To the observer of human nature it is, indeed, a curious spectacle to watch the several contrary feelings and impulses by which the Australian savage is actuated in his intercourse with the more civilised portions of our race. Attachment, very strong attachment to his own customs, and wild roving mode of life,--admiration of the evident superiority, the luxury, abundance and comfort, enjoyed by Europeans,--doubt and alarm respecting the final issue of the changes which he sees taking place before his eyes,--an increasing taste for many of the useful or agreeable articles which are to be procured only from the hands of the strangers,--these and other similar feelings alternately sway the mind, and prompt the actions, of the native of the bush in Australia, so as to give an appearance of inconsistency, not merely to the varying conduct of different persons, but frequently to the behaviour of the very same person at different times. Sometimes the perplexed savage decidedly prefers his piece of whale to all the luxuries of English fare;[57] at another time he despises the common food of the bush--kangaroo flesh, or fish,--and presuming upon his usefulness as a guide, nothing but _wheaten flour_, at the rate of two pounds and a half a day, will satisfy his desires.[58] One day, fired with a wish to emulate his betters, the black man assumes the costume of an European, likes to be close-shaved, wears a white neck-cloth, and means to become entirely "a white fellow." Another day, wearied with the heat and thraldom of dress, and tempted by the cool appearance, or stung by the severe taunts of his brethren in the bush, off he flings his encumbrances and civilisation, and gladly returns to a state of nature again. [57] See p. 99. [58] See Mitchell's Three Expeditions, vol. i. p. 39.