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[Page 269]

Aborigine

It is evident that Dr Bass, Mr Evans, Lieutenant Jeffries, and indeed all the Colonists in 1822, had no Idea of the diversity of languages existing amongst the various aboriginal tribes. It is however gratifying to me that in all other respects Mr Evans' account of the "Original Population" corroborates the remarks I have offered in the manners, customs, and disposition of the Blacks of this island. It is said, when speaking of them that their lineamants were more pleasing than those of African negroes" - "Their spears, too, instead of being made with the bulrush, and only pointed with hard wood, are composed entirely of it, and are consequently more ponderous than those of the natives of New South Wales. The womera, or throwing stick, which enables the natives of Port Jackson to cast their spears with such amazing force and precision, is not used by them." Labillardière, the French naturalist, observes "that he found the natives of Van Diemens Land apparently mild and affable: they are certainly a superior race to those of the sister colony of Port Jackson." Lieutenant Jeffries says that "these women are infinitely more interesting than those of Port Jackson: their limbs are better proportioned and their features far more agreeable. They are also more clearly in their persons, carefully preventing their hair from growing to any great length, by cutting it off with the sharp edges of two pieces of broken chrystal. Neither do the latter practise the custom which prevails in the other colonies of New Holland, of cutting off part of the little finger; nor do they draw any of their teeth"

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