A black civilization ; a social study of an Australian tribe.

Field work 1926-29, north-eastern Arnhem Land (Murngin people); eight tribes which have similar organization - Yaernungo, Burera, Murngin, Barlamomo, Djinba, Ritarngo, Gandjinung and Dai; detailed exposition of various local institutions clan, moiety, phratry - their relation to social pattern; list of Murngin clans, meaning of names, locations; extended kinship systems, sub-section, relationship systems generally; age-grading, marital status, the functions of various rites de passage; economic and group and its relation to tribal ritual, division of labour; warfare - clan feuds, causes of war, kinds of battles, effects of war on social institutions and ritual, detailed history of a particular blood feud; notes on language, secret ceremonial, Pidgin from Malays; types of magic - black magic and the sorcerer, case histories of the sorcerer; image magic, singing magic, dreaming and magic healing, medicine man, ritual objects; types of medicine; sociological interpretation of magic; totemism - method of analysis, myth and associated rituals, the Wawilak constellation, the Djunkgao constellation; interpretation of Murngin totemism and of its ritual logics; mortuary rites, interpretation of death rituals; social change, diffusion of ceremonies; Malay influences on social and material culture; excavation of midden (Macassar Well), Tamarind pods eaten by natives; history of burial customs; shelters, body ornaments, use of vegetable fibre in fishing nets and decorations; human hair, opossum fur string; womens food bags, spirit bags, types of utensils, baskets; weapons - spearthrower, spear (4 types), clubs; canoes and tools for sailing (use of sails and paddles, anchors); tools used for gathering sea food - turtle harpoon, harpoon rope, fish nets, fish traps; other implements - digging stick, fire drills and fire (method of cooking, ovens), stone axe, food grinding stone, wells, construction of rude bridges; list of articles used in ceremonies with detailed description of each type; dreams, conception beliefs; personal names; sign language, anthropometry - gives stature of five geographical groups; myths - story of Mahkarolla, friend of Author; glossary of kin, native and technical terms.