7. The hunger-belt. The native used occasionally a belt, made of the skin of the native dog (Wer-ren-Willum), which was worn round the waist, and so arranged as to admit of its being tightened when required. The fur of the animal was outside, and the skin pressed against the body. This belt was called Ber-buk, and it was used chiefly when travelling rapidly, or on some expedition requiring secresy, in the course of which the native might have difficulty in procuring food or water. When oppressed by hunger, the belt was tightened.
In traversing country occupied by a hostile tribe, the native might be afraid of even taking an opossum from a tree. The noise made by cutting steps with his tomahawk would be sufficient to attract attention in a still night. Fearful and anxious, yet bent on performing what he conceived to be his duty, resorting to many stratagems—walking backwards in soft sand or loamy ground; crouching in the day time, and making rapid journeys in the night—hunger and thirst would have overcome him but for his belt. Tightening it more and more, and having still a craving appetite, he would doubtless deal with his enemy, when he found him, with less mercy by reason of such sufferings.[1]
Mr. Thomas has given but little information respecting the dress and ornaments of the females. In his notes I find that the band tied round the forehead of the females was called Murra-kul. It was made of the fur of the opossum or the hair of the native cat. The fur was twisted into threads by the hand, in the same manner as the material for net-bags was prepared.
The young females wore, not as a garment but for preserving decency, a skirt or girdle (composed of the fur of the opossum) called by them Leek-leek.
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| FIG. 23. |
The Til-bur-nin, or apron (Fig. 23), worn by adult females when dancing, is made of the feathers of the emu. The feathers are attached to a strong cord, generally made of the sinews of the tail of the kangaroo, and they are worked in, six or more together, by fine sinews or fine cord made either of some fibre or of the fur of the opossum. It forms a thick but short apron, in length six feet or more, and when wound round the waist descends not quite half-way to the knee. It is fastened by a knot. One specimen in my possession is very well fashioned. The cord, made of the fur of the opossum, is double, and the shafts of the feathers are bound and secured to the cord by extremely fine
- ↑ Speaking of the Moors of Africa, Winwood Reade says that they are remarkably hardy, and can pass days without eating or drinking. On such occasions they wear, like the Red Indians, a hunger-belt, which they gradually tighten.—Savage Africa, by W. Winwood Reade, p. 444.
