r lucky way; the opposite course is
the wrong or unlucky way.

FHAOLAIN.

* * * * *

ABORIGINES OF VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.

So little is known of these children of nature, and still less has
been done to gain any knowledge of them, that not much can be offered
as to their present numbers or condition. From what I have seen and
read, the natives of Van Dieman's Land are unlike any other Indians,
either in features, their mode of living, hunting, &c. There are many
hundreds of people who have lived for years in the colony, and yet
have never seen a native. ... The features of these people are any
thing but pleasing: a large flat nose, with immense nostrils; lips
particularly thick; a wide mouth, with a tolerably good set of teeth;
the hair long and woolly, which, as if to confer additional beauty, is
besmeared with red clay (similar to our red ochre) and grease. Their
limbs are badly proportioned; the women appear to be generally better
formed than the men. Their only covering is a few kangaroo skins,
rudely stitched, and thrown over the shoulders; but more frequently
they appear in a state of nudity; indeed, so little knowledge have
they of decency or comfort, that they never avail themselves of the
purposes for which apparel is given to them. Lieut. Collins, in his
account of the natives of New South Wales, describes their marriage
ceremonies as being most barbarous and brutal; and I have also heard
from individuals who have visited New South Wales, that it is not
uncommon to see a poor woman almost beaten to death by her lover,
previous to his marrying her. From the shyness of the natives of Van
Dieman's Land, and the constant warfare that has been carried on
between them and the remote stock-keepers, (which is not likely to
render them more familiar,) I have never been able to ascertain
whether there is any trace of religion among them, or if they have
the slightest idea of a Supreme Being. I believe, and it is generally
supposed, they have not. It is but fair to remark, however, that
nothing has been done for them; the few that can speak a little
English, only curse and swear, and this they catch up very readily
from the different convicts they meet with.

* * * * *

There are but few instances of any native having entirely forsaken his
tribe, however young he may have been taken away; they appear to
dislike any thing in the shape of labour, althoug