324 
First Discovery 
they also observed that the bark had been taken off with flint 
stones, and that steps were cut for people to climb up to search 
for the nests of birds (as Tasman's sailors supposed), or rather for 
opossums. These steps were full five feet one from another, 
whence (Tasman remarks) it was conjectured that the people 
here must be very tall, or that they used some artifice in climbing. 
The artifice is still common among the Australian aborigines ; it 
is managed as follows :— 
With a sharp stone the aborigine cut a notch in the bark of the 
tree, for the reception of the great toe of the right foot, and at 
the same time another notch to the left of it, as high as he could 
reach, for the left hand. He then commenced ascending, cutting 
again obliquely to the right, as high as possible, for the right 
hand; holding on by this last notch, he transferred the stone 
to the left hand, and placed the left great toe where his left hand 
had been. With the left hand, he now made a notch, as high as 
he could, on that side, and so advanced upwards, cutting alter¬ 
nately with the right hand and the left; so that on all trees two 
parallel rows of notches are visible, from the base to the top. 
The first step often appears high, as they assisted themselves at 
starting by any dead branch or log which might be in the way, 
and which is apt to be destroyed afterwards by the bush fires. 
The length of the spaces between the notches would depend upon 
the height of the individual; and if one row became obliterated, 
by fire or otherwise, the steps would then appear at least five 
feet apart. 
The traces of a kangaroo were mistaken for those of a tiger; 
and they brought on board the excrement of some animal, as they 
supposed. They also brought “ pieces of good-looking gums, 
which dropped from the trees : some like the gum-lac.” They 
saw people further down the bay, but had no communication 
with them; and these were the only natives seen during their 
visit. The wild ducks and geese which they observed are still 
abundant in these quarters at the season of the year, as arc black 
swans and pelicans. The country they described as all over fur¬ 
nished with trees, which stood thin, so that one might pass through 
everywhere, and distinguish objects at a distance, without Hill- 
