PL ON THE ORGANISATION OF AUSTRALIAN TRIBES, 
Mr. C. Naseby, of Maitland, who has had fifty years’ experience of the Kamilaroi 
tribes, writes as follows :—‘‘ There may be two or three Headmen in each division of 
a tribe. Their position is one of influence and authority, and depends upon the 
valour of the individual. A man who distinguished himself as a warrior or orator 
would become aleader. His son would be highly regarded, and if valiant, would also 
become in time a Headman. The oldest Headman would be the chief or president of 
a council of the elders, and he could carry any measure by his own voice. All 
disputes were settled by the Headmen. In the olden time a white man could not be 
marked off for death but by their voice. Such a Headman had authority in a local 
division of his tribe, but not as Head of his totem. A Headman might be a Koraji,* 
but a Koraji was not necessarily a Headman.” . 
Mr. Jocelyn Brooke, sub-inspector of Queensland Native Mounted Police, writing 
of the Kaiabara tribe, of the Bunya Bunya Mountains, says :—‘‘ The tribe is ruled by 
two Headmen, one being of the Kubatine class, and the other of the Dilebi class, + 
and they rule their classes respectively. When one of them dies, his son, or one of 
the next of kin, inherits the rank of the dead man. The Headman wears a band 
round the left arm made of Bunya Bunya fibre. The old men hold councils on all 
matters of importance, sitting in a circle with their clubs stuck in the ground. The 
young men are permitted to stand round and listen, but may not laugh or speak. 
One man at a time makes a speech while the others listen.” 
Mr. Thomas Petrie, of the North Pine River, in Queensland, says of the Turribul 
tribe :—‘‘ There was no regular council, but the old men met and consulted as to sue! 
matters as hunting and fishing, or going on a journey, and regarding the death of 
any person. They sent messengers out when the time for ‘‘ making kippers ’{ came 
round, or when the mullet came in, or the Bunya fruit was ripe.” 
That which Mr. Petrie describes is the council. It falls in with previous 
instances. 
I have given instances which extend over a large part of the continent. I have 
shown from my own observation, and from the statements of competent corre- 
spondents, that in those tribes which I have taken as illustrations there are men who 
are recognised as having a control over the people with whom they live, whose orders 
are obeyed, and who receive from their tribe’s people titles which, in some cases, 
may be translated ‘‘elder”’ or ‘‘ great one.” The illustrations which I have given 
justify the conclusion that similar Headmen existed in other tribes in the same 
localities, and, in fact, their existence in general. No doubt in some tribes their 
* Wizard. 
+ ‘Further Notes on the Australian Class Systems,” p. 49, Journal Anthrop. Inst., August, 1888. 
{ The time of the initiation ceremonies—the Bora. 
