MARITAL JEALOUSY 227 



obtained a bad reputation ; and entertainment was 

 often provided by their means for visitors. 1 The 

 Narrinyeri youth, after completion of the puberty 

 ceremonies, had full licence as to the younger women, 

 even those of their own class and totem. Marriages 

 were effected by way of exchange of sisters or other 

 female relatives. A man had the right to exchange 

 his wife for the wife of another man, but the practice 

 was not looked upon favourably by his clan. Mar- 

 riage by elopement also occurred, but the woman was 

 regarded with disfavour, because there had been no 

 exchange of a sister for her. A young man might call 

 his comrades to help him in an elopement, but they 

 then had the right of access to the girl ; and his male 

 relatives would only defend him from the girl's kindred 

 on condition of access to her. 2 Elopement was the 

 ordinary method of marriage among the Kurnai : it 

 was effected with the assistance of the bridegroom's 

 comrades who had been initiated at the same ceremony 

 as himself, and their help was given on the same con- 

 dition as among the Narrinyeri. When the Aurora 

 Australis was seen it was believed to be Mungan's 

 fire which might burn the people up. To avert this 

 danger the old men instituted a magical ceremony, 

 part of which was a general exchange of wives for a 

 day. Men also lent their wives to guests. Dr. 

 Howitt further cites a case within his personal re- 

 collection where a Kurnai, having two wives, lent one 

 to a friend who was going on a journey by himself, 



1 Howitt, 232 sqq. 



2 Id. 260, 261, 674 ; Taplin, Narrinyeri^ 14. The latter also 

 says (p. 10) "that on some occasions amongst a certain class of 

 natives a great deal of licentious revelry will take place." He is 

 speaking of native weddings. 



