The Fortnightly Review: No. CCCCLXIII, New Series [‎655v] (201/239)

170 THE BEGINNINGS OF RELIGION AND TOTEMISM
like to hear, without the least regard to the truth. Thus it is a
custom with the Bantu not to dispute with honoured guests,
but to profess agreement with whatever is stated. This is re
garded by those people as politeness, and it. is carried to such an
absurd extent that it is often difficult to obtain correct information
from them. Thus if one asks a man, is it far to such a place?
politeness requires him to reply it is far, though it may be close
by. The questioner, by using the word far, is supposed to be
under the impression that it is at a distance, and it would be rude
ness to correct him. They express their thanks for whatever is
told them, whether the intelligence is pleasing or not, and whether
they believe it or not. Then, too, no one of them ever denies the
existence of a Supreme Being, but admits it without hesitation
as soon as he is told of it, though he may not once have thought
of the subject before.” 20
In regard to the Australian aborigines, it appears that this source
of error has also vitiated some of the accounts which have been
given of their religious notions. “Many persons try to persuade
themselves that they can detect the existence amongst these
natives of a true religion and a knowledge of a Supreme Being,
but they forget that these Blacks are extremely shrewd, so that
when they perceive the object of the conversation, they readily
adapt all that they have been taught on this subject to their
replies. I have always found that the rigmarole stories which
many of them have told me, and which are supposed to represent
their religious belief, were founded upon the teachings of mission
aries and others.” 21 “I am strongly of opinion that those who
have written to show that the Blacks had some knowledge of God,
practised prayer, and believed in places of reward and punishment
beyond the grave, have been imposed upon, and that until they
had learnt something of Christianity from missionaries and others
the Blacks had no beliefs and practices of the sort. Having heard
the missionaries, however, they were not slow to invent what I
may call kindred statements with aboriginal accessories, with a
view to please and surprise the Whites.” 22 In pursuing his
researches in this subject, Dr. A. W. Howitt was on at least one
occasion surprised, though not pleased, with “kindred state
ments” of this sort. Wishing to learn the native belief as to
Brewin, a spirit whom the Kurnai dread, he questioned two of the
most intelligent men, one of whom was a member of the Church of
England. After consulting together for a few minutes, one of
(20) G. M'Call Theal, op. cit., vii. 497.
(21) J. F. Mann, “ Notes on the Aborigines of Australia,” Proceedings of the
Geographical Society of Australasia, i. (1885), p. 40.
(22) E. M. Curr, The Australian Race, i. 45.