CHAPTER II
SOCIAL ORGANISATION AND MARRIAGE REGULATIONS
Tribes without cla** organisation.--Bathurst and Melville Island natives.--Local groups.--Port Essington tribe.--Kakadu tribe.--Allotment of wives; a woman of the status of a man's mother allotted to him as wife, with consequent change of terms of relationship.--Widows pa**ing to younger brothers of deceased husband.--Tribes with cla** organisation.--Tribes with indirect male descent: Warrai, Waduman, Mudburra, Maluuru, Djauan, Yungman, Mungarai.--Tribes with direct male descent: Mara, Nullakun.--Tables of relationship terms.--Larakia, Worgait, Port Essington, Melville Island, Djauan, Mungarai, Nullakun, Kakadu, Waduman.--Status terms: Kakadu, Melville Island, Waduman, Mudburra, Port Essington, Larakia, Worgait, Djauan, Nullakun, Mungarai.
THERE are very wide differences between various tribes in regard to Organisation, and it is interesting to notice that, what are presumably the most modified tribes, are met with on the far northern coastal districts and on Melville and Bathurst Islands. At the other extremity of Australia, in its extreme south-eastern corner, we meet with equally modified tribes, or did so until some years ago. In both parts--the north and the south--the most striking feature is that there is no trace left of cla**es, or at most a very doubtful one, and that the organisation is essentially a local one, with, in the north, an attendant, well-marked totemic system.
{p. 43}
The tribes we are now dealing with may be divided into two main groups: (A) those without cla** organisation, and (B) those with cla** organisation.
(A) TRIBES WITHOUT CLASS ORGANISATION.
(1) Bathurst and Melville Islands.
These two islands are inhabited by a tribe of wild and, physically, remarkably well-developed natives, who are easily distinguishable from all others by the way in which they ornament their bodies with a series of V-shaped cicatrices, which they call Miunga, and are supposed to represent the barbs on their heavy spears. So far as my experience goes, the marks on these Islanders are the only ones which serve to identify the particular tribe to which any special individual belongs. From the region of Lake Eyre in the south, across the continent to Darwin and away east to the Gulf of Carpentaria, though all natives are more or less marked with cicatrices, there is nothing in them which is in any way distinctive of totem, cla** or particular tribe. The nearest approach to anything of this kind are the cuts made on the backs of adult men in the Urabunna, Dieri, Wonkgongaru and other tribes, who have pa**ed through the Wilyaru, or its equivalent, final initiation ceremony. These marks, however, are characteristic of the whole of the Dieri nation and not of any cla** or special tribe. The Melville and Bathurst Islanders can, however, always be distinguished, and the fact that they can serves to emphasise still more strongly the absence of any such possibility in the case of all the mainland tribes in Central and Northern Australia.
Despite repeated inquiries, I have not been able to find out any true tribal name for the islanders. There are definite and well-known names applied to local groups,
{p. 44}
but, though doubtless it exists, I tried in vain to find out a name equivalent to that of Larakia or Kakadu. My informants, also, knew of the existence of these and other tribal names on the mainland. It is astonishing how difficult it often is to get reliable information in regard to a subject such as this, where there is, apparently, no question of the matter being of a sacred or secret nature. As a matter of fact, in all tribes the tribal name is not
Map Showing Distribution of Local Groups on Melville Island and Bathurst Island
MAP SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL GROUPS ON MELVILLE AND BATHURST ISLANDS. The numbers correspond to those in the list of localities and local groups given in the text.
often used and, very often, there is one name applied by the members to themselves and quite a different one by outsiders. The Larakia natives at Darwin speak of Bathurst and Melville as Wongok; the natives on the latter call both the mainland and the natives there Jeruula. The natives at Cape Donn, near Essington, call Melville Island, which they can see across the water, Wamuk,
{p. 45}
The natives, on both Bathurst and Melville Islands, are divided into a series of local groups, each of which is supposed to occupy and own a special well-defined district. These districts are indicated on the accompanying map. Though their language, customs and beliefs are identical, there is only a certain amount of intercourse between the natives of the two islands, who are, at least, mutually distrustful of one another. Every now and then the men from a camp on one side of Apsley Strait will raid a camp on the other.
The list of local groups on Melville Island is, I think, complete; that on Bathurst probably is not. The numbers in the following list correspond to those on the map. In each case the name in brackets is the name of the local group inhabiting that locality. It will be noticed that the name of the group is made by adding the suffix ulla to that of the locality-
(a) Melville Island Groups.
(1) Mundiimbu (Mundiinibulla).
(2) Ulobu (Ulobulla).
(3) Arangijera (Arangijerulla).
(4) Yeimbi (Yeimbulla).
(5) Cherupu (Cherupulla).
(6) Kambuambu (Kambuambulla).
(7) Barranpunalli (Barranpunalliulla).
(8) Munupu (Munupulla).
(9) Purumunapu (Purumunapulla).
(10) Mindalu (Mindaluulla).
(11) Balauiungamba (Balauiungambulla).
(12) Marungallambu (Marungallambulla).
(b) Bathurst Island Groups.
(13) Malauu (Malauulla).
(14) Urongu (Urongulla).
(15) Tchikalaua (Tchikalauulla).
The separation of the local groups from one another is very clearly marked indeed if they come together for the performance of special ceremonies, such as those connected
{p. 46}
with mourning. When I was last on Bathurst Island, watching these ceremonies, there were representatives of two local groups present called respectively Malauulla and Tjikalauulla. They camped some distance away from one another, and though they foregathered during the actual dancing, yet, immediately this was over, they separated.
I was unable to ascertain anything definite in regard to the marriage system beyond the fact, as described in connection with the account of totemic systems, that it is closely a**ociated with and regulated by the totemic groups, In some cases it is certainly concerned with the local group, a man of one group taking as a wife a woman of another, who then comes into his own group to which his children also belong, but, whether this is always the case, I cannot say positively, though I believe it to be so.
(2) Iwaidji or Port Essington Tribe.
This tribe is evidently much modified. There are apparently three divisions, called respectively Munbulkitj, Manjerojelli and Manjerawuli, amongst whom the totemic groups are divided, very unequally, the first having four, the second two and the third seven. Munbulkitj and Manjerojelli marry Manjerawuli people and vice versâ, but members of the two former may not intermarry. Whether the three divisions are the vestiges of formerly existing cla**es it is impossible to say, and my informants were quite clear that there are no more than these three. The Port Essington tribe is allied to the Kakadu amongst whom there are very strongly developed local groups, and it is quite possible that these three groups are based on locality. The totem groups are strictly exogamous, and descent of both local group (or division) and of totemic group is in the female line.
{p. 47}
(3) Kakadu Tribe.
This is the representative of a number of tribes inhabiting the northern coastal area, all of whom differ in important respects from the more typical tribes with whom they are in contact on their inland borders. Their distribution is shown on the map (page 44).
The tribe is not divided into moieties nor are there any cla**es. If such were ever present, they have disappeared completely, leaving not a trace behind them to indicate their former existence. The organisation is now entirely local. In the far past time their mythic ancestor, Imberombera, sent out different pairs of individuals to various parts of the country, now occupied by the Kakadu and other tribes of the same nation. In these places they formed local centres, peopled, at first, with spirit individuals who have since been undergoing reincarnation. Tradition explains how, in the early days, the members of different local groups intermarried, and, at the present time, just as then, each individual man secures his wife, or wives. from some special local group. The totem group has nothing to do with marriage.
An elder man frequently has several wives, of varying age, and there is one method of allotment of wives which is, so far as I am aware, peculiar to this nation of tribes. I have not met with it in any of the Central tribes nor does it seem to have been noted elsewhere in Australia.
