Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/118

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animal but the dog of the forest. Flat sioiiea to pound the gathered seeds were in use both in Western Australia, Victoria, and other places far removed from them. They could supply their needs, Imt thej were some times indolent in doing so. Their atone hatcliets were like those found in Europe. They were not perforated, but the handle was secured to them by various devices. To sharpen them gave toil for months. The tribes flourished best and were larger, and individiuilB amongst them were liner, where p^ame was most abundant, or lish in sea or river furnished wholesome change of diet. In the most barren tracks they have been seen reduced to the verge of starvation ^ and under such trials the race would dwindle. But the opossum seldom failed them. It was almost as ubiquitous as themselves. Before white men disturbed the hunting-grounds the natives had no difficulty in procuring food. From whatever quarter of the world they imported their ceremonial law, their intricate system of family distinctions, and their laws of food, the}' implicitly obeyed them through- out the continent. Their oneness of origin could not be doubted. The variations were but matters of detail, due to accidents. They did not tattoo like the Pacific islanders. They never marred the face, but raised with great care cicatrices which ridged then' bodies. The scars, borne with pride in chosen pattern, were different on the men from those on the women. Every man had a family or class na.me, and could not marry a woman of that desig- nation. Betrothals were early made, and always subject to the family distinctions. It may be doubted whether a girl ever attained the age of seven without having been betrothed within her tribe, in subjection to its marriage laws. The death of the husband transferred bis widows to bis l^rother of the same class-name, The children inherited the class-name of the mother. ^^ The name b}" which men and women were addressed was not the class, but an individual, name. The distinguishing class-names varied in different districts, but the system was the same. The individual name was frequently given with reference to the -' It must be borne in mind that there wore different customs in different triims. When using ^eneml terms the iiothor endeavours to refer to the cuetoniB most widely ditfuseth I