File:Natives of Australia (1906) (14582179789).jpg

Identifier: nativesofaustral00thomuoft (find matches)
Title: Natives of Australia
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Thomas, Northcote Whitridge, 1868-
Subjects: Ethnology -- Australia Australia -- Social conditions Australia -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : A. Constable
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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, the simplestand perhaps the commonest form ; she may bebetrothed at, or even, provisionally, before, birth, butthis is usually part of a process of barter; she may beabducted, either from an already existing, or a pro-spective husband, or from her relatives ; or she may beinherited from a brother or tribal kinsman. Even where a bride is acquired by betrothal, thewedding ceremonies are somewhat ungentle, far moreso those where a wife is abducted, possibly against herwill. When the bride is obstreperous, the affiancedhusband is fully justified by the customs of the abor-igines, in taking his club and whacking her on the headwith it till she faints or submits; and many accountsof the beginning of the honeymoon make mentionof these connubial endearments ; so that it can hardlybe a rare occurrence for a bride to suffer chastisementearly in her married life. This is easily understoodwhen it is explained that, whereas the bride maynumber some thirteen summers, the husband will be Plaif. 26
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A QlKKN?L\M) BlLI.K (n. 175^ MARRIAGE 17S at least thirty and perhaps sixty, with several previousmatrimonial investments still on his hands; for if aman can get them and keep them, there is no bar tohis having as many wives as he likes. When the brideis very young, she often remains away from her hus-band, probably with her mother, for months at a time ;but while she is with him he is obliged to provide herwith animal food, although she on her side is relievedto some extent of the usual burden of collectingvegetable food sufficient in quantity for the wants ofherself and her husband, her tender years being merci-fully taken into account. If his little bride pleaseshim, a husband will show her attention by rubbing herwith fat at frequent intervals ; this is considered to bea good cosmetic, and, besides, has the reputation ofmaking her grow quickly, and, what is much moreimportant, of making her grow fat, a quality which isprized above all others in women so much so, thata lady with a

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