150 Professor A. C. Haddon [May 23, 



covered with mats doubled up like a tent witli closed ends, and 

 there they sat the livelong day in groups, without moving, playing, 

 or even sj^eaking. Four large mats stretched across the TaiioTcwod, 

 the mats belonging respectively to the Sam (cassowary), TJmai (dog), 

 Kodal (crocodile), and Baidam (shark) clans. For each mat there 

 was a fireplace, the fire being tended by the young men of their re- 

 spective clans. The old men sat on their appropriate mats, in the 

 centre were the drums, and the dance-masks were placed along one 

 side. Opposite the centre was a small mat, on which sat the chief of 

 the island ; for, contrary to the general custom of the tribe, this 

 island had a recognised chief, the result, probably, of their belligerent 

 habits. By the side of where the chief used to sit, a large ovoid 

 stone was j^ointed out to me ; it had a dire significance, for long ago 

 four boys, tired of the irksomeness of the discipline, broke bounds, 

 and meeting their mothers in the bush, asked for foori. They were 

 recaptured and were all killed by the old men with that stone, which 

 was then placed in its present position, as a warning to other youths. 

 The boys of the cassowary and dog clans sat at the end beyond 

 the shark- fireplace, and the crocodile and shark boys were placed at 

 the opposite end of the clearing. 



Their instructors watched the lads, and communicated to them 

 the traditions of the tribe, rules of conduct were laid down, informa- 

 tion in all branches of native lore taught, and thus, generation after 

 generation, the things of the fathers were transmitted to the sons. 



The following are some of the rules which I was informed were 

 imparted to the youths by the " old men " : — 



" You no steal." 



" If you see food belong another man, you no take it, or you dead." 



" You no take thing belong another man without leave ; if you 

 see a fish -spear and take it, s'pose you break it and you no got s^Dear, 

 how you pay man ? " 



" S'pose you see a dugong-harpoon in a canoe and take it, and 

 man he no savvy, then you lose it or break it, hov/ you pay him ? 

 You no got dugong-harpoon." 



" You no i^lay with boy and girl now ; you a man now, and no 

 boy." 



" You no play with small play-canoe, or with toy-spear ; that all 

 finish now." 



" You no like girl first ; if you do, girl laugh at you and call you 

 a woman." [That is, the young man must not propose marriage to a 

 girl, but must wait for her to ask first.] 



" You no marry the sister of your mate, or by and by you will 

 be ashamed ; mates all same as brothers." [But " mates " may marry 

 two sisters.] 



" You no marry your cousin ; she all same as sister." 



" If any one asks for food, or water, or anything, you give some- 

 thing ; if you have a little, you give a little ; if you have plenty, give 

 half. 



