100 On Aboriginal Art 



Art. XXXI. — Abstract of a Paijev on Aboriginal Art in 

 Australasia, Polynesia, and Oceanica, and its Decay. 

 By Me. Pain. 



[Read 11th September, 1871.] 



Mr. Pain commenced his paper by stating that his atten- 

 tion had been directed to the subject, about to be considered, 

 for many years past ; he referred to its present general 

 interest, and to the increased "importance which it would 

 acqune at a future date, when the aboriginal races shall have 

 passed away, and when their works, treasured in museums, 

 shall have become records of a condition of things no longer 

 existing on the face of the globe. 



It was pointed out that these primitive people and their 

 works formed an interesting chapter, an essential link in 

 the history of the human race. The rapid decay of the 

 native arts was also viewed from a sympathetic point of 

 view, regretting that such simple and beautiful specimens 

 of the skill of nature's children, at present attainable if due 

 effort were made, should so soon pass beyond recovery. 



The comprehensive nature of the subject was urged, and 

 as the limits of time available for the present paper pre- 

 cluded its consideration in detail, it was proposed that a 

 few of the many otherwise available facts be received as 

 examples of the whole. 



Mr, Pain stated that, with the object of rendering his paper 

 as interesting as possible, he had selected from his ethnological 

 collection, some of those rare and beautiful objects of 

 aboriginal handicraft, pertaining to Australasia, Polynesia, 

 and Oceanica* ; and that he trusted their exhibition would 

 have a stimulating effect ; that they would prove the means 

 of creating a desire to collect, while there is yet opportunity, 

 such specimens of the works of these peoples as are unique 

 in character ; unique, because although still obtainable, 

 they are not now reproduced as formerly. They are not 

 reproduced in the same number, or in the same degree of 

 tasteful elaborate ornamentation. 



The asserted decline of native art is attributable 

 chiefly to the social change to which these people are 

 subject, " a change by some styled civilization ; a process 



* These were arranged round the room at the Society's Hall, in which 

 Mr. Pain's paper was read. 



