Abstract
IT is not too much to say that the publication in 1899 of “The Native Tribes of Central Australia” marked an epoch in anthropological research. A lengthy residence amongst savages, who still lived in their original isolation, uncontaminated by European influences, resulted in a remarkable study of a scientific accuracy and completeness hitherto unknown. The authors, both competent ethnologists, the one a distinguished biologist, the other a protector of aborigines, were fortunate in their subject, which proved to be the most interesting section of that most interesting of all primitive peoples, the Australian race. Peculiarities of organisation and belief were revealed which threw new light on many old questions, and reversed many an old theory. In the present work Messrs. Spencer and Gillen supply a sequel to the earlier volume, completing their study of the tribes of the centre by an account of those occupying the country between the Macdonnell Ranges and the Gulf of Carpentaria. The main result is to show a fundamental agreement in important characters between all the central tribes, and the authors repeat their previous conclusion that “the central tribes which for long ages have been shielded by their geographical isolation from external influences, have retained the most primitive form of customs and beliefs.” The main features of the Arunta and Urabunna tribes are recapitulated, and we are thus enabled to study comparatively the whole series. Several points in the earlier work are cleared up, and some answer to objections is given by the way. As before, the photographs are excellent and numerous. The new volume possesses the same unique character and value which were conspicuous in “The Native Tribes.”
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CRAWLEY, E. The Essential Australian 1 . Nature 70, 348–349 (1904). https://doi.org/10.1038/070348a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/070348a0