This method consists in the allotment to a man of a woman who belongs to the generation immediately senior to himself, and who stands to him in the relationship of Koiyu, that is, father's wife, or Ngaila, mother's brother's wife. The Koiyu women, of course, include his own actual mother, but that particular woman may not be allotted to him.
{p. 48}
The table on page 49 represents two actual cases of this, which, though strange, appears to be a well-recognised practice in these tribes.
Nabanja and Tjilongogo were brothers and Ungaraerria was a tribal brother, one of whose wives was a young woman named Kumbainba, who had a son named Mukalakki.
Tjilongogo had a son named Monmuna. The latter had seven wives, but, as shown in the table which includes all his family, he had remarkably few children.[1]
Amongst his wives he had two, called respectively Allarima (1) and Kumbainba (3), who had once belonged to two men who were his papa-fathers or fathers' brothers. Kumbainba had been married to a man named Ungara-erria and, by him, had a son named Mukalakki. She was still young when she was handed on to Monmuna.
Monmuna, by his wife, Mumungara, had a son named Nulwoiyu, who is still a mere boy.
Nabanja had a son named Kulingepu-kunamullajumbo, who, amongst others, married a woman named Wareiya, by whom he had a son named Ungara-mulyarami and a daughter named Koetto.
Ungara has two wives called, respectively, Mumulandi and Mitjingari. Koetto is married to Kulanyo-jarraman, by whom she has three sons, Kadjimuk, Burnimakori and Wudeirti.
When Kumbainba (3) was allotted as wife to Monmuna, Mukalakki became Ngoornberri, or son, to the latter; Nullaberri, or younger brother. to Ungara-mulyarami, because the latter was a son of a Baranga or elder
[1. The relatively small number of children is not infrequently to be noticed amongst these tribes. While I was at Oenpelli a man of Geimbio tribe, closely allied to the Kakadu, came into camp with family including six wives, but only four children. The age of the wives must have varied from fifteen to fifty.]
{p. 49}
Genealogical Chart {p. 50}
brother of Monmuna; and Baranga or elder brother to Nulwoiyu.
When Monmuna died, the jaidja (mother's brothers) of the women concerned, told Numerialmak (5) to go to Mukalakki as his wife, which she did, and Kumbainba (3) to go to Ungara as his wife, which she did. Both of these men have other wives, given to them by the fathers of the women, but the jaidja of any woman can allot her to one of the sons of her husband, provided she be not that son's actual mother.
These arrangements are made before the d**h of any man, such as, in this case, Monmuna, and they affect the terms of relationship used. Thus Mukalakki calls Allarima, Gudjukatju, Kumbainba, Mimonau, Niniokolura and Mumungara, koiyu, or mother, but Numerialmak he calls ngunkomukali, or wife, and he actually applied this term to her while the old Monmuna was alive, though she was not then in his possession and he had no marital relations with her. Mukalakki calls Numerialmak's brother muraguji, or wife's brother. If she had had any children by Monmuna he would have called them nullaberi, younger brother, or illaberri, younger sister while Monmuna was alive, and ngoornberri, sons, or ngungornberri, daughters, after his d**h. So again, he calls the father of each of the first above-named six women, peipi, or mother's father, but the father of Numerialmak he calls keerli, or wife's father. Further still, Ungara was baranga, or elder brother, of Mukalakki, but, when Numerialmak, the actual mother of Mukalakki, was allotted to Ungara as wife, Mukalakki called him papa, or father. These two men, Ungara and Mukalakki, were constantly with Mr. Cahill and myself, at Oenpelli, so that we had every opportunity of hearing them speak to one another.
{p. 51}
Numerialmak calls Mukalakki ngunkomukali, or husband, just as she did Monmuna, and applies the same term to Nulwoiyu because, if Mukalakki had died before Monmuna did, she would have been allotted to Nulwoiyu. She calls Allarima and Kumbainba, who had been allotted to Monmuna and belong to a generation senior to her own, ngailor, or father's sisters. She calls Gudjakatji and Mimonau makorngo, that is elder sisters; Niniokolura and Mumungara she calls illaberri, or younger sisters.
Ungara calls all the women, except Kumbainba, koiyu, or mother, but he calls her ngunkomukali, or wife, because she was allotted to him, and she also calls him ngunkomukali, or husband. Ungara also calls the fathers of all the women, save Kumbainba, peipi, or mother's father, the father of Kumbainba he calls keerli, or wife's father.
Kunamullajumbo also had, as one of his wives, a woman who had been the wife of his father Nabaiya, and Ungara called that woman koiyu.
There was also living in camp a man named Mitjeriunga who has a wife named Workerlaki who has been allotted to the son of the former named Mitjeralak. The latter calls the woman ngunkomukali, and she applies this term to both of them.
Ungara has a son to whom, in the future, a wife belonging to Nulwoiyu will be allotted, and that son calls Ungara papa.
This handing on of a woman to a man who is at the level of her son, is always done by the woman's mother's .brothers. For example, as Numerialmak herself told us, It was her father who gave her to Monmuna, but her jaidja who told her to go to Mukalakki. She was very much younger than Monmuna, and does not appear to be any older than Mukalakki.
When a man dies, beyond the special allotment to men
{p. 52}
on the level of sons, the widows normally pa** to younger brothers of the dead man, not to older ones. Thus, recently, the man named in the table Kulanyo-yarraman died. He had an elder brother, called Mappleburra, and a younger one, Kopereik. When Kulanyo-yarraman died Kopereik was away and Mappleburra took the lubra Koetto, but when Kopereik returned, the first thing that he did was to go and take the woman away from Mapplebura. Again, Mukalakki has a wife called Mitchunga, who, it is already arranged, will go to Nulwoiyu on Mukalakki's d**h.
As an example of the allotment of a mother's brother's wife we may take the case of Ungara-mulyurami. His brothers are dead and he has no sons, so it has been arranged that, on his d**h, Mitchingari, one of his wives, is to pa** to Kadjimuk, or, should he die, to Wudeirti, both of whom are sons of Ungara's sister named Koetto, Each of these men calls Mumulandi ngailor, that is, father's sister, but Mitchingari they call ngunkomukali.
It will easily be understood that this curious system of allotment and, consequently, of change of terms of relationship, produces extraordinary complications, but the natives appear to find no difficulty in working the system, and when in camp they will tell you readily the relationship of all the different members present to one another.
To the same group of tribes belong, apparently, the Koarnbut, Quiradara, Norweilemil, Punuurlu, Kumertuo, Geimbio, Malanji, and, possibly, the Larakia. These, together with the Iwaidji, Kakadu, and the Melville an Bathurst Islanders, form a group of tribes sharply marked off, not only by the absence of cla** organisation, but by the fact that their initiation ceremonies at' distinguished by the absence of both circumcision and subincision.
{p. 53}
(B). TRIBES WITH CLASS ORGANISATION.
(a) Tribes with indirect male descent.
(1). Warrai tribe. This is a tribe usually called Wolwonga by whites. It is now entirely decadent, its remnant occupying the country between a place called Rum Jungle and Brock's Creek on the short railway line that runs south from Darwin.
The tribe is divided into four cla**es, and there are no names for the moieties. The organisation is as follows, the names of women's groups, corresponding to those of the men, being placed in brackets:--
Moiety 1.
Moiety 2.
Children.
Children.
Adjumbitj
(Alljambitj)
Appungerti
(Allpungerti)
Appularan
(Allpularan)
Auinmitj
(Allimitj)
Appularan
(Allpularan)
Auinmitj
(Allinmitj)
Adjumbitj
(Alljambitj)
Appungerti
(Allpungerti)
An Adjumbitj man marries an Allpungerti woman, and the children are Appularan (males) and Allpularan (females).
An Appularan man marries an Allinmitj woman, and the children are Adjumbitj (males) and Alljambitj (females).
An Appungerti man marries an Alljamjbitj {sic} woman, and the children are Auinmitj (males) and Allimitj (females).
