1898.] MATHEWS — INITIATION IN AUSTRALIAN TRIBES. 61 



down the boys' heads and a start is made for the bush. The war- 

 rangooringa stumps are then pulled out of the ground and placed 

 upon the fire, some of the men remaining in the vicinity until they 

 are consumed. 



I must now take the reader back to the burbling ring. Shortly 

 after the guardians and novices get out of sight, the bushes and 

 other coverings are taken off the women and children by the men 

 who have remained in charge of them. They then gather up their 

 baggage and remove to another locality, perhaps several miles dis- 

 tant, where they erect a new camp, each tribe selecting their quar- 

 ters on the side of the camping ground nearest their own country. 

 Before starting from the burbling, a pole is inserted in the ground in 

 a slanting position, elevated and pointing in the direction of the 

 place where the new camp is to be established. If this locality is 

 some distance off, a long pole is used, making a considerable angle 

 with the horizon, but if the camp is not far away, the pole is shorter 

 and the angle of elevation less. The upper end is decorated by 

 having a bunch of green boughs, grass or feathers attached to it. 

 This indicator is left for the guidance of any natives who may 

 arrive at the main camp after the assemblage has broken up. 



As already stated, the novices have started with the men into the 

 bush. They march along with the rugs projecting on each side of 

 the face like a hood — their guardians being with them, and the 

 other men following, making a considerable noise. During the 

 afternoon they arrive at the place where it is intended they shall 

 remain for the night. A semicircular yard is made of bushes or 

 bark, and the novices are placed sitting on leaves spread upon the 

 •ground, their backs being toward the men's camp, which may be 

 fifty or sixty yards away. This camp is called karpan. Between 

 the men's quarters and the yard in which the novices are kept a 

 space is cleared of all loose rubbish, and one or more fires lit to 

 afford sufficient illumination. After the evening meal has been 

 disposed of, the boys are brought out of their yard and are put 

 sitting down facing the fires, while the Kooringal go through 

 various pantomimic representations and traditional songs. These 

 performances consist for the most part of imitating animals with 

 which the people are familiar, or scenes from their daily life ; and, 

 like the ceremonials of other savage races, are largely mixed with 

 obscene gestures. The animals selected include, amongst others, 

 the totems of some of the novices, the headmen and the kooringal. 



