2 
INTRODUCTION. 
attained, will their claims to brotherhood be allowed, and 
the conviction be forced upon the mind, that, from what- 
ever causes they have fallen into their present degraded 
state, it is not their natural one, but the effect of various 
untoward circumstances, which have combined, gradually 
to sink them from a higher to a lower position, and that 
when those causes are removed, they will again rise to their 
former standing, and rank with the more favored sections 
of the human family. 
As the knowledge of these aboriginal races increases, and 
our acquaintance with their language, manners, and customs 
becomes more perfect, they will be found to possess mind as 
well as ourselves, and that they only want similar advantages 
to obtain an equal enlargement of it. Our ideas are so 
different from those of primitive and isolated races, that 
they seem at first inferior to us, but when we can enter into 
their feelings, and understand the causes which have operated 
in producing that difference of thought, the result will appear 
quite natural. 
Philosophically viewing the subject, even the Australian, 
who has been classed the lowest, and viewed as more closely 
allied to the brute than to the human species, will be found 
to possess mind, ingenuity, contrivance, and perfection too, 
in his way, far beyond what might be expected ; and were 
one of our laborers, or even a more enlightened member of 
society, to be placed in a similar position, it would be a long 
time before he could attain an equal degree of knowledge, in 
any of those arts, which are needful for the support of life. 
This is no fanciful assertion. How many instances are there 
of shipwrecked mariners having been cast away on uninhabited 
islands, who, deprived of everything, have not shown any of 
their ingenuity in procuring food and raiment ; or, when 
thrown amongst savages, have sunk even below their level. 
Excepting perhaps the backwoodsman of America, few would 
feel themselves equal to supply their necessities, when their 
usual means of support were suddenly cut off. Travellers in 
the wilds of Australia or New Zealand, where all the comforts 
of civilized life are wanting, well know how readily they fall 
