[603] Spencer and Gillen themselves in many places make statements that stand in direct contradiction with a theory of reincarnation _literally_ understood. Frhr. von Leonhardi takes the trouble to adduce several instances of these contradictions (ii. p. 56, footnote 1). They might easily be multiplied, but as argued in the text they do not affect in the least the value of the information. The description of these beliefs given by Strehlow (_loc. cit._, ii. pp. 51 _sqq._), does not differ radically from what we know about them from Spencer and Gillen, although Strehlow's account is more detailed. There still remains, however, the question, much more important to us, whether there be amongst these tribes the belief in the reincarnation of _human ancestors_. Strehlow's information seems absolutely to deny any idea of repeated reincarnation;[604] a man after death goes to the _ltjarilkna-ala_, where after a certain time his ghost undergoes perfect and final destruction.[605] A man who has lived his life never returns. I confess that to assume amongst savages the existence of such a neatly defined and categorically-formulated belief in absolute destruction or annihilation seems to me rather suspicious; and there is perhaps some misunderstanding of a rather theoretical character on the part of the Rev. C. Strehlow. Moreover, we are informed by this latter author that besides this belief in annihilation there are ideas according to which the souls of "good" men go to heaven to Altjira,[606] and the souls of the "bad" people are eaten up by the _atna ntjkantja_.[607] Consequently not all souls perish after death, and reincarnation is from this standpoint not impossible. And even if there were some belief as to this annihilation, it might perfectly well be connected by the natives with the ideas of reincarnation. The primitive mind, as has often been urged, does not perceive contradictions. It is not to negative instances that we must look for an answer, but always to positive ones: if we do find indications of a belief, we are then sure that it exists, even if it were in contradiction with ever so many others. If we do not find it, we can say nothing, and especially we are not justified in proving its absence by showing that it stands in contradiction with any of the beliefs ascertained. [604] _Loc. cit._, ii. p. 56. [605] _Loc. cit._, i. 16, ii. 7. [606] The Altjira is the "good god (?) of the Aranda," i. p. 2. [607] I cannot help feeling that this very belief in future rewards (by the _good god_) and punishment appears somewhat tinged by Christian teachings.