of these districts are
universally recognised by the natives as the property of individual
members of these tribes; and when the owner of such a section or portion
of territory (as I ascertained was the case at King George's Island) has
determined on burning off the grass on his land, which is done for the
double purpose of enabling the natives to take the older animals more
easily, and to provide a new crop of sweeter grass for the rising
generation of the forest, not only all the other individuals of his own
tribe, but whole tribes from other districts, are invited to the hunting
party and the feast and dance, or corroboree that ensue; the wild animals
on the ground being all considered the property of the owner of the land.
I have often heard natives myself tell me, in answer to my own questions
on the subject, who were the Aboriginal owners of particular tracts of
land now held by Europeans; and indeed this idea of property in the soil,
FOR HUNTING PURPOSES, is universal among the Aborigines. They seldom
complain of the intrusion of Europeans; on the contrary, they are pleased
at their sitting down, as they call it, on their land: they do not
perceive that their own circumstances are thereby sadly altered for the
worse in most cases; that their means of subsistence are gradually more
and more limited, and their numbers rapidly diminished: in short, in the
simplicity of their hearts, they take the frozen adder in their bosom,
and it stings them to death. They look for a benefit or blessing from
European intercourse, and it becomes their ruin.

If I had had a little more leisure I would have written more at length
and in a style more worthy of your perusal; but you may take it as
certain, at all events, that the Aborigines of Australia HAVE an idea of
property in the soil in their native and original state, and that that
idea is, in reality, not very different from that of the European
proprietors of sheep and cattle, by whom they have, in so many instances
been dispossessed, without the slightest consideration of their rights or
feelings.

Indeed the infinity of the native names of places, all of which are
descriptive and appropriate, is of itself a prima facie evidence of their
having strong ideas of property in the soil; for it is only where such
ideas are entertained and acted on that we find, as is certainly the case
in Australia, Nullum sine nomine saxum.

I am, my dear Friend,

Your's very sincerely,

JOH