At this time, indeed, I had quite a menagerie of animals, including a tame kangaroo.

Naturally enough, I had ample leisure to study the ethnology of my people.

I soon made the discovery that my blacks were intensely spiritualistic; and once a year they held a festival which, when described, will, I am afraid, tax the credulity of my readers.

The festival I refer to was held "when the sun was born again,"-- _i.e._, soon after the shortest day of the year, which would be sometime in June.

On these occasions the adult warriors from far and near assembled at a certain spot, and after a course of festivities, sat down to an extraordinary _seance_ conducted by women--very old, wizened witches--who apparently possessed occult powers, and were held in great veneration.