THE TOTEMIC DIVISIONS OF AUSTRALIAN TRIBES. 157 
two groups,’ but whether this division of the people was adopted 
for the purpose of imposing marriage restrictions is a debatable 
question, the discussion of which is beyond the scope of this short 
article. As every man, woman and child bore the name of an 
animal, or some other natural object, one moiety of the community 
comprising various totems, were grouped together under the 
collective name of Dilbi; and a corresponding variety of totems 
adopted the distinguishing name of Kupathin. None of the totems 
of the Dilbi group were included in that of the Kupathins, but 
entirely different totems were incorporated in each division. It is 
not necessary that each of the groups should have the same number 
of totems ; and it has also been observed that some particular 
totem name will be borne by a considerable number of peopie, 
whilst the members of another totem will be numerically few. 
A totem may consist of any animate or inanimate object—as 
animals, plants, the heavenly bodies, the elements, thunder, the 
Seasons, etc. Among the Kamilaroi tribes the word signifying 
totem isdheeh. Names selected from the animal kingdom are far 
the most numerous; next come the names of plants ; and after 
that all the other totems are more or less rare. A man’s totem is 
Supposed to watch over his welfare, and forewarn him of the 
designs of his enemies. If any of his friends are away in a different 
part of the tribal territory, and sickness or death overtakes them, 
or they meet with a serious accident, his totem appears in sight, 
by which he knows there is something wrong. A man of the 
kangaroo totem told me that when his mother’s brother, who was 
absent, died, a large and remarkable esacnlad hopped past his 
camp at great speed. 
Among the group of totems, or ea to which the name Dilbi 
was applied may be mentioned the eaglehawk, black-duck, pada- 
melon, ground iguana, pine-tree, carbeen, bumble, pelican, bower- 
iT bees described the Bora of these tribes in the following J ournals : 
Journ. Anthrop. Inst., xxrv., 411-427; Ibid., xxv., 318-389; Journ. 
Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxvit., ne fst Ibid., Xxx., 211-213; Proc. 
Roy. Soe. Victoria, rx., N.S., 137- 
