Page:Aboriginesofvictoria02.djvu/319

Rh words signifying the same object having no similarity whatever in tribes not far removed; but it is a singular fact, showing the common origin of the language, that although an individual of a tribe may not be able to understand the dialect of the natives a hundred miles from his birthplace, yet, take him considerably further, and he will probably meet with those speaking a very similar language to his own, and with whom he can converse.

The girls are betrothed when very young, sometimes as infants; and at the age of thirteen or fourteen are taken possession of in a very summary manner by their future lords. If they will not go quietly to his mia-mia, they get a tap over the head with a waddy to enforce obedience. They are often promised to men of a neighbouring tribe. In that case, they are taken at some general meeting. In all my long experience of native life I have only met with one instance of anything like love being shown. This was in the case of a pretty young girl, who was given to a man old enough to be her father, and who already had one wife, showing a most decided preference for a young man of her tribe. Charley—for that was the favored one's name—took possession of his lady-love when her intended husband was absent on a hunting expedition. On the return of the latter to the camp, he vowed vengeance, and at once endeavoured to recover the girl by force of arms. He armed himself, and approached Charley's mia-mia, waddy and malka in hand. Charley arose, and, taking up his weapons, coolly awaited his opponent—the poor girl cowering and trembling behind him, for well she knew what her fate would be if her lover was defeated. A desperate fight now took place between the two men. Charley was much the smaller of the two, but younger and very active, and I am glad to say victory declared for him, as he gave his opponent a terrible thrashing. However, as he had committed a breach of tribal usage, all were against him, and he had to take himself off with his fair one until the affair had blown over. The Goulburn and Murray blacks had a curious custom or superstition with regard to betrothment. The mother of the betrothed girl would never look at or meet her intended son-in-law if at all possible to avoid him; but if compelled to pass close to him, she would cover up her head and face with her opossum cloak and shuffle past in a most ridiculous fashion. I never could get at the meaning of this apparently absurd custom, called by the Goulburn tribe Ulandibe or Ulandibo.

Polygamy is universal; but it is generally the old men of the tribe who have the greatest number of wives. The reason of this is that they exchange their young daughters for young wives for themselves. Many of the young men are consequently without any, and the result is perpetual fights and quarrels about the women. They;, unfortunate creatures, lead a wretched life of drudgery. They have to collect yams for their husbands—which alone is no joke, as they eat an immense quantity—fetch wood and water, and when on the move carry everything—the man walking along majestically with his tomahawk and a few spears, his poor lubra trudging behind loaded. Their life depends much upon the temper of their generally morose and sullen masters, who beat them brutally with the first thing they can lay their hands on, tomahawk or waddy, for the veriest trifles. When eating, the man sits in