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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 52

Acute senses

Acute senses.

Their senses are wonderfully acute, especially that of sight, and these qualities can only be appreciated or comprehended by actually witnessing the exercise of them. On a shooting excursion one need not be troubled with sporting dogs if accompanied by one of these blacks. They either see, hear, or smell the presence of game as quickly as a dog does. Their use as trackers in following up either men or animals is valuable, and when occasionally at fault, they are, from their wonderful knowledge of bush lore, able to exert great reasoning power.

page 62

Their "locality," in a phrenological point of view, is marvellous. They can travel in a straight line from one point to another across miles of country. In company with some friends, we tested many of them very severely by blindfolding them, then turning them round several times, and asking them to point in the direction of certain places. Some of them were very exact, but they were not each of them equally correct, though none of them were very wide of the mark.

I am not aware whether any complete phrenological examination has ever been made. "Veneration" is no doubt altogether wanting, as well as "number" and "comparison." They cannot enumerate beyond a very limited number. Two is the highest number for which they have a name. When they wish to express a higher number, the word is repeated two or more times, and the fingers of one or both hands are held up at the same time. Thus on the Lower Hunter and Coast "bolworra" means two; this is shortened to "bulla," "bulla-bulla," means more than two, perhaps half-a-dozen, &c. When this word is repeated often, and at the same time, the fingers of both hands are opened and closed rapidly, it means that the number is incalculable. They have another word, "cowal," which means plenty; "cowal cowal" great abundance; but this refers to quantity, and the fingers are not brought into use whilst using it.

A man in describing a great crowd he had seen at some races, expressed himself as follows:—"Ka bon cowal cowal bulla karam-bla (whitefellow) plenty too many tousand, close up a hundred."

I do not suppose that "destructiveness" is over large, for these people do not destroy or kill solely for the sake of destroying or killing: they kill a man for having infringed some of their laws, and consider that he deserves to be killed; they kill sheep and cattle for food, Ac. But this matter (phrenology) cannot be discussed here. I should like to hear a phrenological paper on this subject.

Unfortunately many of those who first come in contact with these aborigines are rough uneducated men, who think they are justified in treating them without any consideration whatever, as though they were mere animals. We often see notices in the papers headed "Outrage by the Blacks," &c. I think that the police records can show greater outrages, with less reason for their perpetration, as having been committed by their Christian brethren.

These blacks have ground for a good case against their Governments. They are unable to plead their own cause, and comparatively few persons of influence have exerted themselves on their behalf. Their hunting-grounds are occupied by sheep and other stock, and no corresponding compensation has been awarded in return.

page 63

I must, however, admit that so long as they can obtain intoxicating spirits their case is hopeless.

Like all savages, they vanish as the white settler approaches and permanently occupies the country. Many of the tribes from whom, years ago, I obtained much of the information now placed before you are quite extinct. They readily become familiar with the vices of their European brethren, and soon fall victims to drink and disease, and at once succumb to pulmonary complaints brought on by neglect and exposure.

By a recent computation these natives number, in this Colony, about 5,000, but this number is rapidly decreasing. Near a township on the Murray River, where I happened to be a few years ago, no less than five men and women died in one camp within a fortnight.

Though late in the day, this Government are acting wisely in endeavouring to preserve the remnants of these tribes; and it is to be hoped that the experience of the treatment of these blacks, as well as of the Tasmanian aborigines, of whom not a soul now remains, will serve as a lesson and a caution to those who may be called upon to act as pioneers in colonizing any further territory which the Crown may choose to annex.