Ethnological Studies among the North-West-Central Queensland Aborigines ... With ... illustrations

Front matter

ETHNOLOGICAL STUDIES AMONG THE NORTH-WEST-CENTRAL QUEENSLAND ABORIGINES. BT WALTER E. ROTH, B.A. Oxon., M.R.C.S. Eng., L.H.C.P. Lord., J. P. Qu.; late Nat. Science Dkmy of Magdalen College, Oxford. WITH 438 ILLUSTRATIONS BRISBANE BY AUTHORITY: EDMUND GREGORY, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WILLIAM STREET. LONDON : QUEENSLAND AGENT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WESTMINSTER CHAMBERS, 1 VICTORIA STREET. 1897. TO THE HOXOURABLE Sir HORACE TOZER, K.C.M.G., HOMK SECRETARY AND ACTrNG PREMIER OK QUEENSLAND, AS A SLIGHT TItIBUTE IN APPRECIATION OF HIS DETERMINED EFFORTS TO AMELIORATE THE CONDITION OF THE QUEENSLAND ABORIGINAL, THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE, WITH PERMISSION, Brtucatcrj BV THE AUTEOE.

Preface

. Since 189-1 my tenure of office as Surgeon to the Boulia, Cloncurry, and Normanton Hospitals, respectively, has afforded unrivalled opportunities for making inquiry into the language, customs, and habits of the North-West- Central Queensland aboriginals. The following pages embody the notes collected during that period. At Boulia, where strictly professional work was conspicuous by its absence, almost my whole time was devoted to a careful study of the local (Pitta-Pitta) language : only when this was sufficiently mastered did I find it possible to understand the complex system of social and individual nomenclature in vogue, and ultimately to gain such amount of confidence and trust among the natives as enabled me to obtain information concerning various superstitions, beliefs, and ceremonial rites which otherwise would in all probability have been withheld.

To any future observers of, and writers on, the Queensland aboriginal, I would most strongly recommend this method of making themselves familiar with the particular language of the district before proceeding to make any further inquiries. I would also draw the attention of the reader to the chapter on the Sign Language, which I first accidentally hit upon at Roxburgh Downs, on the tipper (xeorgina. . I was out on horseback one day with some blacks when one of the "boys" riding by my side suddenly asked me to halt, as a mate of his in front was after some emus, consisting of a hen-bird aud her young progeny. As there had been, ajipareutly to me, no communication whatsoever between the boy in front and the one close to me, separated as they were by a distance of quite 150 yards, I naturally concluded that my informant was uttering a falsehood, and told him so in pretty plain terms, with the result that, after certain mutual recriminations, he explained on his hands how he had received the information, the statement to be shortly afterwards confirmed by the arrival of the lad himself with the dead bird and some of her young in question.

The reported use of "masonic" signs attributed to the blacks by Captain Sturt, who had been in close proximity to these districts some half a century ago, immediately flashed across my mind, aud the possibility of such signs being ideagrams, the actual expressions of ideas, led me on step by step to making a study of what I subsequently discovered to be an actual well-defined sign-language, extending throughout the entire North- West-Central districts of Queensland. It may be interesting to note that I have during the past few months discovered traces of a gesture-language, with some of the ideagrams expressed by identical signs, in the coastal district around Rockhampton. The pronunciation of all aboriginal words from Chapter IV. onwards will be found in the Index and Glossary. With regard to the chapter on Ethno-pornography, I am well aware that it is far from suitable for the general lay reader; the subject matter, however, being essential to a scientific account of these aboriginals, I have decided upon VI

PREFACE.