An Auinmitj man marries an Allpularan woman, and the children are Appungerti (males) and Allpungerti (females).
Except that there are distinct names for women, which
{p. 54}
are slight variants on those for the men, the organisation is closely similar to that of the southern Arunta, where there are only four cla** names. It must, however, be remembered that, though there are only four such names, yet, in all tribes in which this is so, each of them is divided into two groups so that, for example, one group of Adjumbitj men intermarry with only one group of Allpungerti women, the other group of the latter women are forbidden to these men. In most tribes distinct names are given to the two groups, so that there are eight in all.
It is somewhat remarkable to find two tribes, each with the four, named, intermarrying groups, one at each end of the long stretch of country, a thousand miles in all, that lies between the southernmost Arunta and the Warrai in the north. In all these tribes the organisation is fundamentally identical, but it is only at the extreme northern and southern limits that we find only four cla** names, elsewhere there are always eight.
The northern boundary of the Warrai tribe is coterminous with the southern of the coastal tribes--in this particular part the Larakia, though the latter has long been practically decimated, its degraded remnants hanging about the settlements. It is also a curious circumstance that the Arunta people have a very definite tradition of a great leader who, in the far past time, led a body of uncircumcised men away out of the Arunta country and travelled on with them until they came to the salt water in the far north. On the shores of the latter they camped and are supposed to have remained there ever since.
(2). Waduman tribe.
The names of the moieties have been lost. There are distinct sub-cla** names for males and females and
{p. 55}
intermarrying sub-cla**es such as Uanai and Urella are spoken of as being Tjimuri or mates.
The names of the female sub-cla**es are in brackets.
Moiety 1.
Moiety 2.
Children.
Children.
Uanai
(Imbanai)
Urella
(Imburella)
Yunguri
(Inbunguri)
Inmirra
(Inganmira)
Imit
(Imbidenni)
Yungalla
(Ingungalla)
Ualeri
(Impalieri)
Tjabijin
(Ibajin)
Ualeri
(Impalieri)
Inmirra
(Inganmirra)
Imit
(Imbidenni)
Urella
(Imburella)
Yunguri
(Inbunguri)
Tjabijin
(Tjabijai)
Uanai
(Imbanai)
Yungalla
(Ingungalla
(3). Mudburra tribe.
The names of the moieties have been lost. There are distinct sub-cla** names for males and females, those of the latter being printed in brackets.
Moiety 1.
Moiety 2.
Children.
Children.
Tjanama
(Nana)
Tjula
(Nanula)
Tjunguri
(Nunguri)
Tjimara
(Nimara)
Tjimija
(Namija)
Tjungalla
(Nungalla)
Tjaliri
(Naliri)
Tjambijina
(Nambijina)
Tjaliri
(Naliri)
Tjimara
(Nimara)
Tjimija
(Namija)
Tjula
(Nanula)
Tjunguri
(Nunguri)
Tjambijina
(Nambijina)
Tjanama
(Nana)
Tjungalla
(Nungalla)
{p. 56}
(4) Maluuru tribe.
The names of the moieties have been lost. There are distinct sub-cla** names for males and females, those of the latter being printed in brackets.
Moiety 1.
Moiety 2.
Children.
Children.
Tjanama
(Nama)
Tjula
(Nala)
Tjunguri
(Nunguri)
Tjamera
(Nimara)
Tjimit
(Namit)
Tjingalla
(Nungalla)
Tjaliari
(Naliri)
Tjabijin
(Nabijin)
Tjaliari
(Naliri)
Tjamera
(Nimara)
Tjimit
(Namit)
Tjula
(Nala)
Tjunguri
(Nunguri)
Tjabijin
(Nabijin)
Tjanama
(Nama)
Tjingulla
(Nungalla)
(5). Djauan tribe.
The names of the sub-cla**es are as follows and, in brackets, I have given those of the corresponding ones in the Warramunga tribe. The names of the moieties are lost.
Moiety 1.
Moiety 2.
Gnaritjban (Thapanunga)
Waidba (Tjupila)
Pulainba (Tjunguri)
Kungilla (Thungalla)
Palieringba (Tjapeltjeri)
Kamara (Nakomara)
Pungaringba (Thapungarti)
Wamut (Tjambin)
{p. 57}
The intermarrying sub-cla**es and those of the children represented in the following table. In this tribe the and women have not, apparently, got distinct sub-cla** names.
Moiety 1
Moiety 2.
Children.
Children.
Guaritjban {sic}
Waidba
Pungaringba
Kamara
Pulainba
Kungilla
Palieringba
Wamut
Palieringba
Kamara
Pulainba
Waidba
Pungaringba
Wamut
Gnaritjban
Kungilla
In the Djauan tribe pairs of sub-cla**es such as Gnaritjban and Pungaringba or Waidba and Kumara certain of the individual members of which stand to one another in the relationship of fathers and children, are called Kumuranban.
(6). Yungman tribe.
The names of the sub-cla**es are as follows and, in brackets, I have given those of the corresponding ones in the Djauan tribe. The names of the moieties are lost.
Moiety 1.
Moiety 2.
Uanai (Gnaritjban)
Urella (Waidba)
Imit (Pulainba)
Yungalla (Kungilla)
Ualeri (Palieringba)
Inmirra (Kamara)
Uunguri (Pangaringba)
Tjabidjin (Wamut)
{p. 58}
The intermarrying sub-cla**es and those of the children are as represented in the following table. In this tribe the men and women have distinct sub-cla** names, those of the latter being placed in brackets.
Moiety 1.
Moiety 2.
Children.
Children.
Uanai
(Imbanai)
Urella
(Imburella)
Uunguri
(Inbunguri)
Inmirra
(Ingangmirra)
Imit
(Imidenni)
Yungalla
(Ingungalla)
Ualeri
(Imbaleri)
Tjabidjin
(Tjabidai)
Ualeri
(Imbaleri)
Inmirra
(Inganmirra)
Imit
(Imidenni)
Urella
(Imburella)
Uunguri
(Inbunguri)
Tjabidjin
(Tjabidai)
Uanai
(Imbanai)
Yungalla
(Ingungalla)
A Uanai man marries an Imburella woman and their children are Uunguri if, boys and Inbunguri if girls. A Urella man marries an Imbanai woman and their children are Inmirra if boys, and Ingangmirra if girls.
(7) Mungarai Tribe.
The names of the moieties are retained. Those of the sub-cla**es are as follows and, in brackets, I have given the corresponding ones of the Djauan tribe.
Moiety 1.--Nakarangua.
Moiety 2.--Ngaballana.
Ngaritjbellan (Gnaritjban)
Ngarburella (Waidba)
Ngabullan (Pulainba)
Ngangiella (Kungilla)
Ngapalieri (Palieringba)
Nakomara (Kamara)
Ngapungari (Pungarongba)
Tjabijin (Wamut)
{p. 59}
The inter-marrying sub-cla**es and those of the children are as represented in the following table:
Moiety 1.--Makarangua.
Moiety 2.--Ngaballana.
Children.
Children.
Ngaritjbellan
Ngaburella
Ngapungari
Nakomara
Ngabullan
Ngangiella
Ngapalieri
Tjabijin
Ngapalieri
Nakomara
Ngabullan
Ngaburella
Ngapungari
Tjabijin
Ngaritjbellan
Ngangiella
A Ngaritjbellan man marries a Ngaburella woman and their children are Ngapungari, A Ngaburella man marries a Ngaritjbellan woman and their children are Nakomara.
