ssing on the reader's indulgence were I to impose
on him an account of any civil regulations, or ordinances, which may
possibly exist among this people. I declare to him, that I know not of
any, and that excepting a little tributary respect which the younger
part appear to pay those more advanced in years, I never could observe
any degrees of subordination among them. To their religious rites and
opinions I am equally a stranger. Had an opportunity offered of seeing
the ceremonies observed at disposing of the dead, perhaps, some insight
might have been gained; but all that we at present know with certainty
is, that they burn the corpse, and afterwards heap up the earth around
it, somewhat in the manner of the small tumuli, found in many counties
of England.

I have already hinted, that the country is more populous than it was
generally believed to be in Europe at the time of our sailing. But
this remark is not meant to be extended to the interior parts of the
continent, which there is every reason to conclude from our researches,
as well as from the manner of living practised by the natives, to be
uninhabited. It appears as if some of the Indian families confine their
society and connections within their own pale: but that this cannot
always be the case we know; for on the north-west arm of Botany Bay
stands a village, which contains more than a dozen houses, and
perhaps five times that number of people; being the most considerable
establishment that we are acquainted with in the country. As a striking
proof, besides, of the numerousness of the natives, I beg leave to
state, that Governor Phillip, when on an excursion between the head of
this harbour and that of Botany Bay, once fell in with a party which
consisted of more than three hundred persons, two hundred and twelve of
whom were men: this happened only on the day following the murder of the
two convict rush cutters, before noticed, and his Excellency was at
the very time in search of the murderers, on whom, could they have been
found, he intended to inflict a memorable and exemplary punishment. The
meeting was unexpected to both parties, and considering the critical
situation of affairs, perhaps not very pleasing to our side, which
consisted but of twelve persons, until the peaceable disposition of
the Indians was manifest. After the strictest search the Governor was
obliged to return without having gained any information. The laudable
perseverance of his Excelle