. its publication, at the same time placing it at the very last, in the hope that those who do not wish to peruse its pages need not unwittingly find themselves doing so. I take this opportunity of thanking my old friend and teacher, Mr. F. M. Bailey, Queensland Government Botanist, for his kindness in determining the various plants, grasses, &c, submitted to him for examination. Mr. C. de Vis, Curator of the Brisbane Museum, did me a similar service with regard to the fauna. I also wish to express my obligations to the many station-managers — notably, Mr. Sam. Reid, of Clonagh ; Mr. J. Craigie, late of Roxburgh Downs (now of Stockport) ; Mr. J. Coghlan, late of Glenormiston ; Mr. Reardon, of Carlo ; Mr. A. Cameron, of Marion Downs ; and Mr. Dan. Wienholt, of Warenda — for all their trouble and help in furthering my investigations.

Messrs. R. Etheridge, junr., and Chas. Hedley, of the Australian Museum, Sydney, have also given me continuous advice and encouragement in carrying out these Ethno logical studies : the former gentleman has laid me under a deep debt of gratitude in drawing up the Bibliography. My greatest thanks of all, however, are due to Mr. Parry-Okeden, Commissioner of Police, Brisbane, who has given me every facility and assistance in preparing the work for publication. I look forward to the day when Mr. Parry-Okeden will have the satisfaction of seeing his words verified, that "Queensland will be proud of her aboriginals" — a consummation iu which he has made up his mind to take an active part. In the arrangement of the tabular matter, and in the setting of the different types necessary for the elucidation of the text, the reader cannot fail to appreciate the many difficulties that have been so successfully overcome by the various officials at the Government Printing Office — Mr. E. Gregory, Mr. G. A. Vaughan, and the staff generally.

W. E. R. Brisbane, Queensland, Sept., 1S97. ERRATA. Sect. 62, subsection f. — Omit "an absence which was also met with around Rockhampton and Gladstone (sect.TCW)." Sect. 70, subsection (d).-Omit " the gamo-matronjms being alone deficient." BIBLIOGEAPHY. A List of the More Important Publications bearing on the District and Tribes Described in the Following Pages, or that should be Referred to in Conjunction with the Matter therein Contained. BY R. ETHERIDGE, Junr., Curator of the Australian Museum, Sydney, N.S. W. tf.B. — While away in the North working at his MSS., Dr. Roth was unaware of the existence of the following literature, and hence has described certain tribes under names spelt diffeiently from those given in Mr. Etheridge's List. To prevent ambiguity the accompanying table is appended : — Names in Mr. El/ierielge's List.

Xumes in Dr. Roth's Work. Karrandee = Karunti Kulkadoon = Kalkadoon Miappe = Miubbi Moorloobulloo = Moorabnola Mykoolon = Mikoolun Oononmurra = Woonamurra Ringa-Kingaroo — Ringo Ringo Runga-Rungawah = Rungo Kungo Wollongurma = Wollangama Yanda = Yunda Yelina = Yellunga Aemit, W. E.— Vocabulary aud Account of the Tribe at the Mouth of the Leichliardt River. " Curr's Australian Race, 1886," ii., pp. 300-305. Vocabulary and Account of the Karrandee Tribe at the Mouth of the River Norman. "Curr's Australian Race, 1886," ii., pp. 306-309. Vocabulary and Account of the Wollongurma Tribe on the Middle Norman River. " Curr's Australian Race, 1886, ' ii., pp. 310-313. Banceoft, J. — The Pituri Poison. "Trans. Phil. Soc, Queensland, 1859-72," 42nd Article, p. 2. Pituri and Tobacco^ "Trans. Phil. Soc, Queensland, 1878-82," iii., 2nd Article, p. 16 ; 2 Plates.

Baelow, H. — Vocabulary of Aboriginal Dialects of Queensland. " Journ. Anthrop. Inst., 1872 ii., pp. 166-175. Beddoe, J. — On the Aborigines of Central Queensland. "Journ. Anthrop. Inst., 1877," vii., pp. 145-148. Bedfoed, C. T — Reminiscences of a Surveying Trip from Boulia to the South Australian Border. "Proc. R. Geogr. Soc, Austr. (Queensland Branch), 1886-87 [1887]," ii. pp. 99-113. BIBLIOGRAPHY. VIII Charnock, On Queensland Dialects. " Journ. Antlirop. Inst., 1873," ii.. p. 175. Chbistison, E. — ■ Vocabulary of Language used on the Upper Thomson (Lat. 22°, Long. 144 , or thereabouts). "Curr's Australian Eace, 1887," iii., p. 10. Coward, T. — Language of the Aborigines about Burketown. "Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., p. 298. Cox, j. c— Notes on Some of the Habits and Customs of Australian Natives in Queensland.

" Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. Wales, 1881," v., pp. 633-636. Craigie, J. — Vocabulary of the Eunga-Eungawah Tribe, Eoxburgh Downs Station. "Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., p. 356. Citbl, S. M.— On Pituri, a New Vegetable Product that deserves further Investigation. " Trans. N. Zealand Inst, for 1878 [1879]," xi., pp. 411-415. Cube, E. M.— The Australian Eace : Its Origin, Languages, Customs, Place of Landing in Australia, and the Eoutes by which it spread itself over that Continent. 3 vols. and atlas. 8vo and folio. Melbourne, 1886. Cube, E. — Language Spoken on the West Bank of the Leichhardt Eiver, near the Sea. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., p. 314. Language Spoken on the Leichhardt Eiver, twenty miles below Kamilaroi Station. "Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., p. 316. Vocabulary of the Birria Language.

" Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 384-85. Vocabulary of Language used at the Head of the Gilbert Eiver. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., p. 416. Vocabulary of the Goa Tribe, Middleton Creek, Diamantina Eiver. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1887," iii., p. 14. Cube, M.— Vocabulary of the Tribe at Kamilaroi Station, Leichhardt Eiver. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 318-321. Vocabulary of Language used at the 'Head of the Diamantina Eiver. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1887," iii., p. 12. Cube, M. and E. — The Pooroga Language : Dialects of the Upper Flinders, Hughenden, and Dutton Eivers. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii. pp. 460-463. Eglington, E. — Vocabulary and Manners of the Yclina Tribe, Burke Eiver. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 346-319. Vocabulary and Customs of the Yanda Tribe, Head of the Hamilton Eiver.

" Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 360-363. Vocabulary of a Tribe on the Hamilton Eiver, near Boulia. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., p. 364. Etheeidge, B,, Junr. — The Knife used by the Mulligan Eiver (North-Central Queensland) Aborigines in the Mika Operation. "Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. Wales, 1890," v. (2), pp. 251- 2o8, pis. 9 and 10. rl Additional Eemarks on Mika Knives. " Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. Wales 1S90 " v 121 pp. 289-291, pis. 11 and 12. ' " w' Spear Heads from Settlement Creek and Nicholson Eiver. " Proc Linn. Soc , N. S. Wales, 1891, vi. (2), p. 37, pi. 4, f . 2 and 3. Contributions to a Catalogue of Works, Ecports, and Papers on the Anthropology, Ethnology, and Geological History of the Australian and Tasmanian Aborigines SSE" By aufllorifr "' *" ** WaleS'" * Fison, L. — On Australian Marriage Laws.

" Journ. Antlirop. Inst, for 1879 [1880]," 351-57. bibliography. IX Feasee, J. — Some Eemarks on the Australian Languages. "Journ. E. Soc N. S. Wales for 1890 [1891]," xxiv., pp. 231-253. Heagney, J. — Vocabulary and Account of the Birria, Koongerri, and Kungarditchi Tribes, at the Junction of the Thomson and Barcoo Bivcrs, also the Whitula Creek. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 374-383. Howitt, A. W. — Notes on the Australian Class Systems. "Journ. Anthrop. Inst., 1883," xii., pp. 496-512, pi. 15. Further Eemarks on the Australian Class Systems. " Journ. Anthrop. Inst., 1889," xviii., pp. 31-70, pi. 5. The Organisation of Australian Tribes. " Trans. E. Soc. Viet., 1889, i., pp. 90-137." Note on the Use of Gesture-Language in Australian Tribes. " Proc. Austr. Assoc. Adv. Sci. for 1890 [1891]," it, pp. 637-646.

