ommonly finish before the greater number of them have fallen. These
public hunts are conducted under certain rules; for example, the
supposed owner of the land must be present, and must have invited the
party, or a deadly fight between human beings is pretty sure to take
place. The first spear that strikes a kangaroo settles whose property
the dead animal is to be; however slight the wound, and even though
inflicted by a boy only, this rule holds good; and if the creature
killed is one which the boy may not yet lawfully eat,[50] then his right
passes on to his father, or nearest male relative. The cries of the
hunters are said to be very beautiful and expressive, and they vary at
different periods of the chase, being readily understood and answered by
all, so that they can thus explain their meaning to one another at a
very great distance.

[50] See page 79.

But, since the kangaroo is one of the principal articles of food in the
wilds of New Holland, there are yet other modes of taking it, which are
commonly practised.

Sometimes they use the ordinary methods of catching it in nets or
pitfalls. Occasionally, also, in a dry district, where many animals
assemble together from a great distance to drink at some solitary piece
of water, the huntsman builds for himself a rude place of shelter, in
which for hours he remains concealed and motionless, until the thirsty
animals approach in sufficient numbers. Then kangaroos, cockatoos,
pigeons, &c. are attacked and destroyed without mercy, and the patience
of the hunter is commonly richly rewarded by the booty he obtains.

But the mode of tracking a kangaroo until it is wearied out, is the one
which, beyond all others, commands the admiration of the Australians,
for it calls forth the exercise of every quality most highly prized
among savages, skill in following traces, endurance of hunger and
thirst, unwearied bodily exertion, and lasting perseverance. To perform
this task the hunter starts upon the track of the kangaroo, which he
follows until he catches sight of the animal, as it flies timidly before
him; again he pursues the track, and again the object of his pursuit
bounds away from him; and this is repeated until nightfall, when the
pursuer lights his fire and sleeps upon the track. With the first light
of day the hunt is renewed, and, towards the close of the second day, or
in the course of the third, the kangaroo, wearied and exhausted by the
chase, will allow the