Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/94

89 failed to tempt them from their cool retreats; therefore the fishermen coiled away their lines, and landed 'mid their scaley prey, huge cutlets from which were soon frizzling and seething on the glowing coals, emitting such appetising odours as are seldom experienced, apart from the camp fire, in the free wilds of the mighty bush, where air and exercise combine to give food such zest as epicures whose lives are laid in cities vainly sigh for. We, in common with our aboriginal brethren, having partaken sumptuously of the luscious cutlets, supplemented by a good-sized bunch of "pigfaces" by way of bread, charged our pipe, and then, under the influence of the soothing weed, we felt as though children might play with us and not elicit a single growl by reason of their juvenile temerity.

When our pipes had demonstrated that even they could come to an end, there was a stir amongst the male portion of the party. Everything in the shape of clothes was doffed by them, and when reduced to perfect nudity they stood up, spear in hand, waiting for old Pinbocoroo to give the word of command; they represented a group in bronze far surpassing in their just proportions the puny efforts of a mundane modeller. Another phase of our sport was about to commence.

The sluggish fish had sought the cool depths of the river, and were not to be tempted therefrom by any kind of bait, however delectable or cunningly devised. The aboriginal fishermen were therefore determined to seek them in their cool retreats. To that end all those in Adam's first attire stole quietly into the river, each with his short,