HOWITT, A. W., AND FlSON, L. — On the Deme and the Horde. "Journ. Anthrop. Inst., 1884," xiv., pp. 142-169. Lamond, M. S. — Vocabulary and Account of the Mykoolon Tribe, between the Gregory and Leichhardt Eivers. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 322-325. LlVEHSIDGE, A. — The Alkaloid from Pituri. " Journ. E. Soc, N. S. Wales, for 1880 [18811," xiv., pp. 123-132. LUMHOLTZ, C. — Among Cannibals: An Account of Four Years' Travels in Australia, and of Camp Life with the Aborigines of Queensland, pp. xx., 395. Plates, maps. 8vo. London, 1890. Macgillivray. A. — Manners and Languages of the Oonoomurra Tribe, Flinders and Cloncurry Country. "Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 340-345. M -CHATTIE, J. O. — Vocabulary ami Customs of the Moorloobulloo Tribe, at the junction of King's Creek and the Georgina or Herbert Eiver.

"Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 366-369. Mathew, J. — The Australian Aborigines. " Journ. E. Soc, N. S. Wales, for 1889 [1890]," xxiii., pp. 335-349. Plate and map. Miklouho-Maclay, N. von — t'ber die Mika-operation in Central Australieu. "Zeitsch. fiir Ethnol. (Yerhandl.), 1880," xii., p. 85. Stellung des Paarcs beim Coitus und das xlusschlendern des Spcrma's vom Weibe. "Zeitsch. fiir Ethnol (Verhandl.), 1880," xii., p. 87. Langheinigkcit der Australischen Fraucn. "Zeitsch. fiir Ethnol. (Vcrbandl.), 1880," xii., p. 89. Geschlechtlicher Umgang mit Miidcben vor der Geschlccbtsrcife. "Zeitsch. fiir Etlinol. (Verhandl.), 1880," xii,, p. 88. Bericht iiber Operationen Australischer Eingeborncr. " Zeitch. fiir Etlmol. (Verhandl.), 1882." xiv-, pp. 26-29. . McLean, A. — Vocabulary of the Einga-Eingaroo Tribe, between the Georgina and Burke Eivers, between Lat. 20° and L. 21° S. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., p. 358.

Mowbeat, H. M. — Vocabulary and Customs of a Tribe at the Granite Eange, close to the head of the Mitchell Eiver, and east of the Hodgkinson Gold Fields. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 402-407. Muellee, F. von — Origin of the Stimulant called Pitury. " Smyth's Aborigines of Victoria, 1878," i., p. 222, note. Murray, J. P. — Pituri. " Pharm. Journ., 1879," i. (3). p. 638. X bibliography. Palhee, E. — Notes on Some Australian Tribes. "Journ. Antlirop. Inst., 1884," xiii.,pp. 276-347. On Plants used by the Natives of North Queensland, Flinders and Mitchell Eivers, for Food, Medicine, &c "Journ. E, Soc. N. S. Wales for 1883 [1884]," xvii., pp. 93-113. Vocabulary and Account of the Miappe Tribe, Cloncurry Eiver. "Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 330-333 and 338. Vocabulary and Account of the Mirkin Tribe, Akoonkoon, Palmer Eiver.

" Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 396-399. Petit, A. — The Alkaloid of Pituri. " Pharm. Journ., 1879," ix. (3), p. 819. Smyth, E. B.— The Aborigines of Victoria, with Notes relating to the Habits of the Natives of other parts of Australia and Tasmania, __c 2 vols. E. 8vo. Melbourne, 1878. By authority. Taplin, G.— JS'otes on a Comparative Table of Australian Languages. " Jmtrn. Anthrop. Inst., 1872," i., pp. 84r-88, table. Thozet, A. — List of some of the Boots and Fruits used as Vegetable Food by the Aborigines of Northern Queensland. Australia. " Off. Eecord, Intercol. Exhib. Australasia, Melbourne, 1866-67 [1867]," pp. 259-263. Threlkeld, L. E. — An Australian Language, as Spoken by the Awabakal, &c, __c, Ee-arranged, Condensed, and Edited, with an Appendix by John Fraser, B.A., LL.D., &c, pp. Ixiv., x., 227, and 148.

