Miscellaneous papers relating to Aborigines, ca. 1839-1871 - Page 9
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 9]
5
flocks of sheep and herds of cattle that have been introduced by adventurous Europeans, are held by European Law and usage the property of the respective owners. In fact as the country is occupied chiefly for pastoral purposes, the difference between the aboriginal and European ideas of property in the soil is more imaginary than real, the native grass affording subsistence to the Kangaroos of the natives as well as to the wild cattle of the Europeans and the only difference being that the former are not branded with a particular mark like the latter, and are somewhat Wilder and more difficult to catch. But pastoral districts are not merely the property of particular tribe; particular sections of these districts are universally recognised by the natives as the property of individual members of these tribes. The infinity of the native names of places, all of which are descriptive and