Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 32
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[Page 32]
ceed with our narrative it will be found that in many instances they have evinced great tact and activity in their operations and movements. Some of the chiefs and other warriors, as also some of the women, make a very fine and bold appearance. Busts and portraits of the most prominent heads of the tribes were obtained after their capture and have been preserved. It would appear to me that the smallness of the fires they kept, most [indecipherable] more from policy, that they might be easily extinguished in a few minutes - The intestine [indecipherable] which were carried on among them for many years, even antecedent to the formation of the Colony, [indecipherable] suggest to them the necessity of extreme caution in guarding against surprise, and so soon as the tribes commenced their aggressing upon the Europeans, increased vigilance became necessary. In the earlier days of the colony the natives had no dogs for hunting but were under the necessity of killing game with their spears; but when they succeeded in stealing dogs from the whites, or otherwise obtained them, the chase became neither so labourious nor so uncertain. They displayed
[margin note]
"Mannalargunah" whose right name ought to be "Limina Bungana" was considered the principle chief of the whole island, & the [indecipherable] chief of the Cape Portland tribe: he was a very fine man, and is said to have measured in height upwards of six feet -