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[Page 175]
163
LAWS OF MARRIAGE AND DESCENT.
And even where the names "ippai," &c., are unknown, the same system prevails. Over a large portion of Queensland, between Moreton Bay and Wide Bay, the following names are used for a similar purpose:–bārāƞ and bārāƞgun; bundār and bundārun; bandūr and bandūrun; derwain and derwaiƞgun; the name in -gun or -un, being in each case the feminine of the foregoing. Many, if not all, of the Aborigines have other names in addition to those they take by descent. Thus, on the Barwan, one "Ippai nurai" is called also "Kurai brūddhin muniyē" (duck's feather) An "Ippatha dinoun" is called "yaddai yunderi" (opossum cloak). A Wiraiarai man is surnamed " tarratalu" (speared in the shoulder); his son is "Yippummele" (an eagle looking all round); another is Thugerwun" (a turtle). They give names to Englishmen who become known to them. Thus they call one gentleman “Dungumbīr" (the rain-maker); another " Wolumbiddi" (large head); another "Tarunderai" (great legs and arms). Billy, Mr. Dangar's shepherd, is "Kumbo dinoun" with the surname Būnberuge," meaning broke his leg by a fall from his horse. Among the Wailwun tribes one Kubbi tdhuru is also called " Kuakumbõan," another is "Ƞūluman" (bald), from the bald hill where he was born. An Ippai tdhuru is "Dhīnawurai" (crooked foot). A King, a Murri, is also called "Dinabukul." A woman–Butha tdhuru–is "Mugumilla" (blind) ; another is called "Winaliwurai" (lame); another is "Wullubungubia" (grey-headed).
Among the Kōgai blacks to the westward of the Balonne River, the names are–
Instead of ippai and ippata–urgilla and urgillagun.
Instead of murri and mata–wuƞgo and wuƞgōgun.
Instead of kubbi and kubbotha–obūr and obūrūgun.
Instead of kumbo and buta-unburri and unburrigun.
There are five names in use among the men about Wide Bay, viz., bundar, derwain, balkoïn, tandōr, bārāƞ.
At Moreton Bay, the wife (not the sister) of a "derwain" is "derwaingun;" the son of a "bandūr" is "derwain"; the son of a "baraƞ" also is "derwain." Sometimes the son of a "derwain" is "bundar." Sometimes the son of a "derwain" is called "baraƞ." Brothers bear the same name.
Among the Pikumbul tribe, on the Macintyre, "Yuluma" (black kangaroo) is a totem. Henry Rose, for twenty-two years a faithful servant of Mr. Christian, on the Mooki, is Ippai yuluma; his father and mother were Murrī and Kubbotha yuluma.
On the Narran the divisions are– I. (1) Murri and Matha duli, (2) M. and M. mute, (3) M. and M. maieri; II. (4) Kumbo and Butha bundar, (5) K. and IB nurai, (6) K. and B. kuƞuƞalu (bandicoot) ; III. (7) Ippai and Ippatha bundar, (8) I. and I. nurai; IV. (9) Kubbi and Kubbotha duli, (10) K. and K. maieri.