There is nothing special about these tribes to distinguish them, so far as their cla**ificatory systems are concerned, from the great group, extending from Oodnadatta in the south to Brocks Creek, within 100 miles of the northern coast line. Eastwards they extend across to the borderland of Queensland and the coastal ranges fringing the Gulf of Carpentaria. Westwards they stretch down the Daly, Katherine, Flora, and Victoria Rivers to the coast and, probably, extend into the northern parts of West Australia. Mrs. Bates and Mr. A. R. Brown have shown that tribes with the four-cla** system., similar in essential respects to the southern Arunta and the Warrai, extend over wide areas in Western Australia. In all these tribes, descent of the cla** is counted in the paternal line.
We have previously dealt in detail with the Arunta and Warramunga Tribes,[1] and what we have described in
[1. Cf. Native Tribes of Central Australia, Chap. III., and Northern Tribes of Central Australia, Chap. III., p. 104-132.]
{p. 60}
connection with them holds good, precisely, for the others.
(b) Tribes with direct male descent.
(1) Mara Tribe.
This is an example of a group of tribes the organisation of which was first dealt with by Mr. Gillen and myself.[1] We came in contact with some members of it at Borroloola on the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1901. During 1911, whilst travelling down the Roper River, I again encountered the tribe, and with the aid of a very intelligent native, a Mumbali man named Waluunja, was able, after considerable inquiry, to determine the correspondence of the sub-cla**es of this tribe, in which descent, so far as the actual cla** name is concerned, is counted in the direct male line, with those in the adjoining Mungarai tribe, in which descent is counted in the indirect male line. I was also able to ascertain the names of the moieties.
These are, as shown in the following table, four cla** and no sub-cla** names.
TABLE 1.
Moiety 1.--Muluri.
Moiety 2.-Umbana.
Murungun
Purdal
Mumbali
Kuial
Further inquiry, however, shows that, though there are no distinct names for them, each cla** is really divided into two groups-the equivalents of the sub-cla**es in the Arunta and Warramunga. They are, in fact, precisely similar to the unnamed groups into which each cla** is
[1. Spencer and Gillen, The Northern Tribes of Central Australia.]
{p. 61}
divided in the southern half of the Arunta and in the Warrai tribe.
These can be represented, using the letters a and b {in the original text, a and b are the Greek letters alpha and beta--jbh} to indicate the two divisions of each cla**. as follows
TABLE 2.
Moiety 1.--Muluri.
Moiety 2.--Umbana.
Murungun a
Purdal a
Murungun b
Purdal b
Mumbali a
Kuial a
Mumbali b
Kuial b
When, however, we come to deal with the marriage relationships and the counting of descent it will be seen that these are very different from those met with in adjoining tribes, amongst whom the arrangements are similar to those amongst the Warramunga. The intermarrying groups, which are really the equivalents of subcla**es, together with those into which the children pa**, can be represented as follows:
TABLE 3.
Moiety 1--Muluri.
Moiety 2.--Umbana.
Children.
Children.
Murungun a
Purdal a
Murungun b
Purdal b
Murungun b
Kuial b
Murungun a
Kuial a
Mumbali a
Kuial a
Mumbali b
Kuial b
Mumbali b
Purdal b
Mumbali a
Purdal a
{p. 62}
A Murungun a man must marry a Purdal a woman and their children are Murungun b. So again a Murungun b man must marry a Kuial b woman and their children are Murungun a.
The children of a Murungun man are thus always Murungun. Some Murungun men marry Purdal and others Kuial women, the marriage alternating in successive generations. Thus a Murungun a man marries a Purdal a woman, but his son, who is Murungun b, marries a Kuial b woman. The sons in the next generation are Murungun a and marry, once more, Purdal a women.
The fact of some Murungun and Mumbali men marrying Purdal and others Kuial women, and vice versâ, was so different from anything in the marriage arrangements in any other Australian tribes known to us that we, spent much time in investigating the matter and making ourselves as sure as we could on the point. I am glad to be able now to corroborate our previous conclusions by means of evidence collected in quite another part of the tribe from that in which Mr. Gillen and myself previously worked.
The native, Waluunja, who explained the matter to me on the Roper River, was one of the most intelligent aboriginals whom I have met; he had also a very fair I knowledge of English. The contrast between him and other old men from whom I was, at the same time, attempting to get information on the organisation of the tribes was most striking and made me feel more than ever convinced that matters such as the division of the tribe into intermarrying groups could very well be the result of the deliberate thinking out of a scheme on the part of certain members of the tribe more highly gifted than the common run. The scheme by means of which the divisions, Murungun a, b, etc., are made to fit
{p. 63}
in with the sub-cla**es of the Mungarai and other tribes with which the Mara come into contact, is at all events both a deliberate and ingenious device, and reveals very considerable powers of reasoning and organising. It can be represented in the following table in which the names of the equivalent sub-cla**es in the Mungarai Tribe are placed in brackets:--
TABLE 4.
Moiety 1.--Muluri.
Moiety 2.--Umbana.
Children.
Children.
Murungun a
(Ngaritjbellan)
Purdal a
(Ngaburella)
Murungun b
(Ngapungari)
Purdal b
(Nakomara)
Murungun b
(Ngapungari)
Kuial b
(Tjabijin)
Murungun a
(Ngritjbellan)
Kuial a
(Ngangiella)
Mumbali a
(Ngabullan)
Kuial a
(Ngangiella)
Mumbali b
(Ngapalieri)
Kuial a
(Tjalbijin)
Mumbali b
(Ngapalieri)
Purdal b
(Nakomara)
Mumbali a
(Ngabullan)
Purdal a
(Ngaburella)
This means that the cla** Murungun, for example, is divided into two groups, which are regarded, respectively, as the equivalents of the sub-cla**es Ngaritjbellan and Ngapungari in the Mungarai Tribe. We have already seen that the children of Murungun a men pa** into the division Murungun b, which is just the same thing as in the Mungarai, where the children of Ngaritjbellan men are Ngapungari, and vice versâ. So, again, Murungun a men marry Purdal a and Murungun b men marry Kuial b women. Now, under the scheme devised, Purdal a women are the equivalents of Ngaburella and Kuial b of Tjabijin women in the Mungarai Tribe. Murungun a men are the same as Ngaritjbellan and they must marry
{p. 64}
Ngaburella women, while Murungun b, who are the equivalents of Ngapungari, must marry Tjabijin.
(2) Nullakun Tribe.
In essential features this tribe agrees with the Mara, It has retained the moiety names and has also four cla** but no sub-cla** names. In the following table the equivalent names in the Mara tribe are given in brackets:--
TABLE 1.
Moiety 1.--Ballakninni.
Moiety 2.---Kokwa.
Jobal (Murungun)
Ulakaraninni (Purdal)
Mangaralli (Mumbali)
Gindar (Kuial)
As in the Mara tribe, each cla** is really divided into two, though there are no names for these, which are the strict equivalents of sub-cla**es. Using the letters a and b to indicate these, the intermarrying groups and those into which the children pa** can be represented as follows:--
TABLE 3.
Moiety 1.--Ballakninni.
Moiety 2.--Kokwa.
Children.
Children.
Jobal a
Ulakarininni a
Jobal b
Ulakarininni b
Jobal b
Gindar b
Jobal a
Gindar a
Mangaralli a
Gindar a
Mangaralli b
Gindar b
Mangaralli b
Ulakarininni b
Mangaralli a
Ulakarininni a
{p. 65}
Where the Nullakun tribe comes into contact with the Mungarai and others having the eight sub-cla** system, the same plan is adopted to allow the two organisations to work side by side, which has already been described dealing with the Mara tribe.
In the following tables the relationship terms are given amongst a typical series of tribes.
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--LARAKIA TRIBE
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Native Term.
