Note 36 — Chapter I · EXPOSITION OF THE PROBLEM AND METHOD

As far as I see, in the present state of our knowledge, it is only admissible to speak with greatest care and in very broad lines of the Australian types of culture. Interesting attempts have been made in this direction by Dr. Graebner, Mr. N. W. Thomas, and Father Schmidt. The two latter especially base their work on a profound and extensive knowledge, and formulate their results with the utmost reserve and carefulness. Fr. W. Schmidt has at his disposal the powerful instrument of linguistic knowledge. Mr. W. N. Thomas knows the Australian facts as nobody else does. Their conclusions are therefore of much weight. The present investigations afford little opportunity to point out geographic differences. Compare Fr. W. Schmidt, "Die Stellung, d. Aranda," etc., Z.f.E., 1908, pp. 866 sqq.; F. Graebner, Ibid., 1905, pp. 28 sqq.; Globus, xc. Consult also N. W. Thomas, Kinship, and the same, Z.f.E., 1905.