Some recollections and records of the Clarence and Richmond River Aborigines, compiled by Robert Leycester Dawson, September 1935 - Page 13

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of  of the northern and interior regions of our vast  

continent the practis^ce  was not unknown. I have  

however never been able to hear of any authentic case of

cannabalism on the East coast of New South Coast  Wales

either from my folks with pioneers of the north coast  and  [^or]

of the far south coast. Nor yet from written evidence

such as the "Tindal  Letters" (Clarence and Hunter rivers 1848 to

1859) and Robert Dawson's book in which he writes very

fully on the subject in relation to the Port Stephens, and

adjacent, natives whom he had unique opportunities of

studying during the years 1826 to 1829. The gist of his

remarks is that he neither saw nor heard of any reliable

case of this revolting custom during his travels over the

A.A. Company's grant or even beyond its boundaries.

*   Moreover with the sea, many rivers, creeks, and lagoons   *

teeming with fish, oysters, and mussels; with bushes and  

forests abundantly stocked with game, not to mention other

minor sources of food supply, there was no need for the

coastal  nataives natives to become cannibals by reason

of the starvation urge as might be the case with those

of the arid and comparatively foodless interior.

Another subject which has been freely discussed is the  

origin of the Aboriginees. Where did their ancestors or  

progenitors come from and how long were their