UNJUST OPINIONS. 
153 
It is not therefore to satisfy curiosity, or to interrupt 
the course of inquiry, that I enter upon the present 
work ; I neither profess, nor could I attempt to give a 
full or matured account of the Aborigines of New 
Holland. Captain Grey’s descriptions on this subject 
are limited to the races of South-western, as mine are 
principally directed to those of Southern Australia, 
with occasionally some remarks or anecdotes re- 
lating to tribes in other parts of the Continent with 
whom I have come in contact* 
The character of the Australian native has been 
so constantly misrepresented and traduced, that by 
the world at large he is looked upon as the lowest 
and most degraded of the human species, and is 
generally considered as ranking but little above the 
members of the brute creation. Savages have 
always many vices, but I do not think that these are 
worse in the New Hollanders, than in many other 
aboriginal races. It is said, indeed, that the Austra- 
lian is an irreclaimable, unteachable being ; that he 
is cruel, blood-thirsty, revengeful, and treacherous ; 
and in support of such assertions, references are made 
to the total failure of all missionary and scho- 
lastic efforts hitherto made on his behalf, and to 
many deeds of violence or aggression committed by 
him upon the settler. # 
* I cannot adduce a stronger proof in support of the position 
I assume, in favour of the natives, than by quoting the clear and 
just conclusions at which the Right Honourable Lord Stanley, 
the present Secretary of State for the Colonies, arrived, when 
