AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 59, 31 August 1911, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATION

THE SWEDISH EXPEDITION. The members of the Swedish scientific expedition, which left Fremantle on September 20 last year in order to explore the hinterland of the Great North-west of Australia, returned to Fremantle on August 17. Under the leadership of Dr. Mjoberg, they have collected during that period 700 birds, 100 mammals, 250 reptiles, 100 amphibians, a large quantity of fish, over 20,000 low animals, and hundreds of specimens of plant life. All the four members have enjoyed the best of health, though fever was very prevalent. They left Derby, and went hundreds of miles inland to the Leopold Ranges, and the Fitzroy river, obtaining many rare specimens of bird life.

In the course of an interview, Dr. Mjoberg mentioned that there might be ! some racial connection between the Australian native and other races in other parts of the world. The boomerang, for instance, was only used by one other race besides Australia. This weapon was also used in India by a certain tribe, and tkis tribe also owns a dog which is usually indigenous to the natives of Australia. There was also a great anthropological similarity between the Australian native and the Neanderthal race—a race which is now extinct in Europe. There have been fossil remains found in some of the caves of France and other parts of Europe, and these very much resemble the Australian natives. There is the same low, descending forehead, going straight back, and there is the same volume of skull. This in what Dr. Mjoberg has to say of the, natives:—"lt must be admitted by the members of this expedition that the Australian native is not so low as many people imagine. For instance, the natives at the various mission stations learn to read and write lo their bosses in very quick fashion. Of course, their morale is considerably lowered directly they eome in touch with civilisation. That is usually the case with low races. History tells us that there is a poor class of natives round about the mission stations of the Xor'-West, but you notice a difference directly yon reach the back country. Then yon come across a big, powerful race 'of men. , Some of them 1 have seen standing as high as Cft Sin. up in the St. (ieorge Ranges. We had no adventures with the natives. As long as you keep them away, you are all right. They won't tackle you in broad daylight. At night time they are afraid. They huddle together in a heap. They are frightened of spirits. They are altogether very superstitious. Just, about; daybreak you want to look out, and watch carefully, for it is then that they attack. When you see nigger tracks, but you cannot see the nigger, then that is the time to look out for squalls. The natives amongst them-, selves are very moral. "I was much struck with the nontropical nature of the country. There is no rich tropical vegetation or jungle, such as you encounter in parts of Africa and .South America. It is what you should call 'pindar' vegetation, that is. big, thin trees, scattered here and there. The trouble about the country is the uncertain rainfall. During the past three or four years they have only been receiving up there half their average rainfall, When it does rain properly, owing to the country being so flat, the place is covered with water. Xo, I don't think the territory would at present be suitable for growing rice and sugar. The Goverment is at present making experiments with cotton up there. It would be a fine country for sheep and cattle, if the rainfall were right."