o react with anger and violence to any attempts by others who denied it (Flood, 15). The Aborigines also believed in totemism. A totem represented each family and even some individuals. They were linked to things of nature and supernatural beings. Totemic beliefs are more highly elaborated among the Aborigines than among any other people (Tindale, 53). Basically, the totem was a symbol that provided a link between humans and mythical beings. The Aborigines believed that these mythical beings were once human, but then morphed into land features such as rocks or even animals. Totemism connects the Aborigine family to a certain place or event that gives them an account of their origin. It is individual to the family while at the same time linking them to other families that share the same origins (Flood, 22). They valued their totems very highly, almost as much as their religion.Although not as important as the Dreamtime or totemism, music played a major role in the Aborigines lives. Although the songs of each of the tribes sounded similar, they were unique and each tribe knew that their songs were different from other tribes. They really didnt have any musical instruments. They sang and either stamped their feet or clapped their hands to accompany the singing. For some songs, they hit sticks together in order to give them rhythm (Tindale, 57). Some tribes used a didgeridoo, which was probably the only real instrument they had. This instrument was made from a hollowed out tree branch and could very long, sometimes up to 15 feet. It originated from the tribes of Northern Australia and eventually spread to the other parts over time. The sound was made by blowing into one end, which would produce a buzzing sound. The didgeridoo became a national symbol for the Aborigines mainly because of its uniqueness. Their music would be used in performing their rituals for the Dreaming (Tindale, 59). Thes...
