e to attack us in the open."

Toby, who had examined the ground, gave it as his opinion that they had
gone away to the northwards and that, being probably on a hunting
expedition, they would be too intent on attacking their game to annoy
us. Toby was right, and in about half an hour, just as we reached the
top of a slight ridge or elevation which had before hidden them from
view, we caught sight of several dusky figures, each holding in his hand
a throwing-stick with a long spear attached to it. One of them had
fixed to his left arm a shield of boughs which concealed his body as he
crept towards a group of kangaroos feeding in the grassy bottom. As the
hunters did not perceive us and we had time, we stood still watching
them.

The throwing or throw-stick, is to serve the purpose of a sling for
casting the spear. A heavy flat piece of wood, between two and three
feet long, has at one end a slight hollow into which the end of the
spear is fitted while at the other is a heavy weight, thus assisting the
hunter in the act of throwing the spear. Except a small fillet of grass
the natives wore not a particle of clothing, though there were several
scarifications on their bodies; and what sailors call a spritsail-yard
run through their nostrils which added to the ferocity of their
appearance.

As we wanted to see how they would proceed, we kept as much as possible
behind the ridge, and as the wind came from the kangaroos to us, we were
not discovered by the animals. All this time the hunters were creeping
forward, concealing themselves among the shrubs and trees until they got
near enough to the game to hurl their spears with effect.

One fellow crept forward, holding his shield of boughs, until it seemed
to us that he was almost close up to the kangaroos. Then his spear flew
from his throwing-stick with so tremendous a force that the animal was
almost pinned to the ground. Not a spear missed, and almost at the same
moment three kangaroos were killed. Three others hopped away, but were
pursued by the nimble-footed hunters, who using their throwing-sticks as
clubs, despatched the animals with reiterated blows on the head.

Not until the hunt was over did we show ourselves, when we astonished
the savages standing over their slain game. Fixing their spears in
their sticks they threatened to launch them against us should we attempt
to deprive them of their prizes. On seeing this we directed Toby to say
that we had no