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Their treatment of wounds must not be omitted。 A doctor is； with them； a person of importance and esteem； but his province seems rather to charm away occult diseases than to act the surgeon's part； which； as a subordinate science； is exercised indiscriminately。 Their excellent habit of body*； the effect of drinking water only； speedily heals wounds without an exterior application which with us would take weeks or months to close。 They are； nevertheless； sadly tormented by a cutaneous eruption； but we never found it contagious。 After receiving a contusion； if the part swell they fasten a ligature very tightly above it； so as to stop all circulation。 Whether to this application； or to their undebauched habit； it be attributable； I know not； but it is certain that a disabled limb among them is rarely seen； although violent inflammations from bruises； which in us would bring on a gangrene； daily happen。 If they get burned； either from rolling into the fire when asleep； or from the flame catching the grass on which they lie （both of which are common accidents） they cover the part with a thin paste of kneaded clay； which excludes the air and adheres to the wound until it be cured； and the eschar falls off。
＇*Their native hardiness of constitution is great。 I saw a woman on the day she was brought to bed； carry her new…born infant from Botany Bay to Port Jackson； a distance of six miles； and afterwards light a fire and dress fish。＇
Their form of government； and the detail of domestic life； yet remain untold。 The former cannot occupy much space。 Without distinctions of rank； except those which youth and vigour confer； theirs is strictly a system of 'equality' attended with only one inconveniencethe strong triumph over the weak。 Whether any laws exist among them for the punishment of offences committed against society； or whether the injured party in all cases seeks for relief in private revenge； I will not positively affirm； though I am strongly inclined to believe that only the latter method prevails。 I have already said that they are divided into tribes； but what constitutes the right of being enrolled in a tribe； or where exclusion begins and ends； I am ignorant。 The tribe of Cameragal is of all the most numerous and powerful。 Their superiority probably arose from possessing the best fishing ground； and perhaps from their having suffered less from the ravages of the smallpox。
In the domestic detail there may be novelty； but variety is unattainable。 One day must be very like another in the life of a savage。 Summoned by the calls of hunger and the returning light； he starts from his beloved indolence； and snatching up the remaining brand of his fire； hastens with his wife to the strand to commence their daily task。 In general the canoe is assigned to her； into which she puts the fire and pushes off into deep water； to fish with hook and line； this being the province of the women。 If she have a child at the breast； she takes it with her。 And thus in her skiff； a piece of bark tied at both ends with vines； and the edge of it but just above the surface of the water； she pushes out regardless of the elements； if they be but commonly agitated。 While she paddles to the fishing…bank； and while employed there； the child is placed on her shoulders； entwining its little legs around her neck and closely grasping her hair with its hands。 To its first cries she remains insensible； as she believes them to arise only from the inconvenience of a situation； to which she knows it must be inured。 But if its plaints continue； and she supposes it to be in want of food； she ceases her fishing and clasps it to her breast。 An European spectator is struck with horror and astonishment at their perilous situation； but accidents seldom happen。 The management of the canoe alone appears a work of unsurmountable difficulty； its breadth is so inadequate to its length。 The Indians； aware of its ticklish formation； practise from infancy to move in it without risk。 Use only could reconcile them to the painful position in which they sit in it。 They drop in the middle of the canoe upon their knees； and resting the buttocks on the heels； extend the knees to the sides； against which they press strongly； so as to form a poise sufficient to retain the body in its situation； and relieve the weight which would otherwise fall wholly upon the toes。 Either in this position or cautiously moving in the centre of the vessel； the mother tends her child； keeps up her fire （which is laid on a small patch of earth）； paddles her boat； broils fish and provides in part the subsistence of the day。 Their favourite bait for fish is a cockle。
The husband in the mean time warily moves to some rock； over which he can peep into unruffled water to look for fish。 For this purpose he always chooses a weather shore； and the various windings of the numerous creeks and indents always afford one。 Silent and watchful； he chews a cockle and spits it into the water。 Allured by the bait； the fish appear from beneath the rock。 He prepares his fish…gig； and pointing it downward； moves it gently towards the object； always trying to approach it as near as possible to the fish before the stroke be given。 At last he deems himself sufficiently advanced and plunges it at his prey。 If he has hit his mark； he continues his efforts and endeavours to transpierce it or so to entangle the barbs in the flesh as to prevent its escape。 When he finds it secure he drops the instrument； and the fish； fastened on the prongs； rises to the surface； floated by the buoyancy of the staff。 Nothing now remains to be done but to haul it to him； with either a long stick or another fish…gig （for an Indian； if he can help it； never goes into the water on these occasions） to disengage it； and to look out for fresh sport。
But sometimes the fish have either deserted the rocks for deeper water； or are too shy to suffer approach。 He then launches his canoe； and leaving the shore behind； watches the rise of prey out of the water； and darts his gig at them to the distance of many yards。 Large fish he seldom procures by this method； but among shoals of mullets； which are either pursued by enemies； or leap at objects on the surface； he is often successful。 Baneelon has been seen to kill more than twenty fish by this method in an afternoon。 The women sometimes use the gig； and always carry one in each canoe to strike large fish which may be hooked and thereby facilitate the capture。 But generally speaking； this instrument is appropriate to the men； who are never seen fishing with the line； and would indeed consider it as a degradation of their pre…eminence。
When prevented by tempestuous weather or any other cause； from fishing； these people suffer severely。 They have then no resource but to pick up shellfish； which may happen to cling to the rocks； and be cast on the beach； to hunt particular reptiles and small animals； which are scarce； to dig fern root in the swamps or to gather a few berries； destitute of flavour and nutrition； which the woods afford。 To alleviate the sensation of hunger； they tie a ligature tightly around the belly； as I have often seen our soldiers do from the same cause。
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