Section F. 

 ANTHROPOLOGY AND PHILOLOGY. 



l.-THE PLACE OF THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL IN 

 RECENT ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH. 



By W. BAM8AY SMITH, D.Sc, M.B., CM., F.B.S. (Edin.), 



Permanent Head of the Depirtment of Public Health of 

 South Australia. 



" Anthropology, be it observed, is far from being a science of luxury. At tliis 

 very moment it is leading to most important results, and is throwing new light 

 upon all the sciences bearing upon man. Naturalists, physicians, men of letters, 

 artists, philosophers, lawyers, diplomatists, travellers, archseologists, and linguists 

 are all carrying the material wherewith to build the edifice. To those who apply 

 themselves closely it is a somewhat arduous task, but to the great majority it is 

 a recreation."— ToPiNABD. 



It goes without saying that all of us here are interested in anthro- 

 pology. It is a matter, therefore, within our common knowledge that 

 at the present time the greatest interest is being concentrated on, and 

 the largest amount of study is being devoted to, the Australian ab- 

 original. The particular points that are calling for study and research, 

 and the position and importance of these in the science of anthropology, 

 may not, however, be so well known. I will endeavor, therefore, to 

 set forth briefly the place of the Australian aboriginal in recent research 

 in anthropology, and to outline what has been done, what is being done, 

 and what still requires to be done in order to settle problems that are 

 calling for solution. As almost every part of the anatomy of the ab- 

 original is being examined and re-examined with the view of discovering 

 keys that will open up the secrets of human origin and racial affinities, 

 I will try to indicate to scientific workers how they may aid by observa- 

 tions ; and I also desire to show the general public how they may help 

 by collecting materials for the investigators. Avoiding generalities, 

 then, let us proceed to the details of practical work. 



Some years ago it became known, in connection with certain criminal 

 trials in Adelaide, that I had more than a general interest in skulls, 

 and Mr. A. C. Thomas, now the Crown Law Clerk, presented me with 

 a specimen. On account of the abnormality it showed in dentition, I 

 sent it, along with another skull, to an anthropologist who was likely 

 to make good use of the evidence it afforded — I mean my former teacher. 

 Sir William Turner. I need hardly remind you that it was he who wa 5 

 entrusted with the task of describing the Challenger collection of oste- 

 ology, and that the investigations he made and the results he published 

 then and since then have become landmarks in the fields of anthropologi- 



