of the Aborigines of Australia. 235 



tinct character of the respective tribes in varying the language of 

 each, remarks, " that although there are sufficient evidences of the 

 common origin of their language, even tribes separated from each 

 other by comparatively limited spaces, scarcely retain the means of 

 common conversational intercourse." He instances one curious cus- 

 tom or superstition, prevalent amongst some of the aboriginal popula- 

 tion, the continuance of which throughout successive ages, must at 

 length introduce extensive diversities into the language of each of 

 the separate tribes. This is the practice of never again uttering 

 the names of individuals of the tribe after their decease, especially 

 in cases where death has occurred through violence. On one occa- 

 sion, an individual of a tribe, whose name w r as the term for fire, was 

 murdered by one of a different tribe ; and, in accordance with the 

 usage just alluded to, the word representing fire was thenceforth 

 discontinued, and a new term created. It is easy to conceive that 

 such alterations might occur frequently.* 



Count Strzelecki is of this opinion, however, that there has been 

 too much haste and eagerness in deciding on the affinities of the 

 languages of the various tribes, and referring them all to one com- 

 mon root. The three natives who accompanied Captain Flinders 

 and Captain King, and those who accompanied himself, were unable 

 to understand one word spoken by the tribes of other districts.f 



7. Religious and Social Institutions, Customs, and Manners. 



Religious Ideas. — The nature of the religion and government of 

 the Australian aborigines, remarks Count Strzelecki, is still involved 

 in mystery. They certainly recognise a God, whom they call 

 " Great Master," regarding themselves as his slaves ; and hence, 

 probably, they entertain no feeling of obligation or gratitude for the 

 gift of life, or their other enjoyments, considering that it is the Great 

 Master's duty to supply them with these. They believe in a future 

 immortality of happiness, and place their heaven in the locality of 

 the stars. They do not dread the Deity. Their fears are reserved 

 for the evil spirit, who counteracts the work of the Great Master, 

 and consequently the former is the object to whom their worship is 

 directed. 



According to Mr Eyre, the natives of the Murray entertain the 

 belief that there are four individuals called Nooreele, who live among 



* Dredge, p. 7. 



t Strzelecki, p. 337. — Mr Hull brings forward some curious coincidences of 

 sounds and meanings in aboriginal Australian words with those of several 

 languages, ancient and modern, of the northern hemisphere. But these for- 

 tuitous or isolated facts can lead to no definite results ; unless, indeed, to shew 

 that some branch of the Australian tongue may approach, in the possibility of 

 accidents, more nearly to Greek or Latin, than to the ever-changing dialects of 

 its own stock. — (Remarks, &c. p. 7.) 