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Nurdung
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Kudung
Father's brother's wife
Aunt
Nurdla
Father's father
Grandfather
Father's father's elder brother
Great uncle
Ngoak
Father's father's younger brother
Great uncle
Alladik or Almuk
Father's father's wife
Grandmother
Nimerk
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Kudung
Father's father's mother
Great grandmother
Almerk
Father's father's father's sister
Great great aunt
Nurdla
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Ngoak
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Kudung
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Allap
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Unya[1]
Mother's elder brother
Uncle
Imurburra
Mother's brother's son
Cousin
Nurdla
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Ngoak
Mother's younger sister's son
Cousin
Nurdla
Elder brother
Brother
Ngoak
Younger brother
Brother
Alladik
Elder brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Younger brother's wife
------
Nimerk
Brother's son
Nephew
Almerk
Brother's daughter
Niece
Kudung
Brother's son's wife
------
Ngoak
Brother's son's son
------
Alladik
Brother's son's son's wife
------
[1. It is the Unya man who says to his nugunyi "you may have my daughter as alladik when she is born." Betrothal often, indeed usually, takes place before birth and the youth, from the betrothal onwards, gives womeras, food, etc., to his prospective father-in-law.]
{p. 66}
Native Term
Actual Relationship to English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Nugunyi
Brother's daughter's husband
-----
Unmull
Elder sister
Sister
Nguluk
Younger sister
Sister
Ngan
Sister's husband
Brother-in-law
Nugunyi
Sister's husband's father
------
Nugunyi
Sister's son
Nephew
Allgunyi
Sister's daughter
Niece
Mitt-mitt
Elder sister's son's son
------
All-it-mitt
Elder sister's son's daughter
------
Nimerk
Son
Son.
Brother's son
Nephew
Kudung
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Ngoak
Son's son
Grandson.
Alladik
Son's son's wife
------
Nimerk
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Almerk
Daughter
Daughter
Nugunyi
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Mitt-mitt
Daughter's son
Grandson
All-it-mitt
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Alladik
Wife
Wife
Wife's sister
Sister-in-law
Unya
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Wife's father's brother,
------
Allap
Wife's mother
Mother-in-law
Wife's mother's sister
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--LARAKIA TRIBE.
(WOMAN SPEAKING.)
Nurdung
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Brother's wife's father
------
Nurdla
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Ngoak
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Kudung
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Almuk
Elder sister
Sister
Father's elder brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's sister's daughter
Cousin
Aluk
Younger sister
Sister
Father's younger brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Cousin
Ngei
Son
Son
Sister's son
Nephew
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Husband's father
------
Husband's father's brother
------
{p. 67}
Native Term
Actual Relationship to English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Ngei
Husband's brother's son
------
Husband's father's father's father
------
Ngeimurk
Son's son
Grandson
Sister's son's son
------
Ngulei
Daughter
Daughter
Sister's daughter
Niece
Alling
Husband's mother
Mother-in-law
Husband's mother's sister
------
Husband's father's brother's wife
------
Allo
Husband's mother's mother
------
Ngan
Husband
------
Husband's brother
------
Husband's father's father
------
Husband's father's brother's son
------
Alladju
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Sister's daughter's daughter
------
All-it-mitt
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great granddaughter
Sister's daughter's daughter's daughter
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--WORGAIT TRIBE.
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Boppa
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Kallung
Mother
Mother
Father's brother's wife
Aunt
Brother's sister
Aunt
Guga
Father's father's mother
Great-grandmother
Father's father
Grandfather
Father's father's brother
------
Son's son
Grandson
Brother's son's son
------
Ngungaran
Wife
Wife
Brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Mother's brother's daughter
Cousin
Brother's son's son's wife
------
Son's son's wife
------
Father's father's wife
------
Father's brother's father's father's wife
------
Djemming
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Kukka
Mother's mother's mother
Great grandmother
Mother's brother
Uncle
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Wife's father's brother
------
Ngaiyi
Daughter
Daughter
Brother's daughter
Niece
Father's father's father's sister
------
Ngambulla
Elder brother
Brother
{p. 68}
Native Term
Actual Relationship to English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Ngambulla
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Ngambulluk (or Balluk)
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's son
Cousin
Ngamballuk
Elder sister
Sister
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Wife's mother's elder brother's son
------
Ngunga
Mother's brother's son
Cousin
Niya
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Kallung
Brother's son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Son's wife
------
Balluk
Younger sister
Sister
Wife's mother's younger brother's daughter
------
Sisters husband
Brother-in-law
Naidjinga
Sister's son
Nephew
Sister's husband's father
------
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Nirung
Sister's daughter's daughter
------
Wife's mother's mother's brother
------
Niedjum
Son's son
Grandson
Ngaidjim
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Ngaiwan
Wife's mother
Mother-in-law
Koppa
Wife's mother's brother
------
Mukkung
Wife's mother's mother
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--WORGAIT TRIBE
(WOMAN SPEAKING.)
Boppa
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Ngambulla
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Balluk
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Younger sister
Sister
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Niece
Kallung
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Mukkun
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Djemming
Mother's mother's mother
Great grandmother
Kakaballuk
Mother's brother
Uncle
Husband's father
Father-in-law
Husband's father's brother
Ngungaran
Husband
Husband
Husband's brother
Brother-in-law
Mother's brother's son
Cousin
Sister's husband
Brother-in-law
{p. 69}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Ngatja
Elder sister
Sister
Mother's elder sister's daughter
Cousin
Ngadja
Son
Son
Sister's son
Nephew
Husband's brother's son
Nephew
Niya
Son
Son
Husband's sister's son
Nephew
Ngaradja
Daughter
Daughter
Sister's daughter
Niece
Husband's brother's daughter
Niece
Ngawerk
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Sister's daughter's daughter
------
Ngadjim
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great granddaughter
Djemmingballuk
Husband's mother's mother
------
Husband's father's father
------
Naninballuk
Husband's mother's sister
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--PORT ESSINGTON TRIBE.
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Purni
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Wulko
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Munburtj
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's son
Cousin
Ngawin
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Daughter
Daughter
Brother's daughter
Niece
Father's father's father's sister
------
Wulko
Elder sister
Sister
Father's elder brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's daughter
Cousin
Munburtj
Younger sister
Sister
Father's younger brother's daughter
Niece
Kamu
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Niece
Mother
Mother
Father's brother's wife
Aunt
Mother's sister
Aunt
Father's father's mother
------
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Wonwu
Brother's son's wife
------
Father's father
Grandfather
Father's father's brother
Great uncle
{p. 70}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Angban (or Ilkuma)[1]
Wife
Wife
Wife's sister
Sister-in-law
Mother's brother's daughter
Cousin
Brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Father's father's wife
------
Son's son's wife
------
Brother's son's son's wife
------
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Maia-maia
Father's father
Grandfather
Wiwi
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Son's son's daughter
Great granddaughter
Nandulang
Mother's mother's mother
Great grandmother
Gadja (or Unburran)[2]
Mother's brother
Uncle
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Wife's father's brother
------
Kanyung
Sister's son
Nephew
Sister's daughter
Niece
Sister's husband's father
------
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Wife's mother's brother's son
------
Kumbala
Mother's brother's son
Nephew
Wullupullu
Wife's father's father
------
Pappam
Wife's mother's mother
------
Wife's mother's mother's brother
------
Ngawin
Wife's mother
Mother-in-law
Wife's mother's sister
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--PORT ESSINGTON TRIBE.
(WOMAN SPEAKING.)
Purni
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Wawa
Father's father
Grandfather
Wulko
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Munburtj
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Kamu
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Mother's brother
Uncle
[1. Angban is the general term for mother's brother's daughters, all of whom are eligible as wives to a man except the daughters of his mother's actual blood brothers. Ilkuma is the name applied to the actual woman or women a man marries. Before marriage he calls them angban.
2. Gadja is the general term for mother's brother or wife's father; unburran is a special term applied to the father of a woman whom a man actually marries.]
