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33.a
25 22. On the other hand, as I have ahead, shewn (25) it is probable that there (exogamous, for want of a better term) divisions have been originally devised, by a process of natural selection, to regulate the proper distribution of the total quantity of food available. (Example. here and there land con-tamination to the probability). At the mouth of the Batavia River for instance, on the promontory of land to the left of it prospecting into Albatross Bay, there are, or rather used to be, before the civilisation of the natives was taken in hand by the Mapoon Missionaries, four exogamous divisions named after separate localities. The nama-Kungi and Ba-Kungi were named after and owned lands on the river side, the lar-nganama and Ba-marango on the Gulf side of the promontory in question. The Bakungi and Bamarango were so named after islets (ba) the Namakungki after the superabundant local growth of the nama plant (weed for thatching huts), while the Larnganama got their name applied on account of a special timber Acacia Rothii, Bail, - the local lar. Those four divisions, which I was unable to identify with th efour otherwise common throughout North Queensland, could only marry on the following lines: -
Male + Female = Child
nama-kungi + ba-marango = ba-kungi
bakungi + lar-nganama = nama-kungi
lar-nganama + ba-kungi = ba-marango
ba-marango + nama-kungi = lar-nganama
The fwife took up her abode at her husband's camp, but the offspring as they grew up became members of and belonged to another camp. I found traces of a similar arrangement in vogue at Murray Island in Torres Strait, and am informed that a similar arrangement is here and there met with in New Guinea.
In the Bloomfield River district, the four divisions were all names of bees each being specially associated with different districts. Again, amongst the large Koko-warra Tribe of the
*25. Roth - Ethnol. Studies, etc, 1897 - sect 71; Bull. 12 - Sec. 20.