auty, but they are not inferior
to millions of the human race. Among the captives, were some whose
stature and port strongly impressed the spectator. Backhouse observed
one especially, whose features had a Jewish cast, and reminded him of
the popular pictures of Abraham! Their thin and wretched appearance,
occasioned by their diet, and diseases, cannot be properly attributed to
their constitution. Half starved human beings, unclothed, are ever
unpleasing. Those acquainted with populous cities in Europe, have often
been compelled to recognise, in the squalor and emaciation of classes,
the germs of a new race. The captive blacks, when partially clothed,
relieved from anxiety, and supplied with food, soon presented a new
aspect; and their countenances were lighted up with cheerfulness and
intelligence.

_Families._--Polygamy was tolerated: women were, latterly, bigamists.
Labillardiere observed that one man had two wives: this philosopher was
held in suspense, on the comparative happiness of their condition; true,
the affections of the husband were divided--but they jointly catered for
one man instead of two! It is said that they courted with flowers: an
authenticated fact, proves that the female occasionally possessed a
negative. _Roomata_ (Bet) rejected the addresses of _Trigoonipoonata_
(Jack); but she learned the worth of his affection. She was crossing a
river, and became ill: he sprung to her relief, and carried her safely
to land; and she became his wife.[30] They daily brought game to the
residence of the superintendent, during his temporary absence--lest,
said they, he should want on his return. The woman having been left
behind, on recovery followed the tribe with the new born infant. The
toil of the journey, and of the encampment, chiefly fell to her lot: she
carried utensils of all kinds, except the spears. The infant was slung
on the back, and suckled over the shoulder: a draftsman, in the company
of Cook, drew the portrait of a young female, so burdened. The position
of the child has been pronounced, without much reason, a proof of low
maternal sensibility. Those who have carried children through a journey,
can only imagine the amount of affection requisite to convey, often more
than one, after a tribe in its rapid migrations.

_Infanticide._--Infanticide was not common; although, in the latter
days, when harassed by daily conflict, the practice, was not unknown. It
is stated by Leigh, that they were careful