If it be granted that exogamy existed in practice, on
the lines of Mr. Darwin's theory, before the totem
beliefs lent to the practice a sacred sanction, our task is
relatively easy. The first practical rule would be that of
the jealous Sire, " No males to touch the females in my
camp," with expulsion of adolescent sons. In efflux of
time that rule, become habitual, would be, " No marriage
within the local group." Next, let the local groups
receive names, such as Emus, Crows, Opossums, Snipes,
and the rule becomes, "No marriage within the local
group of animal name; no Snipe to marry a Snipe."
But, if the primal groups were not exogamous, they
would become so, as soon as totemic myths and tabus
were developed out of the animal, vegetable, and other
names of small local groups.
The natural result will be that all the wives among
the local groups called Snipes will come to bear names

* J?ii/. Kig, SitUhtfrnaM iMMlUufi, p. 801, ISK^



144



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other than Snipe, will come to be known by the names
of the Aj(m/ groups from which they have been acquired.
These names they will retain, I suggest^ in local group
Snipe, by way of distinction — as the Emu woman, the
Opossum woman, and so forth. The Emus know the
names of the groups from which they have taken
women, and it seems probable enough that the women
may even have borne tattoo marks denoting their original
groups, as is now in some places the Australian practice.
