Page:Dawson - Australian aborigines (1900).djvu/88



meetings are held periodically in summer, by agreement among the friendly tribes. But any two chiefs have the power of sending messengers and commanding the attendance of the tribes at an appointed time and place, in order that matters of dispute may be arranged. Sometimes, instead of dispatching men to give notice of a meeting, a signal smoke is raised by setting fire to a wide circle of long grass in a dry swamp. This causes the smoke to ascend in a remarkable spiral form, which is seen from a great distance. The summons thus given is strictly attended to. Or, if there is not a suitable swamp, a hollow tree is stuffed with dry bark and leaves, and set on fire. Or, a fire is made on a hill top.

Each tribe, on its arrival, erects its wuurns, and lights its fires in front of them, on the side of the camp next their own country. When all are assembled, proceedings commence after sunset, or before sunrise next morning. As soon as the families of the different tribes are seated in rows on the ground, the chief of each tribe, accompanied by the other chiefs, walks along and taps everyone on the head with a piece of bark, asking the name of his tribe, his personal name, and his class. If anything of importance has to be discussed, a circular open space, of one hundred or one hundred and fifty yards in diameter, is reserved in the centre of the camp, into which the chiefs advance by turns, and speak in a loud voice, that everyone may hear what is said.

When a chief has a matter of great importance to settle, and desires the advice and assistance of friendly tribes, he dispatches two messengers to the nearest chief with a message-stick. This message-stick is a piece of wood about six inches long and one inch in diameter, with five or six sides, one of these indicating by notches the number of tribes to be summoned, and the others the number of men required from each. The messengers are not allowed to explain the business of the proposed meeting. Immediately on a chief receiving the message-stick, he sends for his principal men, who pass their hands down the stick and ascertain the number of men required from the tribe. They then