now add such a
selection of them as will convey some idea of the character of their
poetry, at the same time there is reason to believe that a good deal of
it is traditional, and may date its origin from a very remote epoch. Some
of their dances have also a very peculiar mystical character about them,
and these they very unwillingly exhibit in the presence of Europeans.

The following is a very favourite song of the natives to the north of
Perth; it is sung to a wild and plaintive air, and relates to some action
of a native who lived in that part of the continent, of the name of
Warbunga. A little boy, a descendant of his, is still living, who bears
the same name.

SPECIMENS OF SONGS. EXAMPLES OF SONGS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS.

Kad-ju bar-dook,
War-bung-a-loo,
War-bung-a-loo.
Kad-ju bar-dook,
War-bung-a-loo,
War-bung-a-loo,
War-bung-a-loo.

They then commence again, constantly repeating these words in the same
order.

TRANSLATION.

Thy hatchet is near thee,
Oh Warbunga,
Oh Warbunga.
Thy hatchet is near thee,
Warbunga-ho,
Warbunga-ho,
Warbunga-ho.

A favourite song of the natives in the district of the Murray in Western
Australia is:

Kar-ro yool, i, yool-a!
Kar-ro yool, i, yool-a!
etc. etc. etc.

And these words they go on singing for an hour together, in the event of
the absence of any of their relatives or friends upon a hunting or war
excursion.

TRANSLATION.

Return hither, hither ho!
Return hither, hither ho!

The following is a very good specimen of one of their comic songs. It is
often sung by the natives in the vicinity of King George's Sound.

Mat-ta, mat-ta,
Yungore bya,
Mat-ta, mat-ta,
Yungore bya,
etc. etc. etc.

TRANSLATION.

Oh what legs, oh what legs,
The Kangaroo-rumped fellows,
Oh what legs, oh what legs,
etc. etc. etc.

FUNERAL CHANT.

Nothing can awake in the breast more melancholy feelings than the funeral
chants of these people. They are sung by a whole chorus of females of all
ages and the effect produced upon the bystanders by this wild music is
indescribable. I will give one chant which I have heard sung upon several
occasions.

The young women sing: Kar-dang.
The old women sing: Mam-mul.
Together: gar-ro.
Me-la nad-jo
Nung-a-broo.
Kar-dang.
Mam-mul.
Together: gar-ro.
Me-la nad-jo
Nung-a-broo.
etc. etc. etc.

TRANSLATION.

My young brother
My young son
(again)
In future shall I
never see.
My young brother
My young son
(again)
In future sh