The Family among the Australian Aborigines, a Sociological StudyMalinowski, Bronislaw
History
The Family among the Australian Aborigines, a Sociological Study
Malinowski, Bronislaw
Aboriginal Australians -- Social life and customs; Ethnology -- Australia; Families -- History
"Il est défendu a un Australien ... de se marier avant au moins
vingt-huit à trente ans, et la mort est le châtiment de tout
infracteur de la loi."[779]
[779] Salvado, p. 277; natives of South West Australia.
In the tribes of King George Sound the old men seem partly to
monopolize the young females.[780]
[780] Scott Nind, _loc. cit._, pp. 38, 39.
As we have mentioned above, boys leave their parents' camp to undergo
the initiation ceremonies. These latter seem to obtain in all tribes,
with a few insignificant exceptions such as the Bidwelli mentioned
by Howitt. This is a quite well-known fact. But what is their mode
of living during this, in some tribes, rather prolonged period and
afterwards, before they marry? They do not live in their parents' camp;
and they have not yet their individual settlement. They appear in the
great majority of cases to club together, have their own encampment,
roam and hunt on their own account, and in general to live a life apart.
_Statements._--Howitt, speaking of the camping rules among the
Kurnai, says that a "'brogan' (a man initiated at the same time,
a comrade, or tribal brother, see _Nat. Tr._, p. 737), although
calling the man's wife 'wife' and she calling him 'husband,' would
have to camp with the young men, if any were there, or else by
himself."[781] And again: "The young men (brewit) and the married
men who have not their wives with them, always encamp together at
some distance from the camps of the married men."[782] "The young
man, or brewit, after his initiation, may be said to have commenced
a life independent, to some extent, of his parents."[783] "He lived
with the other young men, and with those who were initiated with
him, and accordingly his brothers."[784]
[781] _Kam. and Kurn._, p. 210.
[782] _J.A.I._, xiv. p. 318.
[783] _Kam. and Kurn._, p. 199, and _Nat. Tr._, p. 737.
[784] _Ibid._, and _Nat. Tr._, p. 737.
We read of the Wolgal tribe: "A married man would never stay in
the young men's camp when travelling, unless he were without his
wife, when he would be considered as being single. The married
people and the single young men camp entirely apart."[785] Howitt
mentions further the young men's camp in connection with animal
food division amongst the Ngarigo (Maneroo blacks).[786] That the
bachelors' camp was a rule is confirmed by Howitt's statement that
amongst the Mukjarawaint there was no young men's camp.[787] The
unmarried men seem to have lived with their grandparents.[788]
[785] Howitt, _Nat. Tr._, p. 776.
[786] _Ibid._, pp. 759, 760.
[787] _Ibid._, p. 764.
[788] _Ibid._ Compare Roth, _Eth. Stud._, p. 183.
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