OCR Text |
Show "old-age pension" law was . ; cd. and even the most sure . and those whose "totem' . the alligator, accepted the! A "boo shell," which sound for miles across U . heralded the minister's I '; The blacks were a wiU c bare to the waists, and bags or old calicos aroi . middles. Long, deep laect their chests and arms told had suffered in fashion . Their noses were pierced : laby bone and their cars c l ry bamboo ornaments. Social Security Is Old in Primitive Australia A system of "old-age pensions" has been practiced In Australia by the Kendall river (Gulf of Carpentaria) Carpen-taria) blacks since time Immemorial. Immemo-rial. These primitive folk make certain cer-tain foods "taboo" to tho young hunter, and ho must bring them back to camp and hand them over to the aged, who are unable to stalk game for themselves. The old people are jealous of this prerogative and instill in young minds a great fear of Its violation, reports the Australian Press bureau. bu-reau. So the crows that fall to the young huntsman's spear must bo brought back to make tasty repasts for the aged of the tribe, lest the youth who eats them grows black feathers over his body. Kendall river region has boon won over only In the last two years by Rev. W. F. Maeken.-.ie. and when the government ketch Melbidir arrived ar-rived nt the mouth of the river he boarded the vessel and made the Journey three miles upstream to whore his faithful man V'Ui has contacted con-tacted the natives and won their confidence. As tho Melbidir went up the river, alligators were sunning themselves on either bank. Some of the natives hold them sacred, and give tlieni individual in-dividual names. However, when Maokeu.-.le shot one theie was heavy feasting by young and old. The |