412 
On the Aborigines 
There can be no doubt but that the aborigines of Van Diemen's 
Land are scions of the continental tribes, their habits, weapons, 
&c., being so similar, and the chain of islands extending across 
the eastern extremity of Bass's Straits forming a comparatively 
easy communication. From the circumstance, however, of the 
name for water amongst the western tribes being similar to that 
used by the natives near Cape Leeuwin, it is extremely probable 
that the latter furnished the first inhabitants for the western por¬ 
tion of Van Diemen's Land. This is rendered the more likely, 
from the peculiar form of the south-western coast of New Hol¬ 
land, as a canoe driven to sea from the vicinity of King George's 
Sound would, from the prevailing winds and currents, be apt to 
reach the western part of Van Diemen's Land. 
When a woman was taken in labour, the tribe did not wait for 
her, but she was left behind with another woman, and afterwards 
followed as she best could. I have no reason to suppose that 
infanticide existed amongst the aborigines in their former wild 
state; there is little doubt, however, but that it was common of 
later years, driven to it as they in all probability were by the con¬ 
tinued harassing of the whites; in fact, when their fear of the 
latter prevented their killing the kangaroo in their usual man¬ 
ner, dogs became so extremely valuable to them, that the females 
have been known to desert their infants for the sake of suckling 
the puppies. Their usual method of killing kangaroos, was by 
surrounding a scrub, setting fire to it, and spearing the kangaroos 
as they came out. 
The women carry their infants in a kangaroo skin at their 
backs, and suckle them over their shoulders ; the breasts of the 
females are consequently preposterously long. They suckle their 
infants for a very long time ; I am not certain, but believe, for 
upwards of two years. 
Practising throwing small spears, and other savage exercises, 
appear to be the whole education and employment of the children. 
Both the men and women hold themselves very erect; indeed the 
men, probably from the habit of balancing the spear, throw back 
the shoulders so much as almost to make it appear a deformity. 
When the males arrive at the age of puberty, they are deeply 
