232 (.hi the Condition and Prospects 



rigines generally suggests the idea of the lowest possible stage of 

 wretchedness. 



3. Infanticide. 



The general prevalence of infanticide is established beyond nny 

 reasonable doubt. The half-caste infants appear to be the most, ex- 

 posed to this fate. Among many tribes, they seem to be regularly 

 murdered, either immediately or very soon after birth, unless saved 

 by the interference of the whites. The female infants appear in 

 the next degree exposed to this fate. Occasionally, male and fe- 

 male are despatched alike. According to Mr Lambie, this practice 

 is unknown in Maneroo. 



The unnatural coldness on the part of a mother, that might be 

 expected to accompany such a practice, does not appear to exist as 

 a necessary associate ; at least, there is on occasions no want of ma- 

 ternal feeling, notwithstanding the apparent inconsistency of such a 

 circumstance. The Moreton Bay blacks have a great affection for 

 their children ; but, nevertheless, says Mr Simpson, they eat them 

 when they die from natural causes. If infanticide exists at all, 

 says Mr Dunlop, it must be very rare, and occasioned only by the 

 deepest misery and want. He instances their strong maternal af- 

 fection. 



Of Half- Castes. — It is a rale with the aboi'igines to destroy their 

 half-caste children immediately after birth, and instances of the kind, 

 at the hands of the mother, Mr Schmidt says, have come under his 

 own notice. On the Manning river, where there are many half-castes, 

 the mothers appear to have a repugnance to them, and several in- 

 stances are known there, in which they have destroyed these chil- 

 dren immediately after birth. On one occasion, a mother, in ex- 

 cuse for destroying her half-caste child, assigned as the reason, that 

 it was half white. Half-caste boys, say the magistrates at Dungog, 

 are believed to be always murdered. Infanticide, says Mr Robinson, 

 exists in Port Philip to a limited extent. The victims have been 

 invariably half-castes ; but of late some tribes have spared this class 

 of their offspring. Mr Smythe knows of no half-castes living in his 

 district. Several have been born, but they have invariably disap- 

 peared. Mr Parker fears the natives have been hitherto justly 

 charged with the practice of murdering their half-caste children ; but 

 a better feeling, he says, now seems to be prevailing, at least among 

 some of the tribes, and he thinks that these children arc, in some 

 cases, regarded even with more affection than the pure native. Ac- 

 cording to Mr Flanagan, the half-castes in the Broulee district, ge- 

 nerally disappear about the age of puberty, and are supposed to be 

 destroyed by the other blacks. There are at present about twelve 

 in that locality, and all young. 



Of Females. — In New England, where this crime is general, the 

 victims are the half-castes and female infants, never the male. Mr 



