CONCLITDIXG ^fOTK. 
235 
quantity of vegetable food it produces. Ho-^rever abun- 
dant animal food may be, a toilaome search for edible 
roots gives almost constant occupation to a portion of 
every tribe. Women and chiidren labour for hours toge- 
ther, with no other implement than a pointed stick, in 
following up the creeping stem of the wild yam through 
the earth until the root is arrived at, often at a depth of 
six or eight feet below the surface. A certain proportion 
of vegetable food appears indeed to be absolutely neces- 
sary to their existence^ aiid they mllingly forego the use 
of animal foodj if this more grateful diet can be obtained 
'"in sufficient abundance. Boiled ricci without any condi- 
ment, they will accept as theii' sole food for days together, 
and scarcely seem to wish for change." 
The paper extracted above, which was drawn up at the 
request of the late Dr. Prichard, contains some specu- 
lations respecting affinities between the northern Austra- 
lians and some of the neighbouring races, which I am 
now inclined to modify, as far as regards the supposed 
introduction of Polynesian blood among the Jlarigi- 
anbirikj or tribes of the Monobar Eange. A more ex- 
tended experience has led me to the opinion that it is by 
no means necessary to infer a mixture of race in order to 
account for the superior development of inhabitants of 
elevated table-lands, either in Australia or elsewhere. 
Indeed, thoughout the region which has come under 
review in the present volume, it is found that aboriginal 
