Arnhem Land

By Ronald Murray Berndt, Catherine Helen Berndt

Arnhem Land
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Fieldwork 1946-47, 1949-50; Briefly outlines social organization of coastal people (Maung, Wulamba, Balamumu); Place of indigenous religion in Aboriginal society; Detailed account of alien contact in N.E. and W. Arnhem Land (Baijini (or preMacassans, Malayans etc.)); Effect of traders on ceremonies, material culture (pottery, art etc.) and song cycles; Depopulation - prevalence of venereal disease; Details of song cycle of Gumaidj group describing settlements of Macassans along N. Aust. coast with place names; Aborigines knowledge of peoples of the East India Archipelago - uncorporated in the Badu song cycle; History of European contact, details of murders and their repercussions, government policy; Position of the missions & their part in culture contact, disorganization of camp life through military contact; Detailed bibliographical references.

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