because it serves for comparison and because the information Mr. Withers collected and forwarded to me in manuscript should not be lost.
Wagga Wagga is situate on the river Murrumbidgee, and lies about eighty miles north of Barnawartha. Many of the words collected by Mr. Withers coincide with words of similar meaning in use on the Upper Murray, but are unlike those of the Lower Murray. Man at Wagga Wagga is Gooen; at Tangambalanga, Gerree. Hand at Wagga Wagga is Murra; at Tangambalanga and Barnawartha, Murrah. Foot, Wagga Wagga, Geenong (Jeenong?); Barnawartha, Jennong. Ear, Wagga Wagga, Woother; Barnawartha, Mutha. Eye, Wagga Wagga, Mill; Barnawartha, Mill. Teeth, Wagga Wagga, Erong; Barnawartha (mouth), Erang. Hair, Wagga Wagga, Ourang; Barnawartha, Huran. Blood, Wagga Wagga, Goohun; Tangambalanga, Koroo. Bone, Wagga Wagga, Thubbul; Barnawartha, Thubal. Night, Wagga Wagga, Booroonthun; Barnawartha, Burandong. Sun, Wagga Wagga, Eri; Barnawartha (day) Erah. Fire, Wagga Wagga, Wing; Barnawartha, Wanga. The native word set down in many vocabularies for "day" is really the word for "sun," and the word for "sun," in like manner, is often that which means "day" or "light" or "heat." There is seldom any mistake made in obtaining the right word for "night," that is to say for "darkness." I believe the natives have really no words exactly equivalent to "day" and "night."
The natives of Tasmania were darker, shorter, more stoutly built, and generally less pleasing in aspect than the people of the continent. Their hair was woolly and crisp, and some bore a likeness to the African negro. Their aspect was different from that of the Australians. In their form, their color, and their hair they were rather Papuan than Australian. Many words in their language, however, coincide with words in the dialects of King George's Sound, the Gulf of St. Vincent, and the south-eastern parts of the continent; and it might be assumed, therefore, that the connection between the inhabitants of the island and the continent was clearly established. But we must not overlook the Papuan affinities of the Tasmanian dialects. Many words are the same as those in the languages spoken in New Caledonia, in Mallicollo, and in other islands of the Melanesian division.
In all respects their condition was lower than that of the Australians, yet they were not altogether unlike in their habits to some tribes of the interior. They knew nothing of the boomerang, the throwing-stick, the shield, or the Weet-weet. Their weapons were rude wooden spears, and sticks used as clubs or as missiles. Their stone implements were chipped fragments of cherty rock, which were not ground or polished, nor were they fitted with wooden handles.
Like the natives of Cooper's Creek, they threw stones at their enemies.
In all their customs there was much to remind one of the practices of the Australians. There were some ceremonies attendant on the initiation of young males into the rights and privileges of manhood; there were some restrictions on marriage; they mourned their dead, and disposed of the bodies by interring them, placing them in trees, or burning them; and they had dances like the corrobborees of the natives of the continent. Their superstitions too, and one
