CHANGE IN THEIR CUSTOMS. 407 
tion, for so great a distance, as in the colony of 
Western Australia. 
Following round the southern coast easterly, the 
head of the Great Bight is the first point at which 
any great change appears to occur, and even here it 
is less in the character, language, and weapons of 
the natives, than in their ceremonial observances. 
For the first time the rite of circumcision is observed, 
and conjoined with it the still more extraordinary 
practice to which I have before alluded. The cere- 
mony of knocking out the two upper front teeth of 
boys arrived at the age of puberty, is not, however, 
adopted. We have already noticed, that for six 
hundred miles to the west and north-west from the 
Great Bight, circumcision is unknown. The tribes, 
therefore, who practise it, cannot have come from 
that direction, neither are they likely to have come 
from the eastward, for after crossing the head of the 
Port Lincoln peninsula, and descending towards 
Adelaide, we find the rite of circumcision alone is 
practised, without any other ceremony in connection 
with it. Now, in a change of habits or customs, 
originating in the wandering, unsettled life of 
savages, it is very likely, that many of their original 
customs may gradually be dropped or forgotten ; 
but it is scarcely probable, that they should be again 
revived by their descendants, after a long period of 
oblivion, and when those tribes from whom they 
more immediately proceeded, no longer remem- 
bered or recognised such ceremonials. By extend- 
