Page:Two Representative Tribes of Queensland.djvu/97

Rh included. Sinews were drawn from the kangaroo's tail to serve as twine. They were used for sewing opossums' skins together to form rugs. Much time was spent in preparing the rugs. The flesh was rubbed off the skins with stones. Generally a rude linear design was scratched on the inside of each skin and coloured with kuthing, a red clay. The women were skilled in the manufacture of nets and of dillie-bags made of grass or twine.

When other occupations failed, they could always entertain themselves profitably searching one another's heads. When engaged in this way they put one very much in mind of monkeys.

The men might go out for the chase either in a band or singly, They used to fire the grass in a line from one projecting point of scrub to another and force the game away to a corner, formed by the scrub margin, where their comrades would be lying in wait to effect the slaughter. At other times, just by loud shouting, they would confuse the mobs of marsupials, while they would be following them up, running with a long stride, and prepared to strike with spear or waddy as chance offered. It stirred