The National tribune., 1890-12-25

Of these facts, and the considerations to which
they lead, both practical and abstract, are OBJ
yious and grow greater the more they are pom
dered.
We may now see how actual life in Australia
corresponds with the savage ideal.
BEING UNDEyELOPED,
the race is everywhere much tho same in its
possessions, habits and achievements. Physi-
cally, morally, UstEetiCaliy, intellectually, its
structure is cOsforlnabie. In proportion 20 the
area the roast-liue Of Australia is in5iguif-
cant. Surrounding waters which, when not
too wide, serve to connect, not separate man
kind, are here impossible barriers 10 that free
intercommGnicatiOn Of peoples which is the
main condition Of their advance because even
limited spaces Of sea cannot be crossed in
pieces Of bark with the ends tied together and
kept apart by cross-sticks.
Invention implies the cO-cxistence in the mind
o! conditions TO be met with applications Of
materials aud forces whose qualities and modes
Of action are invariable. OF this combination
and generalization Australians are incapable,
and hence their Isolation. Remarkably imita-
tive. because like the higher apes, they cannot
realize anything unless they act il, association
with more advanced but still uncivilized popu-
lations would have proved OF IMMEDIATE ad-
vantage.
Being men, not beasts, they would have APP
ciples of construction eyaded them, and would
have adopted improved designs.
The same mimetic tendency prompts them
TO picture making; not artistic groupings of
what is essential in the representation, but
copies Of objects having a mnemouic value.
They cover caves, walls, and rocks with
charcoal sketches and engravings. These do
not rise even TO cOnveutiOnality, and have
never the same defects. They are at
tempted likenesses, not ideals, however vague
In many parts OF the country the climate is
extreme, in others, owing TO its geographical
position aud the impinging of the antarctic
dTift-cuTrent on the east coast, it is tropical
But everywhere the people are nearly naked,
and nowhere have they constructed dwellings
to protect them from the weather which are
better than
SCREENS OF BARK
to break the wind. Textile fabrics require
time and thought and skill house building
implies these conditions also. and like clothes
involves continuous effort aud q forecast of fu-
ture requirements
Such actions and conceptions are impossible
ties To being who gorges himself to-day be-
cause he cannot realize that the excess saved
from a present superfuity will save him from
hunger tomorrow and from starvation the day
after. Hence spun hair and fiber is there seen,
like architecture, in its rudest imaginable form.
lie plants nothing, for the reason that grains
DO not Immediately mature. and he is unable TO
connect his labor with a deferred result.
Space, time, magnitude, quantity he knows
only as measured by his own experience and
muscular power. The use of numerals is con-
fined TO West Victoria, while the remaining
tribes count seldom as high rs six, and then
designate aud think Of more things as many
In enumeration they say !, ., or : L; 3, or
, L 4, or , + 2; 5 or > ? + l, aud there stop.
Their mental grasp does not admit of thought
q greater sum.
Like all naked races, the Australian adorns
his skin. He has no shame. but an inOrdinate
vanity. This is gratifed by painting streaks