The natives of Australia do not stand on a higher level of development than their South African brothers.  Their huts are of the same character. very often simple screens are the only protection against cold winds.  In their food they are most indifferent:  they devour horribly putrefied corpses, and cannibalism is resorted to in times of scarcity.  When first discovered by Europeans, they had no implements but in stone or bone, and these were of the roughest description.  Some tribes had even no canoes, and did not know barter-trade.  And yet, when their manners and customs were carefully studied, they proved to be living under that elaborate clan organization which I have mentioned on a preceding page.(17)

The territory they inhabit is usually allotted between the different gentes or clans; but the hunting and fishing territories of each clan are kept in common, and the produce of fishing and hunting belongs to the whole clan; so also the fishing and hunting implements.(18) The meals are taken in common.  Like many other savages, they respect certain regulations as to the seasons when certain gums and grasses may be collected.(19) As to their morality altogether, we cannot do better than transcribe the following answers given to the questions of the Paris Anthropological Society by Lumholtz, a missionary who sojourned in North Queensland:(20)—­

“The feeling of friendship is known among them; it is strong.  Weak people are usually supported; sick people are very well attended to; they never are abandoned or killed.  These tribes are cannibals, but they very seldom eat members of their own tribe (when immolated on religious principles, I suppose); they eat strangers only.  The parents love their children, play with them, and pet them.  Infanticide meets with common approval.  Old people are very well treated, never put to death.  No religion, no idols, only a fear of death.  Polygamous marriage. quarrels arising within the tribe are settled by means of duels fought with wooden swords and shields.  No slaves; no culture of any kind; no pottery; no dress, save an apron sometimes worn by women.  The clan consists of two hundred individuals, divided into four classes of men and four of women; marriage being only permitted within the usual classes, and never within the gens.”

For the Papuas, closely akin to the above, we have the testimony of G.L.  Bink, who stayed in New Guinea, chiefly in Geelwink Bay, from 1871 to 1883.  Here is the essence of his answers to the same questioner:(21)—­

“They are sociable and cheerful; they laugh very much.  Rather timid than courageous.  Friendship is relatively strong among persons belonging to different tribes, and still stronger within the tribe.  A friend will often pay the debt of his friend, the stipulation being that the latter will repay it without interest to the children of the lender.  They take care of the ill and the old; old people are never abandoned, and in no case are they killed—­unless