The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-03
THE ABoRGINEs OF AUSTRALIA

APPEARANCE-MENTAL Observation-Disclosures THEIR
SENSES AND THEIR ''GINs'-1YNATE vAGABoYps-
INFANTTCIDE AND GENERAL CUSTOMS.
Written for the N Y. Evening Post by c. s. j. Terry.
Physically the Austra ian native is an extraordi
nary being. His shoulders are broad and his arms
are brawnv. His chest and stomach are well de
velopeG, the latter rather too much so. But the
muscles of his legs and thighs strangely atten-
uated, yet strong and wiry. This gives them their
unique appearance, which may not be unaptly COM
pared to parsnip standing upright in its natural
position, with the portion of the footstalks remain
ing upon its cap Although black they have the
Caucasian features, with the exception, perhaps of
the lips of some of the females, which are like those
OF the Africans. Their hair is coarse, thick strong
and wavy,yet not at all kinky. do not think ever
one with poor poll While at the diggings
one OF them, kind of acquaintance of mine, would
frequently beg hair oil of me, with which to A.
noint his hair, its length and soft appearance being
subject OF pride in him, and of envy to his com
panions. Though once much more numerous, they
now are only about Tour thousand souls.
They possess fair aptitude in making literary
requirements, but they do not to care to pos
sess any. This may be due to two causes-either
their want OF energy or natural Incidence. Rei-
glon they have none, unless the corrobery be a
llgious ceremony, and it doubtless is not, as any
chief will make ''corrobery' for glass of LIQUOR
or piece OF money, and will take up collection on
a piece of bark after the performance.
In this dance they will move the muscles of their
thighs outwards in very curious manner, so as
to make them seem much broader than they really
The Wesleyan Methodists labored long and car
nestly to bring them to sense OF sin and desire
pardon, but with little success that they have
at length given it up in despair perfectly disheart
ened
Though, when upon their drunken bouts, they
will shout with such vigor as to be heard three
quarters of a mile, they do not seem at all dis
posed to shout "Giory"'-the Methodists to the
contrary.
Their sense of smell is exquisitely delicate By
L. thntrn fall
and how long since4e assembled it. Other stories
still more marvellous, are related to prove this
fact, such as finding the body of a murdered man.
etc. Their perspective faculties are very acute,
and that part OF the skull just above the eye is un-
usually prominent. Having once seen you, they
will recognise you twenty years afterwards.
Their cerebeum is large, and they are in conse-
share of the animal passions generally.
Their ''gins'' wives are cruelty treated and
are always made ''to bear the burden and heat of
the day" while their lords and masters wander
about the camp in inglorious ease. Now and then
they will Kill kangaroo oppossum, but will do
little else. They have the greatest repugnance to
labor, and ii they do earn hall-crown, they will
buy liquor and carouse till it is gone.
All efforts to civiliZe them are in vain Children
have been adopted in their earliest infancy by re-
spectacle and intelligent families and have been
educated and habituated in all the usages of en-.
hghtened communities; but, about the age of seven
teen they generally prove themselves unable to re-
sist the innate love of wandering life, by decamp-
ing. with some strolling vagabonds of their own
nation. They then throw off all the manners and
custams of the whites and in great measure again
become the veriest savages.
Infanticide prevails and is increasing in spite of
all the efforts Of the settlers to abate it. This is
the main cause of their constantly diminishing num-
bers, and unless soon stopped it will doubtless in
time exterminate them. | once asked a woman
notorious for the number of "pcaninnes" that she
had destroyed, why she did it. Her answer was re-
markable, showing that they are not ignorant of
their degraded condition. 1t was this "Black
fellows picaninny no good; like possum. Plenty
OF white picaninny." The manner in which this
horrible crime is cOnsummated is this: The mother
and child retire to the bush and the former returns
alone. That is all that is known about it. Their
women are of easy virtue. but the mulattoes are
almost invariably destroyed.
They never remain more than two or three DAYS
in one place, and then form hut by leaning wide
piece of bark against two sticks. They have never
yet built house. They cook their game by throw
ing it into the fire, without any preparation. The
refuse is taken out and given to the dogs They
are also fond of gum. They have spears which
they throw with accuracy, by means of a short
stick, with the head followed out, which they hold
in their hands They race of beings very in.
ferior to most Others and they seem to prefer ex-
termination to enlightenment