loaded
ourselves with the portions, I should think it must have weighed fully
forty pounds. It was, I afterwards found, a wombat, or Australian bear,
an animal very common in all parts of the country. It burrows deeply
into the earth; but we were fortunate enough to find this one on a
journey, otherwise we should not have obtained it so easily.

We returned at once with our booty to the camp, when Paddy lost no time
in spitting the wombat, and placing it to roast before the fire. The
spit he used was a long thin stick, which he rested on two forked
uprights before the fire; one end extending like the tangent of a circle
to a sufficient distance, so that a person could keep turning it round
and round without having to sit too close to the fire.

Soon after our arrival Pullingo appeared, accompanied by three blacks,
one of whom he formally introduced to us as Naggernook. He was
apparently, judging by his withered skin and white hair and beard, a
very old man; but he had not lost the use of his tongue, for he
chattered away with extraordinary volubility, as if wishing to impress
some matter of importance upon us--though what it was, of course we
could not understand. The sight of the wombat roasting before the fire
excited his interest, and he inquired of Pullingo how we had obtained
it. Pullingo, pointing to our guns, entered into a long account of the
wonders they were capable of performing; indeed, he himself, though he
had so often seen them fired, seemed still to regard them with
superstitious awe, which it was important for our interests that he
should continue to feel.

As my father was anxious to conciliate the blacks, he waited till one of
the joints of the wombat was sufficiently roasted, and then presented it
to Naggernook; who had no sooner received the present than he began
jumping, and hopping, and skipping about in the most extraordinary
manner, hugging it with delight. Having thus exhibited his
satisfaction, if not his gratitude, he sat himself down on the ground,
and began to devour the meat--taking off huge pieces, which he stuffed
into his mouth in a fashion more honoured in the breach than in the
observance; occasionally throwing a piece, though not without
reluctance, to his two younger companions, who sat by his side,
submissively eating what was thus bestowed on them, much after the way a
couple of dogs would have done while watching their master at dinner.

We had no wish for the society