Page:Descriptive account of the panoramic view, &c. of King George's Sound, and the adjacent country.djvu/6

 6 of a much superior character; it is watered by several small rivers; is rich and fertile; and the trees are of a large size.

The group of soldiers and natives make up a party returning from a kangaroo hunt: two or more large dogs of strength and speed are employed by the Colonists in the chase, very little of which is seen, unless the animal is found on the open plains, when a beautiful course, sometimes of several miles in length, is sure to take place. In the woods, during the pursuit, the huntsman sits down under a tree, and awaits the return of the dogs; he then looks at their mouths, and orders them, if they have been successful, to "go and shew," when they slowly lead the way to where the animal is lying dead. In some instances the dogs display great sagacity, and often "shew" three or four miles through a thick and entirely strange wood. The kangaroo is not so innocent an animal as might be supposed, and the dogs do not always return without a wound; when brought to bay he not unfrequently tears the throat, or rips open the body of his assailant with the strong claw which arms his powerful hind leg; or, when driven into the water, he will often deliberately put his paw upon the head of the assailant, and give him a good ducking. The tail makes excellent soup, and the meat is a good substitute for a beef-steak, which it resembles in flavour.

Nakinna — the native standing amongst