WEAPONS. 
305 
when living with Europeans, and brought by them 
into a position at variance with his prejudices on 
this point. All the buildings of the natives are 
necessarily from their habits of a very temporary 
character, seldom being intended for more than a 
few weeks’ occupation, and frequently only for a 
few days. By this time food is likely to become 
scarce, or the immediate neighbourhood unclean, 
and a change of locality is absolutely unavoidable. 
When the huts are constructed, the ground is made 
level within, any little stumps of bushes, or plants, 
stones, or other things being removed, and grass, 
reeds, or leaves of trees frequently gathered and 
spread over the bottom, to form a dry and soft bed ; 
this and their opossum cloak constitute the greatest 
degree of luxury to which they aspire. Occasionally 
native men, in very cold weather, are both without 
huts and clothing of any kind. In this case, many 
small fires are made (for the natives never make a 
large one), by which they keep themselves warm. 
I have often seen single natives sleep with a fire at 
their head, another at their feet, and one on either 
side, and as close as ever they could make them 
without burning themselves ; indeed, sometimes 
within a very few inches of their bodies. 
The weapons of the natives are simple and rudi- 
mental in character, but varied in their kind and 
make, according to the purposes for which they may 
be required, or the local circumstances of the district 
in which they are used. The spear, which is the 
VOL. II, 
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