Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/130

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himself was eaxjtnred, and in turn destroyed at the hands of an En^liah hangmaii- Tiie conditions of life after the inroads of white men were ahnormal ; bnt many natives were known who had passed the term of seventy years, and were then, though feeble for a forest life, hale enough to have enjoyed some years of , shelter from its inelerncncieB. Then- dweOings were but l-Bcanty huts improvised froai pieces of bark or boughs, as each successive camp was selected in wandering over their hunting-grounds. They wore rugs made of opossum or other skins, neatly preserved and made pliable, and deftly sewn together with twine made from fin% or (occasionally) from the inner bark of trees. They made excelleot fishing nets. The patience and skill displayed in the manufacture of weapons, when a stone hatchet was their only tool, were marvellous. The stone hatchet was discarded when the iron tomahawk was obtainaljle from Europeans, and spread from tribe to tribe by means of barter. In the same manner the old-fashioned tinder-box Avith flint and steel superseded the former custom of procuring fire by friction. The natives on the north, south, east, and west, and in the interior possessed the art of producing lire, but the sub- stances used varied in the different localities. The com- bustible grass-tree (xanthorrhea) was commonly used. If materials were not at band, or they were damp, it was difficult to obtain lire, and the natives were careful to carry it as the}' moved from camp to camp. This habit, and their slackness to exliibit the process of ignition, which ufivolved vehement lal)Our for a few minutes, has led some ripersons to believe that there were tribes ignorant of the process. It seems highly improbable that there were any such. The institution of heralds who moved with impimity from tribe to tribe over great tracts of country would of itself render such ignorance almost impossible. The twirling stick made to rotate between the palms of the hands was the only power used. A drill-bow, such as that used by the Iroquois of America, or by the Maoris in working jade, was never thought of by the Australians. By the method in use, if the operator relaxed his energy for one moment, all the previous exertion was rendered futile. When the lire appeared there was usually sweat on the brow. 4 4 4 4