nd encumbered by the
spear, places its back against a tree, and appears to attack its pursuer
with the fury of despair. Though naturally a timid animal, it will,
when it is hard pressed for life, make a bold stand; and, if hunted by
Europeans, will sometimes wait for the dogs and tear them with its hind
claws, or squeeze them with its fore arms, until the blood gushes out of
the hound's nostrils; and sometimes the poor creature will take to the
water, and drown every dog that comes near it.[49] But by the natives
the poor beast is generally soon dispatched with spears thrown from a
distance, and its body is carried off by its conqueror and his wives to
some convenient resting-place where they may enjoy their meal.

[49] Martin's New South Wales, p. 131.

There is likewise another mode of hunting the same animal, in which many
persons join together, and which, though more lively and noisy, is not
so characteristical as the first. A herd of kangaroos are surprised
either in a thick bushy place, to which they have retired during the
heat of the day, or else in an open plain. In the first case, they are
encircled by a party, each native giving a low whistle, as he takes up
his place, and when the blockade is finished, the bushes are set on
fire, and the frightened animals fly from the flames towards the open
plains; but no sooner do they approach the outskirts of the wood, than
the bushes are fired in the direction in which they are running, while
they are driven back by loud calls and tremendous cries, which increase
their terror, and they run wildly about, until, at length, maddened by
fear, they make a rush through their enemies, who allow but few of them
to escape. When the kangaroos are surrounded upon a plain, the point
generally chosen is an open bottom encircled by wood; each native has
his place given him by some of the elder ones, and all possible means
that art, or experience, or the nature of the ground, can furnish, are
employed to ensure success in approaching as nearly as may be towards
the animals without disturbing them. Thus the circle narrows round the
unwary herd, till at last one of them becomes alarmed, and bounds away;
but its flight is speedily stopped by a savage with fearful yells; and
before the first moments of terror and surprise have passed by, the
armed natives come running upon them from every side, brandishing their
spears, and raising loud cries; nor does the slaughter, thus commenced,
c