28 
MEMOIR 
mind labours to make theory fit the observed facts. Here, 
unfortunately, their scientific interest, which is paramount— 
for Spencer is the least egotistical of men—must be ignored, 
and the occasional passages of a biographical nature alone 
noticed. Thus the opening part of the first letter of the 
series, dated July 12, 1897, may be cited in full, not so much 
because it throws any fresh light on the history of Spencer’s 
association with Gillen as in order to illustrate his desire to 
give his comrade the lion’s share of credit for their joint 
achievement: 
‘My friend Mr. Fison has kindly sent me on your letter in which 
you make inquiries with regard to the joint work of Mr. Gillen and 
myself. First let me say that the work which we are doing is due in the 
first instance to Mr. Gillen. He had for some years been taking a great 
interest in the Central Australian natives, and the result of his work 
up to the time when we met has already been published in the report 
of the Horn Expedition to Central Australia, vol. iv. At the close of 
that expedition I spent some time with him, and having been originally 
interested in matters anthropological by my old teacher Professor 
Moseley and also by Dr. Tylor, was able to suggest to him lines of 
inquiry with regard to totems and other matters of interest. Then he 
suggested that we should work together, and gradually the thing has 
grown until now I think that we are in the position to describe in 
detail, and with I trust comparatively few errors, the organization and 
customs of one tribe, and have secured also a lot of information with 
regard to six or seven others. Last summer I spent four months with 
Mr. Gillen living with the Arunta tribe, the members of which had 
gathered together close to a telegraph station of which he had charge 
on the overland line from Port Darwin to Adelaide. It is as nearly as 
possible right in the centre of the continent. We have fortunately been 
just in time to record the details of this tribe—for it is astonishing how 
rapidly customs die out the moment the white man comes on the scene. 
Unless we can in some way set to work seriously we shall be too late 
to do much in Australia, for despite the work of men like Howitt and 
Fison, we know as yet very little. I need hardly say that to these two 
Gillen and myself are much indebted. Mr. Gillen has always en¬ 
couraged the natives to preserve all their old customs, and in his 
