ABSTRACT
Subincision 1 is a rite which, as we have already learnt, is associated with the latter stages of initiation. The rite is practised over a very great part of the Australian continent, its distribution being indicated in Fig. 4. All things considered the evidence would appear to point to an origin for this rite somewhere in the centre of the continent, from whence it probably diffused. Such a statement, however, does not preclude the possibility of the rite having been introduced from some source outside Australia. Davidson has studied the distribution of this trait in some detail, 2 and Rivers, 3 and Basedow 4 have independently discussed its possible significance. 5 The area (shaded) over which the rite of subincision is practised https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315017938/c56b5c3b-caee-45ad-bc0a-775a4caa1110/content/fig4_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>
