as unfit for food. And yet the fact that there are such laws amongst the Australian people and other savage peoples gives a glimpse into the history of the past which is of singular interest.
The natives inhabiting the sea-coast and the banks of the larger rivers had often to depend for subsistence on shell-fish, and consequently both on the coast and inland there are large heaps of shells, mixed in some places with the bones of animals, and concealing stone tomahawks and bone-awls. The large heaps on the banks of the Murray and the Darling are composed of the shells of the freshwater unio. In lat. 29° 43' 3" S., Sir Thomas Mitchell found on the banks of the Gwydir numerous fires of the natives and heaps of mussel-shells, mixed with the bones of the pelican and the kangaroo; and the like occur in various other parts of the area drained by the Murray and its affluents.
On the coast of Victoria there appear in various parts, what at first sight one would suppose to be raised beaches, and if only a slight examination be made of these, their true character is not discovered. But instead of lying in regular and connected layers, they occur in heaps, beyond high-water mark, and they are always opposite to rocks laid bare at low water. Moreover, they are found to consist mainly of one kind of shell—namely, the mussel (Mytilus Dunkeri), with a small proportion of the mutton-fish (Haliotis nivosa), the limpet (Pattella tramoserica), the periwinkle (Lunella undulata), and the cockle (Cardium tenuicostatum). These accumulations resemble in many respects the "kjök-ken-möddings" of Denmark. With the shells are stones bearing distinctly the appearance of having been subjected to the action of fire, and there are also numerous pieces of charcoal imbedded in the mounds. They are visible all along the coast where it is low, but never in any other position than that described; and when opened up are seen to be formed of heaps not regularly superimposed one on the other. Those that have been frequented most recently exhibit clearly the mode of accumulation, and one can trace the old heaps upwards to the last, which is generally found on the highest part of the mound. The area covered by some of the largest of the mounds exceeds an acre in extent; and the shape of the heaps of shells composing them, which are separated by layers of sand, indicates their origin. The enormous period of time during which the natives have assembled on the shores to gather and cook the shell-fish accounts for the great number and extent of the mounds.
The mirrn-yong heaps in the inland parts of Victoria, composed of earth, charcoal ashes, and the bones of animals—the cooking places of the tribes—are also large and numerous.
On the wide open plains, where there is little or no timber, the natives set up stones, principally it is believed for shelter; but they would be used too, in all probability, when it became necessary to conceal from the women their manner of performing certain ceremonies. In what light we are to regard the regularly-built stone monuments which Sir George Grey discovered in North-West Australia is a matter for speculation. His descriptions and drawings would lead one to suppose that, if they were the work of the natives, they had borrowed something from the Malays, who it is known have long had intercourse with the Aborigines of that part of Australia.
