
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- INTRODUCTION
- PREFACE
- CHAP. I INQUIRY CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF THE AUSTRALIAN RACE
- CHAP. II THE COUNTRY OF THE KABI AND WAKKA TRIBES
- CHAP. III PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHARACTERS
- CHAP. IV DAILY LIFE—SHELTER—FOOD—CLOTHING
- CHAP. V MAN-MAKING AND OTHER CEREMONIES
- CHAP. VI DISEASE AND TREATMENT—DEATH—BURIAL AND MOURNING
- CHAP. VII ART—IMPLEMENTS—UTENSILS—WEAPONS—CORROBOREES
- CHAP. VIII SOCIAL ORGANISATION
- CHAP. IX THE FAMILY—KINSHIP AND MARRIAGE
- CHAP. X RELIGION AND MAGIC
- CHAP. XI MYTHS AND LEGENDS
- CHAP. XII LANGUAGE
- VOCABULARY
CHAP. III - PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHARACTERS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- INTRODUCTION
- PREFACE
- CHAP. I INQUIRY CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF THE AUSTRALIAN RACE
- CHAP. II THE COUNTRY OF THE KABI AND WAKKA TRIBES
- CHAP. III PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHARACTERS
- CHAP. IV DAILY LIFE—SHELTER—FOOD—CLOTHING
- CHAP. V MAN-MAKING AND OTHER CEREMONIES
- CHAP. VI DISEASE AND TREATMENT—DEATH—BURIAL AND MOURNING
- CHAP. VII ART—IMPLEMENTS—UTENSILS—WEAPONS—CORROBOREES
- CHAP. VIII SOCIAL ORGANISATION
- CHAP. IX THE FAMILY—KINSHIP AND MARRIAGE
- CHAP. X RELIGION AND MAGIC
- CHAP. XI MYTHS AND LEGENDS
- CHAP. XII LANGUAGE
- VOCABULARY
Summary
Without measurements, one can only speak approximately regarding stature and other physical characters.
The tribes under notice showed no marked divergence in appearance from the other Queensland blacks or from those whom I have seen belonging to New South Wales, Victoria, and the south of South Australia. It would be impossible to distinguish, by appearance, a Kabi or Wakka black of the darkest complexion from, say, a Victorian black. But there were among the Kabi some with lighter skins than any I have seen in Victoria. Two or three of the women were particularly light in colour. There was a very decided suggestion of a mixture of races. The women seemed of a higher type than those in the west of Victoria and the southern extremity of South Australia. Among these latter there was a number of bearded women. I saw some such at Condah settlement and three at Adelaide, so that to have a beard must have been a not uncommon feature of the women of that locality. I have been told what may be correct, that this peculiarity was the result of using a razor.
The Kabi and Wakka men were of low stature. The average would not exceed 5 feet 5 inches. In rare cases a height of about 6 feet was attained. The range would be from 5 feet 1 inch to 6 feet. In proportion to the men the women were rather tall.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Two Representative Tribes of QueenslandWith an Inquiry Concerning the Origin of the Australian Race, pp. 72 - 82Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1910