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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

REGARDING THE THE TRIBES OF BLACKS INHABITING THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS

The habits manner & Customs of the various tribes of blacks inhabiting New Holland
are similar; Each tribe has a particular district alloted [allotted] to them which they
call their own, the hunting grounds & fishing places supports [support] the tribe.

The languages of the tribes differ within one hundred miles, they are
frequently called upon to decide the quarrels of their neighbours, & to attend
Corroboras [Corroborees] & Borrahs [Boras] to a considerable distance from their own district.
The scarcity of game they depend upon for support compels them to shift their
Camp every second day - The principal [principle] food of the various tribes of
natives in the interior is the Oppossum, [possum], other animals such as Waleroo [Wallaroo]
Kangaroo, Bandycoot [Bandicoot] & Emu may be had in the bush, as also fish
in the rivers, these, however, are not always to be depended upon,
by these wandering tribes.

On the sea Coast their principal support
is to be had from their fishing, and what few animals may be found in
the bush, as also the native fruits in their seasons, the native apple, the Mariba, the Wariba,
the Warilla, the Bunyeh fruit, and the Tambay.

The whole of the Northern tribes depend more or less upon the Goolah
grass seed (Panicum Loevinodes) this seed they grind and bake the flour
into Cakes - They also dig for and obtain and native potatoe [potato], they make
Considerable use of the gums got from the Corachin or Kurryjong roots & those
of other trees.

It is unjust to term the natives of these northern Districts as a
lazy indolent & slothful race, their habits are not like ours, nor are their
wants the same,  - The track [tract] of Country allotted to each tribe is frequently
thinned of their game requiring all the industry of the young and the old  to procure
a daily supply for the tribe - The Chief or King regulates the work & duty
of the whole tribe, and between nine & ten in the morning all parties leave the
Camp in search of the days provision leaving only the old & infirm with the children
they return an hour before sun down when their game is equal divided, their Chief
& his wife only receiving the largest share - In general their rectitude & justice
among themselves might shame the whites