Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/331

 LANGUAGE. 249 between the two last-mentioned of whom a few have now and then visited the settlement. All these tribes seem in general to be on tolerably good terms with each other, at least it does not appear that there are any hereditary feuds between them, such as exist in other parts of the colony. It is true that the Kukatas are universally feared and abominated, but apparently more on account of their reputed skill in witchcraft and various other dangerous tricks than for their warlike qualities. Natives belonging to different tribes, and not previously acquainted, are very shy for the first day or two after their meeting, avoiding and not addressing each other unless induced to do so by a third party, the convenient custom of formal introductions being as yet unknown to them. Any attempt at computing the number of the natives must be futile, as I have never heard of a whole tribe being collected together at one time; I should think, however, that in assuming each tribe as containing 200 souls the real number would by no means be exceeded. The principal mark of distinction between the tribes is difference of language or dialect; where the tribes intermix greatly no inconvenience is experienced on this account, as every person understands, in addition to his own dialect, that of the neighbouring tribe; the consequence is that two persons commonly converse in two languages, just as an Englishman and German would hold a conversation, each person speaking his own language, but understanding that of the other, as well as his own. This peculiarity will often occur in one family through intermarriages, neither party ever thinking of changing his or her dialect for that of the other. Children do not always adopt the language of the mother, but that of the tribe among whom they live. The Parnkalla dialect, with which I have made myself principally acquainted, is spoken by the tribe of the same name, inhabiting the eastern coast of this peninsula from Port Lincoln northward probably as far as the head of Spencer’s Gulf. The Nauo is spoken in the southern and western parts of this district, and seems to deviate from the Parnkalla by a broader and harsher pronunciation and different inflexions or terminations of the words, verbs as well as nouns; many words,