The Northern Tribes of Central Australia

Distribution of tribes, nature of country, isolation of tribes brought about by changes in climatic conditions; physical features, hair forms, cicatrices on women, changes in appearance of men at various ages, height of natives, chest measurements, head & foot measurements; type of social organization amongst the tribes occupying the country extending from Lake Eyre through the centre to the Gulf of Carpentaria; Dieri & Urabunna, group marriage; Arunta, Iliaura, Ilpirra, Unmatjera, Kaitish, Warramunga, Wulmala, Walpari, Tjingili, Umbaia, Gnanji, Binbinga, Allaua, Mara, Anula; classes & sub-classes; tables of relationship terms & descent (Warramunga), relationship terms Worgaia, Umbaia, Tjingili, Gnanji, Binbinga, Mara (with descent table), Anula; moieties - Arunta, Warramunga, Binbinga, Mara; tables showing equivalent sub classes (Warramunga, Walpari, Wulmala, Tjingili, Gnanji, Bingongina, Worgaia) genealogical trees; marriage customs, account of ariltha ceremoney - Arunta, Ilpirra & 14 other tribes; totems - difference between central & south central tribes, gradual change in method of counting descent of totem; universal belief in reincarnation; origin of totemic groups & ancestors; ceremonies connected with the totems - Witchetty Grub & Sun, Erlipinna, Erlia, & water totems (Kaitish), Uluuru, Kingilli (Warramunga - approximately 30 ceremonies connected with these), Ant totem, Thaballa, Pau-wa, Ingwuna, Tappin or Wonna, Ulanji ceremony of Anula; detailed account of all rituals with explanations, sacred objects & body paintings described; Chapter on the Wollonqua totem of the Warramunga, wanderings of the mythic beast, building of mound, drawing of ground designs; ritual objects, ceremonies attendant on the return of a number of ritual objects which had been lent to another group, introducing visiting men to local women; explanation of markings on ritual objects; tradition of Murtu - murtu & the wild dogs (Warramunga).