Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/401

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Aug. 1770.]
Australian Natives.
323
English. New Holland.
The Feet Edamal
The Nails Kolke or Kulke
A Stone Walba
Sand Joo'wal, Yowall, or Joralba
A Rope or Line Goorgo or Gurka
Fire Maianang or Meanang
The Sun Galan or Gallan
The Sky Kere or Kearre
A Father Dunjo
A Son Jumurre
A Man Bamma or Ba ma
A Dog Cotta or Kota
A Lorryquet Perpere or Pier-pier
A Cocatoo Wanda
Male Turtle Poonja or Poinja
Female Mamingo
A great Cockle Moenjo or Moingo
Cocos Yams Maracotu (?)
A Canoe Maragan

From what I have said of the Natives of New Holland they may appear to some to be the most wretched People upon Earth; but in reality they are far more happier than we Europeans, being wholy unacquainted not only with the Superfluous, but with the necessary Conveniences so much sought after in Europe; they are happy in not knowing the use of them. They live in a Tranquility which is not disturbed by the Inequality of Condition. The earth and Sea of their own accord furnishes them with all things necessary for Life. They covet not Magnificient Houses, Household-stuff, etc.; they live in a Warm and fine Climate, and enjoy every wholesome Air, so that they have very little need of Cloathing; and this they seem to be fully sencible of, for many to whom we gave Cloth, etc., left it carelessly upon the Sea beach and in the Woods, as a thing they had no manner of use for; in short, they seem'd to set no Value upon anything we gave them, nor would they ever part with anything of their own for any one Article we could offer them. This, in my opinion, Argues that they think themselves provided with all the necessarys of Life, and that they have no Superfluities.[1]

  1. The native Australians may be happy in their condition, but they are without doubt among the lowest of mankind. Confirmed cannibals, they lose no opportunity of gratifying their love of human flesh. Mothers will kill and eat their own children, and the women again are often mercilessly illtreated by their lords and masters. There are no chiefs, and the land is divided into sections, occupied by families, who consider everything in their district as their own. Internecine war exists between the different tribes, which are very small. Their treachery, which is unsurpassed, is simply an outcome of their savage ideas, and in their eyes is a form of independence which resents any intrusion on their land, their wild animals, and their rights generally. In their untutored state they therefore consider that any method of getting rid of the invader is proper. Both sexes, as Cook observed, are absolutely nude, and lead a wandering life, with no fixed abode, subsisting on roots, fruits, and such living things as they can catch. Nevertheless, although treated