"I have observed that upon the northern coasts of Australia the amount of the population upon a certain tract of country is great or small in proportion to the quantity of _vegetable_ food it produces. However abundant animal food may be, a toilsome search for edible roots gives almost constant occupation to a portion of every tribe. Women and children labour for hours together, with no other implement than a pointed stick, in following up the creeping stem of the wild yam through the earth until the root is arrived at, often at a depth of six or eight feet below the surface. A certain proportion of vegetable food appears, indeed, to be absolutely necessary to their existence, and they willingly forego the use of the animal food, if this more grateful diet can be obtained in sufficient abundance."[890] [890] Earl, p. 251. We are informed that among the Bunya-Bunya people (Turrubul and kindred tribes, South East Queensland) the woman had all the heavy work to do.[891] [891] Petrie, p. 61. Among the aborigines of Moreton Bay, women have to erect the huts and provide vegetable food for the whole party, as the men only have to supply fish and game.[892] [892] B. Field, p. 75. We owe a good description of the division of labour on the march to Mathew: "When shifting from one campingground to another they usually moved slowly through the bush, the families separating and gathering their food on the way--opossums, bandicoots, honey, grubs, birds, and so forth. At other times they marched along singly, the lords of creation stepping out with elastic tread and graceful bearing, carrying their light weapons with perhaps some game, the weaker vessel loaded with the chattels and possibly a baby on the back in a loop of a rug or sitting stride-leg on a shoulder. Some would carry live fire-sticks to save the trouble of producing fire by friction. Arrived at the familiar, well-chosen rendezvous, it was the duty of the women to cut the bark of the humpies (dwellings) and prepare the fires."[893] Further on we read: "The women were skilled in the manufacture of nets and of dillie-bags made of grass or twine."[894] "The man's chief home duties consisted in cooking and eating. He would also spend much time in fashioning his weapons."[895] [893] _Loc. cit._, p. 83. [894] _Ibid._, p. 82. [895] _Ibid._, p. 86.