That Their Skill In Throwing The Spear Sometimes Enables Them To Kill
The Kangaroo We Have No Right To Doubt,
As a long splinter of this weapon
was taken out of the thigh of one of these animals, over which
The flesh
had completely closed; but we have never discovered that they have any method
of ensnaring them, or that they know any other beasts but the kangaroo and dog.
Whatever animal is shewn them, a dog excepted, they call kangaroo:
a strong presumption that the wild animals of the country are very few.
Soon after our arrival at Port Jackson, I was walking out near a place
where I observed a party of Indians, busily employed in looking at some sheep
in an inclosure, and repeatedly crying out, 'kangaroo, kangaroo!' As this
seemed to afford them pleasure, I was willing to increase it by pointing out
the horses and cows, which were at no great distance. But unluckily,
at the moment, some female convicts, employed near the place, made their
appearance, and all my endeavours to divert their attention from the ladies
became fruitless. They attempted not, however, to offer them the least degree
of violence or injury, but stood at the distance of several paces,
expressing very significantly the manner they were attracted.
It would be trespassing on the reader's indulgence were I to impose on him
an account of any civil regulations, or ordinances, which may possibly exist
among this people. I declare to him, that I know not of any, and that
excepting a little tributary respect which the younger part appear to pay
those more advanced in years, I never could observe any degrees of
subordination among them.
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