Map, plates. 8vo. Sydney, 1892. By authority. Uequhaet, F. — Language and Accoimt of the Kulkadoon Tribe, Seymour, Templeton, and Cloncurry Eivers. " Curr's Australian Eace, 1886," ii., pp. 326-329. Wells, F. H.— The Habits, Customs, and Ceremonies of the Aboriginals on the Diamantina, Herbert, and Eleanor Eivers, in East-Central Australia. " Proc. Austr. As.oc. Adv. Sci. for 1893 [1894]," v., pp. 515-522. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

The SroKEN Language of the Pitta-Pitta Aboeiginals : An Elementaey Geammae 1—10 Section 1. Where Spoken. 2. Geographical Limits of the Boulia District. 3. Pronunciation. 4. Gender, Number, and Person. 5. Personal Pronouns— Nominative. 6. Personal Pronouns Objective— Direct Object. 7. Personal Pronouns Objective — Indirect Object. 8. Auxiliary Verbs. 9. Indefinite Articles. 10. Personal Pronouns — Possessive. 11. Nouns — Nominative. 12. Nouns— Vocative. 13. Nouns— Possessive. 14. Nouns— Objective. 15. Nouns— Plural and Dual. 16. Nouns— Gender. 17. Verbs — Active, Indicative. 18. Verbal Pronouns. 19. Verbs, Active — Imperative. 20. Adjectives. 21. Adverbs. 22. Prepositions — Motion. 23. Prepositions — Rest. 24. Prepositions — Purpose, Reason, Means. 25. Pre'positions — Time. 26. Conjunctions. 27.

Comparison of Adjectives. 28. Comparison of Adverbs. 29. Verbs — Active, Infinitive. 30. Verbs — Special Forms of the Future. 31. Verbs — Special Forms of the Imperative. 32. Reflexive Verbs. 33. Special Forms of Transitive and Intransitive Verbs. 34. Relative Pronouns. 35. Interrogative Pronouns. 36. Numerals, &c. 37. Ideas of Quantity and Size. 38. Ideas of Time. 39. Ideas of Place, Direction, and Distance. 40. Interrogation, Doubf, and Uncertainty. 41. Notes of Exclamation, &c. 42. Participles and Perfects. 43. Introduction to the Pitta-Pitta Vocabulary. 44. Pitta- Pitta Vocabulary.

Chapter II

Tabulae Compabison between Vabious Selecteix Wobds Used in the Diffebent Ethnogbaphical Distbicts of Noeth-West-Centeal Queensland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 41-55 Section 45. Boulia District and the Various Tribes Occupying it. .46. Leichhardt- Selwyn District. 47. Cloncurry District. 48. Flinders District. 49. Upper Georgina District. 50. North-West-Central Queensland. 51. Introduction to the Philological Tables. 52. Words Relating to Parts of the Body. 53. Fauna and Flora. 54. Other Objects of Nature. 55. Weapons, Utensils, &c. 56. Numerals. 57. Abstract Ideas. 58. Family Relationships.

Chapter III

Social and Individual Nomenclatuee : Class Systems, &c 56-70 Section 59. Introductory. 60. Patronym. 61. Gamomatronym. C2. Paedomatronym. 63. Heteronym. 64. Geneanym. 65. Genealogical Tree in the Pitta-Pitta Language. 66. Aboriginal and European Relationship Equivalents. 67. Autonym. 68. Climanym. 69. Summary of Nomenclature. 70. Similar Systems in Other Portions of Queensland. 71. Probable Interpretation of the Class Systems.

