We have extremely scanty information concerning the relation between brothers and sisters; and the few hints we possess are very contradictory. Thus Gason says that a brother and sister "would sacrifice their lives for one another if called upon."[844] And Fraser informs us that when a man is sick it is his brother's duty to tend him and carry him about. And the author gives an example in support of this statement.[845] And again we read in Oldfield that a girl, if her mother is dead, "is bound to supply them (her brothers) with food for a certain period; indeed, brothers in general retain the privilege of maltreating their sisters long after these latter became the property of another."[846] On the other hand, Grey states that no "common bond of union" exists between brothers and sisters of the same father.[847] And according to Spencer and Gillen a man may never speak from a near to his younger sister, although he may speak freely to his older one.[848] Among the natives of Yorke's Peninsula brothers and sisters were not allowed to converse.[849] In some West Australian tribes the boy was never allowed to speak to his sisters after the initiation ceremony. He had to say farewell to his sisters before he went to the initiation. The "own" brothers and sisters keep apart from each other. And even boys or girls of the same class cannot speak or play together.[850] The first three statements appear to indicate a close individual relationship between brother and sister; the four following seem to deny it again. Recalling to mind what we learned about the relation in question in other connections, we hardly get much help therefrom. The exchange of sisters would point to some ties; but, it is too uncertain a hint. The facts that children are suckled for a long time, and that owing to that and to the practice of infanticide connected with it, the children succeed each other at long intervals, reduce the possibility of close ties between the children of the same parents; especially as they so soon leave the parental camp, and as probably afterwards the intercourse between the sisters and brothers is interrupted (compare statements of Curr and Spencer and Gillen). On the whole we know very little about the relation in question; and we may only conjecture, although with a high degree of probability, that the tie is not a very strong one and does not play an important part in family life; if it were otherwise we probably would know more about it. [844] _J.A.I._, xxiv. p. 170. [845] _Loc. cit._, p. 44. [846] Oldfield, p. 249. [847] _Loc. cit._, ii. p. 230. [848] Spencer and Gillen, _Nat. Tr._, p. 89. [849] Sutton, _loc. cit._, p. 19. [850] Mrs. D. M. Bates, _loc. cit._, p. 5. The same is reported by A. L. P. Cameron of the natives of Cooper's Creek. _Science of Man._ July 1904. CHAPTER VIII ECONOMICS