ed her right hand, and replied, "I am a Christian. I fear and serve
the true God. I always speak the truth."

Taking from my pocket the stone idols from the Islands, I inquired if
her people had or worshipped things like these. She replied, "The
'doctors' have them."

"Have you a 'doctor' in your camp?" I asked. She said, "Yes, my uncle is
the Sacred Man; but he is now far away from this."

"Has he the idols with him now?" I inquired. She answered, "No; they are
left in my care."

I then said, "Could you let us see them?"

She consulted certain representatives of the tribe who were at hand.
They rose, and removed to a distance. They had consented. Mr. Hood
assured me that no fault would be found with her, as she was the real,
or at least virtual head of the tribe. Out of a larger bag she then drew
two smaller bags, and opened them. They were filled with the very
objects which I had brought from the Islands. I asked her to consult the
men of her tribe whether they would agree to sell four or five of them
to me, that I might by them convince the white people that they had gods
of their own, and are, therefore, above the brutes of the field; the
money to be given to their Sacred Man on his return. This, also, after a
time was agreed to. I selected three of the objects, and paid the
stipulated price. And I have the recorded testimony of "Robert Hood, J.
P., Hexham, Victoria, 28th February, 1863," certifying on his honor all
that I am here affirming.

Mr. Hood asked Nora how he had never heard of or seen these things
before, living so long amongst them, and blacks constantly coming and
going about his house. She replied, "Long ago white men laughed at black
fellows praying to their idols. Black fellows said, white men never see
them again! Suppose this white man not know all about them, he would not
now see them. No white men live now have seen what you have seen."

Thus it has been demonstrated on the spot, and in presence of the most
reliable witnesses, that the Aborigines, before they saw the white
invaders, were not "brutes" incapable of knowing God, but human beings,
yearning after a God of some kind. Nor do I believe that any tribe of
men will ever be found, who, when their language and customs are rightly
interpreted, will not display their consciousness of the need of a God,
and that Divine capacity of holding fellowship with the Unseen Powers,
of which the brutes are without one faintest trace.

Poor, dear,