Australian Bark Shield
A History of the World in 100 Objects
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The Origins of the Aboriginal Shield
Cook of course knew nothing about indigenous customs, no European could. The potential for misunderstanding in this first encounter was limitless. In retrospect, neither side seems to have wanted to kill or maim the other. When the men ran off, Cook and his crew disembarked and went into the nearby woods. We found here a few small huts made of the bark of trees, in one of which were four or five small children with whom we left some strings of beads, etc.
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