'In describing the social structure of a native Australian community, the first matter calling for attention is the classification of the people into two primary divisions, called phratries, or groups—the men of each phratry intermarrying with the women of the opposite one, in accordance with prescribed laws.'

Mr. Mathews then mentions that some tribes have (1) this simple division only (of course, as a rule, plus totem kins). (2) Elsewhere each phratry is composed of two 'sections' (called by us 'classes'). (3) Elsewhere, again, each phratry has four sections (we need not discuss here the tribes where none of these things exist).

Mr. Mathews now gives tables representing the working of the system in each of the three cases.[5]

1

FatherMotherSonDaughter
Phratry AKirrarooMatturrinMatturriMatturrin
Phratry BMatturriKirrarooanKirrarooKirrarooan

2

FatherMotherSonDaughter
{MurriButaIppaiIppatha
Phratry A{KubbiIppathaKumboButha
Phratry B{KumboMathaKubbiKubbithai
{IppaiKubbithaMurriMatha

3