There are many other subjects in connection with the disposal of the dead which invite discussion. What, for example, is the meaning of the orientation of the grave or of the body? How far are there traces of a real cult of the dead in Australia? How far can we trace a connection between the more complex northern rites and the Papuan customs? But our information is full rather in appearance than in reality, and to some of these questions no answer can be given, to others at best tentative answers. In the present paper I have endeavoured to show the relation between linguistic areas and burial customs in the first place; and in the second to point out the difference of attitude displayed by the tribes which bury the body compared with those which first allow the flesh to leave the bones and then deal with the latter as the real representatives of the dead man. This custom is so nearly akin to the ritual of South-east New Guinea, that Schmidt's identification of the northern languages seems to be borne out by cultural similarities. In the following list of references, on which my paper is based, Nos. I to 83 are in the main simple burial, exceptions being alluded to in the text; the remainder include both simple burial and more complex rites: 38. Howitt, 452. 39. Life of Buckley, 32, 44, 53. 40. Resident, Glimpses, 199 sq. 41. Howitt, 458. 42. Clutterbuck, Port Philip, 54. 43. Haydon, Aust. Felix, 110. 44. Trs. R. G.S.A., Vict. Br., 5, i. 22. 45. Gregory, Journals, 210. 46. ib. 47. R.G.S.A., S.A. Br., 2, iii. 28. 48. Curr, 2, 179. 49. Curr, 2, 183. 50. Curr, 2, 203. 51. J.A.I., 13, 133; Mitchell, E. Aust., 1, 262; 2, 105. 52. Aust. Anth. Jl., 2, 19. 53. Howitt, 466. 54. Oxley, Journal, 138. 55. Howitt, 458. 56. Anthropologia, 72, 73. 57. Sturt, Two Exp., 2, 47; Mitchell, E. Aust., 2, 105. 100. T.R.S., S.A., 5, 6. 101. Wildey, 117; Curr, 1, 272. 102. R.G.S.A., S.A. Br., 2, iii. 14; Curr, 1, 255. 103. T.R.S.S.A., 17, 259. 104. ib. 31, 7. 105. MS. note. 106. T.R.S.S.A., 5, 5. 107. R. G.S.A., S.A. Br. 2, ii. 65. 108. Searcy, N. Seas, 27. 109. Spencer and Gillen, Nor. Tr., 110. T.R.S.S.A., 17, 237, 240. III. Spencer and Gillen, Nor. Tr., 545. 112. ib. 545. 113. ib. 506. 114. Roth, Studies, 165. 115. J.A.I., 13, 298. 116. Roth, Studies, 163. 117. Roth, Studies, 165. 118. Curr, 2, 361. 119. Curr, 2, 342. 120. Morav. Mission, N.S., 3, 236; Rec. Aust. Mus., 6, 368. 121. Nicols, Life, 110. 123. Rowan, Flowerhunter, 139. 133. Howitt, 474. 134. Curr, 2, 442. 135. Howitt, 474. 136. Howitt, 472. 137. Morrill, Sketch, 23. 138. Curr, 3, 21. 139. Curr, 3, 29. 140. ib. 141. Howitt, 471. 142. Curr, 3, 79. 143. Queenslander, Mar. 18, 1876. 144. Curr, 3, 65. 145. Rec. Aust. Mus., 6, 398. 146. Howitt, 471; Rec. Aust. Mus., 6, 396. 147. Rec. Aust. Mus., 6, 398. 148. Rec. Aust. Mus., 6, 398. 149. Curr, 3, 147. 150. Curr, 3, 223. 151. J.A.I., 13, 298. 152. Howitt, 470. 153. ib. 469. 154. Curr, 3, 166; Rep. Qu. Mus., 1891, 2. 155. Proc. R.S. Qu., 8, 47. 156. J.A.I., 1, 215. 157. Rec. Aust. Mus., 6, 398. NORTHCOTE W. THOMAS. |