interest in his welfare, and endeavoured to teach him, concurred in stating that his want of application rendered any great improvement quite hopeless; he was found to be averse to labor, and all those inducements which operate on the European were wanting in him. He was brought before the Board and examined as to his qualifications; it appeared that he had obtained some little instruction; he could read with facility, write clearly, and seemed to possess some knowledge of arithmetic; he exhibited a quiet unembarrassed manner, and replied to every question calmly but promptly. Here, in the case of this young Aboriginal, an opportunity seemed to be presented to the Board of proving to the world that the Aborigines of Australia are degraded rather by their habits than in consequence of the want of mental capacity, and though the boy showed only an average ability, it was thought that, by careful education and instruction, he would probably become a good citizen, and of the highest usefulness as an agent in dealing with the Aboriginal race. With this view they sought admission for him at the Grammar School, St. Kilda road; admission was refused, and perhaps the interests of the school were best served by the refusal; but comment on this fact would not probably tend to place in the most favorable light the peculiar advantages which we derive from civilization. The Board then proposed to have him educated at the Scotch College; but this was abandoned, on the recommendation of Dr. Cairns, who suggested that he should be placed under the care of Mr. Robert Doig, a schoolmaster at Fitzroy square, who kindly took charge of him at once. After a short experience, it was found that ordinary means of coercion were quite ineffectual to compel habits of obedience and industry, and with great regret the Board had to abandon their scheme of educating Bungeleen in the manner first proposed. After being some time under the charge of Mr. Thomas, who has at all times exerted himself in a most praiseworthy manner in the boy's behalf, he was transferred to the S.S. Victoria, where, under the eye of Captain Norman, it is hoped he may be taught the duties of a seaman. The difficulty of educating and imparting instruction to an Aboriginal who, whatever be his natural good qualities, is yet not without many of the characteristics of the savage, is very great. Precisely those persons who, by education and character, are best fitted to teach and control him, are those who would be the least likely to undertake such a charge; and the discipline of an ordinary school would scarcely improve him, even if he could be made to attend it regularly. Bungeleen's mind, under proper treatment, may be so far improved as to admit of his receiving a higher education, and if he acquire habits of obedience and industry, improvement is certain. Nearly all the Aborigines are, however, prone to amusements, and they dislike work and restraint of every kind: of a happy, playful, kindly nature, it is questionable whether any of them are capable of sustained labor, such as is requisite to obtain knowledge to fit them for the business of civilized life."
In a subsequent report, that for 1862, the Board write as follows:—"This Aboriginal boy, of whose future career great hopes were at one time entertained, has been for some time in the C.S.S. Victoria, under the care of Captain Norman. He has made the voyage to Carpentaria, and has lived continually in the ship since he first joined, with the exception of one or two
