RELIGIOUS IDEAS. 
355 
Moorunde, a favourite son of the native Tenberry 
was called Torpool, or the Teal ; upon the child's 
death the appellation of tilquaitch was given to the 
teal, and that of torpool altogether dropped among 
the Moorunde tribe. 
The natives of New Holland, as far as yet can be 
ascertained, have no religious belief or ceremonies. 
A Deity, or great First Cause, can hardly be said to 
be acknowledged, and certainly is not worshipped by 
this people, who ascribe the creation to very inefficient 
causes. They state that some things called them- 
selves into existence, and had the property of creating 
others. But upon all subjects of this nature their 
ideas are indistinct and indefinite, as they are not 
naturally a reasoning people, and by no means 
given to the investigation of causes or their effects ; 
hence, if you inquire why they use such and such 
ceremonies, they reply, our fathers did so, and we 
do it ; or why they believe so and so, our fathers 
told us it was so. # They are not fond of entering 
upon abstruse subjects, and when they are induced 
to do it, it is more than possible, from our imperfect 
acquaintance with their language, and total ignorance 
of the character and bent of their thoughts upon 
such points, that we are very likely to misunderstand 
and misrepresent their real opinions. It appears to 
* For that practice, they are, as far as I could learn, unable 
to give any other reason than that of its being the custom of their 
forefathers which they are therefore bound to follow.”— Bur- 
chell’s Bichuana tribes, vol. ii. p. 531. 
2 A 2 
