Note 10 — JOURNAL OF VOYAGE ON THE MURRAY.

October 4th, above Euston, three emus or cassowaries were observed swimming across the river. Amongst the Australian aborigines there has been an evident desire to preserve this gigantic bird, and for this purpose its flesh is forbidden, it is said, to their young men. The Europeans, however, hunt it down without any consideration, unless it be for the sake of its feathers or for a steak of its flesh. An emu, we are told, with a kick can kill a dog or break a horse’s leg, and to judge from the size of their claws (some of which we have on board) this can be no exaggeration. Dogs are, however, trained to seize them by the neck, and, in this way, overpower them easily.