of the A borigines of A us tra lia . 4 1 



10. Prospects for Aboriginal Civilisation. 



If the prospects of the Aborigines with reference to civilisation 

 are to be estimated by what has hitherto been accomplished, they 

 are miserable indeed. The difference of opinion that prevails on 

 this subject can scarcely relate to the actual results of the past, which 

 have been so uniformly unfortunate ; it is due rather to theoretical 

 deductions connected with views and principles of religion. 



Mr Dredo-e contends that Christianisation must be the pioneer and 

 parent of civilisation, and jthat all attempts to reverse this process 

 must fail, and always have failed. " The degradation and moral 

 wretchedness of the heathen are the sad and direful results of moral 

 and spiritual causes ; and for their removal the only adequate and 

 appointed instrument is the Gospel, the spirit of Christianity." He 

 then exhibits the various steps that will be successively taken by 

 these heathens, after the Gospel has begun to operate on their minds, 

 concluding that " it can thus be clearly demonstrated that vital heart- 

 felt Christianity, truly embraced and spiritually enjoyed, develops 

 the only plan for emancipating the heathen from their moral thral- 

 dom."* 



But judging from past and present experience, these applications 

 of the abstract truths of religion are probably little adapted to forward 

 practically the cause of Aboriginal civilisation. In opposition, also, 

 to the usual views that, the teaching of religion should precede all 

 other modes of civilisation, Count Strzelecki remarks that the 

 Aborigines' institutions being as it were sapped by the preaching of 

 Christianity among them, some civil organisation should have pre- 

 ceded the new faith. But he conceives very slender hopes as to any 

 ultimate good that may result to the Aborigines, from these attempts 

 to initiate them into feelings and habits so widely different from their 

 own. " From what has been observed of the two races, one may 

 affirm, without fear of contradiction, that it will be easier to bring 

 the whites down to the level of the blacks, than to raise the latter to 

 the ideas and habits of our race" 



The Australian savage has been suited to the circumstances which 

 surround him. In these he is seen healthful and contented, " securing 

 all the worldly happiness and enjoyment of which his condition is 

 capable. 1 ' But this economy has been disturbed by the arrival of 

 Europeans. He can neither stem the inpouring torrent, nor imbibe 

 the civilisation that is offered him ; he retreats, and finally disappears. 

 Amidst the wrecks of schemes, says the traveller with pathetic elo- 

 quence, there remains yet one to be adopted for the benefit of the 

 Aborigines — to listen and attend to the last wishes of the departed, 



* Mr Parker speaks to the same effect, adding, that he is well assured there 

 is nothing either in the nature of true religion, or the capacity of the Abori- 

 ginal intellect to exclude this race from a full participation of its benefits. — 

 {Extracts in Robinson's Replies, 18.) 