{p. 71}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Ilkuma
Husband
Husband
Husband's brother
Brother-in-law
Sister's husband
Brother-in-law
Ngaiyang
Son
Son
Sister's son
Nephew
Daughter
Daughter
Sister's daughter
Niece
Husband's brother's son
Nephew
Nanduwiraitpan
Husband's father
Father-in-law
Husband's father's brother
------
Ngawin
Husband's mother
Mother-in-law
Husband's mother's sister
------
Wiwi
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Wullupullu
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great grand-daughter
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--MELVILLE ISLAND TRIBE.
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Narangani
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Yayuwinni
Brother
Brother
Father's brother's son
Cousin
Mother's sister's son
Cousin
Jauaminni
Mother's brother's son
Cousin
Wife's brother
Brother-in-law
Mau-win-inni
Father's father
Grandfather
Father's father's brother
Great uncle
Yangaringa
Mother
Mother
Father's brother's wife
Aunt
Mother's sister
Aunt
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Brother's son's wife
------
Father's father's mother
Great grandmother
Namaninga
Mother's mother
Granddaughter
Illimani (or Yanarinua)[1]
Mother's brother
Uncle
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Wife's father's brother
------
Yamoaniya
Wife[2]
Wife
Wife's sister
Sister-in-law
Mother's brother's daughter
Cousin
Brother's wife
Sister-in-law
[1. The general term for fathers of women whom a man may marry is illimani.
2. The general term for the women whom it is lawful for a man to marry is yamoaniya. After the woman has actually been handed over to a man the term he applies to her is yabmuneinga.]
{p. 72}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Yamoaniya
Father's father's wife
Great grandmother
Son's son's wife
------
Brother's son's son's wife
------
Intamilli
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Inkalippa[1]
Sister
Sister
Father's brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's sister's daughter
Cousin
Impunga
Elder sister
Sister
Father's elder brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's daughter
Cousin
Imbokka
Younger sister
Sister
Father's younger brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Cousin
Namiranni
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Wife's mother's brother
------
Yamurdi
Son's son
Grandson
Ngangyurminni
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Ngauraninga
Daughter
Daughter
Brother's daughter
Niece
Ngauamurdi
Sister's husband's father
------
Sister's son
Nephew
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Ngauamarinya
Sister's daughter
Niece
Mananya
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Yamparinna
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great granddaughter
Yunganpuranna
Wife's mother
Mother in-law
Auamma
Wife's mother's mother
------
Jaraminni
Wife's mother's mother's brother
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--MELVILLE ISLAND TRIBES.
(WOMAN SPEAKING.)
Narangani
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Brother's wife's father
------
Yayuwinni
Brother
Brother
Father's brother's son
Cousin
Mother's sister's son
Cousin
Yangaringa
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Impunga
Elder sister
Sister
Mother's elder sister's daughter
Niece
[1. This term is applied to sisters in general, but there are also the special terms for elder and younger sisters, etc.]
{p. 73}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Imbokka
Younger sister
Sister
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Niece
Murdi
Son
Son
Sister's son
Nephew
Husband's brother's son
Nephew
Imauringa
Daughter
Daughter
Sister's daughter
Niece
Yabmuneinga
Husband
Husband
Sister's husband
Brother-in-law
Husband's brother
Brother-in-law
Husband's father's brother's son
------
Illimanni
Husband's father
Father-in-law
Husband's father's brother
------
Djimiindinga
Husband's mother
Mother-in-law
Husband's mother's sister
------
Husband's father's brother's wife
------
Yanamma
Husband's father's father
------
Mauanyinni
Husband's father's sister's son
------
Mauannia
Husband's father's sister's daughter
------
Namiraninga
Father's sister
Aunt
Brother's daughter
Niece
Mauanyinni
Father's sister's son
Cousin
Auwumma
Father's sister's daughter
Cousin
Namaninga
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Nauangaringa
Mother's mother's mother
Great grandmother
Yenierninga
Brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Undunganinga
Husband's father's sister
------
Kanguri
Husband's mother's brother
------
Namiranni
Husband's sister's son
Nephew
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--DJAUAN TRIBE.
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Adjat
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Karang
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Mother
Mother
Father's brother's wife
Aunt
Mother's sister
Aunt
Father's father's mother
Great grandmother
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Brother's son's wife
------
Mora
Father's father
Grandfather
Father's father's brother
------
Son's son
Grandson
Noa
Wife
Wife
Brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Son's son's wife
------
Father's father's wife
Grandmother
Brother's son's son's wife
------
{p. 74}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Kakak
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Kainya
Mother's brother
Uncle
Tjarimungin or Tjamun
Mother's brother's son
Nephew
Mother's brother's daughter
Niece
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Baba
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Buruwa
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's son
Cousin
Baba
Elder sister
Sister
Father's elder brother's daughter
Niece
Mother's elder sister's daughter
Niece
Buruwa
Younger sister
Sister
Father's younger brother's daughter
Niece
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Niece
Kumbarimba
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Borbor
Daughter
Daughter
Brother's daughter
Niece
Father's father's father's sister
------
Paratta
Sister's son
Nephew
Sister's husband's father
------
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Walnagung
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Kainguri
Wife's mother
Mother-in-law
Wife's mother's brother
------
Wife's mother's sister
------
Allauitpo
Wife's father's mother
------
Nautjpa
Wife's father's father
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--DJAUAN TRIBE.
(WOMAN SPEAKING.)
Adjat
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mora
Father's father
Grandfather
Baba
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Elder sister
Sister
Father's elder brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's daughter
Cousin
Buruwa
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's son
Cousin
Younger sister
Sister
Father's younger brother's daughter
Cousin
{p. 75}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Buruwa
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Cousin
Karang
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Kakak
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Son's son
Grandson
Tjonwalk
Brother's son
Nephew
Ngagung
Son
Son
Sister's son
Nephew
Daughter
Daughter
Sister's daughter
Niece
Husband's brother's son
Nephew
Noa[1]
Husband
Husband
Husband's elder brother
Brother-in-law
Husband's father's elder brother's son
------
Tjamung
Husband's younger brother
Brother-in-law
Husband's father's younger brother's son
------
Kabung
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Walnagung
Husband's father
Father-in-law
Husband's father's brother
------
Kanguri
Husband's mother
Mother-in-law
Husband's mother's sister
------
Mamam
Husband's mother's mother
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--MUNGARAI TRIBE.
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Ngaburda
Father
Father
Father's elder brother
Uncle
Mother's elder sister's husband
Uncle
Ngabirandu
Father's younger brother
Uncle
Mother's younger sister's husband
Uncle
Ngulangnunyi[2]
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Father's father's mother
Great grandmother
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Ngulamimi
Brother's son's wife
------
Mother's elder sister
Aunt
Mother's mother's mother
Great grandmother
Ngulabubba
Mother's younger sister
Aunt
Ngalangnanyi
Father's father
Grandfather
Father's father's brother
Great uncle
Ngulakatukugandu (or {see next page...}
Father's father's wife
Great grandmother
Son's son's wife
------
[1. If a man dies his wife pa**es to a noa, but not to a tjamung.
2. This term is applied indiscriminately to the mother and all her sisters, blood and tribal.]
{p. 76}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
{cont. from previous page} ...Ngulakungambula)[1]
Brother's son's son's wife
------
Wife
Wife
Brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Birandu (or Abiringnvia)
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Ngulabirandu
Daughter
Daughter
Brother's daughter
Niece
Ngulababba
Sister
Sister
Father's brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's sister's daughter
Cousin
Murrimurri
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Abiringniranu
Father's father's father's sister
------
Ngaiana
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Ngaiabba
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's son
Cousin
Ngulagurguk
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Ngagung
Mother's brother
Uncle
Naminjerri
Mother's brother's son
Cousin
Mother's brother's daughter
Cousin
Murriwanula
Son's son
Grandson
Brother's son's son
------
Ngaidjeya (or Nullamimi)
Wife's father Father-in-law
------
Sister's husband
Brother-in-law
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Ngulaidjeya
Sister's daughter
Niece
Nadjammainua
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Ngulaambuluka
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Ngulamairandu
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great granddaughter
Ngulakundji
Wife's mother
Mother-in-law
Ngakundji
Wife's mother's brother
------
Ngulamarik
Wife's mother's brother's daughter
------
Jap-jap
Wife's father's father
------
Ngulakukkuk
Wife's father's father's wife
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--MUNGARAI TRIBE
(WOMAN SPEAKING.)
