256 E. J. STATHAM, ESQ., ASSOC. M.INST.C.E., ON 
the grand specimen of a man shown in the accompanying 
photograph, a warrior (see Plate VIII); a “mighty 
hunter before the Lord”; only forty years ago such men 
were plentiful, now, alas! they are scarce; contact with our 
civilization has destroyed them, drink has done its deadly 
work, above all, clothing and blankets have been fatal to them. 
Governor Phillip estimated the Aboriginal population at 
the close of last century at one million—admittedly on insuf- 
ficient data; later writers on more extended information esti- 
mate at halfamillion. At the census of 1891 the Aboriginal 
population for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, 
and West Australia is given as 38,304. Queensland is not 
given, but the blacks being more numerous there than else- 
where in Australia, possibly there may be 40,000, so that the 
grand total can hardly exceed 80,000, and it seems probable 
that even the half million estimate of original population 
was excessive; allowing, however, that it may have attained 
that amount, and turning to the analogy of Scripture history, 
we find that the Israelites went down into Egypt “70 
persons,” and at the exodus in little more than 200 years 
numbered 603,550 men. 
In contrast with this we have a record of 62 persons, who— 
if the first inhabitants—had before them a land free from 
enemies, teeming with animal life, a mild climate, every 
facility to increase and multiply, with 600 years in which to 
fulfil their destiny, and yet they can only represent half a 
million ; it therefore seems demonstrated that the numerical 
development of the Australian race does not postulate a high 
antiquity. If the first settlement of population were on the 
N.W. coast, its distribution would naturally trend north and 
south along the coast line; along the north coast they would 
find conditions of life easy, and every requisite to ensure 
rapid increase and the development of a fine physique; then. 
as population increased, it would gravitate down the east 
coast, finding extensive and rich valleys very few miles 
apart. Again, not far from the Queensland coast line, 
extensive downs well stocked with game all the way to the 
head waters of the Darling, opening out a veritable “Jand 
of promise” extending into the heart of the continent and 
away down to South Australia. 
All the conditions tend to the development of a race of 
hunters and fishers, and the encouragement of a roving 
disposition, hence so few relics of any sort to show what the 
migrations of the people have been. 
