Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/343

Rh the tribe should be divided into branches, and distinguished one from the other by different names, after objects animate and inanimate, such as dogs, mice, emu, rain, iguana, and so forth, the members of any such branch not to intermarry, but with permission for one branch to mingle with another. Thus the son of a dog might not marry the daughter of a dog, but either might form an alliance with a mouse, an emu, a rat, or other family.

This custom is still observed, and the first question asked of a stranger is "What Murdoo?" namely, Of what family are you?