1900. ] MATHEWS—-THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. 507 
It will be assumed that in a former period the physical geography 
of the Australian continent was different to what it is now. Geo- 
logical investigations show that different portions of Australia have 
been under water in succession more than once, or have been alter- 
nately sea and land. The mainland of Africa and Asia at one 
time had a comparatively unbroken continuity southeasterly as far 
as Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Probably the extension 
reached farther to the south and east, but the limits mentioned will 
be sufficient for the present discussion. A great part of this conti- 
nent—which has been called Lemuria, because it is supposed that 
there the lemurs had their centre of development—now lies under 
the Indian Ocean, but its former existence is proved by hydrographic 
surveys which indicate by the banks and shoals now under water 
where this great land was situated. Dr. Blanford has endeavored 
to show that it was over this Jost continent that many of the older 
Indian animals traveled into Africa. And it is stated by Sir J. D. 
Hooker, the eminent botanist, that a large assemblage of blossom- 
ing plants characteristic of the Indian Peninsula are also inhabitants 
of tropical Australia. 
The first inhabitants who were dispersed over the continent 
referred to were a black race of the Negroid type. They were not 
necessarily homogeneous, because in moving southward and east- 
ward people of neighboring tracts of country would to some extent 
mix with each other by conquest or for purposes of mutual advan- 
tage, and their language and customs would be modified in certain 
particulars. These people form the primitive stock from which the 
original inhabitants of Australia, Papua and Tasmania have sprung. 
It is immaterial to our present purpose whether the cradle of the 
human race was in Asia, in Africa or in the now submerged region 
of Lemuria. 
This primitive race spread southeasterly with comparative ease, 
advancing slowly because its members were not numerous and the 
tropical character of the country passed through made food abund- 
ant and easily obtained. It is not to be expected that the people 
would all keep together, or travel at the same rate. They would 
divide into clans or small communities, some moving on in one 
direction or along particular natural features—others proceeding in 
other directions—others perhaps remaining stationary for long 
periods in favorable localities. Useful arts would be developed 
more in some of these tribes than in others, resulting from the 
