Home, of Her Majesty's Ship ' North Star/ to 
whom I gave them, from the supposition that he would 
arrive in England before mc. The head soniewhat resem- 
bles that of the ' Morse* or Sea-horse, two tuska project- 
ing downwards from the upper jaw. 
*^ But to return to the aborigines. I have already 
alluded to the Jalakum tribe as occupying the coast to 
the eastward of the Cobnrg Pemnsula, Although the 
territory they inhabit is remote from the settlement, 
individuals of the tribe were constantly residing with us, 
and some of these, from their activity, inteUigence, and 
