256 
MODES OF 
Many methods of obtaining the various articles 
of food, are resorted to by the natives, some of these 
mentary Papers on Australian Aborigines, published August, 
1844, in a report of Mr. Protector Sievewright, from Lake 
Tarong, in one of the Port Phillip districts. 
“ On going out I found the whole of the men of the different 
tribes (amounting to upwards of 100) engaged hand to hand in 
one general melee. 
“ On being directed by some of the women, who had likewise 
sought shelter near my tent, to the huts of the Bolaghers, I 
there found a young woman, supported in the arms of some of 
her tribe, quite insensible, and bleeding from two severe wounds 
upon the right side of the face ; she continued in the same 
state of insensibility till about 1 1 o’clock, when she expired. 
“ After fighting for nearly an hour, the men of the Bolagher 
tribe returned to their huts, when finding that every means I 
had used to restore the young woman was in vain, they gave 
vent to the most frantic expressions of grief and rage, and were 
employed till daylight in preparing themselves and weapons to 
renew the combat. 
“ Shortly before sunrise they again rushed towards the Targurt 
and Elengermite tribes, who, with about a dozen of Wamambool 
natives, were encamped together, when a most severe struggle 
took place between them, and very few escaped on either side 
without serious fractures or dangerous spear wounds. Although 
the Targurt tribe were supported by the Elengermite and 
Wamambool natives, and were consequently much superior in 
number, they were, after two hours hard fighting, driven off the 
ground and pursued for about four miles, to where their women 
and children had retired; when one of the former, named 
Mootinewhannong, was selected, and fell, pierced by about 20 
spears of the pursuers. 
“ The body of this female was shortly afterwards burned to 
ashes by her own people, and the Bolagher natives returned to 
their encampment, apparently satisfied with the revenge they had 
