Transcription

[Page 174]

162

LAWS OF MARRIAGE AND DESCENT.

The children in no case take the first names of their parents, yet their names are determined invariably by the names of their parents.

The effects of these rules, in passing every family through each of the four classes in as many generations, and in preventing the intermarriage of near relations, will appear on inspection of this pedigree:–

1st gen.:
Kubbi marries Ippatha.
(their children are all)

2nd gen.:
Kumbo and Butha
Kumbo marries Matha
(their children are)
Butha is married to Murri
(their children are)

3rd gen.:
Kubbi marries Ippatha
Kubbotha married to Ippai
Ippai marries Kubbotha
Ippatha married to Kubbi

4th gen.:
Kumbo Butha
Murri Matha
Murri Matha
Kumbo Butha

If ippai in the third generation chose to marry ippatha, of a different totem, instead of kubbotha, three families out of the four descended from the first kubbi in the fourth generation would be kumbo and buta; but if, as above, ippai marries kubbotha, then the third generation being equally divided between two classes, the children of the fourth generation are equally divided between the other two.

The principles of equality and caste are combined in a most singular manner. With regard to intermarriage, the effect of the above rules is to prevent marriage with either a sister, a half-sister, an aunt, a niece, or a first cousin related both by the father's and the mother's side.

The foregoing names, with the classification and law founded upon them, extend far beyond the Kamilaroi tribes. In the Balonne River District there are four divisions of Kubbi, namely K. muriira, K. mute, K. duli, and K. gūlū (bandicoot); the Kumbo are K. dinoun and K burrōwun (a kind of kangaroo); the Murrī are M. mute and M. maieri (padymelon) ; and the Ippai are I. bundar and I. nurai. Among the Wailwun there are four divisions of Murrī,–M. murrīra, M. mute, M. guru, and M. duli; three of Kumbo,–K. dinoūn, K nurai, and K. bundar; three of Ippai,–I. dinoun, I. nurai, and I. bundar; four of Kubbi,–K. murrīra, K. mute, K. guru, and K. duli. Others among the Wailwun tribes have sixteen subdivisions, four in each class, with the totems (the same for each of the four classes), murūwi (kangaroo), ƞūri (emu), tdhūrū (brown snake), and kuraki (opossum).

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