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  dark in colour; the other kind, known as kavai in Kabi, was a light,

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with perhaps some game, the weaker vessel loaded with the chattels and
possibly a baby on the back in a loop of rug or sitting stride-leg
on a shoulder. Some would carry live fire-sticks to save the trouble
of producing fire by friction. Arrived at the familiar, well-chosen
rendezvous, it was the duty of the women to cut the bark for the humpies
(dwellings) and prepare the fires.
The ordinary style of house was a mere bark shelter. Three or
four sheets of bark were set obliquely with the lower ends in a semi-
circle, on the ground, and the upper ends, overlapping, gathered
together and supported by light saplings. This sufficed for a family
The dewllings were placed with little distance apart, facing in the same
direction and each had its own small fire in front. A large fire would
have roasted the inmates. Grass was strewn on the floor for a bed. If
rain threatened, a rut was dug round the back of the humpy to serve as
a drain. The warriors' spears were stuck in the ground, ready to hand,
at the side of the rude shelter.
The natives were astir early, but they could afford to be, as they
often slept in the daytime. In the evening, before retiring, they would
squat by the fire or lie awake discoursing, or indulging in a quiet
corroboree. On occasions there would be bad blood in the camp, and
accusations and retorts would be volubly poured forth in stentorian tones
late into the night, followed, perhaps, by the clatter of weapons used
in single combat. They were great at invective and wordy strife.
There was much of interest to be observed on visiting a camp. The
family could be witnessed at their rather irregular meal. They might be
regaling themselves on the eucalyptus-flavoured possum, the leg of a
kangaroo, or the tender, white flesh of a snake. A joint would be placed
on the fire, and as it became partially cooked, it would be taken up by
the head of the house, who, after helping himself to a few mouthfuls,
would be followed by his wife, and then one after an other of the children
would take a bite in turn, whereupon it would be replaced at the fire.
No doubt, eaten in this way the gravy would be delicious, and the adhering
ashes would give the zest of salt. Large game, like emus, was cooked in
improvised ovens, prepared by scooping a hole in the ground. The operation
was nothing like so elaborate as the mode followed in Victoria.
There are two varieties of native bee, both very small. They had no
sting and made only a faint hum. One kind, called killa in Kabi, was very
dark in colour; the other kind, known as kavai in Kabi, was a light,
greyish colour and its honey was the less esteemed. Their nests were in
hollow trees. The natives made a spongy mat out of the inner bark or bast
tissue of a tree, by beating and chewing it. The method [?] was very
sociable and economical. Members of the household would take a suck in
turn, and after the substance of the honey was exhausted, the flavour
would cling to the bark rag and reward the sucker for his exertions.
The man's chief home duties consisted in cooking and eating. He would
also spend much time in fashioning his weapons, using a stone knife or
chisel and a shell. The ends of the spears were hardened by fire. Cords
were manufactured of fur and of hair, human hair included. Sinews were
drawn from the kangaroo's tail to serve as twine. They were used for
sewing possums' skins together to form rugs. Much time was spent in pre-
paring the rugs. The flesh was rubbed off the skins with stones. Generally
a rude linear design was scratched on the inside of [each] skin and coloured
with kuthing, a red clay. The women were skilled in the manufacture of
nets and of dillie-bags made of grass or twine.
The men might go out for the chase either in a band or singly. They
used to fire the grass in a line from one projecting point of scrub to
another and force the game away to a corner, formed by the scrub margin,
where their comrades would be lying in wait to effect the slaughter. At
other times, just by loud shouting, they would confuse the mobs of marsup-
ials, while they would be following them up, running with a long stride,
and prepared to strike with spear or waddy as chance offered. It stirred
(over)