Chapter IV

The Expeession of Ideas by Manual Signs: A Sign Language 71-90 Section 72. Introductory. 73-74. Mammals. 75-76. Birds. 77-78. Reptiles. 79-80. Fish. 81-82. Molluscs. 83-84. Arthropoda. 85-86. Plants. 87-88. Other Objects of Nature. 89-90. Individuals, Family Relatives. 91-92. Ornaments, Weapons, Imple ments, Utensils, Huts. 93-94. Number. 95-96. Locality, Direction. 97-98. Time. 99-100. Interrogation. 101-102. Simple Acts, States, and Conditions. 103-104. Complex Conditions, Abstract Ideas. CONTENTS.

Chapter V

VXG£- The Seaech foe Food. Pituei 91 10° Section 105. Seed-food in the Boulia District. 106. Elcusine œgyptiaca. 107. Sporobolus actinocladus. 108. Coolibar-seed. 109. Pig-weed. 110. "Nardoo." 111. Seed-food in the Cloncurry District. 112. Seed-food in the Leichhardt-Selwyn District. 113. Edible Roots in the Boulia District; 114, in the Cloncurry District; 115, in the Leichhardt-Selwyn District. 116. Fungi. 117. Fruits and Vegetables. 118. Flowers and Honey. 119. Insects and Crustaceans. 120. Molluscs. 121. Frogs. 122. Lizards, Iguanas, Crocodiles. 123. Snakes. 124. Fish-catching with Nets ; 125, with Dams ; 126, by poisoning the water-hole? ; 127, by Spearing; 128, by "treading" with the feet. 129. Killing and Transporting Fish. 130. Method's of Hunting Emus ; 131, with Net alone ; 132, with Net and Palisading ; 133, by means of Pit-falls ; 134, by Muster ; 135, by Tracking and Spearing, &c. 136.

Turkey-Bustards. 137. Flock Pigeons. 13S. Small Birds. 139. Cockatoos, Corellas, Galahs. 140. Ducks, Cranes, Diver-biids. 141. Pelicans. 142. How Birds are Prepared for Eating. 143. Bandicoots, "Porcupines," &c, &c. 144. Opossums. 145. Kangaroos. 146. Dingoes. 147. Pituri.

Chapter VI

Domestic Implements and Utensils. Fiee-sticks and Yam-sticks. Huts and Shelters 101-107 Section 148. Koolamons. 149. Chisels. 150. Cementing Substance. 151. Artificial Bending and Straightening of Timber. 152. Water-bags. 153. Dilly-bags. 154. Grind stones. 155. Nardoo-stones. 156. Baking Ovens. 157. Fire-sticks. 158. Yam-sticks. 159. Huts and Shelters in the Boulia District ; 160, in the Cloncurry District ; 161, in the Leichhardt-Selwyn District.

Chapter VII

Pebsonal Ornamentation and Decoration. Mueal Painting, &c. 108-116 Section 162. Method of Working-up the Hair. 163. Decoration and Ornamentation of the Head. 164. Feather Tufts. 165. Knuckle-bones. 166. Tooth Ornaments. 167. Artificial Whisks rs. 168. Head-net. 169. Forehead-net. 170. Fillets. 171. Circlets. 172. Spiral Band. 173. Wooden Cro.-s-piece : Handkerchiefs. 174. Ornamentation of the Face. 175. Piercing of the Nose. 176. Piercing of the Ears. 177. Avulsion of the Teeth. 178. The Beard. 179. Grass Necklaces. 180. Opossum-string Necklaces. 181. Armlets, Anklets, Body-cords. 182. Chest Ornaments. 183." Waist-belts, Aprons. 184. Phallo crypts. 185. Painting and Feathering of the Body. 186. Mutilations, Flesh-cuts. 187. Mural Painting, Art, and Draughtsmanship.

