66 MATHEWS — NATIVE TRIBES OF VICTORIA. [March 4; 



Initiation Ceremonies of Victorian Tribes. 



Under this heading it will be sufficient to mention that I have 

 elsewhere described some important ceremonies of initiation in 

 use among the native tribes of Victoria. I have given full details 

 of the Wonggumuk ceremony, which is in force over the central 

 and northern portions of that State. I have likewise reported the 

 Kannety initiation ceremony, practiced by the tribes inhabiting the 

 southwestern districts of Victoria. Other inaugural ceremonies 

 used in eastern Victoria and elsewhere are described by me in a 

 contribution to the Anthropological Society at Washington, already 

 referred to in this paper. 



Folklore. 



The following stories were told me by some old aboriginals of 

 the Hopkins and Eumeralla rivers in western Victoria, and as I 

 have never seen them in print, they are included in this paper. ^ 



Tyuron, the Eel Spearer. — Tyu-ron, a man of the Kappaty 

 phratry, was a notable ancestor of the plovers. He carried a 

 fish-spear on each shoulder when he went fishing, because he 

 was equally dexterous with both hands. He frequented swamps 

 and shallow streams where eels were plentiful, and never hunted 

 for any other kind of food. He was a very agile fellow, and kept 

 a sharp lookout along the margin of the water. When he saw 

 an eel, he struck at it with one of his spears, and threw it out on 

 the bank. He then ran along the edge of the water, and stood a 

 little while looking for his favorite fish. If none were visible, he 

 again ran on, and stood watching. He continued running up and 

 down the stream, or around the margin of the lagoon, until he 

 had caught as many eels as he required. 



Tyuron used to paint his breast and the under sides of his arms 

 with pipe-clay, so that the eels would not readily observe him, and 

 sang at intervals, " Pittherit, pittherit." This is why the plover 

 still carries the point of a fish-spear on either shoulder, and likes 

 to remain near water. He also continues his old habit of running 

 a little way and standing still, then running on again. And he 

 still sings his old song, from which he has received his onomato- 

 poeic name of pittherit. 



Murkupaiig a?id Mount Shadwell. — Among the remote ancestors 



1 See my Folklore of the Australian Aborigines (Sydney, 1899). 



