MEMOIR 
30 
standing of the mental condition of a typical savage tribe like 
the Arunta.’ Thus, in offering their work for publication to 
Mr. George Macmillan, Spencer can truly say that it ‘gives 
a much more detailed account of various features such as the 
totems, initiation rites, mourning and burial customs, &c., 
than has yet been given in the case of an Australian tribe’. 
The material was all the more new and valuable because he 
and Gillen, being treated as fully initiated members, were 
consequently enabled to participate in all the sacred lore 
which must be strictly kept from outsiders. Naturally it is 
not easy to obtain direct testimony as to the estimate formed 
of the white man by those who so generously adopted him as 
tribal brother, though the fact speaks for itself. From a later 
period, however, may be quoted part of a letter received by 
Spencer from the Larakia head-man who, with Mr. Godfrey 
of Kahlin Compound, Darwin, had been enforcing law and 
order in that part of the w T orld; for it exhibits Spencer as 
native eyes saw him—‘him goodfellow, him talk true’. 
‘First time before Mr. Godfrey come blackfellow drunk every night. 
Some fellow Mr. Godfrey give him hiding. Some fellow him send him 
Melville Island. Some fellow him chain him up all night all day same 
fowl alongaleg, and everybody laugh too much along that blackfellow. 
Just now him frightened get drunk, him frightened make fight now. 
Mr. Godfrey him my mate him never sleep hard that fellow, savee 
blackfellow too much. Suppose him fight, him all same Devil fight, 
finish him all same Hospital woman. We two fellow boss this place. 
I like see you come back quick. Mr. Godfrey him boss all same you, 
him goodfellow, him talk true all same you. Only some blackfellow 
young fellow not good boy, he must growl him proper, him my mate. 
This place more better now. [Signed.] Solomon him mark.’ 
It is hardly necessary to say that when at length the first 
book of Spencer and Gillen saw the light in 1899, it took the 
scientific world by storm. Of course, controversy forthwith 
raged as to the meaning to be put on their results; but all 
were agreed that the evidence itself was as sound as honest 