Chapter VIII

ReCEEATION : CoEROBBOEEES, Sl'ORTS, ANdGaMES ... 117-131 Section 188. The Corrobboree. 189. Time of Performance. 190. Authorship and Plot. 191. May be Taught and Carried to ether Tribes. 192. Performers. 193. Dress and Decorations. 194. Dancing Ground, Dressing Room. 195. The Dance. 196. Words of the Song. 197. Music of the Song. 198. Beating of the Time. 199. The " Molonga" Corrobboree. 200. Tales and Yarns, Fables, Folk and Animal Lore. 201. The Water-hen and the Emu. 202. The Galah-parrot and the Lizard. 203. The Opossum and the Wild Cat. 204. The Laughing-jackass and the Blackfellows. 205. The Snake and the Fish. 206. The Red-tit and the Brown-tit. 207. The Two Fishermen. 208. The Porcu pine aud the Eagle-hawk. 209. The Black Crow and the Hawk. 210. The Hawk and the Bower-bird. 211. The Moon. 212.

The Galah-parrot aud the Opossum. 213. The "Ret'irn" or "Come-back" Boomerang. 214. The Toy Throwing Stick. 215 The. "Whirler." 216. The Ball. 217. The Skipping-rope. 218. "Hunt the Eye." 219. Hide and Seek. 220. Smoke Spirals. 221. Mimicking Animals and Birds. ' 222 Cuursin" 223. Pit-Throwing.

Chapter IX

Travel, Trade, and Baetee. The So-called Lettee oe Message-stick t w The "Walk-about." 225. Signs and Signals on the Road. 226. Names of Water-holes, Camping-grounds, &e. 227. The Points of the Compass 2?8 The Arrangements at the Camping-ground. 229. Trade-routes ; 230, in the Boulia Dis'trict ■ 231, m the Upper Georgina D.strict ; 232, in the Leichhardt-Selwyn District ; 233, in the' Cloncurry D.stnct. 234. Transm.ss.on of Customs, Beliefs, and Language by means of these Trade-routes. 235. The So-called Letter or Messa-e-sticks 236 nT? Illustrations of these Sticks. 237. How a Message-stick is put°into use'. tes t0 132-138 CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter X. Pace

The Maintenance of Latv and Oedee : Fighting, Fighting Weapons ... 139-151 Section 238. The Maintenance of Law and Order : Methods of Fighting. 239. Classification of Fighting Boomerangs. 240. Material, Manufacture, and Flight of Boomerangs. 241. The Ornate Boomerang. 242. The Fluted Boomerang. 243. The Plain Boomerang. 244. The Hook Boomerang. 245. The Two-handed Sword. 246. Spears. 247. The Acicular-tip Hand-spear. 248. The Spatulate-tip Hand-spear. 249. The Spatulate-tip Wommera-spear. 250. Wommera Reed-spears. 251. The Quartz tip Wommera Reed-spear. 252. Non-indigenius Spears. 253. Wommeras. 254. Shields. 255. Fighting-poles. 256. Nulla-nullas. 257. Stone-knives. 258. Stone-tomahawks.

Chapter XI

Disease, Accident, Death. Cannibalism 152-166 Sections 259-268. The Death-bone. 269. Death from Snake-bite. 270. Other Diseases and Accidents produced by the Death-bone. 271. Women Doctors. 272. The Pearl-plate. 273. The Death-powder. 274. The Bone-pin. 275. Incurable Blindness. 276. Drowning. 277. Sudden Disappearance. 278. Mental Disease. 279. Belief in Death as a Punishment — a Future State. 280. Treatment of Non-fatal Snake-bite. 281. Fractures. 2S2. Chants and Dirges for exorcising Ailments. 283. Smearing of Blood, of Perspiration ; Drinking of Blood, of Seminal Fluid. 2S4. Smearing of Fat. 285. Poultices. 286. Amulets and Charms. 287. Medicinal Plants. 288. Clay-pills. 289. Burial in the Boulia District ; 290, of a Murderer. 291. Burial in the Cloncurry District ; 292, in the Upper Georgina District. 293. Cannibalism.

Chapter XII

Rain-making, Thunder and Lightning-making ... 167-168 Section 294. Rain-making in the Boulia District ; 295, at Roxburgh ; 296, at Headingly, Lake Nash, &c. ; 297, in the Leichhardt-Selwyn District. 298. Thunder and Lightning-making.