The name is absent

201

Bemdt and Berndt (1981:43) suggest a maximum of 50 adults
« *

and children, usually far fewer, as making up a horde - the self-
sufficient group coming together at ceremonial times into a larger
group of 150 or so.

However, it was family that was the basic unit of everyday
social living.
V

Tonkinson (1974:17), in discussing the neighbouring Jigalong
Mob, states that the people of this area belonged to an exogamous,
patrilineal landholding group, travelling for hunting purposes as
a ’horde’ of from one to three patrilineally linked families. The
linguistic unit was larger and was composed of local groups related
by marriage. In pre-contact days, these groups would come together
once or twice a year to discuss matters in common, to settle
grievances and above all to hold ritual assemblies.

The settlement of a large group intent on preserving∕adapting
the traditional Law on a non-productive station contains within it
the seeds of disintegration of purpose, and lack of unity. The
size, related to traditional usage, becomes unwieldy. The diversity
of language presents a problem not found traditionally. The
distribution of roles becomes problematic.

The problems inherent in size, are being solved by the Strelley
Mob as a secondary consequence of the hiving off into different
stations by different language groups - Nyangumarta speakers to
Warralong, Manyjiljarra speakers to Lala Rookh, and Camp 61, with
the original station used for administrative purposes. The reduction
of the size of the group into sub-groups provides the possibility
not only of greater cohesion within the smaller groups, with,
opportunity for leadership and training in leadership, but also
in raised living standards and better health ∙

Interview with health worker.

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