Among cannibals; an account of four years' travels in Australia and of camp life with the aborigines of Queensland; . ther orsister. Instances of death from childbearing are very advent of a baby is not always regarded with favour,and infanticide is therefore common in Australia, especiallywhen there is a scarcity of food, as under such circum-stances they even eat the child. In their nomadic lifechildren are a burden to them, and the men particularlydo not like to see the women, who work hard and procure PERSONAL DECORATIONS 135 much food, troubled with many children. In some parts o
Among cannibals; an account of four years' travels in Australia and of camp life with the aborigines of Queensland; . ther orsister. Instances of death from childbearing are very advent of a baby is not always regarded with favour,and infanticide is therefore common in Australia, especiallywhen there is a scarcity of food, as under such circum-stances they even eat the child. In their nomadic lifechildren are a burden to them, and the men particularlydo not like to see the women, who work hard and procure PERSONAL DECORATIONS 135 much food, troubled with many children. In some parts ofAustralia the papillcB mainmce are cut off to hinder the womenfrom nursing children. The strong smell of the blacks is quite different fromthat of an unclean white man. Nor can it be doubted thatthe blacks have a peculiar smell which dis-turbs cattle, dogs, and horses when theyapproach the natives, even if the latter arenot seen ; this, no doubt, has frequentlysaved the lives of strong odour, moreover, ismixed with the smell of dirt,smoke, paint, and other thingswith which theysmear of is though. constantlythemselves. The voicethe Australianmelodious,sometimes hoarse,and gives evidenceof musical propen-sity. Both men andwomen have a hightone of voice; bassand falsetto voicesare rare. The natives areas fond of decorat-ing their bodies asa sailor is, but theydo it clumsily with a sharp stone or a clam-shell, withwhich primitive instruments they cut parallel lines acrossthe breast and stomach. To keep the wounds fromhealing they put charcoal or ashes in them for a month ortwo until they swell up into rough ridges. Sometimes theygain the same result by letting ants walk about in thewounds. The shoulders are cut in the same manner, withlines running down three or four inches, making them look asif they had epaulets. In course of time these peculiar lines. A YOUNG BOY FROM HERBERT RIVER,SHOWING ORNAMENTAL SCARS. 136 AMONG CANNIBALS CHAP.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectethnology, booksubjectnaturalhistory
