59 
1906-7.] Notes on Aboriginals of South Australia. 
their long axis being transverse to the margin ; and she had numerous large 
black spots inside the lips and cheek. 
A male aboriginal from Brock’s Creek presented a pigmented appear- 
ance of the gums near the incisor teeth. This was found to be due to 
varicose veins ; and a very peculiar appearance of the nose was found to 
be due to the same cause. 
Subincision. 
Circumcision is practised by some tribes but not by others though 
living in close proximity. The mode of circumcision and the details 
associated with it differ in the various tribes that practise the rite. Among 
the Port Keats natives, the king performs the ceremony ; the prepuce is 
nicked all round and removed. It is then put into a shell, which is closed 
up by gum, and this is hung alongside the penis until the wound is healed. 
For several years I had been puzzled regarding some points connected 
with the operation of subincision. About eight years ago I saw an 
Adelaide specimen subincised to the extent of an inch. This I sent to 
Sir William Turner. Recently Professor Watson gave me another 
specimen, from Central Australia, which I presented to the Anthropological 
Museum of Edinburgh University in his name. Both of these, so far as 
appearances go, might have been specimens of natural partial hypospadias. 
I saw, however, in a deeply scarred man from Borroloola in the Northern 
Territory, a partial incision which terminated posteriorly to the right of 
the urethra, and presented an appearance quite different from that of 
a natural hypospadias. An old blackfellow gave me the explanation of 
this, so far as that tribe was concerned. The first operation performed on 
a young man is circumcision. A year or so after, a partial subincision is 
made ; and the next year the subincision is made complete. 
Mutilation of the Finger. 
The custom of mutilating the finger of girls in some tribes is well known. 
I have never seen reference to any but the index finger of the right hand. 
When speaking with Mr Foelsche on this matter, I remarked that I had 
seen the left finger mutilated. He could not recollect ever having seen or 
heard of this, and thought I must be mistaken or that the occurrence was 
accidental. In order to make sure I retraced my steps, and in a short time 
found three instances, which I photographed. An old native called William 
gave me some information about this peculiarity. He said that when the 
cutting is done at once, it is the right hand finger that is cut ; but when 
