PROCURING FOOD. 
257 
are very simple ; some exceedingly ingenious ; 
whilst others require great tact and skill ; and not a 
taken, and remained silently and sullenly watching the almost 
inanimate body of the wounded female. 
“ When death took place, they again expressed the most 
violent and extravagant grief ; they threw themselves upon the 
ground, weeping and screaming at the height of their voices, 
lacerating their bodies and inflicting upon themselves wounds 
upon their heads, from blows which they gave themselves with the 
leangville. About an hour after the death of the young woman, 
the body was removed a few hundred yards into the bush by the 
father and brother of the deceased ; the remainder of the tribe 
following by one at a time, until they had all joined what I 
imagined to be the usual funeral party. Having accompanied 
the body when it was removed, I was then requested to return 
to my tent, which request I took no notice of. In a few 
minutes I was again desired, rather sternly, and by impatient 
signs to go. I endeavoured to make them understand that I 
wished to remain, and I sat down upon a tree close to where the 
body lay. The father of the deceased then came close up to me, 
and pointed with his finger to his mouth, and then to the dead 
body. I was at this moment closely and intensely scrutinized 
by the whole party. I at once guessed their meaning, and 
signified my intention to remain, and, with as much indifference 
as I could assume, stretched myself upon the tree, and narrowly 
watched their proceedings. 
“ With a flint they made an incision upon the breast, when a 
simultaneous shriek was given by the party, and the same violent 
signs of grief were again evinced. After a short time the opera- 
tion was again commenced, and in a few minutes the body dis- 
embowelled. 
“ The scene which now took place was of the most revolting 
description ; horror-stricken and utterly disgusted, while obliged 
to preserve that equanimity of demeanour upon which I imagined 
VOL. II. 
s 
