AVSTEALIAN ABORIGINES. 



The succession to the chiefdom is by inheritance. Wlien a chief dies the 

 chiefs of the neighbouring tribes, accompanied by their attendants, assist at the 

 funeral obsequies ; and thej' appoint the best male friend of the deceased to 

 take charge of the tribe until the first great meeting after the expiry of one year, 

 when the succession must be determined by the votes of the assembled chiefs 

 alone. The eldest son is appointed, unless there is some good reason for setting 

 him aside. If there are no sons, the deceased chief's eldest brother is entitled to 

 succeed him, and the inheritance runs in the line of his family. Failing him, 

 the inlieritance devolves upon the other brothers and their families in succession. 



If the heir is weakly in body, or mentally unfitted to maintain the position 

 of chief, — which requires to be filled by a man of ability and braveiy, — and if he 

 has a brother who is more eligible in the opinion of the tribe, or who aspires to 

 the dignity, the elder brother must either yield or fight the younger brother in 

 single combat, at the first great meeting, for the supremacy. 



There is an impression among the aborigines that the second son of a chief is 

 generally superior to his elder brother ; and, if proved to be so in fight, the latter 

 gives up his claim as a matter of custom, and the tribe accepts the conqueror as 

 its head. 



Should the heir be a boy, his nearest male relative is appointed regent 

 till he is initiated into manhood. If there is no heir, the chiefs of the 

 neighbouring tribes elect a successor from the deceased chief's tribe ; but if their 

 votes are divided between two candidates, the matter must be decided by these in 

 single combat, which sometimes leads to the whole tribe quarrelling and fighting. 

 As the tribe, however, cannot be divided, the result of the combat is accepted, and 

 all are again friends. 



