NORTH QUEENSLAND ETHNOGRAPHY — ROTH. 171 



are told, not shown, the boundary of the initiation-ground, this 

 being marked by certain stakes stuck into the earth ; should any 

 female even see these boundary-marks, she will get ague, 8 and 

 should she trespass beyond it, will be certain to die. 



A more or less circular space is next made (Fig. 9) in the 

 presence of the novices, at any time during daylight, and hence- 

 forth all subsequent proceedings take place herein. This space, 

 about fifty feet in its longest diameter, is cleared of stumps, 

 leaves, etc, and the sandy soil levelled as carefully as possible. 



Near the centre the sand is 

 ..-'"'" """•--. scooped out and thrown up on 



i, \ either side in the form of a 



horse-shoe magnet, the arms of 

 such "magnet" pointing to 

 the north ; I learnt that this 



/ ' ... is invariably the position 



fl A assumed, with regard to the 



■ ; compass, by this central por- 



■ I | | | I tion. On the eastern side is 

 | \ i I the low bush-fence wherein 



Viwi/^ tne fi res burn at night, and 



the novices with their guar- 

 dian sleep. The circular space 

 is known astheb6-ral, a word 

 signifying anything level, the 

 central rut as the piri( = river) 



Fig. 9. 



and its banks as the woln-gur 



The main proceedings commence after the sun is well up and 

 continue until the rising sun is at about an angle of 4 5 = with the 

 horizon, when there is an interval until the afternoon when the 

 sun is in a corresponding position, the performance ceasing with 

 the dark. In the daily interval the majority of the performers 

 go hunting, the movements of the novices with their guardian 

 being confined within a limited area. At night, when various 

 dances take place in the circle, the novices lie in the bush-fence 

 with eyes closed or covered so as not to see what is going on ; 

 these dances relate to various night animals and night birds. 

 The essential portion of the ceremony, that indeed which the 

 novices are permitted to watch and have explained to them, takes 

 place during the day-time, and consists of different dances repre- 

 senting various members of the fauna and flora. Some three or 



8 My attack ot ague-fever here was in all good faith ascribed by these 

 folks to this cause. 



