Summary |
Distribution of tribes, nature of country, isolation of tribes brought about by changes in climatic conditions; physical features, hair forms, cicatrices on women, changes in appearance of men at various ages, height of natives, chest measurements, head & foot measurements; type of social organization amongst the tribes occupying the country extending from Lake Eyre through the centre to the Gulf of Carpentaria; Dieri & Urabunna, group marriage; Arunta, Iliaura, Ilpirra, Unmatjera, Kaitish, Warramunga, Wulmala, Walpari, Tjingili, Umbaia, Gnanji, Binbinga, Allaua, Mara, Anula; classes & sub-classes; tables of relationship terms & descent (Warramunga), relationship terms Worgaia, Umbaia, Tjingili, Gnanji, Binbinga, Mara (with descent table), Anula; moieties - Arunta, Warramunga, Binbinga, Mara; tables showing equivalent sub classes (Warramunga, Walpari, Wulmala, Tjingili, Gnanji, Bingongina, Worgaia) genealogical trees; marriage customs, account of ariltha ceremoney - Arunta, Ilpirra & 14 other tribes; totems - difference between central & south central tribes, gradual change in method of counting descent of totem; universal belief in reincarnation; origin of totemic groups & ancestors; ceremonies connected with the totems - Witchetty Grub & Sun, Erlipinna, Erlia, & water totems (Kaitish), Uluuru, Kingilli (Warramunga - approximately 30 ceremonies connected with these), Ant totem, Thaballa, Pau-wa, Ingwuna, Tappin or Wonna, Ulanji ceremony of Anula; detailed account of all rituals with explanations, sacred objects & body paintings described; Chapter on the Wollonqua totem of the Warramunga, wanderings of the mythic beast, building of mound, drawing of ground designs; ritual objects, ceremonies attendant on the return of a number of ritual objects which had been lent to another group, introducing visiting men to local women; explanation of markings on ritual objects; tradition of Murtu - murtu & the wild dogs (Warramunga)
Intichiuma ceremonies - Urabunna, Arunta, Kaitish, Unmatjira, Warramunga, Tjingilli, Umbaia, Mara, Anula; eating the totemic animal or plant, restrictions etc.; initiation - details of types of rituals & traditions, women allowed on ceremonial ground (Warramunga); words of song part of tradition of Warramunga, Wulmala; the Ngathagura or fire ceremony of the Warramunga, two moiety ceremonies, part played by women; traditions relating to totemic ancestors, wanderings of ancestors; origins of certain social institutions; magic associated with pointing bones & sticks (Arunta, Finke River, Kaitish, Unmatjera, Gnanji); womens magic in Kaitish tribe, Warramunga; use of magic stones & objects; obtaining wives by magic, magic to ensure growth, making & power of medicine men; beliefs in beings endowed with superior powers (Alcheringa individuals); customs relating to burial & mourning, avenging death, eating flesh of dead man (Binbinga, Anula, Mara); the Atninga or avenging party, ceremonies in the organization of the party, dances performed; etiquette on approaching strange camp, presents of food, corroborees; names & naming, ordinary & sacred names, terms of address (Arunta, Warramunga, Gnanji, Binbinga, Anula, Mara); customs relating to the knocking out of teeth, giving of blood, hair, childbirth, food restrictions, nose boring, inheritance, fire making; myths relating to sun, moon, stars, comets, rainbow, whirlwind; notes on stone implements - adzes, knives, picks, tomahawks, spears, method of flaking, womens knife in Kaitish & Warramunga, hafting of knives & picks; pitchis, spear throwers, types of spears, gouges (bone), fish hooks (wood & bone) - Alligator River; canoes & paddles - Anula tribe; clothing & ornament; decorative art, designs on implements & weapons (Arunta), ornamented bamboo trumpet & pipe (Anula), designs on ritual objects; ground drawings - Arunta (Intichiuma), Warramunga (Wollunqua & black snake); glossary of terms; Appendix A; Measurements of 23 adult males, 17 adult females & 12 children - gives 33 measurements; Appendix B; List of totem names (covers all tribes)
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