That there are men of outstanding individuality who help to make political history even amongst the rudest peoples is, moreover, hardly to be doubted.

Thus Messrs.

Spencer and Gillen, in the introductory chapter of their work on the Central Australians, state that, after observing the conduct of a great gathering of the natives, they reached the opinion that the changes which undoubtedly take place from time to time in aboriginal custom are by no means wholly of the subconscious and spontaneous sort, but are in part due also to the influence of individuals of superior ability.

"At this gathering, for example, some of the oldest men were of no account; but, on the other hand, others not so old as they were, but more learned in ancient lore or more skilled in matters of magic, were looked up to by the others, and they it was who settled everything.

It must, however, be understood that we have no definite proof to bring forward of the actual introduction by this means of any fundamental change of custom.