PROBLEMS OP ABORIGINAL ART IN AUSTRALIA. 223 



by the inferior art of the more modern drawings, and the 

 absence of a lofty or rehgious motif in them. The origi- 

 nator of the throAvin g-stick — peciiHar, I think, to Austraha — 

 must have been highly ingenious. Some wise and saga- 

 cions mind in the past must have instituted those most 

 peculiar caste customs among the Australians which have the 

 efl'ect of shifting aristocracy by degrees from one family to 

 another, and pre^^enting the growth of a hereditary dominant 

 class : as well as the salutary interdiction of marriage be- 

 tween persons doubly related to each other. And it seems 

 significant of some rehgious traditions coming down from a 

 byegone time ol higher religious civilization, that obser- 

 vances prevail bearing a strong resemblance to those alluded 

 to or prescribed in Genesis xxiv, 9; Deuteronomy xxiii, 12, 

 13, and LeAdticus xii, xv. 



The singular custom of circumcision exists in several 

 tribes. Surely it must have been inherited from some other 

 time and country I Strange to say, the habit of prayer to a 

 Deity seems to have died out amongst them. 



Happily, the true religious sentiment, however dormant, 

 can be re-awakened in their case. The pollutions of savagery 

 are not speedily effaced in a people : but I speak of what 

 I know when I say tliat the Australian Aboriginal can 

 apprehend and embi-ace the Christian Gospel, and that, when 

 embraced indeed, it can transform his life. 'J'he Victorian 

 Government, though rigidly non-religious, encourages reli- 

 gious ministrations in the governmental Black stations, on 

 the ground of the potent and salutary influence of religion 

 upon the conduct of the Aborigines. 



I owe this audience an apology for some discursiveness in 

 dealing with my topic. And 1 pray it to remember, that I 

 only profess to bring forward in this Paper some of the 

 problems suggested by the art of the Australian Aborigines ; 

 not to be competent to solve them. Doubtless there are those 

 among the ladies and gentlemen I have had the honour to 

 address infinitely better qualified than myself to undertake 

 the task. I shall feel thankful if 1 may hope that my Paper 

 Avill have excited in their minds some increased interest in a 

 subject Avitli which few educated persons in this country 

 seem to have much acquaintance at present. 



