456 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF POLYNESIA. 



women and wliite men, but they are very rare in Australia, and I am 

 not aware that any members of a second generation exist. In my 

 belief the Australian aboriginal is destined to disappear as completely 

 as have the tribes of Tasmania; although in holding this view I do not 

 wish it to be understood that I regard him as a being so low in the 

 scale of humanity as to be incapable of improvement. Different indi- 

 viduals among them present different degrees of capacity for mental 

 culture, but many of them are open to considerable elevation. I cannot 

 say that in their natural state they are wanting in tenacity of purpose. 

 They will track a foe with the most untiring diligence, and in many 

 other things display a remarkable perseverance and singleness of end. 

 But when civilization attempts to deal with them they show an equally 

 great deficiency in the power of application. They are often good and 

 intelligent farm servants, and, if properly managed, they seldom fail to 

 acquire in a short time some rudiments of religion and general educa- 

 tion. They are remarkably susceptible to religious impressions, and 

 submissive and trusting to their teachers. Their memories are reten- 

 tive. The schoolmaster has no difficulty in getting them to recollect 

 what they have once grasped, but he finds it a very difficult task to 

 lis their attention. Their faculty of observation is great, but all the 

 good qualities which they possess seem to fade away directly we seek 

 to apply them to the teachings of civilized life. Their precarious mode 

 of subsistence militates of course very strongly against any great phy- 

 sical development, but when well fed they evince considerable powers 

 of endurance. They become clever stockmen and daring riders. I 

 knew a member of the Murrumbidgee tribe who was one of the best 

 jockeys in New South "Wales. It will also be remembered that England 

 was recently visited by a company of aboriginal cricketers; and these 

 men worked out a by no means discreditable record, both with some of 

 the best English clubs in Australia, and with many clubs in England. 

 The government of Victoria has always exhibited a marked desire to 

 protect and utilize the native tribes. They have also been generally 

 well treated by the settlers of that colony. A few years ago, an effort 

 was made to give as many of them as would avail themselves of the 

 offer some knowledge of agriculture and the art of earning a living. 

 For this purpose a large tract of fine land on the banks of the Goul- 

 burn was set apart for them. Tools, seeds and instructors, were pro- 

 vided, and many natives came to the spot and proved themselves 

 exceedingly handy with the various implements placed at their dis- 



