CHAPTER I

EXPOSITION OF THE PROBLEM AND METHOD

I. _Exposition of the problem and justification of the task_ (pp. 1 _sqq._).

Some contradictions and obscurities concerning family and kinship in Australia (pp. 1-6).--Necessity of a careful and detailed description of all the features of the _individual family_ among the Australian aborigines (pp. 6-9).--The sense in which the conception of _law_ and _legal_ should be applied to the Australian native society indicated (pp. 9-17).

II. _Method of dealing with the evidence_ (pp. 17 _sqq._).

At the outset only a general definition of "family" adopted; on the other hand raw ethnographical material given. Necessity of continually checking these two data with each other (p. 17).--In dealing with the ethnographical evidence _three_ points to be taken into consideration (pp. 17 _sqq._).--(1) Criticisms of each statement (pp. 18 _sqq._).--Verbal criticism (hermeneutic) (pp. 18-19).--Criticism of contents (pp. 19 _sqq._).--Different elements which might possibly have been the source of errors; and upon an analysis of which criticism in question may in part be based; (_a_) Material which the author had under observation (pp. 20-22).--(_b_) Circumstances and method of obtaining information (pp. 22, 23).--(_c_) Personal character and profession of the writer (pp. 23, 24).--(_d_) Purpose for which the book was written (p. 24).--(_e_) Form and quality of the writer's generalizations and abstract formulation (pp. 24, 25).--(2) Geographical localization of statements (pp. 26 sqq.).--Condition under which local differences may be safely assumed (pp. 26, 27).--(3) Final inferences from the evidence (pp. 27 _sqq._).--Character of this operation; analytical division of the information on a given subject under different headings. Separate discussion of each point. Contradictions emphasized and not concealed (pp. 27-29).--Conclusion drawn (pp. 29, 30).--Its confrontation with kindred facts (pp. 30, 31).--The chief methodological aim: general and complete clearness of all the operations of inference and argument (pp. 31-33).