52 Geographical and Ethnographical Section, 



as could be wished ; but there is little doubt, there 

 exists a large amount of what I may call " floating know- 

 ledge " of remote localities, which at present is lost to the 

 community owing to the want of some channel of commu- 

 nication between the bushman and the public at large. 



The ethnology of the country, is hkewise, in a very im- 

 perfect state, although, in this instance also, it is 

 comparatively well-known, that a large amount of 

 native lore, relative to the dialects, manners, customs, 

 and habitats of the Aboriginals, is in possession of 

 the fi^ontier settlers and others, such lore having 

 been acquired during a long residence in this country, in 

 close contiguity with the native tribes. In most cases, this 

 knowledge serves but. as a basis for conversation and anecdote, 

 between the settlers and strangers visiting them, whilst from 

 diffidence mostly, but no doubt also from some vague feeling, 

 that such knowledge is of no particular value, it remains 

 hidden from the world. To those who have spent much 

 time with the frontier settlers, many instances will occur, 

 of gentlemen having considerable knowledge of these 

 matters, but diffident as to its value. I have at this time 

 in my mind, the recollection of one gentlemen in particular, 

 who is possessed of considerable information on these matters, 

 but whom hitherto, I have failed to persuade to render such 

 information in a permanent form, from doubt whether it may 

 be of sufficient importance. I feel convinced that much of this 

 diffidence will be overcome, and a motive furnished for the 

 exertion of committing to writing facts already known, and 

 be an inducement to acquire more, if it becomes known that 

 this Society is actively moving in the matter, and prepared 

 to receive such information on the various branches of the 

 subject, tending to illustrate the moral and physical character 

 of the Austrahan tribes. 



In addition to such sources of private information, this 

 Society possesses the requisite organization for prosecuting 

 its researches, through channels and by agencies which are 

 scarcely open to a private individual. I allude to the public 

 officers and departments of the several colonies, through their 

 respective Governments, who, I assume, would willingly 

 render all possible assistance in the objects proposed if sought 

 for by the Royal Society. 



Lastly, that by diffusing information as to the exact nature 

 of the facts required, and the objects to be served, a system 

 of inquiry will be the result, and the gentlemen engaged, 



