State Library of NSW
29 29. Mythology. Hislop tells me that there is such variation in any legends etc the old people may chose to tell, that he never paid much attention to them. They have one however about the sea, which is pretty constant when related, and this he will get full particular about as the op- portunity occurs. 30. Government (see sect. 8). The general government of the tribe is carried on by a camp-council as it were of the elder males, though the older women have an important say in many matters - occasionally the young women take part in these deliberations. 31. Laws. The territorial division of the land etc are referred to in sect 8(B) as well as the rules of inheritance. The brothers get the deceased's spears etc - in fact, the brothers come first in everything, having priority to the sons. They can hardly be said to preserve gains, though they don't believe in killing birds during the laying season, unless greatly pushed by hunger. 32. Customs. There are no salutations to speak of: after being separated for a long time, two men would embrace for a second or two when meeting again. Little children are often caressed by their parents, and kissed on the mouth or back of the shoulders. The young are reproved when impudent, ie. for not answering properly, or for referring to things not usually spoken of. One individual will never offend another to his face, except with the object of starting a row. There are but few rules of decency, the fundament is either sex must never be exhibited, and a woman when sitting down must always cover her privates with on foot in the groin: furthermore, she must not expose her person to any on unnecessarily at any time. 33. Taboo. Certain dietaries are disallowed to all the young females, and to the young boys from the time of passing through the initiation ceremony until they are first allowed to eat the "woki" yam (sect. 22). This notion of making
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