Ngaburda
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Ngulangnunyi
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
[1. The usual term applied by a man to his wife is Ngulakatukukugandu. If he has more than one wife he calls the older one Ngulakatukugandu ngaballa and the younger one Ngulakatukugandu naditja.]
{p. 77}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Ngaiana
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Nephew
Mother's elder sister's son
Nephew
Ngaiabba
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Nephew
Mother's younger sister's son
Nephew
Ngulagurguk
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Ngulamimi
Mother's mother's mother
Great grandmother
Ngulababba
Sister
Sister
Mother's sister's daughter
Cousin
Birandu (or Ngabirandu)
Brother's son
Nephew
Husband's sister's son
Nephew
Ngulabirandu
Brother's daughter
Niece
Husband's sister's daughter
Niece
Ngulajeya
Sister's daughter
Niece
Kallunbun
Husband
Husband
Husband's brother
Brother-in-law
Sister's husband
Brother-in-law
Husband's father's brother's son
------
Ngaijeya
Son
Son
Husband's brother's son
Nephew
Sister's son
Nephew
Husband's father
Father-in-law
Husband's father's brother
------
Ngulajeya
Daughter
Daughter
Sister's daughter
Niece
Ngulagundji
Husband's mother
Mother-in-law
Husband's mother's sister
------
Husband's father's brother's wife
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--NULLAKUN TRIBE
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Morquoll
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Maina
Mother
Mother
Father's brother's wife
Aunt
Mother's sister
Aunt
Father's father's mother
Great grandmother
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Durdu
Brother's son's wife
------
Father's father
Grandfather
Tjugopuiri
Father's father's brother
Great-uncle
Father's father's wife
Great-grandmother
Father's father's brother's wife
Great-aunt
Wife
Wife
Brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Son's son's wife
------
Brother's son's son's wife
------
{p.78}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Iraningi
Father's father's father
Great-grandfather
Tjukangini
Daughter
Daughter
Father's father's father's sister
------
Boipu
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Nephew
Mother's elder sister's son
Nephew
Gwalin
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Nephew
Mother's younger sister's son
Nephew
Tjukorkor
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Tjuappa
Sister
Sister
Father's brother's daughter
Niece
Mother's sister's daughter
Niece
Nukaitka
Mother's brother
Uncle
Djaming
Mother's mother's mother
Great-grandmother
Tjukinda
Mother's brother's daughter
Cousin
Nulkinda
Mother's brother's son
Cousin
Tjokangini
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Sister's husband's father
------
Sister's son
Nephew
Sister's daughter
Niece
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Wife's father's brother
------
Nokangini
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Murdungini
Son's son
Grandson
Thangimini
Son's son's son
Great-grandson
Tjumurungini
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Bading
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great-granddaughter
Balaknini
Wife's mother
------
Brother's wife's mother
------
Nuanaiya
Wife's mother's brother's son
------
Nojamin
Wife's father's father
------
Niyappi
Wife's father's father's father
------
Morquoll
Father
Father
Father's brother Uncle
------
Mother's sister's husband
Uncle
Boipu
Father's father
Grandfather
Maina
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Nokaka
Brother
Brother
Father's brother's son
Cousin
Mother's sister's son
Cousin
Tjuappa
Sister
Sister
Father's brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's sister's daughter
Cousin
Nokangini
Son
Son
Sister's son
Cousin
Husband's father
Father-in-law
Husband's father's brother
------
Husband's brother's son
Nephew
Tjugokangini
Daughter
Daughter
{p. 79}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Tjugokangini
Sister's daughter
Niece
Nokopungini
Husband
Husband
Husband's brother
Brother-in-law
Husband's father's brother's son
Tjupalukmudji
Husband's mother
Mother-in-law
Husband's mother's sister
Kaupungini
Husband's sister
Sister-in-law
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--KAKADU TRIBE.
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Papa
Father
Father
Father's brother
Uncle
Kaga
Father's father
Grandfather
Father's father's brother
Great uncle
Pulupurlumba
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Mother's mother's mother
Great grandmother
Mother's mother's mother's sisters
------
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great granddaughter
Brother's daughter's daughter
------
Baranga
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Nullaberri
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Ngoornberri
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Naburnobunong
Son's son
Grandson
Brother's son's son
------
Koiyu
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Kaka
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Peipi
Mother's mother's sisters
Great aunts
Mother's father
Grandfather
Makorngo
Elder sister
Sister
Father's elder brother's daughter
Cousin
Illaberri
Younger sister
Sister
Father's younger brother's daughter
Cousin
Mapa (or Maba)
Elder or younger sister's daughter
Niece
Elder or younger sister's son
Nephew
Wife's brother's daughter
------
Wife's brother's son
------
Ngungornberri
Daughter
Daughter
Mapeinga
Brother's daughter
Niece
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Brother's daughter's daughter
------
Ngunkomukali
Wife
Wife
Wife's younger sister
Sister-in-law
{p. 80}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Keerli
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Wife's father's brother
------
Wife's father's sister
------
Yinbaiinmunga
Wife's father's father
------
Padierli
Wife's father's father's father
------
Admairinginji
Wife's elder sister
Sister-in-law
Jaidja
Mother's brother, elder and younger
Uncle
Kopeinga
Mother's elder and younger brother's son
Cousin
Mother's elder and younger brother's daughter
Cousin
Komapa
Wife's mother
Mother-in-law
Parieli
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Muraguji
Wife's brother
Brother-in-law
Ngeila, or Ngaila
Father's sister
Aunt
Mother's brother's wife
Aunt
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--KAKADU TRIBE
(WOMAN SPEAKING.)
Papa
Father
Father
Father's brother, elder and younger
Uncle
Kaka
Father's father
Grandfather
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Meimaiimba
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Baranga
Elder brother
Brother
Father's elder brother's son
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's son
Cousin
Nullaberri
Younger brother
Brother
Father's younger brother's son
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's son
Cousin
Mapa
Daughter
Daughter
Sister's son
Nephew
Son
Son
Sister's daughter
Niece
Husband's brother's son
Nephew
Husband's brother's daughter
Niece
Manga
Son's son
Grandson
Son's daughter
Granddaughter
Father's mother
Grandmother
Father's mother's sister
Great aunt
Father's mother's brother
Great uncle
Pulupurlumba
Mother's mother's mother
Great granddaughter
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great granddaughter
Koiyu
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister, elder and younger
Aunt
Kumambilna
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
{p. 81}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Makorngo
Elder sister
Sister
Father's elder brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's elder sister's daughter
Cousin
Illaberri
Younger sister
Sister
Father's younger brother's daughter
Cousin
Mother's younger sister's daughter
Cousin
Ngeila
Father's sister
Aunt
Kopeinga
Father's sister's son
Cousin
Father's sister's daughter
Cousin
Mother's brother's son
Cousin
Mother's brother's daughter
Cousin
Jadja
Mother's brother, elder and younger
Uncle
Ngomberri
Brother's son
Nephew
Yingomberri
Brother's daughter
Niece
Ngomukali
Husband
Husband
Husband's brother
Brother-in-law
Kobiorkera
Husband's father
Father-in-law
Husband's father's brother
------
Husband's mother
Mother-in-law
Husband's mother's brother
------
Husband's mother's sister
------
Oorobiorkero
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Proomapa
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Yingbaiingmunga
Husband's father's father
------
Yingpingmunga
Husband's father's father's wife
------
TABLE OF RELATIONSHIP TERMS.--WADUMAN TRIBE.
