RELATIONSHIPS. 49 8. There is one term for my elder and another for my younger brother; so also for my sisters, elder or younger. Hence there is no collective term by which I can indicate all my brothers, or all my sisters, unless I be either the eldest or the youngest of the family. Upon reading this it was at once suggested to me that here was the key to the system of relationships among the Narrinyeri. Upon referring to my table, drawn up years before, and also making inquiry amongst the most intelligent natives, I found that their system agreed with the Tamilian in most particulars.* The following is the system of relationship amongst the Narrinyeri: 1. I being male, the children of my brothers are my sons and daughters, the same as my own children are; while the children of my sisters are my nephews and nieces. The grandchildren of my brothers are called maiyarare; while the grandchildren of my sisters are called mutthari. 2. I being female, the children of my sisters are my sons and daughters, the same as my own sons and daughters are; while the children of my brothers are my nephews and nieces; consequently it is common to hear a native address as nanghy, or my father, the man who is his father’s brother, as well as his own father; and as nainkowa, or my mother, the woman who is his mother’s sister, as well as his own mother. 3. All my father’s brothers are my fathers, but all my father’s sisters are my aunts. But my father’s elder brothers have the distinguishing title of ngoppano, and his younger have the title wyatte. These terms would be used in the presence of my own father. The name for aunt is barno. 4. All my mother’s sisters are my mothers, but all my mother’s brothers are my uncles. Wanowe is the word for uncle. 5. The children of my father’s brothers are my brothers and sisters, and so are the children of my mother’s sisters; but the children of my father’s sisters, and those of my mother’s brothers, are my cousins. The word for cousin is nguyanowe.
- I find that the Tamilian system also prevails amongst the Meru nation, who
occupy the country next to the Narrinyeri, on the River Murray. 50 RELATIONSHIPS.
