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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