PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. LXXVII 



wombats, and phalangers — have been evolved within the limits 

 of Australia itself, indicating the complete isolation of the Con- 

 tinent for long ages, so far as influence by direct contact from 

 outside ifi concerned in the case of the fauna. 



From the point of view of climatology, the distribution of the 

 rain belts in Pliocene and Pleistocene times, as plotted down by 

 Dr. Griffith Taylor, is of considerable interest in regard to the 

 possible migration of peoples to Australia from the north. The 

 charts show that, during the Pliocene, the hot moist belt came 

 much farther south than in the later Pleistocene, with the result 

 that the centre of aridity came farther and farther south, affect- 

 ing seriously the parts of Australia lying within the temperate 

 zone, but at the same time favorably affecting the northern part 

 of the Continent. It would seem to be very probable that, later 

 on, the reverse moivement northward of the centre of aridity 

 during Pleistocene times may have exercised a profound influence 

 on the migration of peoples coming down from xVsia into Malaysia, 

 and spreading thence southwards into Australia. 



Turning now to the consideration of the culture of the present 

 Australian aboriginals and its origin, there are, in regard to it, 

 three features of outstanding importance and interest. First, the 

 broad division of the Continent into an eastern half with female, 

 and a western with male descent tribes. Second, the extra- 

 ordinary homogeneity of the tribes scattered over the whole Con- 

 tinent in regard to the fundamental features of their class organi- 

 zation, and, to a large extent,* of their totemic systems. It is 

 true that the latter vary, but the different forms merge into one 

 another. Third, in strong contrast to the second, is the wide 

 divergence of tribes with identical or closely similar organization 

 and totemic systems in regard to customs such as those concerned 

 with initiation, burial ceremonies, the making of fire, and such 

 other features as the nature of their weapons and their schemes 

 of ornamentation and design. 



The question arises whether the Australian aborigina's owe 

 fheir present culture to the result of interactions between different 

 immigrant peoples, or whether their immediate ancestors brought 

 with them certain customs, beliefs, and arts, representing those 

 held and practised by early mankind, and, isolated in Australia, 

 have developed along various lines without influence from outside. 

 Several theories have been put forward to explain the present 

 conditions. 



It is evident that there have been, at all events, two main immi- 

 grations, an earlier one of a primitive ulotrichous people, and a 

 later one of a more highly developed race. It seems probable that 

 important dispersions of early representatives of various races, 

 those of Australia amongst them, took place trom the Eurasian 



