SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Having travelled much in Australia, America, and the West Indies, and having also resided on the Coast of Africa, where I penetrated a considerable distance into the interior, traversing the countries between the Gambia and the Senegal, and ascending the former river 600 miles, I was consequently frequently brought into contact with numerous aboriginal tribes of very different characters and descent, and under varying physical and external circumstances.
I have, however, never seen natives whose general habits and physical conformation impressed me so completely with the idea of a perishable and doomed race as the aborigines of the southern portion of this continent.
I may add that as I almost always find it necessary to release native prisoners before the expiration of their sentences, because death is apt to ensue from any prolonged confinement, I cannot but think that even the partial confinement in schools injuriously affects the native constitution, so nearly do they approximate to the lower animal creation.
RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,
Governor.
Adelaide,
Nov. 23, 1860.
The aboriginies of this colony (South Australia) have not a very wide range of disease from which they suffer.
I have never seen a case of small-pox, scarlet fever, measles, or hooping cough, and I was officially connected with them for 18 years.
Fever occurs, but not frequently, as they have no confined badly ventilated dwellings.