PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS—SECTION G. 161 
their state of civilization, and that an altogether different state 
of things would exist on the east coast from that existing on 
the west coast, separated by more than 2000 miles. This, I 
think, might have been reasonably expected ; but, strange to say, 
the same habits, customs, and manners were found to exist 
throughout this great continent. Although there were no 
means of inter-communication, although the languages or dialects 
were altogether different; although they were separated by 
immense distances ; although no sympathy, or even knowledge 
of one another existed, it is still a fact that they were found to 
be the same people, with the same laws, customs, and manners, 
and, to a very large extent, with the same ideas and traditions. 
When it is considered that probably for many thousands of 
years this continent has been peopled ; that even supposing they 
originated from a few persons cast away on this island continent, 
is it not marvellous that they should have retained their original 
character, and, being subject to like conditions of soil and climate, 
should now be found to be the same people in all important 
respects ! 
In considering this question, one is lost in amazement. Why 
has no superior genius arisen through the ages of the past to 
instil into his people an ambition to rise from their servile and 
degraded condition? Why has it not occurred to some one of 
these people to build a permanent habitation to protect him from 
the rain and the sun? Ihave myself often noticed that, in north- 
west Australia, the natives have no covering by night or day, 
and although skins of animals are abundant, they do not trouble 
to make a rug, or even a cloak. 
As no idea appears to have entered into the mind of the 
Australian aboriginals to cultivate the soil, their whole attention 
is given to securing game by hunting, and in this they are very 
expert. All their implements are fashioned for this purpose, and 
for self-defence. There seems to be very little, if any, inventive 
genius among them ; and, seeing that nearly all their arts are 
possessed equally by those on the whole coast line and by those 
in the interior, it all points to the conclusion that the aboriginals 
of Australia have come from a common stock, and that this stock 
must have possessed the same customs, manners, and traditions 
as are now possessed by their descendants, which have been 
retained ever since, without any improvement or otherwise, 
except in small and isolated instances. 
There is probably no race of people which has done so litile 
to leave behind it a record of its existence as the Australian 
aboriginal race, and no race has been so little able to cope 
with civilisation. After existing in their own savage state for an 
immense time, an intercourse of about half a century with a 
civilized race has been suflicient to almost remove them from the 
face of the earth. Other peoples have suffered and have gradually 
K 
