Page:The Euahlayi Tribe.djvu/50

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
RELATIONSHIPS AND TOTEMS
13
Masculine  Murree brother and sister
Feminine, Matha
Masculine  Hippi brother and sister
Feminine, Hippitha
Masculine  Kubbee brother and sister
Feminine, Kubbootha


The children of Bootha will be

Masculine  Hippi brother and sister
Feminine, Hippitha


The children of Matha will be

Masculine  Kubbee brother and sister
Feminine, Kubbootha


The children of Hippatha will be

Masculine  Kumbo brother and sister
Feminine, Bootha


The children of Kubbootha will be

Masculine  Murree brother and sister
Feminine, Matha


Thus, you see, they take, if girls, their grandmother's and her sisters' 'class' names in common; if boys, the 'class' name of their grandmother's brothers.

Bootha can only marry  Murree,
Matha  „ Kumbo,
Hippitha  „ Kubbee,
Kubbootha  „ Hippi.


Both men and women are often addressed by these names when spoken to.

A propos of names, a child is never called at night by the same name as in the daytime, lest the 'devils' hear it and entice him away.

Names are made for the newly born according to circumstances; a girl born under a Dheal tree, for example, was called Dheala. Any incident happening at the time of birth may gain a child a name, such as a particular lizard passing. Two of my black maids were called after lizards in that way: Barahgurree and Bogginbinnia.