JiULLBTIN No. 17. 



POSTURES AND ABNORMALITIES. 

 (Pis. xviii.-xxiv. ; fjgs. 43-51.) 



Contents. 



Sect. 1. Sleep 67 



2. Standing 67 



3. Walking 68 



4. Sitting 68 



5. Swininiing ... ... ... .. ... ... 68 



6. Tree Climbing 69 



,, (a) without apparatus ... ... ... 69 



,, (b) with apparatus .. ... ... 69 



7. ,, forked stick ... ... ... ... 69 



8. ,, cane-climber 70 



9. ,, and (variations) 70 



10. ,, cutting steps ... ... ... ... 72 



11. Micturition and Defecation ... ... ... ... ... 73 



12. Menstruation ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 74 



13. Pregnancy and Labour ... ... ... ... ... 74 



14. Cord and After birth 75 



15. Notes on Abnormalities ... ... ... ... ..77 



1. Sleep. — Judging from my own experience I cannot say that 

 any position assumed during sleep is customary, but from that of 

 others whose opinions are worth considering, it would seem that 

 the habitual posture of sleep is a coiled condition of the body 

 resting upon its side (PL xviii., fig. 1), without the head being 

 raised, at Cape Bedford and Ca))e Giafton, but with the head rest- 

 ing on a hand or arm at the Tully River and Princess Charlotte 

 Bay. On the other hand, I have noticed that in the coiled 

 position, it is the stomach and not the back which is invariably 

 turned towards the fire. The natives are said to habitually 

 sleep on the back with the head low on the Pennefather River, 

 but with one or both hands supporting the head on the Bloom- 

 field River. The Princess Charlotte Bay Blacks are also said to 

 often lie on the stomach, or back, with the head supported by 

 the hand.s. There is reported to be a very marked habit 

 amongst the Cape Grafton children of swinging their heads and 

 bodies from side to side, while in the sitting position-, when 

 lulling themselves to sleep. 



2. Standing. — Amongst the males there is everywhere a com- 

 mon position a.'^sumed in standing at ease, viz., the placing of 

 one foot just above the opposite knee (PI. xviii., fig. 2), the balance 



