aboriginal tribe living out its helpless existence in the 
     hinterland of a native reserve. Perhaps, indeed, the 
     subject is worthy of a more formidable study than is 
     accorded it here. As Douglas Newton has pointed out: 
     ‘The word-wide fraternity of children is the greatest of 
     savage tribes, and the only one which shows no sign of 
     dying out.’

     In communities widely separated in space and time there 
is a continuity and tenacity of tradition quite unknown to 
written forms.

     No matter how uncouth schoolchildren may outwardly 
     appear, they remain tradition’s warmest friends. Like the 
     savage, they are respecters, even venerators, of custom; 
     and in their self-contained community their basic lore and