It may be a relatively recent complication of and addition to the theory of reincarnation.

Meanwhile, the belief and usage produce an unique effect.

The Arunta and Kaitish, we saw, are so advanced socially that they possess not two, or four, but eight matrimonial classes.

The tribe is divided into two sets of four classes each, and no person in A division (nameless) of four classes may marry another person of any one of these four, but must marry a person of a given class among the four in B division (nameless).

The succession to the class is hereditary in the mate line.
But any person among the Arunta, contrary to universal custom elsewhere, may marry another person of his or her own totem, if that person be in the right class of the opposite division.