untered up to the camp, and begged for some of the tea and damper on
which we were regaling ourselves.

To catch our horses, saddle up and mount, did not take us long, and as
our new friends repeated their offer, we set off, the blacks running
ahead. As they were making their way through scrub some distance ahead,
one of them stopped and called to the other, when they each cut a long
thin switch and ran towards an object which we just then saw moving in
the grass. Presently the wicked-looking head of a large snake rose in
the air. The blacks ran towards it, one on either side, and bestowing
some sharp blows with their wands, down it dropped. On getting up to
the spot, we found that it was a snake between nine and ten feet long.

The blacks seemed to consider it a great prize, for, chopping off the
head, one of them slung the body over his shoulder, and they then again
went on shouting with glee.

In a short time we arrived at the blacks' camp. It consisted of a
number of rude bowers, such as I have before described, tenanted by a
few women, children, and old men, all the active men being out hunting
in the lagoon which appeared just beyond.

Riding on we caught sight of a number of black figures, scattered in all
directions, engaged in knocking down with their boomerangs some large
birds perched on the withered branches of the trees overhanging the
water.

Our friends brought us one of the boomerangs to examine. It was a
curved piece of wood about two feet two inches from tip to tip, rather
more than two inches wide in the middle, and diminishing towards the
tips.

We saw bird after bird knocked off the trees with this remarkable
weapon. When it first left the hand of the thrower, we could not decide
in what direction it was going, but after making numberless circles in
the air, it never failed to hit the object intended.

Most of the birds we saw struck were cormorants, which, as they fell
into the water, the blacks seized and wrung their necks. Some, however,
not being killed outright or stunned, showed fight, and attacked the
naked bodies of their assailants with their sharp beaks. We witnessed
the sport for some time, till the birds nearest us becoming alarmed,
took to flight, but were followed by the persevering hunters, who marked
where they again alighted.

As we did not wish to delay, we thanked our friends, who with the
prospect of an ample feast before them, showed no inclination to
accompan