Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/91

86 din made by those preparing the canoes for a start, and mongrel, mangey, flat-sided curs belonging to the camp, with yelp and howl, did not tend to lessen the atrocious noise. However, ere the broad red disc of the sun had become plainly perceptible above the horizon, the canoes were packed, and a start effected, we, with our good King Pinbocoroo, leading the van.

Altogether there were eight canoes employed in the excursion, each at least having three occupants, and as the flimsy barks (barks in two senses) left the bank and glided gracefully away on the broad surface of the mighty river, whose peaceful waters never yet disturbed by steamboat paddle, glittered and sparkled in the early sunlight, until the flotilla presented a scene so quaintly striking as to be well worthy of an artist's pencil. Like unto muscular athletes those propelling the canoes stood up, nude from the waist, plying their tough and lengthy maroongies (canoe sticks) with a grace and elegance quite equal to that displayed by gymnasts whilst balancing their poles during an airy pas seul. The showers of spray which flashed from the ends of the paddles as they were alternately raised and depressed, formed tiny rainbows, lovely as they were evanescent.

Besides those in the canoes there were about a dozen lyoors, with quite as many youngsters, who trudged along the bank of the river towards the selected fishing grounds, keeping pace with the canoes most admirably, each lyoor as a matter of course carrying her mocre mocre (bag), containing all sorts of notions, comprising the most incongruous assemblage of articles, ranging from a fishook up to the