. The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands. eir own, at the same time making a sort of whine. Greatrespect is paid to old persons ; the oldest walks first, the younger followin paying a visit. The old men exercise great authority, even over thefighting men ; the old women, too, not unfrequently attempt noisily toenforce their views. NEINMAIi, AN , WITH CLAY INTRODUCED BENEATH. THE AUSTRALIANS. 875 Gover
. The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands. eir own, at the same time making a sort of whine. Greatrespect is paid to old persons ; the oldest walks first, the younger followin paying a visit. The old men exercise great authority, even over thefighting men ; the old women, too, not unfrequently attempt noisily toenforce their views. NEINMAIi, AN , WITH CLAY INTRODUCED BENEATH. THE AUSTRALIANS. 875 Government. Each family is under the control of its head ; but the tribes have nodefinite chiefs, being governed collectively by the old men, the sorcerersand doctors, and the fighting men: Government is by nomeans loose, but follows customs which are very generallyobeyed. Private property is carefully respected, and the tribes stick totheir allotted territories unless by agreement between tribes rights over certain tracts of land, certain trees, Laws andare recognised more or less vaguely. The invasion of personal customs,rights is usually punished by thrusting a spear through some part of the. EXPERT ACSTEALIAN THIEVES. body of the guilty person. In Western Australia some tribes punish theabduction of another mans wife by compelling the offender to allow everymale to thrust his spear through his leg ; but women are subjected tomuch severer punishments, often to death or maiming by their lying is not punished by them ; a lie told to hurt another wouldbe punished. Many offences and charges reckoned criminal are settledby a fight between the parties, unless the head of the family chastisesthe guilty one. Fighting, indeed, is a normal condition of life among the Australian 8:6 THE INHABITANTS OF OCEANIA. tribes. Messages are continually passing between them, often leading^ to ill-will and war. Ambassadors, who are always well-treated, are sent
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectcivilization, bookyea