(MAN SPEAKING.)
Kadugo
Father
Father
Father's brother, elder and younger
Uncle
Baba
Father's father
Grandfather
Kagogo
Father's father's brother
Great uncle
Father's father's father
Great grandfather
Mother's mother
Grandmother
Wife's mother's brother's daughter
------
Wife's mother's brother's son
------
Igeiyu
Son's son's wife
------
Son
Son
Brother's son
Nephew
Daughter
Daughter
Kaleja
Brother's daughter
Niece
Brother, elder and younger
Brother
Igariu
Father's brother's son
Cousin
Ingarinun
Son's son
Grandson
Son's son's son
Great Grandson
{p. 82}
Native Term
Actual Relationship in English Terms
English Terms included wholly or partly in the Native Term.
Kadeding
Mother
Mother
Mother's sister
Aunt
Kaniomo
Mother's brother, elder and younger
Uncle
Daughter's husband
Son-in-law
Kagung
Father's brother's daughter
Cousin
Nabubu
Father's father's mother
Great grandmother
Pukali
Father's brother's son
Cousin
Father's brother's daughter
Cousin
Inamman
Sister, elder and younger
Sister
Brother's son's daughter
------
Mother's sister's daughter
Niece
Wife's father's father
------
Wife's father's son
------
Wife's father's brother's son
------
Ingauia
Wife
Wife
Elder or younger brother's wife
Sister-in-law
Brother's son's son's wife
------
Ingaua
Wife's father
Father-in-law
Wife's father's brother
------
Gnauula
Son's wife
Daughter-in-law
Brother's son's wife
------
Dado
Sister's husband
Brother-in-law
Wife's brother Brother-in-law
------
Tjuga
Sister's son
Nephew
Sister's husband's father
------
Sister's daughter
Niece
Indukal
Wife's mother
Mother-in-law
Wife's mother's sister
------
Sister's son's wife
------
Ijamin
Wife's mother's mother
------
Wife's mother's mother's brother
------
Sister's son's son
------
Sister's son's daughter
------
Sister's daughter's son
------
Sister's daughter's daughter
------
Daughter's son
Grandson
Daughter's daughter's son
Great grandson
Uuni
Son's son's son
Great grandson
Imbunni
Son's son's daughter
Great granddaughter
Igaringun
Daughter's daughter
Granddaughter
Nababin
Daughter's daughter's daughter
Great granddaughter
Inallari
Daughter's daughter's husband
------
Ilumba
Wife's mother's brother
------
{p. 83}
STATUS TERMS.
In every tribe there are certain status terms which are applied to different individuals at different times of their lives. They are as follows
(1) Kakadu tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Baby: Bialilla.
Baby: Bialilla.
2. Young boy: Mulakirri.
Young girl: Yingulakirri.[1]
3. Boy, before initiation: Ningeri.
Girl, before marriage: Kupari medjauer.
4. Young man, after initiation: Numulakirri.
Young married girl: Jereiwin.
5. Middle-aged man: Ulanja.
Middle-aged woman: No special name. She is spoken of as jirongadda Murora, that is close up to, or getting on to, Murora.
6. Old man: Murabulba.
Old woman: Murora.
There is also a special term, Lekerungen, applied to old men who have seen the Muraian Ceremony. This is evidently the equivalent of the term Uliara, which is applied, in the Arunta tribe, to those who have pa**ed through the Engwura, the final initiation ceremony which admits the relatively younger men to the ranks of the old Men.
[1. This same term is applied to the menstrual flow, but the natives said that it is applied also to girls.]
{p. 84}
(2) Melville Island tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Baby: Kurrijinni, or (Uru)kurrijinni.
Baby: Kurrijinni.
2. Young boy: Mallakuninga.
Young girl: Allinga
3. Young boy during his first initiation ceremony: Marrukumana
Young girl during first time of pa**ing through initiation ceremony: Mikijeruma
4. Youth during and after initiation, while pa**ing through for the second time: Watjinyerti.
Girl during second time of pa**ing through initiation ceremony: Mikingyertinga.
5. Young man while pa**ing through the ceremony for the third time: Mikinyerti.
Young married woman: Murrakuburra.
6. Man with children: Mikangula.
Woman with children Awirriawi.
7. Old man: Irula.
Old woman: Perrimaringa or Purrumarina.
8. Very old man Gurimurdi.
Very old woman Perrimaringa intula, or Purrumarina intula.
Some of these terms are very much in evidence during the initiation ceremonies, in fact it was only by witnessing these that I discovered the status terms for girls, equivalent to those for boys. The terms Marrukumana and Mikinyerti for boys and those of Mikijeruma and Mikingyertinga for girls, seem to be used only during the actual performance of the ceremony in connection with which they are applied.
{p. 85}
(3) Waduman tribe.
Male
Female
1. Baby: Pudadu
Baby: Kadjiri.
2. Young boy: Wallung.
Young girl: Marinian.
3. Boy after circumcision Yabba.
Girl at puberty: Wadil.
4. Youth after subincision Malu
5. Man with children: Ibuan
Woman with children: Malibi.
6. Old man: Maluka.
Old woman: Muluru
(4) Mudburra tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Baby: Wunyukoro
Baby: Kadjiri
2. Young boy Didja, or Karu
Young girl: Malluguni
3. Boy after circumcision: Wanauru
Girl at puberty: Wadil
4. Youth after subincision: Gnaga
5. Man with children: Logo
Woman with children: Malibi
6. Old man: Maluka
Old woman: Muluru
(5) Port Essington tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Baby: Aritjumarin
Baby: Warraungi
2. Boy, Gnauunduitj
Girl: Bridbilyaju
3. Initiated youth: Naialpur
Married woman: Amadi
4. Young man married: Wokung-jarri
Older woman: Alkia
5. Older man with children Wokung-jarri
Old woman: Balquarakkan
6. Old man: Balquarakkan
Very old woman: Uluuk-ulu
{p. 86}
(6) Larakia tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Baby and boy: Nim
Baby and young girl: Bendla
2. Initiated youth: Belier
Girl: Manego
3. Man with children: Mullinyu
Woman with children: Minumbunni
4. Old man: Lariba
Old woman: Kunura
(7) Worgait tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Little boy: Bambeit
Young girl: Midulung
2. Older boy: Yerda
Older girl: Bidjuokeit
3. Initiated youth and young man: Kundein
------
4. Man with children: Barquett
Woman with children: Bonbeitkalung
5. Old man: Namyuk
Old woman: Ngabarale
(8) Djauan tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Little boy: Djoei
Young girl: Warri
2. Older boy: Kommduit
Older girl: Almeri
3. Initiated youth: Lagaian
------
4. Young man married: Mungui
Married woman: Almuga
5. Man with children: Mungui
Woman with children: Almuga
6. Old man: Bambula
Old woman: Aljerbo
{p. 87}
(9) Nullakun tribe.
Male.
Female.
1. Little boy: Ngurda
Young girl: Mirparra
2. Older boy: Ngurda
Older girl: Gurdi
3. Initiated youth: Bandari
------
4. Young married man: Gewa
Married woman: Tjandalei
5. Man with children: Gewa
------
6. Old man: Noboila
Old woman: Tjuboila
(10) Mungarai tribe.
Male
Female.
1. Little boy: Wangi
Young girl: Ngalaurangi
2. Older boy: Balauminua
Older girl: Ngalamarik
3. Initiated youth: Wandella
------
4. Young man married: Nadiriga
Married woman: Ngalan*lima
5. Man with children: Nadiriga
Woman with children: Ngalauiran
6. Old man: Ngabukbuk
Old woman: Ngabukbuk