And we discount and
allow for every bias and prejudice of our witnesses. I have made a list
of these idola in M. R. R. ii. 334-344.

Mr. Max Muller now gives a list of inconsistencies in descriptions of
Australian Blacks. They are _not_ Blacks, they have a dash of copper
colour! Well, I never said that they had 'the sooty tinge of the African
negro.' Did anybody?

Mr. Ridley thinks that all natives are called 'Murri.' Mr. Curr says
'No.' Important. We must reserve our judgment.

Missionaries say the Blacks are 'devoid of moral ideas.' What
missionaries? What anthropologist believes such nonsense? There are
differences of opinion about landed property, communal or private. The
difference rages among historians of civilised races. So, also, as to
portable property. Mr. Curr (Mr. Max Muller's witness) agrees here with
those whose works I chiefly rely on.

'Mr. McLennan has built a whole social theory on the statement' (a single
statement) 'made by Sir George Grey, and contradicted by Mr. Curr.' Mr.
McLennan would be, I think, rather surprised at this remark; but what
would he do? Why, he would re-examine the whole question, decide by the
balance of evidence, and reject, modify, or retain his theory
accordingly.

All sciences have to act in this way; therefore almost all scientific
theories are fluctuating. Nothing here is peculiar to anthropology. A
single word, or two or three, will prove or disprove a theory of phonetic
laws. Even phonetics are disputable ground.

In defence of my late friend Mr. McLennan, I must point out that if he
built a whole social theory on a single statement of Sir George Grey's,
and if Mr. Curr denies the truth of the statement, Mr. Frazer has
produced six or seven witnesses to the truth of that very statement in
other parts of the world than Australia. {100} To this circumstance we
may return.

Mr. Max Muller next produces Mr. Curr's opinions about the belief in a
god and morality among Australians. 'Here he really contradicts
himself.' The disputable evidence about Australian marriage laws is next
shown to be disputable. That is precisely why Dr. Tylor is applying to
it his unrivalled diligence in accurate examination. We await his
results. Finally, the contradictory evidence as to Tasmanian religion is
exposed. We have no Codrington or Bleek for Tasmania. The Tasmanians
are extinct, and Science should leave the evidence as to their religion
out of her accoun