XXvVi. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
(read before the Society on June 3rd, 1896), would, in all proba- 
bility, have gathered “That the operation did not appreciably 
limit the population ; its object was doubtful, and it could scarcely 
be regarded as practised from a Malthusian standpoint. The 
“kulpi” took precedence over those who were not “kulpi” and 
were privileged to appear in the nude state before the women, 
and further were intrusted with matters of moment to the tribe.” 
Now having had the opportunity, during 1892, of travelling over 
the watershed of the Cooper, Diamantina, Georgina, and Mulligan 
Rivers (over the whole of which territory the “kulpi” obtains), 
and having taken some interest in the mutilations practised by 
the aborigines, I hope it will not be considered presumptuous of 
me to state to the Society what conclusions I have formed, 
although these differ so greatly from what might be inferred from 
Professor Stuart’s paper. The mutilation of the sexual organs of 
both sexes is apparently practised to limit population ; it is un- 
doubtedly severe, but infinitely better than that of castration, for 
the men, at least, do not lose their virility. I cannot agree with 
those, who regard the practice as barbarous, and believe that it 
might with advantage be imitated by the more civilized races of 
mankind. In each camp that I visited, there were one man and 
two, or sometimes three, women upon whom no operation had been 
performed ; they appeared to be the chief and his queens, and 
were evidently regarded with very great respect by the mutilated 
members. Those, who have considered “that the “kulpi” oper- 
ation could not be regarded as practised to limit population on 
account of scarcity of food,” have probably done so after having 
visited the country in a good season, when there was abundance 
of food, and in ignorance of the fact, that dry seasons, during 
which great scarcity of food prevails, follow upon good seasons. 
In 1892 there had been a drought for two years, and had it not 
been that the camps of blacks contained few members, I am afraid 
the whole race would have become extinct from starvation ; few 
as they were it was as much as they could do to exist. It appears 
that sexual mutilations are practised in those parts of Australia 
