nor Bonda with Dherwen, but either Baraiig or Balkun may 

 marry either Bonda or Dherwen. There is this peculiarity to be 

 noted about the descent which is perhaps also a proof that the 

 four classes are subdivisions of a primary two, that the class-name 

 alternates from mother to offspring by a continual recurrence of 

 the same pair of names, thus one line of descent will be Barang, 

 Balkun and the other Bonda, Dherwen ad infinitum. 



Without postulating a tision of two classes into four, the exist- 

 ence of the four may be assumed to be due to the coalition of two 

 conmiunities which had each already two classes. Mr. Fison 

 suggests* this solution of the multiplication of classes from two to 

 four, and the writer thinks that no better can be offered. At 

 Port Mackay, Queensland, the names of the two primary divisions 

 still survive. The names there are :— 



Primary Divisions. Secondary Divisions. 



Yuncaru i ^"'^^^^ 



xun^aru ^ Burbia 



S Wungo 



^^^^^'■'^ i Kuberu 



Cohabitation between members of the same class is held to be 



grossly criminal, and is in many instances punishable by death. 



The union of individuals belonging to classes that cannot lawfully 



intermarry is equally abominated. Even in cases of rape the class 



rules are respected. The profound regard which the blacks show 



for restrictions fettered upon them by tradition and for which 



they can give no better reason than that such is the practice, 



points to a very powerful originating cause and a sanction derived 



from condign and bloodtln'rsty penalties. To me at least, it is 



liave been d^iliberatefy made by agreement'to a\oid the evils of 

 incest for these uould not be easily rfcogni/al»le by nomadic 

 savages. Tt seems more Jiarmoiiious witli social de\elopment to 



