OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : MARCH 12, 1872. 417 



uniting the three papers in one, thus giving him the option of the 

 secondary or the original. An organization simple to savages may be 

 embarrassing to ourselves until its principles are mastered ; but with a 

 reasonable share of attention it can be intelligently followed to the end. 



The form of the tribal organization and of kinship under it to be 

 presented, prevails among that portion of the Australian aborigines 

 who speak the Kamilaroi language. They inhabit the Darling River 

 country north of Sidney. It is also found in other Australian nations. 



First. The Kamilaroi people are divided into six tribes, standing 

 with reference to the right of marriage in two divisions, as follows : — 



1. Iguana (Duli), 4. Emu (Dinoun), 



2. Kangaroo (Murriira),* 5. Bandicoot (Bilba), 



3. Opossum (Mute), 6. Blacksnake (Nurai). 

 Originally the first three tribes were not allowed to intermarry with 



each other, but were allowed to do so with the other three ; and vice 

 versa. This restriction is not anomalous, and would not of itself in- 

 vade the fundamental structure of the tribe.f It is now modified in 

 certain definite particulars, but not carried to the full extent of permit- 

 ting marriage into any tribe but that of the individual. No person 

 can marry into his or her own tribe. Descent is in the female line, 

 the children following the tribe of the mother. These are the essential 

 characteristics of the tribal organization wheresoever this institution is 

 found ; and the Kamilaroi tribe, in its external features, is at once 

 perfect and complete. 



Secondly. But there is a further division of the people into eight 

 classes, four of which are male and four female, with a regulation in 

 respect to marriage which changes the nature of the tribe itself, or, 

 rather, demonstrates that the tribal organization is in process of devel- 

 opment into its true ultimate form. One only of the four classes of 



* Paddymelon, a species of kangaroo. 



t The Seneca-Iroquois are divided into eight tribes, as follows : — 



1. Wolf. 2. Bear. 3. Beaver. 4. Turtle. 



5. Deer. 6. Snipe. 7. Heron. 8. Hawk. 



" Originally, with reference to marriage, the Wolf, Bear, Beaver, and Turtle, 

 being brothers to each other, were not allowed to intermarry. The four opposite 

 tribes, being also brothers to each other, were not allowed to intermarry. Either 

 of the first four tribes, however, could intermarry with either of the last four, the 



relation between them being that of cousins In process of time, however, 



the rigor of the system was relaxed, until the prohibition was confined to the tribe 



of the individual They can now marry into any tribe but their own." — 



League of the Iroquois, p. 83. 



vol. viii. 53 



