Year: 1870

Kangaroo hunting in Australia is one


OF the chief amusements among the inhab-


itants of that country, as also among the


natives or originals-with the difference


that the latter hunt to kill for food. The


modes as well as the object differ. The


natives go sneaking under cover to the


haunts of the Kangaroo, and when seen


by them, dead silence prevails amongst


them, and, by signs and long experience,


circle is formed round the prey-some-


thing similar to our military forming a


hollow square. Each person, male and


female, is armed with long wooden spear


They place themselves so far apart that


one spear reaches the other if pointed in


that direction. This being accomplished,


the chief or most expert of the tribe goes


back a distance of about one hundred


yards from this circle, and with his dead


ly and missing weapon, the boom


erang This weapon is as highly valued


by the Australian native as what the nee


die gun is by the Prussan soldier, but is


very different in its construction and ex-
pense. The boomerang is piece of iron
bark wood, about two feet long, shaped to
halfcirclc, and fat, both inner and outer
parts brought to an edge by being scrapcd
with a piece of flint Great science is ne
cessary among them in making this instru-
ment perfect for their use. 1t must not
be thicker or thinner in one part than an
other; and, like our Sheffield knives, it
bears the marks of being tested and ap-
proved, before it is pronounced all right
With this weapon in his hand, the hero
looks where his victim, the Kangaroo, is
situated and his next look, into the air,
is of considerable length, for in this the
whole mystery lies. Having satisfied him.
self of all those points that are favorable
to his cause, and addressing few words
to the " Sun" to favor him, he turns his
back to the Kangaroo, and throws the
boomerang far up into the air and away
from the object of his aim This is no
sooner done than he falls upon his face to
the earth. His deadly missile ascends
higher and higher in the direction it was
thrown; but, strange to say, whenever it
commences to descend, its position rapid
ly changes toward the Kangaroo and, in
ninety-nine cases out of hundred, it will
strike and kill him. But, should it miss
him, in a minute every spear is brought
to defensive position, and a yell is raised
from the circle, which serves to start the
Kangaroo, to meet his death for there is
no getting out of this circle with life. The
death of full-grown Kangaroo is the
cause of great rejoicing among the tribe,
as also with the hero of the boomerang
He is looked upon as being in great favor
with the Sum-" in case he kills his VIC
tim; but, on the contrary, if he miss, he
is never allowed to take the name or char.
acter of chief without showing some won
derful heroic acts to his tribe, by the way
of recommendation and those acts are
considered by council of the whole tribe
before he is admitted to his former posi-
ton


The Europeans object for kangaroo
hunting is amusement. The mode is
something similar to the English fox-hunt.
In Australia the dogs used for this pur-
pose are species of greyhound. but much
larger and more powerful. A large sized
or full grown Kangaroo, when standing
upon its hind legs-his natural position
when running-would measure about six
feet in height, with tail about nine feet
long.


When chased by these dogs. its motion
is in long leaps, acting on the tail as a
spring, by which means it will leap dis
tance of fourteen to twenty feet, and will
have no difficulty in leaping wall or
fence fourteen feet high; and will give
these dogs-which are very nearly as swift
rs an English greyhound they can do
to keep in view of it, and is known to run
from fifty to seventy miles at ono chase.
When pursued very hard, and the dogs
closing on it, its cries and means are the
most ptiful thing you can hear, and re-
semble those of child about three or four
years old, crying very pitifully and when
exhausted, it will make for q