302 
NATIVE DWELLINGS. 
Sometimes each married man will have a hut for 
himself, his wives, and family, including perhaps 
occasionally his mother, or some other near relative. 
At other times, large long huts are constructed, in 
which, from five to ten families reside, each having 
their own separate fire. Young unmarried men 
frequently unite in parties of six or eight, and make 
a hut for themselves. The materials of which the 
huts are composed, are generally small branches or 
boughs of trees, covered in wet weather with grass, 
or other similar material. At other times, and 
especially if large, or made in wet weather, they are 
formed of thick solid logs of wood, piled and 
arranged much in the same way as the lighter mate- 
“ Left early, attended by Pevay, to reconnoitre the country. In 
the marshes numerous trenches were again met with ; these 
resembled more the works of civilized than of savage men ; they 
were of considerable extent ; one continuous treble line mea- 
sured 500 yards in length, two feet in width, and from 18 
inches to two feet in depth ; these treble dikes led to extensive 
ramified watercourses ; the whole covered an area of at least ten 
acres, and must have been done at great cost of labour to the 
Aborigines, a convincing proof of their persevering industry. 
These are the most interesting specimens of native art I had 
seen ; thousands of yards had been accomplished ; the mountain 
streams were made to pass through them. In fishing, the 
natives use the arabine or eel-pot of platted grass, from nine to 
twelve feet in length. On the elevated ground were some of the 
largest ash-hills I had seen, and must have been the work of 
generations ; one measured 31 yards in length, 29 in width, and 
two in height, with hollow cavities for the natives’ bivouacs and 
camping places.” — “ Extract from Mr. Robinson’s Letter, 
copied from papers relative to Australian Aborigines, printed 
for the House of Commons, August 1844, p. 240.” 
