GEO. HALL,
Chairman.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
The question raised by Miss Nightingale, “Can we civilize the aborigines without killing them?” naturally arises from the fact that wherever Europeans have taken possession of the country of savage races, the latter have gradually disappeared before the face of the “white man.”
This state of things, I believe, may be traced to the three following causes:—
- 1st. The acquirement by the aborigines of the love for intoxicating liquors.
- 2nd. The immorality of the women with the “white man,” preventing their bearing children.
- 3rd. The introduction of diseases more fatal to them than to the Europeans, arising from their exposed lives, and general objection to submit themselves to proper medical treatment.
It will thus be easily seen that the aborigines do not, in reality, gradually disappear before the advantages of civilization, but rather fall victims to the vices and diseases introduced by the advent of unprincipled Europeans among them.
JOHN FERGUSON,
Colonial Surgeon.
Perth, Nov. 17, 1860.