or the discovery of the offender, when
a black happens to be murdered by a white, and only twenty-five pounds
reward, when the murderer is black, and the victim white.

[Footnote 17: The name given to the aborigines in Australia.]

[Footnote 18: It is a singular fact, that the aboriginal
natives of New South Wales, as well as the cattle that roam at
large in its woods, invariably choose the top of a moderately
elevated hill to sleep on during the winter months. The reason
is, that the hills are _always_ warmer than the valleys, and
are consequently resorted to in winter; while the latter are
chosen in summer as camping-ground by man and beast. I have
often been surprised, when riding about the bush in winter, at
feeling a current of warm air on the top of a range of hills,
having myself just ascended from the neighbouring valley where
the breeze was chilling. These warm breezes on the hill tops
blow from the north-west, and may be nearly related to the
summer hot winds, cooled on reaching the latitude of 34 deg. in the
winter season. Be that as it may, they are not strong enough to
warm the valleys, though their influence on the hills is very
agreeable to the traveller.]

What would my fair countrywomen say to the "black-fellow's" mode of
taking unto himself a wife? On making up his mind as to the object of
his choice, he proceeds by night to the camping-ground of the _fair_
one's tribe; searches her out among the sleeping beauties; deals her a
blow on the head with his club, (to which an Irishman's shillelah is a
twig,) and carries off the stunned and senseless wretch to his own camp.
This ceremony makes them man and wife, and no further notice is taken of
the affair. The different tribes are constantly at war: but I have never
heard of any very serious consequences arising from their feuds. The day
of battle is generally spent in painting themselves red, dancing the
war-dance in presence of their foes, and, probably, exchanging a few
spears towards its close. Their arms consist of spears, clubs, and the
_boomerang_. The latter is a very extraordinary weapon, which they throw
to a great distance, making it _return to the thrower_ when it has
described its revolution, and probably hit some unfortunate wight on the
head in its course through the air. This weapon is of hard wood, about
three feet long, two inches broad, a quarter of an inch thick, and i