Document information

Physical location:

Cambridge University Library, DAR 166.1:80. 67.09.12

Preferred Citation:

Friedrich Hagenauer to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1867-09-12. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/67-09-12>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
For a published version of this letter, see Burkhardt et al. (1985- ), vol. 15, p. 369. The transcription given there differs in minor ways from that given here. Letter dated on the basis on an annotation, probably by M, at the top of the sheet: ‘Date of Poststamp 12/9, received 19 Septb 67’.
Aboriginal Mission Station
Lake Wellington, Gippsland
2
Vic.
Werthester Herr
Es thut mir leid, dass ich nicht eher dazu gekommen bin Ihrer Bitte Genüge zu leisten in Bezug Mr Darwins Fragen, die ich Ihnen nun heute erst beantworte. Ich hoffe, dass dieselben dem Zweck entsprechend sind.
Sollten Sie selbst einmal in unsere Nähe hier kommen, würde ich mich gewiss sehr freuen Sie bei uns zu sehen.
Unter besten Grüßen
Ihr ergebenster
F. A. Hagenauer
Aboriginal Mission Station
Lake Wellington, Gippsland
Dear Sir
Please forgive me for not replying to your request in connection with Mr Darwin’s questions before today. I hope that these answers will serve your purpose.
Should you ever come to our neighbourhood I should certainly be very happy to see you.
With best wishes, I remain
Your obedient servant
F. A. Hagenauer
Answers to Questions about Expression
3
The letter and the English-language answers to Darwin's questions are in different hands. For the questions being answered, see C. Darwin to M, 28 February 1867.
1. Astonishment is very often expressed by the eyes and mouth being opened wide and the eyebrows raised.
2. I have never seen anything like a blush, but I have seen them looking down to the ground in account of shame.
3. It is seldom that a man in an indignant state frowns or holds the head erect, but may often clench his fist.
4. When considering deeply he does frown.
5. Not observed.
6. When in good spirit the eyes sparkle, with the skin round and under them a little wrinkled and with the mouth a little drawn back in the corners.
7. Not observed.
8. A dogged and obstinate expression can clearly be recognised by the mouth being firmly closed and a frown.
9. Not observed.
10. Not observed.
11. Fear is expressed in the same manner as by Europeans even still more so, that they would lift up both arms above the head.
12. I have often seen tears coming into their eyes by great laughter.
13. Not observed.
14. Children when sulky do pout.
15. Guilty expressions can be seen by the eyes being generally closed a little, jealousy by a frown.
16. A gentle hiss is uttered as a signal for silence.
17. The head is nodded vertically in affirmation and shaken laterally in negation.