72 AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



GREAT MEETINGS. 



Great meetings are held periodically in summer, by agreement among the 

 friendly tribes. But any two chiefs have the power of sending messengers and 

 commanding the attendance of the tribes at an appointed time and place, in order 

 that matters of dispute may be arranged. Sometimes, instead of dispatching 

 men to give notice of a meeting, a signal smoke is raised by setting fire to a wide 

 circle of long grass in a dry swamp. This causes the smoke to ascend in a 

 remarkable spiral form, which is seen from a great distance. The summons thus 

 given is strictly attended to. Or, if there is not a suitable swamp, a hollow tree 

 is stufied with dry bark and leaves, and set on fire. Or, a fire is made on a hill 

 top. 



Each tribe, on its arrival, erects its wuums, and lights its fires in front of 

 them, on the side of the camp next their own country. When all are assembled, 

 proceedings commence after sunset, or before sunrise next morning. As soon as 

 the families of the different tribes are seated in rows on the ground, the chief of 

 each tribe, accompanied by the other chiefs, walks along and taps everyone on 

 the head with a piece of bark, asking the name of his tribe, his personal name, 

 and his class. If anything of importance has to be discussed, a circular open 

 space, of one hundred or one hundred and fifty yards in diameter, is reserved in 

 the centre of the camp, into which the chiefs advance by turns, and speak in a 

 loud voice, that everyone may hear what is said. 



When a chief has a matter of great importance to settle, and desires the 

 advice and assistance of friendly tribes, he dispatches two messengers to the 

 nearest chief with a message-stick. This message-stick is a piece of wood about 

 six inches long and one inch in diameter, with five or six sides, one of these 

 indicating by notches the number of tribes to be summoned, and the others the 

 number of men required from each. The messengers are not allowed to explain 

 the business of the proposed meeting. Immediately on a chief receiving the 

 message-stick, he sends for his principal men, who pass their hands down the 

 stick and ascertain the number of men required from the tribe. They then 



