400 IfI<:CORDS OF THE austualian muskum. 



neck, clicst, and belly as far as the fork : the second, from the 

 neck down to the fronts of the upper extremities as far as the tips 

 of the pahiis : the third, from the foik down the fronts of the 

 thighs and legs as far as the insteps. Two of the doctors next 

 commenced to get off the skin along tliese incisions, removing it 

 in one piece with attached toes, fingers, ears, etc., and then to 

 stick it up on spears to dry before the ftre. The body after its 

 entrails, heart and lungs had been removed, was next cut up by 

 the doctors and carefully disjointed, its different portions being 

 indiscriminately shared by themselves and the people around 

 among whom they were thrown. 



The old and young alike of bf)th sexes partook of it 

 after roasting, the pelvis, skull, jaw and b(jnes of botli 

 limbs being previously removed from the portions so rlis- 

 tributed, and put aside : it was only the back-l)one to- 

 gether with the ribs and attached meat that were thrown 

 into the fire and so destroyed. The sentiment which prompted 

 this eating of the deceased was a double one : the survi\ors knew 

 where the dead actually were and so could not be frightened by 

 their spirits, while the disposal of the corpse in this manner pre- 

 vented its going bad and stinking. The liver was eaten, but the 

 entrails, heart and lungs buried, the spot being marked by three 

 sticks about a foot high, each wound round with grass-rope, and 

 stuck closely* apposed into the ground. When the bones, which 

 had been put aside, had been cleaned of all their flesh and brought 

 by the deceased's mother, widow or sister (in order of preference) 

 back to camp, one of these women would take the whole pel vis, '- 

 put it on a log, and start striking it with a sharp tomahawk- 

 stone, taking care that when a crack should at last be heard, the 

 name of some individual in particular^' should be mentioned. She 

 would then recommence the hammering, so ari-anging matters 

 that when the crack again took place, the same name would be 

 repeated. And the old men would say " Ku-re ! Ku-re ! ",''' and 

 thus accept the proof that the person mentioned was actually the 

 one implicated : so much so, that when met with, the latter would 

 be put to death, usually by sneaking upon liim at night-time. 

 After the deceased's skin had been thoroughly dried, it was 

 covered with charcoal and grease, folded up and carried, together 

 with the bones in a dilly-bag by the mother, widow or sister, who 

 would cry o\'er it for some ten minutes or so regularly at night and 



'■^ A thigh-bone was struck to similur ])urpose. 



''•^ This was usually some member of anotlier tribe on whom they liad a 



special " down." 

 "* An expression of astonisliment, wonder 



