390 THE ABORIGINES OF TASMANIA:
fellows, and who exercised authority. The men were lazy and selfish. The women had to carry such goods as they possessed from camp to camp, while the men would pace slowly in front; and, if the nature of the ground admitted of it, they would cunningly trail their spears after them, the point being held between the toes. They could almost instantaneously transfer the spear to the hand. Davies, in mentioning these facts, remarks that the spears were trailed by the toes in order that their hands might be free to throw the waddy at any small object that might appear.
The same writer observed that the blacks could not stand continued fatigue, and that in respect to endurance they were inferior to a hearty European—"nor," says he "what will appear singular, can they, like him, bear constant exposure to bad weather; when such sets in, they will cower round their fires, under the lee of their break-winds, in a sheltered situation, until a change takes place."
The natives were superstitious, and did not like to move about after dark. They believed that their deceased relatives would appear again on earth. Lieut. Jeffery says that when the women were left by their husbands—who, as sealers, had often, in pursuit of their occupation, to be absent for several days—these affectionate creatures would sing or chant a hymn or song, addressing themselves to a deity who, they said, presides over the day. An evil spirit or demon rules the night. "The hymn or song," this writer says, "they address to him during the absence of their husbands or protectors is intended to secure his divine care over them, and especially to bring them back with speed and safety. The song is accompanied with gracefulness of action, and is poured forth in strains by no means inharmonious; on the contrary, the voice of the singer, and in many parts the sweetness of the notes, which are delivered in pretty just cadence and excellent time, afford a species of harmony to which the most refined ear might listen with pleasure."
This statement is in accordance with the experience of Mr. Geo. Hull, who, on the 24th March 1871, wrote a letter to his son, Mr. Hugh M. Hull, of Hobart Town, containing some information relating to the natives, which he had arranged expressly for this work. Mr. Hull's letter is as clearly written and as well composed as if he had been a young man; but at that time (1871) he was eighty-four years old, having taken charge of the Commissariat in Tasmania as Deputy Assistant Commissary-General in 1819. Respecting their singing he says—"It was, I think, in the year 1834 or 1825 that some ten or twelve natives appeared on the west bank of the Tamar, opposite Launceston. They coo-ed and made signs to be taken across, which was instantly complied with. There was not a man or a boy among them. It was a most singular occurrence. They were from sixteen to thirty years of age—all disgustingly dirty. I ordered my storekeeper to give them food. We made signs for them to sing and dance. The former they did in a manner which led me to think that they were at least one remove from the monkey tribe. They sang, all joining in concert, and with the sweetest harmony; the notes not more than thirds. They began say in D and E, but swelling sweetly from note to note, and so gradually that it was a mere continuation of harmony—very melancholy, it is true. It
