ri/ysroGRAPi/Y OF AUSTRALASIA. 



1321 



regulations are based. The natives of any given community arc di\id<-d into two or 

 more "classes," which have connubium one with the other. These art: subdivided into 

 smaller divisions, distinguished by totems ; and the general rule is that a male of one 

 division must marry a female of another division. In other words the divisions are 

 exogamous. The natives are also divided into geographical divisions, which we may call 

 "hordes." To each horde belong certain hunting-grounds with definite boundaries, and 

 trespass within them is equivalent to an act of war. Marriage is arranged in various 

 ways, custom in this as in other matters differing so widely, that it is impossible to 

 generalize from the practice 

 of any particular tribe. When 

 a child is born, the first ques- 

 tion raised concerning it often 

 is if it shall be allowed to live. 

 If the mother has another 

 child of tender years requiring 

 her attention, or if, for other 

 reasons, the new born babe is 

 judged to have come in an in- 

 convenient season, it may be 

 smothered in sand or ashes, 

 or abandoned by its parents, 

 who remove and leave it to 

 die in the empty encampment. 

 But if the infant be permitted 

 to live, it is well cared for, 

 and both father and mother 

 exhibit the most tender affec- 

 tion towards their offspring. 

 Children are treated with the 

 greatest indulgence, and their death is the occasion of bitter grief to parents and relatives. 

 Circumcision is practised ; but it is a singular fact, for which no explanation can be 

 offered, that it is, speaking generally, a characteristic of the western tribes, as distinguished 

 from those on the eastern side of the Continent. Some of these, however, inflict upon a 

 number of their males, selected by the elders, a most extraordinary operation which cannot 

 here be described. Until the youth reaches the age of puberty he is under the care of 

 his mother, and ranks with the children ; but at or about that age he is taken away 

 from her by the solemn ceremony of initiation, which separates him from the children of 

 the community, and ranks him among the men. This ceremony, as far as has been hitherto 

 ascertained, is common to all tribes, with some exceptions in the southern parts of 

 Australia, and even they have easily recognized survivals of it. After the completion of 

 the ceremonies, the youth is released from his mother's control, and is sent out into the 

 forests, where he remains by himself for a considerable period, and has to maintain him- 

 self by hunting. After some further probation, he is permitted to marry and to take his 

 seat in the councils of his people. 



A FEMALE ABORIGINAL. 



