LXXXIV PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



relationship was of primaiy importance, but, later on, with the 

 dichotomous divisions of the original communal body, of the 

 existence of which the present group organization and other 

 features in regard to customs, show indisputable proof, the present 

 social organization with its moieties, classes, and sub-classes came 

 into existence. 



This system of group relationship and kinship was of funda- 

 mental importance in regard to intertribal relations, and has per- 

 sisted unchanged in regard to all essentials. On the other hand, 

 the various tribes or local groups of allied tribes developed various 

 customs, beliefs, and arts that were of interest to themselves and 

 did not fundamentally affect their relations with other tribes. 



After this clear-cut social organization had been developed, the 

 tribes on the East, due probably to climatological and physio- 

 graphic causes, became separated off from those on the West. The 

 Eastern side retained what may have been a more primitive 

 method of counting descent in the maternal line, on the West they 

 developed father descent. 



In view of the fact that the moieties, classes, and sub-classes can 

 be homologized right through the whole of Australian tribes, and 

 that even Avhen a matri-lineal tribe comes into contact with a 

 patri-lineal one there is not the slightest difficulty in any indivi- 

 dual being told in what particular relationship^ he stands to every 

 member of the tribe that he may be visiting, I think we may feel 

 sure that this system, which is at once so complete in itself and 

 characteristic of Australia, has been developed within Australia, 

 and that the division into matri-lineal and patri-lineal tribes arose, 

 not only after the original dichotomous division, but after the still 

 further division into classes or sub-classes. There is no reason 

 why, starting with group marriage, descent should not be counted 

 in the male just as easily as in the female line; but, in view of 

 the fact that in patri-lineal tribes we find clear recognition on 

 certain occasions of the importance of the mother's group, and, 

 as far as I am aware, no corresponding evidence of the reverse 

 in matri-lineal tribes, I am now inclined to think that, in Aus- 

 tralia, descent was originally counted in the female line. How 

 the change was inaugurated it is impossible to say, but, had it 

 been due to contact Avith later immigrants, it is impossible to 

 conceive that the complicated' organization governing both of these 

 systems should have been, not only conserved, but retained in 

 detail in each group. 



Any immigrants introducing male descent must have brought 

 with them their own organization that must also inevitably have 

 influenced that of the tribes adopting their system. On the other 

 hand, if the change was an internal one, there would be no need 



