Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/30

25 having babies does not in any way militate against the custom; of course the children in these cases go with their mothers. Quarrels very often result in these summary denouements, against which the poor women dare not say one word, however much may be their aversion to the change. This law is one of the rights inherent in aboriginal manhood which cannot be controverted. As a natural consequence the right is often exercised because of the most trivial reasons. Sometimes, however, regret will supervene, when the wives are returned to their original partners. This is, of course, very laudable, but, being so, seldom. occurs. When a woman becomes a widow she falls back to her father, brother, or guardian, as the case may be. In no instance does she go to her late husband's relations. If she is not too old she is again exchanged away, her children, if any, going with her. If, on the other hand, she should be too old to tempt the owners of marriageable girls, she becomes a waif and drudge in the tribe, unless some one of of the enforced bachelors should deem her fitted to attend to his wants; if so, he has only to make his wishes known, when the sable widow gladly accepts his protection.

These numberless choppings and changes makes it almost impossible to tell the true paternity of many of the children, but as there is not any property depending upon heirship, legitimacy or the contrary is of very little consequence, and a bar sinister in their genealogical trees is not deemed derogatory in any way. The children do not receive any schooling. When old enough to run about they do just whatever pleases them, without the slightest reference to