FL661383

20
as a sort of deities or [words crossed out] beings of a superior order
[indecipherable] would agree that if
[words crossed out]
[words crossed out] the Aborigines, [words crossed out] had no other belief than
that [words crossed out] in some superior power or spirit,
it may be since the idea of
a superior bring exists among them and thus
the proof [word crossed out] in natural theology for the existence
of a deity holds true even with these ignorant
and degraded people. In other words I [word crossed out]
maintain that [words crossed out] there is no native [indecipherable] quite so low as not to
have some little notion, however perverted &
corrupt, of a a deity or deities. We may rest
assured there is an innate idea [word crossed out]
of the existence & need of a deity [indecipherable] among
all human races, nor are they entirely devoid
of an expectation of [word crossed out] future existence.
In some this idea is more deeply rooted, whilst
others are more inclined to atheistic notions.
Some of these Aborigines would at times when
I spoke to them of a future state of existence
exclaim, though usually with a blush and
doubt Dugguainbul ballungirri, We shall
die altogether, whilst others would more
firmly maintain the probability that they would
live hereafter. The idea of the migration
of the soul has sometimes been attributed to these
Aborigines, but I believe this is without found-
ation & is rather an idea which some Europeans
seem to have imparted to them.
But let me now tell you that I have fully

20
as a sort of [deity?] or beings of a superior order. He must [indecipherable] agree that if the Aborigines have no other belief than that in some superior [indecipherable] spirit, it may be said the idea of a supreme being exists among them and thus the proof is natural theology for the existence of a deity holier [indecipherable] even with these ignorant and degraded people. In other words I maintain that there is no nation sunk quite so low as not to have some little [belief?], however [indecipherable] and corrupt, of a a deity or deities. We may rest assured there is an innate idea of the existence and [need?] of a deity [remaining?] among all human races,

nor are they [indecipherable] [indecipherable] of [indecipherable] [indecipherable] expectations if [indecipherable] future excit... In some this idea is more deeply rooted, whilst others are more inclined to affex.... [indecipherable]. Some of these Aborigines [indecipherable] at times where I spoke to them of a future? state of existence exclaim, though usually with a blush and no double [indecipherable] to Aborigines. We shall [indecipherable] altogether, white settlers would grace firmly maiantain the probability that they would live hereafter. The idea ofthe [indecipherable] of the soul has [indecipherable] been [indecipherable] to the Aborigines, but I believe this is without foundation and is [indecipherable] an idea which some Europeans seem to [indecipherable] importance to them.
But let me now tell you that I have fully