22 THE ABORIGINES OF THE LOWER MURRAY, LOWER 
Wanton profligacy is another fertile source of disease and death 
amongst the women. In speaking of this source of mortality, I 
know that, in general, it is supposed that the venereal disease 
amongst the aborigines is entirely due to Europeans, but a ter 
error than this never had promulgation, for long before the advent 
of the white man it was one of the vilest scourges this primitive 
ters are most frequently females ; next in order comes children of 
tender years, and then bed-ridden old men. Such a thing asa 
chivalrous endeavour on the part of the men to protect the weaker 
portions of the tribe during those panics, or indeed at any other 
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not in accordance with their innate instincts. Everything they 
do, in short, is done instinctively ; they never by any chance 
arrive at a conclusion by sheer force of logical reasoning. 
Marriace RExations. : 
The marriage relations of these l imitive 
he people are of the most primitive 
and simple character, the noun “ove” being entirely lacking in their 4 
vocal - Nothing in the guise of courting or company-keep- 
ing 1s attempted by the prospective bridegroom and bride. The — : 
