Aboriginal Friends’ Association—Mission to Lake Alexandrina —Rev. Mr. Binney’s remarks—Extract from Mr. Foster—The Bishop of Adelaide’s visit to the Native Institution—Report of the Committee of the Legislature—Evidence of the Bishop—The Chief Protector —The Right Rev. Dr. Hale’s Mission—The Poonindie Mission —The Queensland Mission—The Maloga and Warangesda Missions —The Government appointments—The Church of England Board of Missions—The Queen’s Instructions—The assistance rendered to the Aborigines by the Government 46 CHAPTER VII. The last of the Sovereigns of the Sydney tribe, “King Bungaree” —His son 56 CHAPTER VIII. The aboriginal Jackey Jackey 63 CHAPTER IX. Tasmania—The Blacks—Mr. G. A. Robinson—The capture and transportation of the Aborigines to Flinders Island —Their gradual decay and extinction—Lalla Rookh, the last native 65 THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. Shortly after my arrival in the Colony in 1826, I was appointed to a Commission of Inquiry into the state of the Aborigines. Previous to that, martial law had been proclaimed about Bathurst, where the blacks had been committing serious aggressions under Monday, their chief. My journey, extending over 1,600 miles, occupied six months. I lived partly with these people, so as to ascertain their number, language, habits, &c., and proposed a scheme of reserves, as in Canada, a border police, and missionary education, but the cost, £6,000 per annum, was considered too much, and my suggestion was therefore not acted on. I was subsequently examined, together with MR. ROBINSON and the REV. MR. THRELKELD, before the Committee of the Legislative Council, about 1837, from which much information was acquired. The present work is part of a large manuscript, and I have thought it a favourable opportunity to publish it, now that fresh interest is awakened about these people, devoting any profits to the Missions lately established within New South Wales. R. S. CHAPTER I. Origin—Language—Marriage formalities—Infanticide—Relationships —Population—Spitting Tribe—Encounter Tribe—Tribal divisions —Intelligence—Laws—Customs—Ceremony of Depilation—Funeral customs.