MURRUMBIDGEE, LOWER LACHLAN, AND LOWER DARLING. 25 
manhood, which cannot be controverted. As a natural conse- 
quence, the right is frequently exercised. Sometimes however, 
regret will supervene, the misunderstanding of the brothers-in-law 
become adjusted, and in due course, the wives return to their 
original partners. 
en a woman becomes a widow, she falls back to her father, 
brother, or guardian, as, the case may be, not in any instance does 
she go to her late husband’s relations ; if she is not too old, she is 
again exchanged away, her children, if any, going with her. on 
the other hand, she should be too old to tempt the happy owners 
of marriageable girls, she becomes a waif and drudge in the tribe ; 
that is to say, unless some one of the enforced bachelors* should 
deem her fitted to attend to his wants ; if so, he has only to make 
his wishes known, when the sable widow gladly accepts his 
protection. 
These innumerable choppings and changes make it almost im- 
possible to tell the true paternity of many of the children, but as 
there is not any property depending upon legitimacy, heirship or 
the contrary is of but little importance, and a bar sinister in an 
aboriginal’s genealogical tree is not deemed derogatory in any 
Sense, 
CHILDREN, THEIR LACK OF TRAINING. 
with a period of sulks, more or less extended, according to the 
evanescence i 
Abo 
hai of childhood alone, their youthful amusements being merely 
te Sccupations of their riper years in miniature. us, in figura- 
aly language it may be said, that with these people there is not 
SY period of boy and girlhood amongst them, boys and girls being 
ne os women from the time they can run alone, only ofa lesser 
__ Enforced bach i ot having sisters or wards to 
exchange for w, elors. Those men not having any 
