226 On (he Condition and Prvspects 



complete as regards the whole colony of New South Wales, are 

 yet valuable in several respects, as affording some estimate of the 

 ratio of population to extent of country, the proportions of the 

 sexes, and of the children and adults of the aboriginal tribes. 



According to Mr Parker's estimate, by a census taken partly in 

 1843, and partly in 1844, the total number of the Aborigines 

 throughout the district west of the river Goulburn is 1522. This 

 district runs westward to the South Australian frontier, and north 

 from Mount Macedon and Mount William to the Murray. The 

 tribes on the banks of the Murray, still very numerous, are not 

 included. Mr Watton, in the district or country around Mount 

 Bouse, comprising about 20,000 square miles, estimates the num- 

 ber of the Aborigines at 2000. 



From the annexed table, it would appear that the proportion of 

 males to females, of all ages, is about 1*56 : 1, or rather more 

 than 3 to 2. The disproportion of the sexes is greater among the 

 children than the adults ; the proportion of male to female adults 

 may be estimated at 1*55 : 1, and that of male to female children 

 at 1*8 : 1. The proportion of adults to children is 2£ to 1. That 

 proportion of the territory of New South Wales that may in a ge- 

 neral sense be termed " occupied,''' extends over an area of about 

 320,000 square miles, and may be estimated to contain above 

 15,000 aborigines. Allowing 80,000 square miles of this area to 

 Port Philip, and assuming Mr Robinson's estimate of 5000 abo- 

 rigines, there will be 1 aboriginal inhabitant to each 16 square 

 miles for that district, and 1 to 24 for the remainder of the colony ; 

 the average for all New South Wales being 1 aboriginal inhabitant 

 to 21 * square miles. 



Considerable numbers of the aborigines were met with by Dr 

 Leichardt and his party on their route to Port Essington, more par- 

 ticularly throughout Northern Australia. The banks of the rivers 

 of the locality appeared comparatively well inhabited, and the tra- 

 vellers encountered native fisheries, numerous wells of fresh water, 

 and the remains of vegetable food prepared for preservation. Cap- 

 tain Sturt gives an interesting account of numerous tribes of the 

 aborigines which he met with towards the central regions of Aus- 

 tralia, thickly planted along the grassy banks of a large creek, the 

 bed of which was about the size of that of the Dragging. 



than the observations of preceding writers. The object here proposed being to 

 exhibit the condition and prospects of the Aborigines with reference to their 

 civilisation, or to any degree of benefit that it may be possible to confer upon 

 them, the various and endless Mythologies (if they may be so dignified), of the 

 different tribes are very slightly alluded to, and theoretical inquiries as to the 

 primeval origin of the race are not considered. 





