unknown among them, and not yet introduced by fashion, nor relieved by the use of a glass) would never be able to defend himself from their spears, which are thrown with amazing force and velocity."[1]
Physical Powers.
Many of the natives have great strength in the arms and shoulders, and the manner in which they throw the spear, the boomerang, and the woit-woit shows that they can exert their strength to the best advantage. But their hands are small, and, as a rule, they are not capable of performing such heavy labors as a white man. They are soon fatigued; and the mind, in sympathy with the body, disinclines them to continuous labor of any kind.
In their natural state they were accustomed to the use of their weapons only; hunting and fighting were their employments. The women carried the burdens, and did the most of the work that was to be done.
They are good walkers, they can run very fast, and jump to an amazing height; but when they have to travel day after day, they soon show that in endurance they are not the equals of Europeans. This, at any rate, is the impression left on the minds of many who have had to travel on foot with the natives. No doubt a strong and healthy native would exhibit superiority to any untrained European, both as regards speed and endurance; but a strong white man, accustomed to walk fast and far, would soon outstrip the native.
They ride well and sit often gracefully, and manage a horse with temper and judgment; but it has been remarked by those accustomed to ride with the natives that they will never put a horse at a fence. Whether they are deficient in courage or whether it is because they find no pleasure in the exercise is not known.
Using the Feet and Toes.
The natives use their toes in dragging their spears, when they wish to conceal their weapons, and they use them also in ascending trees, in such a manner as to suggest that the joints of the great toe are more pliable and the muscles more under the command of the will than is the case with Europeans. The women also make use of the great toe of the right foot when they are twining rushes for their baskets, and it is believed there is some reason to suppose that the great toe is opposable.[2]
They use their feet, too, in many ways. A man will draw up his foot and use it as a rest when he is shaping a piece of wood with his hatchet.
- ↑ English Colony in New South Wales, 1804, p. 359.
- ↑ "They are very expert at stealing with their toes, and while engaged in talking with any one, will, without moving, pick up the smallest thing from the ground. By means of their toes, they will also carry as many as six long spears through the grass without allowing any part of them to be seen. Some time after this I had an opportunity of testing the nimbleness of their toes. It was with a Murray black. I told him what I wanted to see, and he was very willing to display his cleverness. I put a sixpence on the ground and placed him by my side. Watching his operations, I saw him pick up the thin coin with his great and first toe, just as we should with thumb and forefinger; bend his leg up behind him, deposit the money in his hand, and then pass it into mine, without moving his body in the very slightest degree from the vertical."—Flinders Land and Sturt Land, by W. R. H. Jessop, M.A., vol. II., p. 283.
