PHYSIOGRAPHY OF AUSTRALASIA. 



1323 



cocoon, 



dclicat' 

 is that 



of it. They chew it into a " quid," about the size and shape of a silk-worm's 

 and carry it with them in that state behind the ear, producing it as a 

 attention to acquaintances, or a friendly offering to a stranger. Its effect 

 of a narcotic stimulant. 



The government of 

 the Australian aborig- 

 ines may be said to 

 be in the hands of the 

 old men. Great rever- 

 ence is paid to old 

 age, and in some tribes 

 a youth, in addressing 

 a gray-beard, will crouch 

 down, and deliver his 

 message in reverential 

 tones. Among the el- 

 ders, certain men are 

 distinguished above 

 their fellows for wis- 

 dom, valour, ability, and 

 above all for magic- 

 power. These are the 

 most influential mem- 

 bers of the community. 

 They form the Great 

 Council which arranges 

 all the most important 

 affairs of the tribe, and 

 one of tliem generally 

 takes precedence of the 

 rest. His position, 

 however, depends upon 

 age and personal in- 

 fluence, and is not 



transmitted by inheritance. When it is necessary to gather together the whole community 

 as in the Initiation Ceremony or when a Great Council is to be held, runners 

 are sent out by the principal Headmen, who go from horde to horde carrying with 

 them a " message-stick," or some other token indicative of their message. These are 

 recognized as heralds whose persons are sacred even in time of war, while they are 

 discharging their functions as messengers. It is at these assemblies that the Greater 

 Corrobborees, or ceremonial dances, are performed by the men, to the accompaniment 

 of monotonous songs set to a quick movement, the women beating time meanwhile by 

 drumming upon their tightly-rolled opossum rugs. 



The normal relations of one Australian tribe to another mav be said to be those 



A BLACK GIN AM) HKR CHI 1.1 >. 

 From I'hototiraith bu J. Limit 



