open forest land; the natives are still the undisputed occupants, no white men having been there to dispossess them.  The people who occupy the country have fixed residences; at one village were 13 large huts, they are warm and well constructed, in shape of a cupola or “kraal;” a strong frame of wood is first made, and the whole covered with thick turf, with the grass inwards; there are several varieties; those like a kraal are sometimes double, having two entrances, others are demicircular; some are made with boughs and grass, and last are the temporary screens; one hut measured 10 feet diameter by five feet high, and sufficiently strong for a man on horseback to ride over.

“Left early, attended by Pevay, to reconnoitre the country.  In the marshes numerous trenches were again met with; these resembled more the works of civilized than of savage men; they were of considerable extent; one continuous treble line measured 500 yards in length, two feet in width, and from 18 inches to two feet in depth; these treble dikes led to extensive ramified watercourses; the whole covered an area of at least ten acres, and must have been done at great cost of labour to the Aborigines, a convincing proof of their persevering industry.  These are the most interesting specimens of native art I had seen; thousands of yards had been accomplished; the mountain streams were made to pass through them.  In fishing, the natives use the arabine or eel-pot of platted grass, from nine to twelve feet in length.  On the elevated ground were some of the largest ash-hills I had seen, and must have been the work of generations; one measured 31 yards in length, 29 in width, and two in height, with hollow cavities for the natives’ bivouacs and camping places.”—­“Extract from Mr. Robinson’s Letter, copied from papers relative to Australian Aborigines, printed for the House of Commons, August 1844, p. 240.”]

Sometimes each married man will have a hut for himself, his wives, and family, including perhaps occasionally his mother, or some other near relative.  At other times, large long huts are constructed, in which, from five to ten families reside, each having their own separate fire.  Young unmarried men frequently unite in parties of six or eight, and make a hut for themselves.  The materials of which the huts are composed, are generally small branches or boughs of trees, covered in wet weather with grass, or other similar material.  At other times, and especially if large, or made in wet weather, they are formed of thick solid logs of wood, piled and arranged much in the same way as the lighter material, but presenting an appearance of durability that the others do not possess.  In this case they are generally well covered over with grass, creeping plants, or whatever else may appear likely to render them waterproof.  In travelling through the country, I have found that where bushes or shrubs abounded, I could at any time in an hour or two, by working hard, make myself a