Howitt to Fison 29 October 1878

Transcription - Page 3

evidently a remarkable
survival of a [custom - crossed out] former
community of wives in the division
or class. I have an instance
when a woman was caught in
battle by a number of the young
men of a division of a clan near
adjoining the division of the clan to which
she belonged. They could not keep her
and her Father's Brother (father dead - father's
brother = Brebba munjan = other father)
gave her to the brother of the man
to revenge whom the battle had
been fought and who could according
to custom obtain a wife from her
division.

When the white men first came
here the Kurni thought they
could kill enemies by flashing
lightning out of their eyes.

I have compiled and am