104 R. H. MATHEWS. 
hunter often going short himself that others might have 
their recognised share. When a kangaroo is killed, the 
hind leg is given to the hunter’s father, with the back bone; 
the other hind leg to his father’s brother; the tail to his 
sister: the shoulder to his brother; the liver he eats him- 
self. Sometimes his own wife will be left without any, 
but in that case it seems to be the rule that her brother 
gives her of his hunting, or someone else on her side. She 
will not get much from her blackfellow, unless there is a 
surplus. All game has to be shared according to rule, the 
best part going to the father’s camp, the next to the father’s 
brothers. A blackfellow would rather go short himself and 
pretend he was not hungry, than incur the odium of being 
greedy in camp, or neglecting the rights of hospitality. 
Snakes were broken in pieces and handed round.’” 
At my request, a valuable correspondent in the Alice 
Springs district, Central Australia, sends me the following 
rules regarding the partition of game there. Ifaman kills, 
say a kangaroo, he takes it to the camp and divides it 
amongst his relations. He gives the tail to his father’s 
brother’s son; the loin and fat to his father-in-law, if 
present; the right hind leg to his brother; the left hind 
leg to his father; the ribs to his mother-in-law, if present; 
the forelegs to his father’s younger sisters; the head to his 
Wife. The hunter himself takes only the inner parts and 
the blood. He then waits till he receives a share from 
some of the other hunters who are related to him. 
Mr. James Dawson, in dealing with the aborigines of the 
south-western district of Victoria, in 1881, reported as 
follows:—‘‘There are strict rules regulating the distribu- 
tion of food. When a hunter brings game to the camp, he 
gives up all claim to it, and must stand aside and allow 
the best portions to be given away, and content himself 
* Journ. Anthrop. Inst., xIII., 285. ., 
