“Mr. Thomas, the guardian of Aborigines, states in evidence, that one morning he found five drunken blacks lying buried in the mud at the Merri Creek, which being followed by pulmonary attack, death, as is invariably the case, ensued. It may be remarked, that consumption forms a fruitful cause of mortality amongst them, in addition to the other causes enumerated. “It would appear that they have materially degenerated since the advent of the whites, as Mr. Thomas has said ‘the young die two to one in proportion to the old; I have some old people yet.’ The rapid settlement necessary upon the country being occupied by flocks and herds was more unfavourable to the Aborigines than if it had only been gradually taken up for agricultural purposes. “Your Committee are of opinion that great injustice has been perpetrated upon the Aborigines—that, when the Government of the colony found it necessary to take from them their hunting grounds and their means of living, proper provision should have been made for them. Had they been a strong race, like the New Zealanders, they would have forced the new occupiers of their country to provide for them; but being weak and ignorant, even for savages, they have been treated with almost utter neglect. “With the exception of the Protectorate, which was an emanation of the Imperial Government, and which seemed to have been only partially successful, little or nothing has been done for the black denizens of the country.” Every colony where the native races are declining could furnish some such report as this. The injustice has been a common one, and so should be the remedy. {20} APPENDIX I. TABLES showing the MORTALITY and CAUSES of MORTALITY among ABORIGINES in COLONIAL SCHOOLS and COLONIAL HOSPITALS. TABLE A.―ATTENDANCE and MORTALITY at COLONIAL NATIVE SCHOOLS.