418 
On the Aborigines 
been taught, not their original opinions. They believe in the 
existence of an evil spirit, called by some tribes, “ Namma,” who 
has power by night; of him they are much afraid, and never will 
willingly go out in the dark. I never could make out that 
they believed in a good deity, for although they spoke of one, 
it struck me that it was what they had been told ; they may, 
however, believe in one who has power by day. 
During the whole of the first night after the death of one of 
their tribe, they will sit round the body, using rapidly a low con¬ 
tinuous recitation, to prevent the evil spirit from taking it away. 
They are extremely jealous of this ceremony being witnessed by 
strangers; but I had, upon one occasion, an opportunity of being 
an ear-witness of it the whole night. 
They have no fixed habitations, sleeping round their fires in a 
circle; but in blowing weather putting up to windward break- 
winds of bark and branches. Near Pieman’s River, on the west 
coast, one tribe was discovered living in a village, if it may be so 
termed, of bark huts or break-winds, of a better description than 
usual, and having somewhat the appearance of a fixed residence. 
It is probable, however, that being good hunting-ground they 
merely intended making a lengthened stay there. 
With the exception of the weapons for war and hunting (which 
are of the rudest description), their only works of art are a small 
basket of dried rush or grass, the kangaroo sinew rope before- 
mentioned, and a rude necklace of small sea shells, polished with 
grease and sand. Their weapons are confined to the spear and 
waddie, both made of leptospermum or melaleuca (hard, heavy 
woods). The waddy is merely a cudgel, about two feet long, 
the end bluntly pointed, and the grasp notched. 
They have no domestic animal, unless a young tamed kangaroo 
could be esteemed such; and it is much to be doubted whether 
in their wild state they even had this. Of later years, as before- 
mentioned, they have had dogs. Each tribe, or portion of a 
tribe, is under a chief, who does not appear to be hereditary, but 
to attain his rank from his daring in war. 
They do not appear given to pilfering, although instances have 
