Page:Native Tribes of South-East Australia.djvu/724

698 the upper arm. This is the name of the place where the armlet of opossum pelt is tied round the biceps for ornament.

10. Borporung, the point of the shoulder.

11. Jarak-gourn, from jarak, a reed, and goum, the neck. This refers to the place where the reed necklace is worn.

12. Nerup-wrembul, from nerup, the butt, as nerup-galk, the butt or base of a tree, and wrembul, the ear.

13. Wurt-wrembul, from wurt, above, and also behind, and wrembul, the ear; that is, the head above and just behind the ear.

14. Doke-doke, from doka, to move, i.e. "that which moves," being the muscle which can be seen when in the act of eating.

15. Det-det, hard. This is the crown of the head. From this place the count goes down the other side by corresponding places.

This method of counting seems to do away with the often-repeated statement that the Australian aborigines are unable to count beyond four or at the most five. By the above manner of counting they are able to reckon up to thirty, with names for each place.

The messenger carries the message-stick in a net bag, and on arriving at the camp to which he is sent, he hands it to the Headman, at some place apart from the others, saying, "So and so sends you this," and he then gives his message, referring as he does so to the marks on the stick; and, if his message requires it, also to the time in days, or the stages to be made, in the manner already pointed out.

The Headman, having examined the message-stick, hands it to the other old men, and having satisfied himself how many people are wanted, and how many hordes are to be present, and having made such further inquiries as seem necessary, calls all the people together and announces the message to them.

This kind of message-stick, called galk, that is, wood or stick, may be seen by any one. It is retained by the