Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/31

26 any one. Their parents never by any chance endeavour to guide them aright; in short, they do not possess the very remotest control over their actions. It is true that sometimes in a burst of passion a father will lend his child a clout with a waddy, which will well nigh brain the little savage. This, however, only induces a wild fit of bellowing, together with a period of sulks, more or less long, according to the evanescense or the contrary of the pain inflicted.

They are altogether lacking in any system calculated to inculcate patience, endurance of pain or privation, into the youthful character. Therefore both adults and children are woefully deficient in the exhibition of these virtues, which are so essential to the well-being of mankind, be they heathen or so-called Christians.

Unlike children of other races, these have no sports or pastimes relating to the years of childhood alone, their youthful amusements being merely the occupations of their riper years in miniature. Thus, it may be said, that there is not any period of boyhood and girlhood amongst them, boys and girls being men and women from the time they can run alone, only of a lesser growth.

Infanticide prevails amongst all the tribes to a very considerable extent, and in too many instances the poor little victims are eaten. Mothers frequently sustain nature by making food of their own offspring. This latter horrible practice occurs generally when the tribes are making long journeys. At such times carrying the children becomes burdensome to the mothers. That, in conjunction with being short of provisions (which is of no unusual occurrence when large numbers travel in a body through an inhospitable