street, and hence knows exactly the relative value of every acre of land
in the province. In vain for him are reports spread that the capital is
to be built in such or such a spot, he but encourages them; in the
meantime rapidly and noiselessly his purchases are made, and a fresh
acquisition of fortune secured.

This class of men, amongst whom are many Overlanders, are never satisfied
or settled; they are constantly engaged in contemplating changes in the
prosperity of colonies and means of enriching themselves, they positively
disregard personal comfort, and a restless spirit of activity and love of
change animates them wholly. In these respects there is a great
similarity of character between them and the Americans, and it is
inconceivable in how short a period of time such a change is brought
about.

THE ABORIGINES.

CHAPTER 9. NATIVE LANGUAGE.

RADICAL UNITY OF THE AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT.

In the preceding narrative of my Expeditions I have occasionally
introduced some casual incidents relating to the manners and social
condition of the natives of Australia, a race generally considered to
occupy too low a position in the scale of humanity to be worthy of any
peculiar regard. In the following pages I shall bring together such
observations as my intercourse with them enabled me to collect; arranging
my remarks under the heads of Language, traditional or customary Laws,
and social Habits and Manners; and to these I shall add some desultory
anecdotes illustrative of their superstitions, and of some other
peculiarities of thought and action; and shall conclude with a short
review of the influence that the settlement of Europeans among them has,
or is likely to have, on their condition.

CAUSES OF A CONTRARY OPINION.

It has hitherto been very generally believed that the languages spoken in
different portions of the continent of Australia are radically distinct;
and as such a circumstance, were it really the case, would tend to prove
that its inhabitants originated from several separate races, it becomes
rather an important matter to set this question at rest, and to endeavour
to show from what cause so erroneous an opinion originated.

The arguments which prove that all the Australian dialects have a common
root are:

1. A general similarity of sound and structure of words in the different
portions of Australia, as far as yet ascertained

2. The recurrence of the same word with the s