| Description |
x, 210 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm |
| Series |
Penguin books |
| Summary |
Chap. 1, p.1-20; Remodelling society - Elcho Island Memorial, discusses significance of the movement, Molonga cult, Bandjalang Pentecostalism, Government policy since 1951, Wave Hill strike, Pindan mob; Chap.2, p.21-44; Land and society - numbers at European settlement, population densities for Gidjingali, Wanindiljaugwa, Walbiri, Aranda, Sydney, Murray River); limitations on food resources & diet, division of labour in food getting; concepts of land & territoriality, land as a religious phenomenon, clans (southern Arnhem Land example), local groups, conception beliefs & sites (Aranda), local organization, summary of situation for Gidjingali, Tiwi & Walbiri, owner & manager relationships (Dalabon), relations between clans of different type (Aranda), government & authority, authority in religious rites; Chap.3, p.45-71; Women & society - exogamy & marriage, kinship, methods of obtaining wives, mother in law bestowal, bestowal rights (Tiwi, Gidjingali, Karadjeri, Walbiri, Dalabon), marriage & kinship rules (Aranda, Kariera), age as a factor in marriage, widows, effects of late marriage, use value & exchange value of women; Chap.4, p.72-108; The order of the world - class systems & their structure, moieties, sections & semi moieties, sub sections, gives equivalent systems for Dalabon & Maiali, diagram shows correlation of Gidjingali kin categories & classes, classes in the cosmic order (Dalabon, Yukum, Wolmeri, Murinbata, Booandik; Chap.5, p.109-130; The world creative powers - cosmology, origin theories, All - Father beliefs, role of Dhuramoolan in Wiradthuri Burbung cult (from R.H. Mathews), comparison with All - Mother beliefs (Murinbata, Kakadu, Dalabon), Rainbow Serpent beliefs (Arnhem Land, Cape York, Karadjeri); Chap.6, p.131-157; The rites of life - fertility & increase (Karadjeri, Aranda), initiatory rites (Murring Bora described), Wiradthuri ritual site decoration & ground designs, comparison between initiatory & fertility rites, exclusion from rites; (Jabuduruwa, Balgin, Engwura), mythological sanction for exclusion of women; Chap.7, p.158-176; The fall into death - myths & beliefs on death (Kulin, Dalabon, Rembaranga, Wotjo, Kamilaroi, Tiwi, Aranda, Kaitish, Karadjeri), causes of death, sorcery, inquest methods (Dalabon, South Australia, Adelaide, Warramunga, Bard, Ungarinyin), vengeance, funerary customs, disposal of corpse (Dalabon), after death beliefs; Chap.8, p.177-194; The defensibility of Aboriginal society - contrast between Aboriginal & Australian life styles, concepts of authority, social freedom, relations between men & women, servility & independence |
| Analysis |
Aboriginal Australians |
| Notes |
Includes index |
| Bibliography |
Bibliography: pages 195-201 |
| Subject |
Aboriginal Australians.
|
|
Aboriginal Australians -- Religion and mythology
|
|
Aboriginal Australians -- Social life and customs.
|
|
Aboriginal Australians -- Social structure
|
|
Social structure.
|
| Author |
Beryl Phillips Indigenous Collection
|
| LC no. |
73168590 |
| ISBN |
0713903309 |
|
