LAWS OF MARRIAGE. 31 



age, she is sent away from her tribe, and placed under the care of the young 

 man's mother, or his nearest female relative, who keeps her until they are 

 married, but not in the same wuurn with her intended husband. She is 

 constantly attended by one of his female relatives, but is not permitted to speak 

 their tribal language. She is e.'cpected, however, to learn it sufficiently to 

 understand it. A day is fixed for the marriage, and invitations are sent to the 

 relatives and friends of both parties. 



As such ceremonies are always accompanied with feasting and amusements, 

 great preparations are made, and all kinds of food collected, such, for example, 

 as emus' and swans' eggs, opossums, kangaroos, and wild fowl. An emu which 

 is killed while hatching is considered a great treat, as theil both bird and eggs 

 can be eaten ; and if the eggs have young ones in them so much the greater will 

 be the delicacy. These things are cooked at a considerable distance from the 

 camp, and brought to it at mid-day by the friends of the bridegroom. At this 

 stage of the proceedings they are partaken of only by the friends of the bride. 

 At sunset, the friends and relations of the bridegroom and bride, numbering 

 possibly two hundred, sit on opposite sides, within a large circle formed of the 

 leafy boughs of trees, with a fire in the centre. The bride is introduced by her 

 bridemaid, and seated in front of her friends. The bridal attire is very simple. 

 Her hair is braided, and bound with a plaited bark brow band, coloured red. 

 In front of the brow band is stuck a bunch of red feathers, from the neck of the 

 long-billed cockatoo. White streaks are painted over and under her eyes, with 

 red lines below. The usual kilt of emu feathers is worn round the loins, and 

 she is covered from the shoulders downwards with an opossum rug. 



The bridegroom also is painted with a white streak over and under the 

 eyes, and red lines beneath them. He wears a brow band the same as that of 

 the bride, but it is ornamented in front with a white feather from a swan's wing, 

 the web of which is torn down, so as to flutter in the wind. He wears the 

 usual apron, and a rug of the ring-tail opossum, thrown over the shoulders 

 like a mantle. This is fastened in front with a bone pin, and reaches to the 

 knees. He is attended by two or three young bachelors, who are painted and 

 ornamented for the occasion. They lead him from the wuurn of a friend to his 

 bride, who receives him with downcast eyes and in silence. He then declares that 

 he accepts the woman for his wife. Feasting then begins. When everyone is 

 satisfied, a chief calls out, " Let us have a dance before the children go 

 to bed." The karweann is then commenced, and kept up till midnight. 



