Following the Equator 219

writing by means of which he can convey messages
far and wide among the tribes; he has a correct eye
for form and expression, and draws a good picture;
he can track a fugitive by delicate traces which the
white man's eye cannot discern, and by methods
which the finest white intelligence cannot master;
he makes a missile which science itself cannot dupli-
cate without the model — if with it ; a missile whose
secret baffled and defeated the searchings and theoriz-
ings of the white mathematicians for seventy years ;
and by an art all his own he performs miracles with
it which the white man cannot approach untaught,
nor parallel after teaching. Within certain limits
this savage's intellect is the alertest and the brightest
known to history or tradition ; and yet the poor
creature was never able to invent a counting system
that would reach above five, nor a vessel that he
could boil water in. He is the prize-curiosity of all
the races. To all intents and purposes he is dead
— in the body; but he has features that will live in
literature,

Mr. Philip Chauncy, an ofRcer of the Victorian
Government, contributed to its archives a report of
his personal observations of the aboriginals which
has in it some things which I wish to condense
slightly and insert here. He speaks of the quick-
ness of their eyes and the accuracy of their judgment
of the direction of approaching missiles as being
quite extraordinary, and of the answering supple-
ness and accuracy of limb and muscle in avoiding




220 Following the Equator

the missile as being extraordinary also. He hi
seen an aboriginal stand as a target for cricket-ball
thrown with great force ten or fifteen yards, by pro-
fessional bowlers, and successfully dodge them or
parry them with his shield during about half an hour.
