Amongst the tribes of the Lower Murray River "particular districts having a radius of from ten to twenty miles, or in other cases varying according to local circumstances, are considered generally as being the property and hunting-grounds of the tribes who frequent them."[385] Eyre speaks of a further division of land amongst single individuals; it is handed down hereditarily in the male line. "A man can dispose of or barter his land to others."[386] At any rate, all members of a "tribe" (= local group) may roam over the common territory. It seems, nevertheless, to be rather a formal than actual, exclusive right.[387] The local groups may not trespass on their respective territories without permission.[388] The whole local group congregates only "if there is any particular variety more abundant than another, or procurable only in certain localities. Should this not be the case, then they are probably scattered over their district in detached groups, or separate families."[389] Here we are well informed on our principal points: the local group is the exclusive joint landowner; the individual has some claims which are not quite clearly defined, but surely do not mean exclusive economic _usum fructum_. They live scattered in small parties over their area. There is another passage in Eyre's book that confirms this latter point. He says that each family is independent and governed by the father; but that, "as a matter of policy, he always informs his fellows where he is going." So that "although a tribe may be dispersed all over their own district in single groups ... yet if you meet with any one family, they can at once tell you where you will find any other.... In cases of sudden danger or emergency, the scattered groups are rapidly warned or collected" by messenger or smoke signals.[390] [385] Eyre, ii. p. 297. [386] _Ibid._, pp. 218, 297. [387] _Ibid._, p. 297. [388] _Ibid._, ii. p. 297. [389] _Ibid._, p. 218. [390] _Ibid._, ii. p. 317. Mitchell's expedition, when exploring the interior of South-East Australia, met a party of blacks on the banks of the Murray, whom they had seen before on the Darling a few hundred miles distant.[391] This would apparently contradict the assumption of fixed boundaries. But the general evidence shows that, in exceptional cases, and with the leave of the neighbouring tribes--especially if these were friendly--a local group or any party of natives were allowed to travel even considerable distances for purposes of warfare, barter or ceremonial gatherings. [391] Mitchell, _loc. cit._, ii. p. 92.