NORTH QUEENSLAND ETHNOGRAPHY — ROTH. 9 



this matter. The finally chosen one stands up to have the spear 

 thrown over him 11 by the other brothers who have next claim, 

 for until this is done he is aware that his assumed right is not 

 generally admitted ; occasionally, if any dispute or unpleasant- 

 ness occurs, he may have to fight for her, though finally she is 

 handed over to him by the wrist, and everything is settled. 

 On the Tully River the widow is claimed by whichever of her 

 late husband's group- or blood-brothers is old enough and strong 

 enough to hold his own ; consequently there is often a fight or 

 two over the settlement. 



17. Permanent sexual union based on the mutual attachment 

 of the two contracting parties may have to be confirmed, so to 

 speak, by certain official formalities, or may in itself constitute a 

 marriage recognised and upheld by the community, a great deal 

 depending upon whether the woman is a free agent or not, i.e., 

 single, married, betrothed, etc. In the Boulia District, under 

 those circumstances where a man is in love with a single woman 

 who reciprocates, but the Camp-council, for some reason or other, 

 refuses ratification, they will probably elope some night and after 

 living together for a month or two return to camp. But when 

 they do come back, both have to run the gauntlet of the outraged 

 community, certain members of which will cripple them with 

 knives by hacking into the shoulders and buttocks, will bruise 

 or hammer them about the limbs and head with sticks and 

 boomerangs, or puncture the fleshy parts of the thighs with 

 spears. The perpetrators of the punishment take very good care 

 that the injuries inflicted should not prove fatal, because were 

 this contingency to occur they know full well that the death 

 would be avenged by the victim's brothers, etc. Having under- 

 gone the recognised chastisement for breaking the old-established 

 rule, the couple is now recognised as husband and wife. 1 - Such 

 a wife is the unofficially loved-one already referred to as the 

 pandira ; if she is not already of third initiation rank she returns 

 to her mother's hut every morning, and neither prepares nor 

 cooks her husband's food ; only after the birth of her first child 

 does she remain at her husband's apartment permanently. 13 

 Amongst- the Lower Tully River natives, all that either contract- 



11 Roth— Bull. 8— Sect. 13. 



1 2 That is to say, provided the former still wishes it ; otherwise the latter 

 is restored to her brother, etc. , as being no longer required. Of course the 

 amorous pair must be of suitable exogamous groups, and both of first- 

 initiation rank ; the sure penalty in this district for any breach of the former 

 essential would be the death of both parties, with the tacit consent of the 

 blood-relatives. 



13 The same arrangement holds good with the official wife, or no-pq. 



