Howitt to Fison 11 October 1878

Transcription - Page 4

out some way or another.

But at any rate we must not
be in too great a hurry - I have so
often "whipped the cat" - if you know
that expressive colonial expression at
having started before I was ready that
I have vowed a solemn vow never to
do it again.

If we can amalgamate you must
permit me to cross out part of your
preface. I think we could do that any way, at
the same time I thank you very heartily for
your kind expression.

I now send you some more information which
I shall embody as illustrations in my "monograph" of the
Kurni and as part of the evidence in which I
found my statements and I shall send you
more as get it until I hear from you.
I expect we may use the terms tribe, clan
divisions as I have done giving an "interpretation
clause" as the acts of parliament have it.
I am inclined to do so in "Definitions" in
the introduction much as I give definitions
in my geological papers e.g

"Diorite, a crystalline granular or porphyritic
compound of a triclinic felspar, and Hornblende"
(or some other similar definition)

- Division an aggregate of families owning common
descent from proximate ancestors- and in
which marriage is forbidden +c, +c

clan an aggregate of divisions having common
language, and a common descent and where
marriage may be among the divisions