A Voyage to Botany Bay by George Barrington

THE warriors thus armed and painted, range themselves in a line, with each a green bough in their hand, as a token that they do not mean to use force, unless obliged thereto, in their own defence, or in case their difference cannot be settled by an amicable agreement; a long parley generally ensues, and concession on both sides for the most part terminate their bloodless campaign.

Building themselves habitations never seem to have entered their imaginations, or any place to shelter them from the weather, though they have plenty of the most inclement; their indolence and want of foresight in this particular would be fatal to them, were it not for the liberal hand of nature, who has so abundantly supplied the sea shores with soft crumbly rocks, which, for the most part, are excavated by the washing of the sea, so as to form caves of very considerable dimensions, sometimes fifty or more of them find a comfortable lodging in one of these caves. In the woods where there are no rocks, they strip the bark off several trees, and cutting them into slips, fasten and interlace them to four stakes drove in the ground, bending broad pieces of the bark over the top to shelve off the rain: these commonly hold a family; and as the weather is very cold in the winter months, they find it necessary to huddle very close for the benefit of the warmth, to which each individual mutually contributes a share. These huts are only used when they are out a kangaroo hunting; for in that season they employ themselves wholly in the woods.