按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
two longitudinal incisions with a sharpened shell； and afterwards pinching up with the nails the intermediate space of skin and flesh； which thereby becomes considerably elevated and forms a prominence as thick as a man's finger。 No doubt but pain must be severely felt until the wound be healed。 But the love of ornament defies weaker considerations； and no English beau can bear more stoutly the extraction of his teeth to make room for a fresh set from a chimney sweeper； or a fair one suffer her tender ears to be perforated； with more heroism than the grisly nymphs on the banks of Port Jackson； submit their sable shoulders to the remorseless lancet。
That these scarifications are intended solely to increase personal allurement I will not； however； positively affirm。 Similar； perhaps； to the cause of an excision of part of the little finger of the left hand in the women； and of a front tooth in the men；* or probably after all our conjectures； superstitious ceremonies by which they hope either to avert evil or to propagate good； are intended。 The colours with which they besmear the bodies of both sexes possibly date from the same common origin。 White paint is strictly appropriate to the dance。 Red seems to be used on numberless occasions； and is considered as a colour of less consequence。 It may be remarked that they translate the epithet white when they speak of us； not by the name which they assign to this white earth； but by that with which they distinguish the palms of their hands。
＇*It is to be observed that neither of these ceremonies is universal； but nearly so。 Why there should exist exemptions I cannot resolve。 The manner of executing them is as follows。 The finger is taken off by means of a ligature （generally a sinew of a kangaroo） tied so tight as to stop the circulation of the blood； which induces mortification and the part drops off。 I remember to have seen Colbee's child； when about a month old； on whom this operation had been just performed by her mother。 The little wretch seemed in pain； and her hand was greatly swelled。 But this was deemed too trifling a consideration to deserve regard in a case of so much importance。
The tooth intended to be taken out is loosened by the gum being scarified on both sides with a sharp shell。 The end of a stick is then applied to the tooth； which is struck gently several times with a stone； until it becomes easily moveable； when the 'coup de grace' is given by a smart stroke。 Notwithstanding these precautions； I have seen a considerable degree of swelling and inflammation follow the extraction。 Imeerawanyee； I remember； suffered severely。 But he boasted the firmness and hardihood with which he had endured it。 It is seldom performed on those who are under sixteen years old。＇
As this leads to an important subject I shall at once discuss it。 〃Have these people any religion： any knowledge of； or belief in a deity？ any conception of the immortality of the soul？〃 are questions which have been often put to me since my arrival in England： I shall endeavour to answer them with candour and seriousness。
Until belief be enlightened by revelation and chastened by reason； religion and superstition； are terms of equal import。 One of our earliest impressions is the consciousness of a superior power。 The various forms under which this impression has manifested itself are objects of the most curious speculation。
The native of New South Wales believes that particular aspects and appearances of the heavenly bodies predict good or evil consequences to himself and his friends。 He oftentimes calls the sun and moon 'weeree；' that is； malignant； pernicious。 Should he see the leading fixed stars （many of which he can call by name） obscured by vapours； he sometimes disregards the omen； and sometimes draws from it the most dreary conclusions。 I remember Abaroo running into a room where a company was assembled； and uttering frightful exclamations of impending mischiefs about to light on her and her countrymen。 When questioned on the cause of such agitation she went to the door and pointed to the skies； saying that whenever the stars wore that appearance； misfortunes to the natives always followed。 The night was cloudy and the air disturbed by meteors。 I have heard many more of them testify similar apprehensions。
However involved in darkness and disfigured by error such a belief be； no one will； I presume； deny that it conveys a direct implication of superior agency； of a power independent of and uncontrolled by those who are the objects of its vengeance。 But proof stops not here。 When they hear the thunder roll and view the livid glare； they flee them not； but rush out and deprecate destruction。 They have a dance and a song appropriated to this awful occasion； which consist of the wildest and most uncouth noises and gestures。 Would they act such a ceremony did they not conceive that either the thunder itself； or he who directs the thunder； might be propitiated by its performance？ That a living intellectual principle exists； capable of comprehending their petition and of either granting or denying it？ They never address prayers to bodies which they know to be inanimate； either to implore their protection or avert their wrath。 When the gum…tree in a tempest nods over them； or the rock overhanging the cavern in which they sleep threatens by its fall to crush them； they calculate （as far as their knowledge extends） on physical principles； like other men； the nearness and magnitude of the danger； and flee it accordingly。 And yet there is reason to believe that from accidents of this nature they suffer more than from lightning。 Baneelon once showed us a cave； the top of which had fallen in and buried under its ruins； seven people who were sleeping under it。
To descend； is not even the ridiculous superstition of Colbee related in one of our journies to the Hawkesbury？ And again the following instance。 Abaroo was sick。 To cure her； one of her own sex slightly cut her on the forehead； in a perpendicular direction with an oyster shell； so as just to fetch blood。 She then put one end of a string to the wound and； beginning to sing； held the other end to her own gums； which she rubbed until they bled copiously。 This blood she contended was the blood of the patient； flowing through the string； and that she would thereby soon recover。 Abaroo became well； and firmly believed that she owed her cure to the treatment she had received。 Are not these； I say； links； subordinate ones indeed； of the same golden chain？ He who believes in magic confesses supernatural agency； and a belief of this sort extends farther in many persons than they are willing to allow。 There have lived men so inconsistent with their own principles as to deny the existence of a God； who have nevertheless turned pale at the tricks of a mountebank。
But not to multiply arguments on a subject where demonstration （at least to me） is incontestable； I shall close by expressing my firm belief that the Indians of New South Wales acknowledge the existence of a superintending deity。 Of their ideas of the origin and duration of his existence； of his power and capacity； of his benignity or maleficence； or of their own emanation from him； I pretend not to speak。 I have often； in common with others； tried to gain information from them on this head； but we were always repulsed by obstacles which we could neither pass by or surmount。 Mr。 Dawes attempted to teach Abaroo some of our notions of religion； and hoped that she would thereby be induced to communicate hers in return。 But her levity and love of play in a great measure defeated his efforts； although every thing he did learn from her served to confirm what is here advanced。 It may be remarked； that when they attended at church with us （which was a common practice） they always preserved profound silence and decency； as if conscious that some religious ceremony on our side was performing。
The question of； whether they believe in the immortality of the soul will take up very little time to answer。 They are universally fearful of spirits。* They call a spirit 'mawn'。 They often scruple to approach a corpse； saying that the 'mawn' will seize them and that it fastens upon them in the night when asleep。** When asked where their deceased friends are they always point to the skies。 To believe in after existence is to confess the immortality of some part of being。 To enquire whether they assign a 'limited' period to such future state would be superfluous。 This is one of the subtleties of speculation which a savage may be supposed not to have considered； without impeachment either of his sagacity or happiness。
＇* 〃It is remarkable；〃 says Cicero； 〃that there is no nation； whether barbarous or civilized； that does not believe in the existence of spirits〃。＇
＇**As they often eat to satiety； even to produce sickness； may not this be the effect of an overloaded stomach： the nightmare？＇
Their manner of interring the dead has been amply described。 It is certain that instead of burying they sometimes burn the corpse； but the cause of distinction we know not。 A dead body； covered by a canoe； at whose side a sword and shield were placed in state； was once di