17 MAY 1957, Page 23

Life among the Aborigines, by W. E. Harney (Hale, 18s.)

: back to Australia and a solid, thoroughly informative account of the Aborigines' habits, beliefs and tribal customs today by a Self-educated man who has spent a hard-working lifetime among them and has a no-nonsense air that is limited but refreshing. Nat an attractive people to look at, the Aborigines seem considered, even by their well-wishers, as the lowliest mem- bers of the human family, to be treated (at best) like half-house-trained puppies. Mr. Harney's knowledge of them is impressive, but he is unable to give any clear picture of them as people or to draw any conclusions from the rather hefty mass of his information.