Page:Descriptive account of the panoramic view, &c. of King George's Sound, and the adjacent country.djvu/9

 9 question was evaded, when they did not wish to answer; whilst the readiness of comprehension, when any thing was to be got by it, was instantaneous. All possess activity, skilfulness, and sagacity; some in a striking degree. The passions are strong and sudden, and as there is no authority to decree or enforce punishment, totally unchecked, except by fear of revenge. They are superstitious, and never mention the name of the dead without trembling. It is, perhaps, difficult to account, except through superstition, for the monstrous custom of the nearest of kin, upon the natural or violent death of a relation, to sacrifice a victim of any age or sex, it matters not whether of his own or of a neighbouring tribe, to the shades of the deceased. After death, an oval grave, about four feet long, is dug from east to west; the body is placed upon its side, with the legs bent, and the head towards the east, and then covered with earth taken from the north side of the grave, what had been thrown out remaining as a mound, somewhat in the form of a crescent. When Mokarree (the brother of the chief who is represented in the foreground of the view) was buried, green branches, and also his cloak, were placed in his grave; a fire was then lighted on the top, and the mourners, after beating or flapping themselves with boughs, and repeating at the same time some charm or incantation, threw themselves upon the fire, and ran away, as if afraid of something pursuing them