122 NATURAL SCIENCE [August 



General Programme. — In their general plan these ceremonies 

 are much alike. The chief performer is elaborately decorated with 

 patterns in eaglehawk down stuck to his body with blood drawn 

 from some member of the party. This down is coloured red and 

 yellow with ochre ; other parts of the body are smeared with a 

 black pigment mixed with grease. The amount of blood drawn on 

 these occasions is at times surprising, it being estimated that one 

 man allowed five half-pints to be taken from him during a single 

 day. The decoration of this performer is completed while the black 

 candidates, if they may be so termed, are away hunting. On their 

 return to the sacred ground they dance vigorously round him for 

 some time. In most of these performances the decorated men then 

 imitate the actions of the animal whose totem they bear, and in 

 some cases the acting is described as wonderful. In one mock 

 combat two performers represented two eaglehawks struggling for a 

 bone, and wildly flapping their wings, which were represented by a 

 bunch of gum leaves in each hand. 



The ' parra,' or sacred ground, was laid out with great care, and 

 one of the most peculiar sights was to see the candidates lying in a 

 row with their heads close to a long bank of earth, as they were 

 required to do during most of the nights. Absolute silence was 

 entailed, and the strain during the months through which the 

 ceremonies lasted must have been great, and have considerably 

 influenced the hysterical, exalted frame of mind which they at 

 times showed. 



Fire Rites. — After a month devoted to preliminary rites the 

 fire ceremonies began. The men to be initiated formed into a body, 

 and, holding a shield of gum leaves over themselves, went to the 

 women's camp. They were accompanied by a number of the old 

 men swinging bull-roarers. This seems to be the only occasion on 

 which the women, on hearing the dread sound, do not run and hide 

 themselves, nor are they at any other time allowed even to gaze 

 upon the sacred implement. The women who were prepared, ran 

 at the body of men, and threw burning branches on to them, which 

 the men tried, not very effectually, to ward off with their roof of 

 leaves. This ceremony was repeated daily for about a fortnight. 

 Next, a large fire, about twenty feet across, was made and covered 

 with green leaves ; on this terrible heap the candidates lay for some 

 time, several at once, others calmly standing by and waiting their 

 turn. The heat of the fire was very considerable. Professor 

 Spencer knelt on the heap to try it, but could not endure it, even 

 with thick trousers on. This performance was concluded by all 

 present howling and hurling fircsticks about. 



During the evening, when all the candidates were lying in a 

 row as usual, one of the old men seated himself before them with a 



