THE AUSTRALIAN BLACK

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1923, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN BLACK

A DWINDLING RACE. .SYDNEY, April 12. The condition of the dwindling native tribes of Australia is causing the Federal Government much concern and on its behalf Professor Baldwin Spencer is about to conduct- a small expedition to the centre of the continent for the purpose of reporting on additional measures that should he taken in their interests. The Professor is peculiarly equipped for such a mission, a- he is probably the greatest living authority on the aborigine. In successive journeys through the heart of Australia he has made himself ‘o intimate with their customs and loro. iiiii<!i of which is preserved as prefountlK secret to the initiates of the tribes that in standard works lie has been able to give to the world unique ami highly valuable anthropological data. To gain this he, with Mr (•ilia n, a noted South Australian, went so far in gaining the native confidence as to become fully initiated members of the Aruntn tribe, north of Lake Eyre. It is well in the interests of science that these le-eirehes have not been further delayed, as the rapid decay of these poo; k-s makes the task more and mere difficult. The more robust types which were developed in proximity to the coast, where they thrived upon ii-h and plenteous vegetation, have, of course, succumbed be-to-.c white settlement, which, no matter whai precautions, is fatal to them, ami wiili sad rapidity the same late i- overtaking these loaner type- which inhabit (lie inhospitable central Ira tami subsist upon such precarious diet as the nanloo -a trefoil which yields a hard spore case lending itself to grinding for Hour, and on which King, the sole -iirvivor of the historic Burke and Wills expedition, kept liimsell alive until found hy Dr. Hewitt on the hanks of Cooper's Creek, in Central Queensland. Tim transcontinental railway which traverses the continent from east to wyst runs right across gieat tracts which have from time, immemorial been the rigorously dclemled hunting grounds of <li Here lit tribe- and to-day Irihes which a comparatively few years ago were still virile and religious observe!- of quite elaborate tribal customs hang about outlying cattle stations. glad to help in any way in return ior “tucker” and chuln s. 11l icernt years the conditions t.f thc-e who win life from Nature in so stern a guise as she is found in the In .ill oi Australia has been rendered even more than ordinarily difib-ult hy tin- -ncie sivo droughts; and the plight of many !-, tragic, for a true drought in the interior decimates animal, man, and vegetation without disiinciion. Starting from Oodniuhilta. the not tiioruiuo-t | point if the South Australian railway v. it’: in t'm do-elate regions of Lake | I'.Ni,- -"lib.in. i-Mopt when great food l waters eoiue down, a lal.c in anything i hut lullin'—Sit Lehluin Si i-noor will | poiietrate right up into the Northern i Ti-twilon . Hi- will he accompanied hy I othi-j, who will -peeialis devote them--1 ---her. II a-" ei tabling the po-dhilit ies if i-htaini ng arfe-ian water in the regions travel ed.