72 MATHEWS — INITIATION IN AUSTRALIAN TRIBES. [March 18, 



they lay food for the use of their sons. The sisters of the novices 

 and the other women also assemble near this spot, which is called 

 ngtirra nyalla. 



When these preliminaries have been arranged, the men and boys 

 come marching on, painted and dressed in their full regalia as men 

 of the tribe, and as they approach the women throw sticks over 

 their heads. Ihe novices step forward to the nets, and eat the 

 food which their mothers have provided for them. After this the 

 women return to their own camp, but the graduates are taken by 

 their guardians to a place near the single men's quarters. During 

 that evening some of the old headmen show the novices the sacred 

 white stones, which are so much valued by all native tribes. 



These white stones, which in this district are called biiggan, are 

 said to be found in the scrubby mountains beyond Banaon Grove, 

 near the head of the Williams river, and are supposed to be the 

 excrement of Gceh Mudyei" Dhingga (Goen of the Hairy Hands), a 

 malevolent being who has his abode in these mountain fastnesses. 

 A number of clever old men — the so-called wizards of their tribes 

 — used to make periodical expeditions into these regions for the 

 purpose of obtaining supplies of the buggan. On these occasions it 

 was not considered safe for a man to travel alone, but it was neces- 

 sary that several should go in company. At their camps at night 

 they were required to sing songs similar to those which form part 

 of the keeparr-a ceremonial, and the camp-fires had to be main- 

 tained by burning certain kinds of wood to be found in that dis- 

 trict. During the night, while the old men were asleep, Goen was 

 supposed to appear, accompanied by some of his coadjutors, and put 

 white stones into their dilly bags. 



If any of the old men of the company had been remiss in their 

 observance of any of the tribal customs, they would keep awake, 

 holding a burning brand in their hand, in order to protect them- 

 selves against Goen's evil designs. The only way in which such 

 men could secure the sacred buggan was to search for them along 

 the sides of hills or watercourses, where they had been deposited by 

 Goen. 



Every youth who graduates through the Nguttan is required to 

 attend the next keeparra ceremony which takes place among his 

 own people — or the burbling oi those tribes who adjoin them on the 

 northwest — in order that he may receive further instruction in the 

 sacred initiatory rites of the community. 



