Bates devoted more than 35 years of her life to studying Aboriginal life, history, culture, rites, beliefs and customs. Living in a tent in small settlements from Western Australia to the edges of the Nullarbor Plain. She researched and wrote millions of words on the subject. She also worked tirelessly for Aboriginal welfare, setting up camps to feed, clothe and nurse the transient population, drawing on her own income and inheritance to meet the needs of the aged. In spite of her fascination with their way of life, Bates was convinced that the Australian Aborigines were a dying race and that her mission was to record as much as she could about them before they disappeared.Her personal life was unconventional. She was said to have worn pistols even in her old age and to have been quite prepared to use them to threaten police when she caught them mistreating 'her' Aborigines. She was also famed for her strict lifelong adherence to Edwardian fashion, including boots, gloves and a veil.

p.4-21; Beagle Bay, work of missionaries; notes on tooth avulsion, infant cannibalism (Nyool-nyool people); p.22- 48; Roebuck Plains Station marriage divisions, spirit child belief, initiation, separation of sexes, blood drinking part of initiation; p.59-92; Bibbulmun tribe - location, four-class divisions, infanticide when twins were born; group ownership of land; after-death beliefs, biographical notes on few Aborigines effects of white contact; The authors travels in S.W. Aust., episodes with Aborigines recounted, measles epidemic at Katanning Bibbulman people in Perth for festival, corroboree performed; p.93-104; Expedition with Radcliffe-Brown and E.L. Grant Watson; Raid on Laverton natives by group from Lake Darlot, enquiries and charges made; Visit to Dorre and Bernier Islands (isolation hospital), conditions, segregation of sexes; Author given name of Kabbarli at Dorre; p.107-114; Infant cannibalism, Murchison & Gascoyne districts; Story of the blood & lice totem groups feud, Leonora Laverton; notes on important jeemarri group and their initiation knives; Wilgamia ochre mine; p.118-119; Rottnest prison, notes on prisoners, conditions; p.120-130; Eucla, notes on cannibalism, group of six-fingered & six-toed natives; initiation in 1913; physical appearance of natives (Koogurda), notes on Baduwonga of Boundary Dam, the Kaalurwonga, east of the Badu; trade routes, totem roads & ceremonies; p.133; Descent of Goonalda Cave; p.140-149; Wirilya - Yulbari nunga, edible roots & fruits, kangaroo, emu & turkey; Interchange of boys for initiation, Mirning - Baadu - Yooldil - Wirongu, a guarantee of friendship; p.160; Place names round Yuria; p.164-206; Legend of Ooldea Water; Comments on condition of natives when the Trans-continental Railway was built; p.245-246; Legend of how the eagle-hawk brought the water to Yuria Gabbi.