Students of ethnology who may scan these lines may find food for
reflection in the fact that Tom and Nelly offer exceptions to the rules
that the totems of Australian blacks generally refer to food, and that
those whose totems are alike do not marry. Tom's totemic title,
"Kitalbarra," is derived from a splinter of a rock off an islet to the
southeast of Dunk Island. "Oongle-bi," Nelly's affinity, is a rock on
the summit of a hill on the mainland, not far from her birthplace. The
plea of the rocks was not raised as any just cause or impediment to the
match when Tom by force of arms espoused Nelly. "Jimmy," Tom and Nelly's
son, born in civilisation, bears a second name, that of a deceased
uncle, "Toola-un-guy," the totemic rendering of which is now unknown.
Another "Jimmy," a native of Hinchinbrook, is differentiated by
"Yaeki-muggie," the title of the sandspit of one of the Brook Islands.
The confusion of tongues between Tom and Nelly may be briefly
illustrated--
TOM ("Kitalbarra"). NELLY ("Oongle-bi").
Sun. Wee-yee. Car-rie.
Moon. Yil-can. Car-cal-oon.
Sky. Aln-pun. Moogah-car-boon.
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