An account of the manners and customs of the Aborigines and the state of their relations with Europeans

Table of Contents

Chapter I.

Preliminary Remarks — Unjust Opinions Generally Entertained of the Character of the Native — Difficulties and Disadvantages he Labours Under in His Relations with Europeans — Aggressions and Injuries on the Part of the Latter in Great Degree Extenuate His Crimes

Chapter II.

Physical Appearance — Dress — Character — Habits of Life — Meetings of Tribes — Wars — Dances — Songs

Chapter III.

Food — How Procured — How Prepared — Limitation as to Age, etc.

Chapter IV.

Property in Land — Dwellings — Weapons — Implements — Government — Customs — Social Relations — Marriage — Nomenclature

Chapter V.

Ceremonies and Superstitions — Forms of Burial — Mourning Customs — Religious Ideas — Empirics, etc.

Chapter VI

Numbers — Diseases — Cause of Limited Population — Crimes Against Europeans — Amongst Themselves — Treatment of Each Other in Distribution of Food, etc.

Chapter VII.

Language, Dialects, Customs, etc. — General Similarity Throughout the Continent — Causes of Differences — Route by which The Natives have Overspread the Country, etc.

Chapter VIII.

Effects of Contact with Europeans — Attempts at Improvement and Civilization — Account of Schools — Defects of the System

Chapter IX.

Suggestions for Improvement of System Adopted Towards the Natives

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Appendix.

Explanation of the plates of native ornaments, weapons, implements, and works of industry

List of Plates.

• Tenberry, with Wife and Child, drawn by G. Hamilton
• Plate I.— Native Ornaments
• Kangaroo Dance of King George’s Sound, J. Neill
• Woodcut of a Standard used in the Dances performed by day
• Plate II. Native Weapons
• Plate III. Native Weapons
• Plate IV. Native Implements
• Plate V. Native Works of Industry
• Mode of disposing of the Dead of the Lower Murray
• Murray River at Moorunde
• Plate VI. Miscellaneous Native Articles