'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎378] (487/496)

terously, striking objects with the greatest accuracy at the distance of
seventy or eighty yards. They had no bows or arrows, nor were they
acquainted with these warlike weapons : they however seemed to under
stand the utility of our guns, for whenever they saw a bird they invari
ably made signs for us to shoot it, and if the bird was killed there was a
pellmell rush, and immediately it was secured the fortunate possessor
would skulk away from his companions in some retired corner in order
better to enjoy his sumptuous repast. They were not at all particular as
to the species of bird we gave them,—a huge grey-headed old vulture or
brahmmi kite being as equally relished as the more delicate dove or
paroquet: they were all alike devoured with the greatest voracity, a few
minutes being sufficient to finish even the largest bird. They eat them
quite raw: the only cooking found necessary was merely singing the feathers
partially off by holding them over a fire for a short time,—entrails and
feathers being swallowed with as much gout as if it had been the greatest
Jam.g.. It certainly was a most revolting sight to witness these miser
able half famished creatures devouring a vulture with ravenous appetite-
rhey looked the very picture of savage ferocity as they tore it in pieces
witn theii hands, and gnawed the flesh from the bones with their teeth
like .a pack of hungry wolves, growling even if any one approached them,
tearing I suppose they would be robbed of their delicious morsel. Whilst
thus employed tney resembled fiends more than human beings, and had
we not seen these savages, we should never have believed that any class
of people could ever have been so low in the scale of civilization .-—they
appeared only one link removed from the man and the ape: their language
tdso seemed to bo a mere chatter—v r e could not make out a word they said.
We found them, however, tolerably friendly, and only once during our visit
was our amicable intercourse interrupted : the following was the occur,
rcnce. A boat s crew, whilst on shore, the day previous to our sailing,
ivashin . clothes, had spread some of their things out to dry, when
a paity of natives suddenly emerged from the trees and made a rush to
steal them, but were prevented from doing so by the men firing their
muskets over their heads : this caused them to retreat, and as they ran off
they threw some spears at our people, but fortunately they fell harmless
amongst them. Thus ended our last interview with the savages of Hew
Holland, none of them ever appearing near us afterwards,—dreading no
- oubt that we should inflict upon them a severe chastisement for their
treacherous conduct!! The trees chiefly consisted of the acacia and
eucalyptus: from many of the latter a considerable quantity of a reddish
coloictl gum exuded, yielding a slightly aromatic perfume, and resembling