Chapter V Tribal Governments

Transcription - Page 56

[crossed out - 28]
29

[Crossed out title - The Kulin Tribes]

As a good instance of the manner in which trespasses [crossed out - in another] by one tribe on another were dealt with [I give - crossed out] the account given to me of a
case in which a man of the Wudthau-worūng tribe (Geelong)
was called to account for having unlawfully taken stone
from the tomahawk quarry south of Kilmore (1). I give it
as nearly as possible in the words of Berak who was present
at the meeting which probably took place in the late 40ties.

[Left margin note for paragraph 1]
(1) See chap - p.
[Left margin note for paragraph 2]
(2) see p. -

It having been found out that a man had taken
stone without permission Bili-bill-eri [crossed out - sent] (2) sent a
messenger (Bai-aur) to his tribe and [crossed out - his people] these met Bili-bileri/Bili-bill-eri's
people from Mt Macedon near the Werribee River. [crossed out - The]
The men all met at a place apart from the camp, the
old men sitting near each other, and the young men near
them. Bili-bill-eri and his men sate together, and the Wŭdthaurung
men [crossed out - at another place] sate together. Bili-bill-eri had with
him Bungarin to whom he gave his word, and who standing
up said "Did some of you send this young man to take some
tomahawk stone?" The Headman of the Wŭdthaurung
said "No! we sent no one." Then Bili-bileri said to
Bungarin "Say to the old men that they must tell the
young man not to do so anymore, when the people speak
about wanting to have tomahawks, the old men must send
us notice." The [crossed out - feeling] Wŭdthaurung old men said
"All right, we will do that." Then they spoke severely to the
young man and became again friends. At this meeting
a speaker when addressing them stood up and their
weapons were left at their respective camps."