s so homely
which this aid cannot in some degree render interesting; and hardly any so
lovely which, without it, bears not some trace of insipidity. Their tone
of voice is loud, but not harsh. I have in some of them found it very
pleasing.

Longevity, I think, is seldom attained by them. Unceasing agitation wears
out the animal frame and is unfriendly to length of days. We have seen them
grey with age, but not old; perhaps never beyond sixty years. But it may be
said, the American Indian, in his undebauched state, lives to an advanced
period. True, but he has his seasons of repose. He reaps his little harvest
of maize and continues in idleness while it lasts. He kills the roebuck or
the moose-deer, which maintains him and his family for many days, during
which cessation the muscles regain their spring and fit him for fresh
toils. Whereas every sun awakes the native of New South Wales (unless
a whale be thrown upon the coast) to a renewal of labour, to provide
subsistence for the present day.

The women are proportionally smaller than the men. I never measured but two
of them, who were both, I think, about the medium height. One of them, a
sister of Baneelon, stood exactly five feet two inches high. The other,
named Gooreedeeana, was shorter by a quarter of an inch.

But I cannot break from Gooreedeeana so abruptly. She belonged to the tribe
of Cameragal, and rarely came among us. One day, however, she entered my
house to complain of hunger. She excelled in beauty all their females
I ever saw. Her age about eighteen, the firmness, the symmetry and the
luxuriancy of her bosom might have tempted painting to copy its charms.
Her mouth was small and her teeth, though exposed to all the destructive
purposes to which they apply them, were white, sound and unbroken. Her
countenance, though marked by some of the characteristics of her native
land, was distinguished by a softness and sensibility unequalled in the
rest of her countrywomen, and I was willing to believe that these traits
indicated the disposition of her mind. I had never before seen this elegant
timid female, of whom I had often heard; but the interest I took in her
led me to question her about her husband and family. She answered me
by repeating a name which I have now forgotten, and told me she had no
children. I was seized with a strong propensity to learn whether the
attractions of Gooreedeeana were sufficiently powerful to secure her from
the brutal violence