Howitt to Fison 20/9/1878
Transcription - Page 1
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Previously I use these terms [Tribe - crossed out] Division = aggregate of families having common descent
clan, = aggregate of divisions; tribe = aggregate of classes. The tribe recognizes a common descent,
a common language and common territory. You may be able to suggest better terms.
My dear Mr Fison
I feel quite ashamed when I received
your letter of 10th inst at not having before replied
to your former letter but the fact is that under the
present arrangements by which I am the only
PM and Warden in Gippsland my time has been
more than occupied and all I have been able
to do has been to say to myself "I must in and write
to Mr Fison". I hope you will excuse me when I tell
that last month I rode 565 miles besides holding numbers
of Courts here and there. Your last letter electrified me!
I feel ashamed and I put everything aside that I
could put aside. I read all my notes about blacks
I thought over all I could say, in fact I filled my
mind aboriginally. I tried to project myself into a sort
of pseudo blackfellow condition. My mind may be said
to have been a sort of a magma in which all kinds of
elements were in relation, the molecules gradually combined
under the crystallizing forces; they began to shape out ideas,
the ideas arranged themselves. As I rode along the
country roads - "the automaton" guided the horse
the "ego" was at work avail found at last to my infinite
relief that I could see what my share of the work could be
If I might chance to be only able to do it. I propose in
fact to endeavour to give a complete portion of the
domestic and social life of the Gippsland blackfellow.
I propose to take the individual from the cradle to the
grave - and beyond it as they think. To [?mention?]
the family - the aggregate if families (the division)
The Revd Lorimer Fison
Fiji
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