Page:Life and Adventures of William Buckley.djvu/86

Rh much estimated. There is another kind of animal the natives kill and eat—it is called the karbor, about the size of a dog—thick and short in the body, with a tremendous large head, and very short legs, armed with claws covered over with thick frizzly hair of a light brown colour; they inhabit the branches of high trees in the day, but at night they descend to eat the grass, and roots, these being their principal food. When wounded they make the most pitiable cries, like those of young children in pain; they make the same noise in the night; and many a time have they kept me awake whilst on my lonely wanderings. They are very harmless, making no resistance when taken, might be easily domesticated, are excellent eating, and very much resembling pork in flavour. They carry their young in a pouch under the belly the same as the kangaroo; and, notwithstanding their singular and somewhat unwieldy appearance, are very active, springing from branch to branch, like squirrels.

We now started to meet, by invitation, another tribe who were halted near a small stream running into the Barwin. The second day, we reached the appointed place, which the natives call Monwak, but they were not there; so we sent off a messenger to inform them of our approach; at length we found them, in great strength, smearing themselves all over with clay, and apparently preparing for some important occasion. On learning this, our tribe did the same, jumping about as if mad. In the afternoon the others arrived, with