Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/28

 xviii INTRODUCTION. blacks being tried for murdering their lubras. The woman’s life is of no account if her husband chooses to destroy it, and no one ever attempts to protect or take her part under any circumstances. In times of scarcity of food, she is the last to be fed, and the last considered in any way. That many of them die in consequence cannot be a matter of wonder, and as the natives generally do not marry the members of their own tribe, the loss of a child-bearing woman cannot be replaced. The condition of the women has no influence over their treatment, and a pregnant female is dealt with and is expected to do as much as if she were in perfect health. Within a very few hours after being delivered of a child, she moves about and goes to work as if nothing had happened to her. The condition of the native women is wretched and miserable in the extreme; in fact, in no savage nation of which there is any record can it be worse. The wars which the tribes waged against each other, often in times gone by, caused a certain amount of mortality, but not so great as might generally be supposed. The South Australian Aborigines are fearless, but neither bloodthirsty nor ferocious. "Custom or example may sometimes lead them on to bloodshed, but it is usually in accordance with their prejudices or to gratify the momentary excitement of passion. With many vices and but few virtues, I do not think the Australian savage is more vicious in his propensities or more virulent in his passions than are the larger number of the lower classes of what are called uncivilised communities." This is Eyre’s testimony, and his knowledge of the natives extended far beyond the limits of South Australia. The battles which take place between tribes usually occur about daybreak, or towards sunset in the evening. Whether it is on account of the light being more favourable than the intense glare of the day, or connected with some superstition, is unknown. The customary weapons are spears, waddies (clubs), boomerangs and wooden axes; and some of the tribes employ shields. The spears are often barbed, some of the barbs being fastened on artificially. These are made of sharp fragments of quartz and flints. The spear is propelled by a wommerah or throwing-stick, having