442 REPORT — 1869. 



careful of that of others when under their charge Socially they are a 



lively, cheerful, and chatty people, fond of associating with each other and with 

 strangers, with whom they soon become on friendly terms, if kindly treated. . . 

 In their domestic relations they are exemplary. The man is an obedient son, a 



good husband, and a kind father The children when young are docile. 



. . . . The girls have their dolls, in malring dresses and shoes for which they 

 amuse and employ themselves. The boys have miniature bows, arrows, and spears. 



. . . When grown up they are dutiful and kind to their parents 



Orphan children are readily adopted and well cared for until they are able to provide 

 for themselves." He concludes by saying, " the more I saw of the Esquimaux the 

 higher was the opinion I formed of them." 



Again, Hooper* thus describes a visit to an Asiatic Esquimaux belonging to the 

 Tuski: — " Upon reachingMooldooyah's habitation, we found Captain Moore installed 

 at his ease, with every provision made for comfort and convenience. Water and 

 venison were suspended over the lamps in preparation for dinner; skins nicely 

 arranged for couches, and the hangings raised to admit the cool air ; our baggage 

 ■was bestowed around us with care and in quiet, and we were free to take our own 

 way of enjoying such unobtrusive hospitality, without a crowd of eager gazers 

 watching us" like lions at feed ; nor were we troubled by importunate begging, such 

 as detracted from the dignity of Metra's station, which was undoubtedly high in 

 the tribe." 



I know no sufficient reason for supposing that the Esquimaux were ever more 

 advanced than they are now. The Duke indeed considers that before they were 

 "driven by wars and migrations" (a somewhat curious expression) they "may 

 have been nomads living on their flocks and herds ;" and he states broadly that 

 " the rigours of the region they now inhabit have reduced this people to the con- 

 dition in which we now see them ; " a conclusion for which I know no reason, 

 particularly as the Tinne and other Indians living to the south of the Esquimaux 

 are ruder and more barbarous. 



It is my belief that the great continents were already occupied by a widespread, 

 though sparse population, when man was no more advanced than the lowest 

 savages of to-day ; and although I am far from believing that the various degrees 

 of civilization which now occur can be altogether accounted for by the external 

 circumstances as they at present exist, still these circumstances seem to me to 

 throw much light on the very ditierent amount of progress which has been attained 

 by differeut races. 



In referring to the baclvwardness of the aboriginal Australians, I had obseiTed 

 that New Holland contained " neither cereals nor any animals which could be 

 domesticated with advantnoe," upon which the Duke remarks that " Sir John 

 Lubbock urges in reply to Whately that the low condition of Australian savages 

 afibrds no proof whatever that they could not raise themselves, because the materials 

 of improvement are wanting in that countrv, which affords no cereals, nor animals 

 capable of useful domestication. But Sir J. Lubbock does not perceive that the 

 same argument which shows how improvement could not possibly be attained, shows 

 also how degradation could not possibly be avoided. If with the few resources 

 of the country it was impossible for savages to rise, it follows that with those 

 same resources it would be impossible for a half-civilized race not to fall. And as 

 in this case again, unless we are to suppose a separate Adam and Eve for Van 

 Diemen's Land, its natives must oiiginally have come from countries where both 

 corn and cattle were to be had, it follows that the low condition of these natives 

 is much more likely to have been the result of degradation than of primeval bai'- 

 barism." 



But my argument was that a half-civilized race would have brought other 

 resources with them. The dog was, I think, certainly introduced into that coimtry 

 by man, who would have brought with him other animals also if he had possessed 

 any. The same argument applies to plants ; the Polynesians carried with them 

 the Sweet Potato and the Yam, as well as the dog, from island to island ; and 

 even if the first settlers in Australia happened to have been without them, and 

 without the means of acquiring them, they would certainly have found some 

 * The Tents of the Tuski, cit. p. 102. 



