the grand specimen of a man shown in the accompanying photograph, a warrior (see Plate VIII); a "mighty hunter before the Lord"; only forty years ago such men were plentiful, now, alas! they are scarce; contact with our civilization has destroyed them, drink has done its deadly work, above all, clothing and blankets have been fatal to them. Governor Phillip estimated the Aboriginal population at the close of last century at one million-admittedly on insufficient data; later writers on more extended information estimate at half a million. At the census of 1891 the Aboriginal population for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and West Australia is given as 38,304. Queensland is not given, but the blacks being more numerous there than elsewhere in Australia, possibly there may be 40,000, so that the grand total can hardly exceed 80,000, and it seems probable that even the half million estimate of original population was excessive; allowing, however, that it may have attained that amount, and turning to the analogy of Scripture history, we find that the Israelites went down into Egypt persons," and at the exodus in little more than 200 years numbered 603,550 men. 46 In contrast with this we have a record of 62 persons, whoif the first inhabitants-had before them a land free from enemies, teeming with animal life, a mild climate, every facility to increase and multiply, with 600 years in which to fulfil their destiny, and yet they can only represent half a million; it therefore seems demonstrated that the numerical development of the Australian race does not postulate a high antiquity. If the first settlement of population were on the N.W. coast, its distribution would naturally trend north and south along the coast line; along the north coast they would find conditions of life easy, and every requisite to ensure rapid increase and the development of a fine physique; then as population increased, it would gravitate down the east coast, finding extensive and rich valleys very few miles apart. Again, not far from the Queensland coast line, extensive downs well stocked with game all the way to the head waters of the Darling, opening out a veritable "land of promise" extending into the heart of the continent and away down to South Australia. All the conditions tend to the development of a race of hunters and fishers, and the encouragement of a roving disposition, hence so few relics of any sort to show what the migrations of the people have been, An image carved in "soapstone" is referred to (pp. 226, 230, of Dr. Thornton's original paper) as having been found in the northern territory of South Australia, stated to be "an image. of the god of longevity"; as a strange coincidence it may be mentioned that in the Technological Museum of Sydney is an exhibit bearing the following description: "Plaster cast of soapstone carving (? Thibetan priest on camel), original found 25 feet below surface at Northern territory, Australia." It represents a hooded figure clothed in a long flowing robe and seated on a camel; it has been in the museum several years; inquiries so far have failed to elicit further information as to the original, which acquires new interest in view of late researches. Sydney, N.S.W. October 15th, 1898. The following letter from the author of the paper, and addressed to Captain Petrie, contains some additional matter of interest, and may find a place here: : "Rockdale, N.S.W. "Dear Captain Petrie, "I am sending herewith a paper and a photo. which may interest the Members of the Institute, and would ask you to kindly bring it under notice. Without setting up for an authority or laying claim to any status as an anthropologist I have nevertheless travelled over a large extent of Australia, have had many opportunities of studying the natives, and have taken an interest in their manners, customs, and traditions. In venturing to differ from Dr. Thornton in his conclusion that the antiquity of the arrival of the native race of Australians is attested by the complicated diversity of the tribal vocabularies, and the length of time required for the whole continent to have been overrun by them,' I would point out that in the comparatively small island of Great Britain you have, extant, three distinct languages, and various dialects, yet you can hardly be regarded as an ancient people. Again, seeing that early in the settlement of these Colonies by the British, explorers went all over the country, even with hostile natives to contend with, it would be surprising if the original immigrants did not overrun it in the first generation, there being no carnivora at all formidable until the introduction of the 'dingo,' S and considering the extreme fecundity of the Marsupiale, means of subsistence must have been exceedingly easy. Since the disappearance of the Aborigines in some localities, the opossums have increased to such an extent that whole tracts of timber country have been destroyed on account of the trees being denuded of their leaves by them. The poisoning of the 'dingo' in other localities has been followed by such an increase of the kangaroo that various methods have been adopted to effect their wholesale destruction. Again the rabbit has got adrift within the last 20 years and has overrun New South Wales and Victoria, has become a burning political question, and has cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to cope with. It may thus be seen how possible it is that the primitive increase and distribution of the natives may have been very rapid. If you have not the Proceedings of the Australian Association you certainly should have them in the library, as they contain a great deal of information on these subjects. “I remain, "Dear Captain Petrie, "E. J. STATHAM." DISCUSSION. The PRESIDENT.-According to our usual practice I should now invite remarks on this paper. At the same time I would say that the subject of the paper is one that seems hardly to lend itself to much discussion, and the remarks that may be made, I hope, will not be very long, as the Secretary has more photographic slides here, and preparations have been made for projecting them on the screen in illustration of some questions which he has brought before the Society on river valleys under the ocean. Mr. MARTIN ROUSE.-Mr. President, about twenty years ago a Japanese junk was stranded on the coast of Oregon in the United States of America, and it led Professor Daniel Wilson, of Toronto, to write a paper on the possibility of ancient blood relationship with the Japanese amongst the American Indians, and of the spreading of civilization from Eastern Asia through such means. Such events must often have happened in the past, |