7.3.97
Dear Sir, I have recently received through my friend Dr Stirling, together with the latters' memoirs on the Anthrop. of the Horn Exped, a copy of your own memoir on the 'Aborigines of the McDonnell Ranges". I write to thank you very much indeed for so kindly furnishing me this most important contribution to Ethnological literature. The details of ceremonial which
upon your region, all Ethnologists would look forward to such a work, & your intimate knowledge would be of the greater value, as also your skill as a photographer. I was so glad to see Stirling the other day, whom I had not seen for about 4 years. Again thanking you very much. Believe me Dear Sir Yours faithfully Henry Balfour, Curator of the Ethnological Dept University Museum Oxford, England. To. F.J. Gillen, Alice Springs, S. Australia.
you give are very valuable, as they carry one so much behind the scenes. I would that this work were being carried out as well in other parts of the continent where native ceremonies and customs still exist. Every part if of the greatest interest it record before it is too late, and papers like yours are the best way of preserving the records, particularly when illustrated
with such excellent photographs. I am trying to obtain a collection of photographs illustrating native life and customs and physique, and your plates are the first which I have for your region. Unfortunately I have no specimens of implements etc. from your region in the Museum of which I am Curator, most of the Australian things here being from Queensland, N.S.W. and N. Australia with a few western and a very few South Australian from near the coast. I hope that you will someday be willing to write a monograph
