HORN EXPEDITION—ANTHROPOLOGY. 
35 
expense, which accompanied their conversations amon_<f themselves. x\nd it is on 
such occasions, when they are talking without restraint, tliat one regrets the absence 
of that knowledge of their language which might enable some idea of the natural 
bent of their minds to bo gained—an almost impossible task when attempted by 
means of direct (piestioning in a strange language. Their voices are melodious, 
especially those of the women, and I noticed a habit which I believe is common 
amongst the Lowland Scots and also. Professor Tate informs me, amongst the 
Northern English, of indicating assent with a peculiar double nasal sound which 
I can only describe to those unfamiliar with it by saying that it is most nearly 
expressed by the attempt to pronounce aloud the letters m-h-m- with the mouth 
shut. 
% 
In camp they are fond of singing and one could often hear their somewhat 
monotonous chants kept up till a late hour. At Tempe Downs I found one 
evening a group thus engaged at their camp in the river bed. The men were 
seated* and arranged in two small contiguous circles forming a figure of eight with 
a small fire in the centre of each loop. They were singing and beating time on 
the sand with sticks and boomerangs. The women and young children, similarly 
seated, were grouped closely together at one end of the figure of eight and joined 
in the singing. There was one little boy of three or four who entered into the 
performance with zest, beating excellent time with the others, and squeezing him¬ 
self into one of the circles when a place was vacated. 
As to honesty it is difficult to judge the natives by our standards. Truly in 
the matter of cattle-lifting their temptations must be very great. With empty 
stomachs and juicy fat beef close at hand, easily obtainable, and the owners well 
out of the way, it is no wonder that primitive human nature asserts itself and, 
whilst recognising the great harm done, it is hard under all the circumstances to 
blame them too severely. 
Of actual dishonesty or pilfering as regards ourselves no instance occurred 
throughout the journey though frequent opportunities offered. Messages were 
faithfully carried for us often for long distances, and the smallest rewards were 
cheerfully accepted, especially when they took the form of tobacco of which they 
are inordinately fond. One could not also help being struck with the extreme 
readiness with which, for comparatively trifling returns, they parted with 
belongings that must have taken much time and labour to produce. To certain 
* The Austi’aliaii native does not usually squat, that is to say rest the buttocks on the heels, but sits upon 
the ground with his knees either drawn up towards the body or the legs otherwise bent. The women liave a way 
of adducting one thigh across the other whereby unnecessary exposure is avoided. 
