Book Description:
"This short essay on the Aborigines of Western Australia is primarily useful as a historical document. Even at the time this was written there were few Aborigines remaining in this area, and so even scraps of information like this are important. The text is particularly revealing as to Victorian attitudes towards Aborigines. Every paragraph of this piece needs to be read with a careful eye for underlying racist assumptions.
That said, the author was well intentioned. Calvert, who lists literally dozens of academic affiliations on the title page, does criticize his contemporaries for their treatment of Aborigines as subhumans. Throughout the essay he attempts to demonstrate that the native Australians have a complete cultural inventory. He notes that many of the Aboriginal beliefs and practices which seem strange to Europeans are not that different than some listed in the Bible. He ends with a plea for protection of the Aborigines. It bears pointing out this paternalistic attitude ironically led to policies which devastated aboriginal culture.
There is some valid data here, however, particularly the linguistic samples and transcriptions of songs." (Quote from sacred-texts.com)
Table of Contents:
Publisher’s Preface; Preface.; Introduction.; Languages; Early Accounts; Contemporary Accounts; Laws Of Marriage; Land Ownership; Law; Women; Hunting And Gathering; Physical Strength; Childhood; Music And Poetry; Religion And Mythology; Funerals; Old Testament Parallels; Boomerangs; Humor; Protection Of Aborigines; Conclusion
About the Publisher:
Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, Esoteric and Mythology. www.forgottenbooks.org
Forgotten Books is about sharing information, not about making money. All books are priced at wholesale prices. We are also the only publisher we know of to print in large sans-serif font, which is proven to make the text easier to read and put less strain on your eyes.
"This short essay on the Aborigines of Western Australia is primarily useful as a historical document. Even at the time this was written there were few Aborigines remaining in this area, and so even scraps of information like this are important. The text is particularly revealing as to Victorian attitudes towards Aborigines. Every paragraph of this piece needs to be read with a careful eye for underlying racist assumptions.
That said, the author was well intentioned. Calvert, who lists literally dozens of academic affiliations on the title page, does criticize his contemporaries for their treatment of Aborigines as subhumans. Throughout the essay he attempts to demonstrate that the native Australians have a complete cultural inventory. He notes that many of the Aboriginal beliefs and practices which seem strange to Europeans are not that different than some listed in the Bible. He ends with a plea for protection of the Aborigines. It bears pointing out this paternalistic attitude ironically led to policies which devastated aboriginal culture.
There is some valid data here, however, particularly the linguistic samples and transcriptions of songs." (Quote from sacred-texts.com)
Table of Contents:
Publisher’s Preface; Preface.; Introduction.; Languages; Early Accounts; Contemporary Accounts; Laws Of Marriage; Land Ownership; Law; Women; Hunting And Gathering; Physical Strength; Childhood; Music And Poetry; Religion And Mythology; Funerals; Old Testament Parallels; Boomerangs; Humor; Protection Of Aborigines; Conclusion
About the Publisher:
Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, Esoteric and Mythology. www.forgottenbooks.org
Forgotten Books is about sharing information, not about making money. All books are priced at wholesale prices. We are also the only publisher we know of to print in large sans-serif font, which is proven to make the text easier to read and put less strain on your eyes.
