Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/22

 xii INTRODUCTION. countries and races. Eyre* (quoting Dr. Moorhouse, Protector of Aborigines) states that each Aboriginal native woman has, on the average, five children, nine being the greatest number known, but that each mother rears, on the average, no more than two of her offspring. Such a fearful discrepancy can only be accounted for by the existence of some natural causes which affect infant life, or by the fact that they are put to death as soon as born. Eyre, in his account of the Aborigines, dwells at considerable length on the causes which operated principally in the diminution of tribes, or, as he expresses it, "from going on in an increasing ratio." He says, "First, there is polygamy and the illicit and almost unlimited intercourse between the sexes, habits which are well known to check the progress of population wherever they prevail. Secondly, infanticide, which is very general, and practised to a great extent, especially amongst the younger and favourite women. Thirdly, diseases to which in a savage state young children are peculiarly liable, such as dysentery, colds, and their consequences." † In this it is probable that Eyre has been to some extent mistaken. The effect of the ailment to which he refers, according to statements gathered from a variety of quarters, was never so widely disseminated as his note would indicate. It is of course impossible to assert that it has not had some influence over the Aborigines, but proof is wanting that it has been sufficiently wide-spread to justify its being regarded as one of the primary causes of the dying out of the tribes. It is not known whence it was derived, or whether it existed amongst them before the advent of the Europeans. He states, however, as a fact, that in 1841, when they assembled at Moorundi, there was but little sickness amongst them, but after visiting the town and some adjacent stations, they appeared to have contracted most horrible disorders. He describes certain appearances which are known to be produced from other causes. It is remarkable that if the case 1845. † He adds this note: "Huic accedit, ex quo illis sunt immisti Europaei, lues venerea. Morbum infantibus afflant et ingens multitudo quotannis inde perit." Vol. II., p. 239.
 * "Journals of Expeditions into Central Australia," by Ed. Jno. Eyre. Lond., Boone,